In this UNESCO World Heritage site, exquisite alpine villages and profuse flower meadows lie beneath highly dramatic peaks. At sunset, witness the phenomenal ‘Enrosadira’ setting the mountains ablaze in pink, red, and violet. Stay in spectacularly located huts (rifugios) as you circumnavigate the Alta Badia, marveling at the pristine beauty of the natural parks. Explore a vast open-air WWI museum with its restored tunnels, trenches, and observation posts. Our comprehensive maps and trail notes ensure seamless navigation, so you can indulge in this unforgettable experience with ease.
On this Collett’s hut-to-hut holiday, we handle the logistics while you enjoy the walking. With traditional ‘hut’ accommodation each night you can enjoy great food before another spectacular walk the following day.
Browse this page for all you need to know about this inspirational Alta Badia adventure, and when you’re ready, click Enquire or Book Now, submit some details, and let our skilled enquiry team help you make this holiday a reality.
At a Glance
21 June to 20 September 2025
(You can start any day)
£1175
Single supplement – £85
Moderate / Challenging
Expect to walk for 4 – 5 hours per day, with between 769m to 1435m of ascent and 630m to 1390m of descent each day
B&B Accommodation in Corvara on your first and last night
All Hut Bookings (breakfast and dinner included)
Return Airport Transfers from Venice Marco Polo on Saturdays & Wednesdays only
(Private transfers are also available any day for a supplement – contact us for more details)
Holiday Pack with comprehensive route notes, maps & more
Excess baggage storage in Corvara
Please note that packed lunches and use of refugio showers (which cost €3-6) are not included.
This holiday begins and ends in Corvara high in the Alta Badia. The best route is to fly in and out of Venice Marco Polo and join a Collett’s transfer (included, Saturdays and Wednesdays only) which operates as follows :
Departs Venice Marco Polo – 1400 prompt
Departs Corvara – between 0630 and 0700 – for flights taking off after 1200
Journey Time – 3 hrs.
Some waiting time at the airport is inevitable unless you book a private transfer. Please note that our scheduled transfers cannot wait for delayed flights. Please see our ‘need to knows’ below for more information.
Example Flights:
Bristol
London Heathrow
London Gatwick
London Stanstead
Manchester
Alternatively, private transfers are available any day of the week (approx. £375 each way for up to 8 people).
Itinerary
Day 1
ArriveMake your own way to Corvara, in the Dolomites. We recommend flying to Venice Marco Polo and joining our scheduled airport transfer which departs at 1400 (£90 pp return)
Accommodation: B&B in CorvaraDay 2
The Val Badia to Rifugio Gardenacia10.8km, 1435m ascent, 731m descent
Today features the iconic Sassongher peak, which towers over Corvara and provides sweeping views over the Alta Badia. A narrow and exposed switchback path leads up the steep flanks of the peak, with the final summit accessed with some easy scrambling. The descent features the same easy scrambling, followed by a superb terraced path. The first hut – the tranquil Rifugio Gardenacia – offers breathtaking views across the valley to the Fanes Massif.
Accommodation: Rifugio Gardenacia (half board)Day 3
The Puez-Odle to Rifugio Santa Croce12.9km, 955m ascent, 950m descent
Crossing the valley from the Puez-Odle to the Fanes Massif, today’s route begins with an occasionally steep descent into the village of La Villa. Here you’ll find plenty of opportunities to stop for a mid-morning coffee, before setting off up the eastern side of the valley. From San Cassiano, following beautiful woodland paths to the Santa Croce Rifugio and Chapel, this walk showcases the valley’s most charming villages. The rifugio here is basic but beautifully positioned, affording stunning sunset views of the towering face of the Santa Croce peak.
If you prefer, there is also an option to make this day’s walk easier by using the lift from Badia to Santa Croce (lift ticket not included).
Accommodation: Rifugio Santa Croce (half board)Day 4
Ascending to the Fanes Massif12km, 1188m ascent, 1150m descent
Leaving Rifugio Santa Croce, a meandering path leads through unspoilt meadows and tranquil forests before an ascent that opens out the whole of the Fanes Massif. From here, a steady descent leads down to the sheltered meadows of Munt de Pices Fanes and Rifugio Lavarella. The walk involves some quite steep and moderately exposed sections of path on loose, rocky terrain, but no scrambling is required.
Accommodation: Rifugio Lavarella (half board)Day 5
The Tofana Massif15km, 1314m ascent, 630m descent
Today’s walking is split into two parts. First you’ll follow the well-known Alta Via 1, which crosses the Dolomites from north to south. A short initial climb yields to a gentle path with high peaks all around, eventually leading to a steep and at times exposed descent to a high mountain lake, before a long and steady afternoon climb in a spectacular valley to your accommodation. Two well-positioned rifugios punctuate the afternoon route, and make ideal places for a late morning coffee and then a good hearty lunch. The day’s final destination is Rifugio Lagazuoi, which boasts the best panoramic views of the Dolomites – a truly superb spot for an evening’s rest.
Accommodation: Rifugio Lagazuoi (half board)Day 6
Rest Day, Lagazuoi Tunnels or a circuit of the Tofana de RozesOptions abound for day five of your itinerary. Spend the day relaxing on the beautiful sun terrace of Rifugio Lagazuoi with a good book and traditional lunch, or borrow a torch and explore the Lagazuoi Tunnels – an intricate and extensive network of tunnels used by the Italian and Austro-Hungarian troops during WW1. If you’d prefer more walking, try the circular route to Rifugio Nuvolau, the oldest hut in the Dolomites (walking time 4½ hours, 470m ascent and descent). Or, complete a circuit of one of the Dolomites’ most impressive peaks: Tofana de Rozes (walking time 6 hours, 1270m ascent and descent). Your holiday pack (included in the trip price) gives detailed information on all the ways to create your perfect day.
Accommodation: Rifugio Lagazuoi (half board)Day 7
Lagazuoi to the Pralongia Plateau and Corvara14.8km, 769m ascent, 1390m descent
Today you’ll descend from Rifugio Lagazuoi (on foot or by cable car) to Passo Falzarego, which takes you along the southern flank of the Setsas range. This route moves through intermittent woodland, small meadows and boulder fields before opening out to the sweeping, comprehensive views of the Pralongia plateau – the perfect place to reflect on the week’s walking. Before completing the wide-track descent into Corvara, consider stopping for lunch at one of the exceptional rifugios along the way – a wonderful way to finish your Grand Tour of the Alta Badia.
Accommodation: B&B in Corvara or BadiaDay 8
DepartIf you depart on a Saturday or Wednesday, join a Collett’s transfer back to Venice Marco Polo (included). Otherwise independent onward travel.
Testimonials
Need to Knows
Terrain: Walks on this route only use way-marked and signposted routes. Trails vary from well-trodden woodland paths to steeper paths on looser, rocky terrain. Some sections of the route are exposed, and in the high mountains a certain level of experience, sure-footedness, fitness and the ability to navigate are essential. In early season on higher terrain, you might have to cross patches of snow.
Breakfast & Dinner: Breakfasts are generous and usually buffet-style; dinner is ordered from a set menu, usually with at least 2 choices for each course. The cuisine is hearty and favours local dishes – providing ideal fuel for days out on the mountain.
Lunch: packed lunches can be purchased at all accommodations along the trek, except in Corvara, where supplies are easy to source locally.
ETIAS – The European Travel Information and Authorisation System is not due to be introduced until mid-2025. Currently there is not an exact date as to when it will come into force. This means you do not need to have a ETIAS for travel to Europe at the moment. For more information read our blog article here
Booking Conditions – be sure to read our full terms and conditions here before booking.
At Your Own Risk – please read the important notes here.
Travel Advice – check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination. For UK citizens, check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice here.
Passport & Visa – any questions should be directed to the relevant embassy of your destination country; find out more here. It is your responsibility to be in possession of a full passport, valid for your chosen destination.
Travel Insurance – having adequate and valid travel insurance is a condition of booking with us. Details of our insurance partner, Campbell Irvine, are here.
Health Information – You should carry either an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) Neither is an alternative to adequate travel insurance. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice and https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/
ABTA – Independent travel advice and help is always available from ABTA by calling 020 3117 0599 or visiting www.abta.com.