Day 1 - Arrive in Brixen / Bressanone

Our starting point for the Alta Via 2: Dolomites High Route is a medieval town called Brixen, if you're German speaking. Or Bressanone, if you're Italian. It is worth remembering that all place names in the Dolomites have both a German and an Italian version. It is a beautiful town, which was an important artistic and political centre dating back to the middle ages. It's well worth arriving early so that you can explore the cobbled streets and impressive buildings before we meet as a group in the hotel before dinner. Your guide will run through the itinerary, the week's weather forecast, check kit and answer any questions. 

 

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

 

Day 2 - Brixen / Bressanone to Rifugio Genova

Our Dolomites Alta Via 2 journey begins with a cable car from San Andreas village up to the pastures of Valcroce. It's from here that the real trek begins! Our first landmark is the Rifugio Plose, which is our official starting point and the first opportunity for a coffee (and cake) stop. Most of today is a mellow introduction to trekking in the Dolomites; an opportunity to find our feet and get used to the terrain. It's spent mainly on open trails with unspoilt views to the Austrian Tyrol and the Puez-Odle ridgeline. After lunch in the private Schatzerhütte, we cross our first proper col, the Forcella di Putia (2357m) before reaching our night's accommodation in the popular and fun Rifugio Genova.

 

Accommodation: Mountain refuge, dinner included

No luggage access

Walking: approx 6-7 hrs

Distance: 20km

Altitude gain / loss: +1024m / -747m

 

Day 3 - Trek from Rifugio Genova to Rifugio Puez

Today's route is a more classic Dolomites experience with high, airy traverses and towering cliffs. We begin with a short walk back to the Passo Poma, through beautiful meadows of wild flowers. After which, the climbing begins! It's a steady traverse across a stony hillside with impressive rock spires and the snowy slopes of Punta del Puez as our backdrop. In the distance, we'll be able to see a clear notch in the ridgeline above us. That's our high point for the day! We'll enjoy a scrambly route through the Forcella della Roa (2617m) and traverse an airy ridge before we drop down into the high valley that sits above tonight's refuge. We're a long way from any roads or villages, and our accommodation is in a truly remote and unique setting, surrounded by the extraordinary limestone rock features of the Puez range.

 

Accommodation : Mountain refuge, dinner included

No luggage access

Walking: Approx 5 hrs

Distance: 10km

Altitude gain / loss: + 600m / -800m

 

Day 4 - Trek from Rifugio Puez to Rifugio Pisciadu

Leaving the Rifugio Puez, we head deeper into the mountains around us. Our first climb of the day takes us up to the Forcella di Ciampac (2366m) and over a huge plateau before sweeping down to the bright green waters of the Lago di Crespeina. Above the lakes is our second ascent, the Passo Crespeina (2528m), where we'll suddenly be greeted with an impressive view of the snowy Sella massif. The promise of a good lunch will keep us going as we drop down from here below the Pizzes da Cir cliffs, with the goal of reaching 'Jimmy's' - one of our favourite restaurants. After lunch we trek down to the famous Passo Gardena with its stunning road, which has been used in several films. We are now in the heart of the Sella mountains; unforgettable peaks with huge cliffs, unique buttresses and towering rock spires. Our day ends on a tough note, with just over 2 hours of technical uphill hiking / scrambling to our night's accommodation at the Rifugio Pisciadu. The terrain underfoot is uneven and there are some sections that are aided with cables and metal hand / foot holds. It can feel a little exposed but should pose no problems for capable mountain walkers.

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Accommodation: Mountain refuge, dinner included

No luggage access

Walking: Approx 5-6 hours

Distance: 12km

Altitude gain / loss: +862 / -765m

 

Day 5 - Trek from Rifugio Pisciadu to Rifugio Viel del Pan

Today we take a spectacular route that takes us up and over a long stretch of rugged mountainous terrain. We begin by circling round Lago di Pisciadu, before a technical rocky path with some cable sections. It's a steep climb up to the Altopiano del Meisules, a barren landscape rich in ammonite fossils. Following a line of simple cairns, we'll cross this 'lunar' terrain to arrive at the Rifugio Boe for a lovely Italian coffee. It's then a short, gentle climb to the Rifugio Maria which is the top station of the cable car down to Passo Pordoi. Jumping in the lift will buy us time for a longer lunch and save our knees on a punishing 600m descent. Leaving Passo Pordoi our path follows a grassy hillside, flanked by huge volcanic formations, until we reach the beautifully located Rifugio Viel del Pan, with its impressive views of the Civetta.

 

Accommodation: Mountain refuge, dinner included

No luggage access

Walking: Approx 7 hrs

Distance: 13km

Altitude gain / loss: +1108m / -1298m

 

Day 6 - Trek Rifugio Viel de Pan to Passo San Pellegrino

After an early start from the rifugio, our route is dominated by the Marmolada, the 'Queen of the Dolomites', which at 3343m is one of the highest peaks in the range. The southfacing walls of the Marmolada are up to 1000m high, and it is capped by one of the largest glaciers in the Eastern Alps: the moraines are a treasure trove of fossils. There are no major technical sections, but we'll definitely be looking forward to our lovely spa-hotel by the time we reach the final climb of the day to the Passo San Pellegrino.

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Accommodation: Spa Hotel, dinner included

No luggage access

Walking: approx 10 hrs

Distance: 32km

Altitude gain / loss: +1200m / -1760m

 

Day 7 - Trek from Passo San Pellegrino to Rifugio Mulaz

Leaving the San Pellegrino pass, we're now entering the final section of the Alta Via 2, with the week's highest pass and some fun ridgeline scrambling on today's agenda. Our journey begins in style with a short, easy section to the Passo di Valles (2031m) and the Rifugio Passa Valles (for coffee!). From here we'll tackle the day's first climb, up to the Forcella Venegia (2217m) which overlooks the impressive, striped red cliffs of Cima Caladora (2313m). It's now that our day becomes much more exciting as we follow a panoramic crest to Monte Mulaz, Cima di Val Grande, and the majestic Cimon della Pala (3038m). Surrounded by impressive rock spires, exposed ridges, and breathtaking scenery, we'll work our way steadily up to tonight's base, navigating rocky ledges, slabs, and scrambling up some short sections with cables. Our night's accommodation is the spectacularly located Rifugio Mulaz.

 

Accommodation: Mountain refuge, dinner included

No luggage access

Walking: approx 5-6 hrs

Distance: 11km

Altitude gain / loss: +1176m / -548m

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Day 8 - Trek from Rifugio Mulaz to Passo Rolle

As we start our last day's trekking we leave the Rifugio Mulaz to climb higher into the dramatic mountains around us and over the Col de Mulaz. This marks our final point in the high Dolomites, as from here it's a descent to more mellow terrain and the end of our journey. We'll pass through beautiful, lush landscapes as we make our way down on the other side of the col. Our initial goal is the rocky plateau of Castellaz. From here, we normally try to make a short extra loop and climb up to the summit of Cristo Pensante to look back over the hills we've crossed. We'll have the opportunity to enjoy one last coffee and cake stop at the Rifugio Capanna Cervino before our taxi takes us back to our starting point in Brixen, over 100km away. This final night is back in our original hotel, where we will all be grateful for the relative luxury, hot showers and celebratory beers!

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Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Walking: approx 5 hrs

Distance: 8km

Altitude gain / loss: +400m / -851m

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Day 9 - Depart Brixen / Bressanone

Our trip finishes after breakfast.