Kraig Adams 835K159K75.3K29KWork with me
Alta Via 1: a still from my film

Dolomites, Italy · September 2025 · Solo

Alta Via 1

121.3 KM · 7 DAYS · 6,650 M

7 days hut to hut through the Dolomites.

Watch the film 17:09 · 196K views

At a glance

Where
Dolomites, Italy
Distance
121.3 km (75.4 miles)
Days
7 hiking days, 6 nights in huts
Climbing
About 21,800 ft (6,650 m) up, 25,100 ft (7,650 m) down
Season
July to September (huts open mid to late June until about September 20 to 27)
Difficulty
Moderate: a hut every night and no via ferrata on my route, but long days, a few loose passes and the steep scree and staircase below Forcella del Lago on Day 2
Route
Lago di Braies to La Pissa bus stop
When I went
September 14 to 20, 2025, solo
Relief map of the Alta Via 1 route: 7 days drawn in red with numbered day starts, labelled Lago di Braies, La Pissa, Punta Penia, Lagazuoi, Rifugio Vazzoler and Rifugio Bianchet.
1234567Highest 8,960 ft (2,731 m)

Elevation, start to finish: highest 8,960 ft (2,731 m), lowest 1,500 ft (456 m).

My GPS recording on a relief map. The numbers are where each day starts. The GPX files come with the guide.

Everything I made about it

The films

In the journal

Photos

  • Lago di Braies, where Day 1 starts.
    Lago di Braies, where Day 1 starts.
  • The empty trail south of Passo Giau on Day 3.
    The empty trail south of Passo Giau on Day 3.
  • Rock towers above the forested valley between Vazzoler and Carestiato.
    Rock towers above the forested valley between Vazzoler and Carestiato.
  • The gravel track down the valley on the morning of Day 7.
    The gravel track down the valley on the morning of Day 7.
Lago di Braies through the trees on the climb out of the lake.
Lago di Braies through the trees on the climb out of the lake.

The guide · 59-page PDF + GPX files · 2027 season edition

Do it yourself

7 days hut to hut through the Dolomites.

  • All seven days
  • A map and elevation profile for every day
  • GPX files
  • The huts
  • Getting there and home

Paying in the Facebook/Instagram app? Tap ⋯ and Open in browser to use Apple Pay or Google Pay.

$19

Instant download: PDF + GPX files.
Not useful? Email me within 30 days for a refund.

Look inside the guide

Free sample

Try Day 2 free

The whole Day 2, Pederü to Lagazuoi page from the guide as a PDF, plus my hut-to-hut packing list: the 35 things I carry, with a note on each, and this route's own list on top. Both come by email. You'll also get my emails about new guides and trips, a few a year.

Gear on this trip

Paid links: I earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What I carried in 2025

Filming kit

Music in this films

All music

What I'd take now

My current kit

Everything I use, in Tools

The Alps bundle

This guide is in The Alps Hiking Guide Pack: 7 guides for $39. Or all 62 guides for $59.

Short answers

How many days does the Alta Via 1 take?
I did it in 7 days with 6 nights in huts, about 75 miles. If you haven't done back-to-back mountain days with a pack, plan on 9 or 10 days.
When is the best time to hike the Alta Via 1?
July to September. The huts open mid to late June and most close between about September 20 and 27. August is the busiest month, and I went September 14 to 20 when the south end was quiet.
Where do you sleep on the Alta Via 1?
In huts, every night. Wild camping is prohibited in the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park and restricted in the other protected areas, so you don't need a tent. Book months ahead; some huts open next year's bookings in October or November.
How do you get to the start of the Alta Via 1?
Fly into Venice and take a bus to Cortina d'Ampezzo, about 2 hours. From Cortina, bus 445 goes to Dobbiaco and bus 442 to Lago di Braies. Arrive the day before you start.
How do you get back from the end of the Alta Via 1?
From the La Pissa bus stop, Dolomiti Bus line 1 goes to Belluno in about 26 minutes, line 9 or the train goes on to Longarone, and Cortina Express runs from Longarone to Venice airport.

I make my guides with AI, from my own films and GPS recordings. How.