Self Guided Hut to Hut in the Italian Dolomites
Spectacular point-to-point hiking in the world’s most beautiful mountains
- Itineraries to suit both high level walkers and intermediate walkers
- Choose from one of our breathtaking 7 night itineraries or a shorter 2, or 3 night route
- Or tag a short Hut to Hut stay on to the start or end of a Collett’s walking holiday
Self Guided Hut to Hut in the Dolomites
Choose from 5 spectacular routes
A Collett’s ‘Hut to Hut’ holiday is a welcome overdose of self-guided walking amidst awe-inspiring mountain scenery mixed with the special experience of overnighting in mountain huts (rifugios) interspersed at high and medium level throughout the Dolomites. Using our comprehensive route notes, you will follow trails that link, climb and traverse the major mountain groups, occasionally descending into the valleys before heading off again into the next massif.
Each day ends at a hospitable mountain hut, an extraordinary vantage point from which you can watch the sunset on Europe’s most majestic peaks. The huts come with well-earned liquid refreshment, the camaraderie of other walkers, an excellent dinner, a good night’s sleep and a generous breakfast to set you on your way again. Using our extensive local knowledge, we have created seven spectacular week-long itineraries, plus some shorter options. Some itineraries are quite challenging, whilst others will suit the more intermediate walker. Choosing which one to do might be the ultimate challenge!
You choose the route – we do the rest
On a Collett’s hut to hut holiday, we take all the hard work out of the planning for you, and leave you to simply enjoy the trek! At the planning stage, we offer a factsheet for each of our routes which give a brief day by day description of what to expect, along with figures indicating height gain and distance covered each day. Once you settle on your preferred route we make the relevant hut reservations and then, nearer the time, we send you a detailed route guide printed on waterproof paper, along with other key information and the relevant 1:25,000 Tobacco map/s. Shortly before your holiday, we will contact you by email offering you the opportunity to ask any final questions about your itinerary. Finally, airport transfers are available from Collett’s (if required) from Venice or Treviso airports.
Five Magnificent Self Guided Walking Tours
Discover the hidden corners of Europe’s most dramatic peaks
Our hut to hut holidays are available between mid/late June and mid September – depending on the itinerary. We especially recommend July, late August and September being the best periods when the huts and walks are generally quieter. The earlier you book, the easier it is for us to guarantee your accommodation and confirm your arrangements.
If you would like us to check availability in the rifugios please contact us to let us know your specific travel dates and the hut to hut itinerary of your choice. We ask you not to book flights until we have confirmed all of the accommodation for your itinerary.
Central Dolomites & Sella Grand Tour
Easier Moderate, Moderate or Hard
We offer three different versions of this classic Dolomites tour which takes in some mind-boggling scenery and includes the Pralongia Plateau, the Val di Fassa, the Rosengarten group, the Alpi de Siusi, the Val Gardena and finally the Puez-Odle Natural Park. We use a mix of huts and village accommodation.
- Factsheet – Central Dolomites and Sella Grand Tour – Easier Moderate Itinerary
- Factsheet – Central Dolomites and Sella Grand Tour – Moderate Itinerary
- Factsheet – Central Dolomites and Sella Grand Tour – Hard High Level Itinerary
Grand Tour of the Alta Badia
Moderate/Hard
A complete and dramatic circuit of the Alta Badia, taking in the peaks and trails of the Puez Odle and Fanes Natural Parks and incorporating the tunnels of Lagazuoi and much more besides.
New for 2019
Pelmo, Civetta and the Southern Dolomites
Moderate/Hard
Picturesque and memorable but altogether quieter than the Central Dolomites, heading south opens
up dramatic walking under the imposing faces of mounts Pelmo and Civetta.
New for 2019
Tre Cime, Cortina and Ampezzo Dolomites
Hard
This challenging route rewards the walker with awe-inspiring views of some of the Dolomites’ true
classics, foremost among them the staggering north faces of Tre Cime and the iconic Lago Sorapis.
Cortina & the Northern Dolomites
Hard
Wild, adventurous and spectacular, this tour takes in Cinque Torre, the Tofana group, a night in Cortina, the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Natural Park, part of the renowned Alta Via and home via the Fanes massif.
2 & 3 Night Hut to Hut Circuits
Moderate, Moderate/Hard or Hard
Over the years it has been popular amongst many of our guests to add a short hut to hut tour to the start or end of a Collett’s walking holiday in the Dolomites. We have now formalised some options which take in some outstanding walks and allow you to experience two, or three nights in some of our favourite rifugios. These shorter treks have been designed to be tagged on to a night or more with us at either end – for example, a two night trek would become a minimum of a four night trip overall, whilst a three night trek will become a five night trip in total. Naturally, we can add further nights on in Corvara if you’d prefer a few days to enjoy some day treks either side of the hut to hut trip.
For any two or three night itineraries, we ask you not to book any travel arrangements until we have confirmed all of the accommodation for your chosen hut to hut itinerary.
Accommodation in a Dolomites Rifugio
Good food in mountain huts that range from the basic to the surprisingly comfortable
For the first and last nights of your holiday, you will be accommodated in the Alta Badia.
On the trek itself, you will be accommodated in either mountain rifugios or village guest houses on a half board basis. You should assume that, in the rifugios, you will sleep in dormitory-style accommodation. For a supplement of £15 per person per night you can request a private room, which are subject to availability.
Breakfasts are normally buffet style and vary depending on the rifugio. A normal rifugio breakfast includes cereals, milk, bread, meats, cheeses, jam and honey, yoghurt, juice, tea and coffee. In a remote rifugio, the choices might be more limited. On some days your route may allow you to stop at another hut for lunch. But we suggest you order packed lunches from the rifugio in which you are staying. Evening meals in the rifugios are taken from a set menu, often with two or three choices for each course. But please note – some of the more basic rifugios will offer a fixed menu with no choice. Food tends to be healthy and hearty and is typical local cuisine, ideal for those long days out on the mountain. For vegetarians and other special dietary requirements, meals will have much less choice and variation. There are limited supplies of fresh fruit and vegetables in the rifugios, so vegetarians might feel less heartily fed than non-vegetarians.
Airport Transfers to the Italian Dolomites
From Venice Marco Polo or Venice Treviso Airports
Getting to the Dolomites should be easy but please contact us if you require any help or advice with travel.
Airport Transfers
Departing from Venice at 1500 on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays & Thursdays
Most guests use the Collett’s airport transfer service, which is included in the price of our 7 night tours.
For our 2, 3 or 4 night tours, airport transfers are an additional cost at £80 per person return.
Our transfers are available on SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS, TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS.
Dolomites-bound Transfers leave Venice Marco Polo at 1500 (and Venice Treviso at 1530)
Homebound Transfers – on your day of departure, we only drop off for flights that takes off after 1100.
Be prepared for an early start – if someone has a flight home at 1115, all transferees will have to leave the Dolomites at 0615.
Taxis / Car Hire / Public Transport
Taxis can be arranged, starting at approx. €220 for up to 4 people. A taxi might be helpful if you would like to start your holiday on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday when we do not offer transfers – or if you are simply keen to get to the mountains quickly and would prefer not to wait for a transfer.
Car Hire – Click here to hire a car. Most hut to hut routes start and end in the Alta Badia and parking is available.
Public Transport – limited options, but see Cortina Express and rail/bus options via Brunico from Innsbruck & Verona – bahn.com
Venice & Treviso
Of course, some people choose to stay in Venice or Treviso at one end of their holiday.
Being in Venice at the start of your holiday means you can meet a transfer at your leisure.
Staying in Venice after your stay allows you to catch up on sleep if you have had a 6am transfer down from the mountains!
Further information & prices
Mid-June to mid-September
7 night tours – £825 per person (incl. airport transfer)
2, 3 and 4 night tours – from £185 per person (excl. airport transfer)
All itineraries are based on half-board, dormitory-style accommodation in rifugios (huts) and/or half-board accommodation in private rooms in village guest houses or small hotels.
Your first and last night are spent in the Alta Badia on a B&B basis, either in one of our own chalet hotels or in a village guest house.
Private rooms are available on request and at a supplement in certain rifugios – subject to availability.
What’s Included
- Airport transfers to and from Venice & Treviso Airports (7 day itineraries only)
- Reservations & Accommodation
- Detailed Route Cards & Relevant 1:25,000 Maps
- Pre-departure Info including FAQs & Packing Suggestion
What’s Not Included
- Flights
- Insurance
- Packed Lunches – available to purchase at every rifugio.
- Drinks/snacks and any other purchases in the rifugios
- Chairlifts, cable cars and buses – estimated costs detailed in Route Cards.
At Your Own Risk
Your self guided hut to hut itineraries will be spent entirely at your own risk and it is important that you understand that whilst these routes are accurate at the time of writing, the situation on the ground may change and the itineraries rely on your sound judgement and decision making throughout.
Our self-guided hut to hut itineraries are put together on a basis of goodwill so that you might enjoy a route you may not otherwise have discovered having organised the itinerary yourself. It represents nothing more than the opportunity to go out on a beautiful walk in a part of this wonderful walking area, with the support of knowing that many of the logistics have been arranged for you.
It is a fact that mountains, mountainous areas and activities undertaken in them are associated with personal injury and death. By coming to such areas, you are exposing yourself and your party to the possibility of personal injury or even death. In such an event, Collett’s Mountain Holidays will not be held responsible for your interest in mountainous areas and your involvement in mountain pursuits, which can occasionally have tragic consequences.
It is important that you understand that these routes are put together using our extensive knowledge of the area, to provide a route which we believe will be enjoyable and realistic for people who decide that they have the appropriate level of fitness and ability in order to complete the itinerary safely. The information provided uses only marked paths which are in use at the time of writing, however, it is your responsibility to continually assess the suitability and safety of the route throughout the walk and to undertake any action necessary to avoid any terrain which each or any member of the group is not comfortable with. The route choice also assumes an ability to read maps and navigate competently.
It is the responsibility of each individual in the group to make an assessment of the information provided, and to make an informed decision about whether the itinerary is suitable for them.
Finally, during your holiday with Collett’s Mountain Holidays you act at your own risk on any ideas, information and opinions you might acquire from our walk organisers or from material prepared by us to help you get the most from the area.
Click and drag on the photos below to view the 360° Panoramas
Rifugio & Monte Lagazuoi – Grand Tour of the Alta Badia
Rifugio Lagazuoi – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA
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Above Rifugio Lavarella – Grand Tour of the Alta Badia
Post from RICOH THETA. – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA
Self Guided Hut to Hut in the Dolomites with Colletts
Italian Dolomites
In pictures – Self Guided Hut to Hut in the Dolomites with Collett's
