Dolomites Alta Via 1

Group meeting at Venice airport (the instructor will fly from Kyiv, you can join) at 14:00. Bus (2 hours) to the mountain resort town of Cortina d'Ampezzo, short walk through the center. Bus to Dobbiaco (1 hour), overnight in hostel.

We take a bus to the incredibly beautiful Lake Braies (1500 m). We go around it, take classic photos with the boat and the pier, and start climbing the mountains (Seekofel massif). We storm the Forcella Sora Forno pass (2388 m) head-on. We have lunch at the Rifugio Biella shelter (2320 m). We descend to the Sennes pass (2110 m) and further to the Rifugio Pederü shelter (1548 m), where we spend the night.

Travel time: 7 hours. Distance: 15 km. Elevation gain: 1258 m, drop 1200 m.

The first couple of hours we move along a boring (by local standards) dirt road, skirting the foot of the rocky amphitheater Piza dales Diesc (3026 m). We pass the Fanes refuge and several lakes in the upper reaches of the Val de Fanes. After the Forcella del Lago pass (2486 m), we descend to the charming lake Lago di Lagazuòi (2182 m), in the waters of which the peaks of Torre del Lago and Cima Scotóni (2874 m) are reflected. Then we will have a rapid takeoff to the peak where perhaps the most picturesque refuge of the Dolomites is located - Rifugio Lagazuòi (2752 m). Unfortunately, it is very popular and it is not possible to book an overnight stay here, so we will stay at the Dibona shelter located further down the trail. In addition, there is the option of descending by cable car to the Passo Falzàrego automobile pass.

Travel time: 10 hours. Distance: 22 km. Elevation gain: 1700 m, drop 1200 m.

From Passo Falzàrego we climb the rocky peak of Averau (2648 m) to two more dizzying shelters. From one of them, the Nuvolau shelter, there is the option of descending along an easy via-ferrata. By the way, we go down to the famous rocks of the Five Towers or Cinque Torri - they are relatively small, but stunningly photogenic. Then we cross the Coteana river valley, go to the foot of the Lastoni rock wall and Lago Federa lake, and storm the Forcella Ambrizzòla pass (2277 m). Another rock wall is La Rocheta (2496 m) and we descend to our shelter Citta di Fiume (1918 m).

Travel time: 9 hours. Distance: 20 km. Elevation gain: 1300 m, drop 1450 m.

Through the green valley of Torrente Fiorentina we lay a new zigzag - we go around the Monte Civetta 3220 m massif from the West. We go on a relatively calm traverse, but these are the Dolomites - there will definitely be elevation changes and adventures. We spend the night on the south side of the mountain in the Mario Vazzoler shelter (1720 m) at the foot of the vertical wall of Torre Venezia.

Travel time: 9 hours. Distance: 18 km. Elevation gain: 1050 m, drop 1250 m.

A very long day. We have to pass the upper reaches of the Val Corpassa valley, go around the Moiazza massif (2865 m), at the San Sebastiano shelter, cross the road leading to the Torrente Rova valley, go around the Tamer Grande mountain and finish in the evening at the Pramperet shelter (1880 m)

Travel time: 11 hours. Distance: 24 km. Elevation gain: 1750 m, drop 1600 m.

The hike through the Dolomites is nearing completion - you can slow down the pace slightly and enjoy nature. We climb the peak of Cima de Zita (2540 m), descend to the Pian de Fontana shelter (1640 m), traverse the upper reaches of the Valle del Vescova and descend for the night to the Bianchet shelter (1260 m)

Travel time: 7 hours. Distance: 13 km. Elevation gain: 1250 m, drop 1900 m.

We leave Refugi Bianchet, go down to the highway, and take the bus to the town of Belluno. There we change to a train going to Venice, where we will end up after lunch (the journey takes 2 hours). If you have an evening flight (not earlier than 19:00), then you can fly on the same day. An alternative is to stay in a hostel in Mestre (an inexpensive suburb of Venice) and in the evening go for a walk along the canals and chase pigeons in Piazza San Marco.

Travel time: 2 hours. Distance: 7 km. Elevation gain: 500 m, drop 1250 m.

The Dolomites tour is over. We're flying home.