Grand Tour of the Alta Badia Hut-to-Hut Walking Holiday

Make your way to Corvara, the principal village of the Alta Badia 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 Corvara

Distance 10.8km, Ascent 1435m, Descent 731m
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 cable-assisted scrambling. The descent features the same scrambling, followed by a dramatic, terraced path, exposed in places. The first hut – the tranquil Rifugio Gardenacia – offers breathtaking views across the valley to the Fanes Massif.
To lessen the amount of ascent and exposure, you can alternatively start the hike by taking a short bus ride (20 mins) up to the Gardena Pass for a route which is panoramically rich, generally easier, and much more exposure-free (11.7km, 796m ascent, 879m descent)
Accommodation: Rifugio Gardenacia (half-board)

Distance 12.9km, Ascent 955m, Descent 950m
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, an opportunity to seek out 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 charmingly traditional, and beautifully positioned, affording stunning sunset views of the towering face of the Santa Croce peak.
You can make today’s walk significantly easier by ascending the gondola from Badia to Santa Croce (lift ticket not included), but you inevitably miss out on the woodland charm that characterises the approach to Santa Croce.
Accommodation: Rifugio Santa Croce (half-board)

Distance 12km, Ascent 1188m, Descent 1150m
Leaving Rifugio Santa Croce, a meandering path leads through exquisite high meadows and tranquil forest, before the entire Fanes Massif is exposed by an ascent, which is quite steep and exposed, with loose scree sections alternating with rocky terrain. No scrambling is required, however. From the high point, a steady descent leads down to the sheltered meadows of Munt de Pices Fanes and Rifugio Lavarella.
Accommodation: Rifugio Lavarella (half-board)

Distance 15km, Ascent 1314m, Descent 630m
Today’s walking is split into two parts. Firstly, 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 your accommodation is reached after a long and steady afternoon climb in a truly spectacular valley. Two ideally-located rifugios provide both a late morning coffee option, and then somewhere for lunch. The day’s final destination is the precariously perched Rifugio Lagazuoi, boasting panoramas that will bewitch you for many hours – a truly memorable spot for an evening’s rest.
Accommodation: Rifugio Lagazuoi (half-board)

Options 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, Ascent & Descent 470m).
Accommodation: Rifugio Lagazuoi (half-board)

Distance 14.8km, Ascent 769m, Descent 1390m
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 heavenly route alternates between woodland, meadows, and boulder fields, before spilling you onto the sweeping Pralongia plateau, a natural viewing platform for all the great Dolomite peaks. Before descending to Corvara, reflect on an adventurous week over lunch in one of a variety of hospitable rifugios that punctuate your descent.
Accommodation: B&B in Corvara or Badia

If you depart on a Saturday or Wednesday, you are likely to have booked a Collett’s transfer back to Venice Marco Polo, which is included in the cost of your holiday. Otherwise, independent onward travel.