Day 1: Arrive in Cortina

Your adventure begins in Italy’s Cortina d'Ampezzo, the jewel of the Dolomites. This impressive valley is encircled by dramatic peaks and is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Check into our hotel – within walking distance of the town’s busy, pedestrianised centre – and enjoy some cultraul attractions if you have time. The town’s Ethnographic and Palaeontological museums are worth a visit. Meet your fully qualified snowshoe and mountain guide for a pre-trip briefing in the evening.

 

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

 

Day 2: Podestagno to Rifugio Ra Stua

The first part of our trip is a four-day, hut-to-hut trek carrying our full kit. It starts in Podestagno, where the Cortina d'Ampezzo and Sennes national parks meet. From day one we’re spoilt on the scenery front, with breathtaking views of pine forests, mountains and snowy, high Alpine pastures. Look forward to fresh strudel and warming coffee en route at the family-run Rifugio Ra Stua. Today’s main climb is up to the wild and expansive plateau of Valbones de Inze with its wide-reaching Dolomites view. We’ll return back to the Rifugio for our first mountain night.

 

Accommodation: Mountain rifugio, dinner included

Walking: approx. 6 hrs

Distance: 7.5 km / 4.7 miles

Altitude gain / loss: +850m / -600m

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Day 3: Malga Ra Stua to Rifugio Sennes

 

Today we’ll follow the Val Salata to the Sennes plateau then onwards to the rugged Seekofel mountain (2810m). This is one of the Dolomites’ most photographed, iconic views. It’s located at the point where German, Italian and the Ladinian languages are spoken and had three names: Seekofel, Croda del Becco and Sas dla Porta. We’ll continue past Rifugio Biella (closed in winter), following the popular ‘Alta Via 1’, a long-distance summer hiking trail. In summer you’ll find marmots and grazing cattle, horses and goats. In winter it feels are wilder. The day’s final descent brings us to to the hospitable Rifugio Sennes (2126m) in the Fanes-Sennes-Braies National Park. More hotel than hut, its views are superb. Marvel at Croda Rossa 3146m (10321ft), Cristallo 3221m (10567ft), Sorapis 3205m (10515ft) and Tofana 3243m (10639ft).

 

Accommodation: Mountain rifugio, dinner included

Walking: approx. 7 hrs

Distance: 7 km / 4.3 miles

Altitude gain / loss: +700m / -300m

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Day 4: Rifugio Sennes to Rifugio Fanes

Today, enjoy views of impressive spires and neighbouring valleys from the Col de Lasta, 2297m (1427ft). Next comes a descent through snow-covered meadows then on a wide, steeper track to Rifugio Pederu for lunch. Save a spurt of energy for the steady uphill finish through the Vallone di Rudo to Lago Piciodil to reach the natural amphitheatre of snow-capped mountains which surround Rifugio Fanes. Delicious food and comfortable accommodation await in a phenomenal setting.

 

Accommodation: Mountain rifugio, dinner included

Walking: approx. 6 hrs

Distance: 10 km / 6.2 miles

Altitude gain / loss: +650m / -700m

 

Day 5: Rifugio Fanes to the Bivouac of Peace

Breakfast well, today’s the biggest day of the week to complete the four-day traverse of the Fanes-Sennes-Braies National Park. We divert from the Alta Via high-level route and, conditions permitting, will ascend steadily up to reach the 'Bivacco della Pace' or Bivouac of Peace at 2760m (9055ft). This unmanned hut (below Monte Castello’s summit), is perched like an eagle’s nest and offers panoramic views over Tofana di Rozes, the Sella range and Val Travenanzes. It’s located on the man-made Furcia Rossa path which was built in 1917 by Austrian soldiers. It’s one of the Dolomites’ many war-time 'via ferrata' routes. Continuing on, we’ll descend on a good trail to arrive back at the road head in Podestagno. It’s then a 10-minute local bus journey back to Cortina where we’ll check into our hotel for the next three nights.

 

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Walking: approx. 8 hrs

Distance: 13.5 km / 8.3 miles

Altitude gain / loss: +750m / -1450m

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Day 6: Cinq Torri and the Great War

 

Today is our first showshoe day walk to see the Cinque Torri or Five Towers. The peaks are loved by rock climbers and were the site of strategic Italian trenches and tunnels during the First World War. The day begins with a chair lift up to the Cinque Torri (2137m). Snowshoes on, we can then visit the open-air museum featuring military emplacements to help us imagine how important this region was during the Great War. There are fabulous views of the Castelletto, Col dei Bos, the south face of Tofane di Rozes (3225m) and Mount Lagazoui (2732m) – the site of the Austrian trenches. We then continue to up to a col at 2413m (7916ft) to visit another site of strategic importance, between the Averau and Nuvolao mountains, which is now home to the Rifugio Averau. After lunch we’ll attain the summit of Nuvolao (2575m) for which arguably the best 360 views of the Dolomites including views of Marmolada (3343m) and the glaciated peaks of Austria. We can showshoe down off-piste or grab the chair lift.

 

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Walking: approx. 6 hrs

Distance: 7 km / 4.5 miles (or 10 km / 6.2 miles)

Altitude gain / loss: +500m / -500m or -1100m

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Day 7: Tre Cime di Lavaredo - The Three Peaks

Today begins with a quick drive to lakeside Misurina to start our final snowshoe daytrip. In summer or winter, it’s an idyllic mountain setting. We’ll aim to catch sight of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo (also known as the Drei Zinnen), another world-renowned Dolomites mountain. These immense rock towers are truly impressive. We’ll walk via the Auronzo Hut and the summits just above on the Ciadin de Longeres for more unforgettable views of rock towers and jagged spires. Enjoying these signature silhouettes will be a superb way to end our week of snowshoeing in the Dolomites.

 

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Distance: approx. 9km / 5.6 miles

Altitude gain / loss: +800m / -800m or -1100m

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Day 8 Departure Day

Your Cloud 9 snowshoe adventure along the Dolomites' Alta Via ends after breakfast today.

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