Alta Via 1 Northern Trek: from Lake Braies to Monte Pelmo

The Alta Via 1 North Trek allows you to cross some of the most iconic landscapes along the northern section of the famous Alta Via 1: a route rich in legendary scenery that blends nature, history, and some of the most recognizable views in the entire Dolomite range.

Your trek begins at the crystal‑clear waters of Lake Braies, framed by imposing rock walls, and continues toward the Fanes‑Sennes‑Braies Nature Park, one of the largest and most fascinating protected areas in South Tyrol.
From the Fanes‑Sennes‑Braies Nature Park, you walk along the trail leading to the Lagazuoi massif, a symbolic site of the Great War and one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the Dolomites. After crossing Falzarego Pass, you enter other unique and striking environments, such as the unmistakable silhouettes of the Cinque Torri, the elegant profile of Mount Pelmo, and the distinctive atmosphere of the Croda da Lago area.

Your trekking base is Cortina d’Ampezzo, where you start and return, and you can tailor the itinerary from three to six days of hiking.

You end each trekking day with an overnight stay (including dinner) in one of our trusted and welcoming mountain huts, some recently renovated and offering private rooms.

The route requires good physical fitness and trekking experience, with daily stages of 5–7 hours and elevation gains that may exceed 1,000 m, on trails that are sometimes steep but without technical difficulties. You walk along well‑marked paths, alternating forests, alpine meadows, and high‑altitude Dolomite scenery, in an authentic environment that offers a deep sense of immersion and connection with nature.

Program details - 8 Day Tour:

• Day 1
  Arrival in Cortina d'Ampezzo and check-in in 3* hotel. 
   
• Day 2 - LAKE BRAIES
  Ascent: +960m. Descent: -300m. Altitude 1500 - 2300m. Distance: 10km. Hiking time: 5h.
  In the morning you reach Lake Braies by transfer, an authentic alpine gem nestled among Dolomite peaks. From here you start following the Alta Via 1 trail that skirts the lake, then gradually climbs through conifer forests and clearings. You continue toward the vast plateau, where the landscape changes dramatically and opens onto wide grassy ridges alternating with pale rocky areas, creating the bright, open scenery typical of the Dolomites. Dinner and overnight in a mountain hut.
   
• Day 3 - FANES-SENNES-BRAIES NATURAL PARK 
  Ascent: +550m. Descent: -650m. Altitude 1500 - 2100m. Distance: 11km. Hiking time: 5h.
  You dedicate the entire day to crossing the Fanes‑Sennes‑Braies Nature Park, a vast protected area of over 25,000 hectares featuring pastures, flowered meadows, alpine basins, and panoramic plateaus. You walk at the foot of imposing Dolomite walls, through a landscape shaped by water and karst phenomena typical of these mountains, making the environment particularly striking and unique. Dinner and overnight in a mountain hut.
   
• Day 4 - LAGAZUOI
  Ascent: +1120m. Descent: -440m. Altitude 2000 - 2800m. Distance: 13km. Hiking time: 6h.
  Today you leave the Sennes plateau and head toward the Lagazuoi massif, along trails that alternate gentle stretches with steeper climbs on increasingly rocky terrain. This is the most demanding stage of the trek, with significant elevation gain and long sections at altitude, but always on marked trails without technical passages. You reach the Lagazuoi Massif, a mountain of great natural and historical interest: from the mountain hut, you enjoy one of the most spectacular panoramic terraces in the Dolomites, while the entire area preserves restored First World War tunnels and fortifications. Dinner and overnight in a mountain hut.
   
• Day 5 - FIVE TOWERS
  Ascent: +790m. Descent: -1470m (with the lift 840 m). Altitude 2000 - 2600m. Distance: 15km. Hiking time: 7h.
  You begin your hiking day at Falzarego Pass, where the trail gradually climbs toward Lake Limedes, a small alpine lake framed by beautiful views of the surrounding peaks. You continue gaining altitude toward Forcella Averau and Nuvolau, along well‑marked trails offering 360‑degree views over the Ampezzo Dolomites, with the Tofane, Lagazuoi, and Croda da Lago unfolding along the horizon. From Forcella Averau you descend to the Cinque Torri area, an iconic symbol of the Dolomites, where the rock towers rise above alpine meadows and offer one of the most scenic viewpoints of the entire trek. Dinner and overnight in a mountain hut.
   
• Day 6 - CRODA DA LAGO
  Ascent: +450m. Descent: -930m. Altitude 1800 - 2400m. Distance: 13km. Hiking time: 5h.
  You explore the enchanting Croda da Lago area, walking through high‑altitude meadows and gentle ups and downs with beautiful views of the surrounding peaks. Once you reach the Croda da Lago basin, with its small lakes and rock faces reflected in the water, you continue traversing toward Mount Pelmo, one of the most imposing and recognizable mountains in the Dolomites, dominating your view for much of the day. In the second part of the hike, the trail gradually descends through pastures and forested sections until you reach your mountain hut. Dinner and overnight in a mountain hut.
   
• Day 7 - AROUND MONTE PELMO
  Ascent: +300m. Descent: -1140m. Altitude 1700 - 2250m. Distance: 14km. Hiking time: 6h.
  Today’s hike leads you along the southern slopes of Mount Pelmo, crossing a variety of environments: green meadows, alpine forests, and high‑altitude rocky terrain. With a short detour, you can reach the famous dinosaur footprints preserved on a large Dolomite boulder. You descend into the valley and return to Cortina by transfer. Overnight in hotel.
   
• Day 8
  After breakfast, check-out and departure.

Program details - 5 Day Tour:

This is the shortest version of the Alta Via 1 North trek and allows you to discover the main highlights in just a few days. Lake Braies, the Fanes‑Sennes‑Braies Nature Park, and the Lagazuoi area are included in this hut‑to‑hut itinerary. 3 days of trekking, 2 hotel nights (before and after), 2 nights in mountain huts.

Program details - 6 Day Tour:

One of the most popular versions of the Alta Via 1 North, which also includes the Cinque Torri and Nuvolau groups compared to the shorter version. 4 days of trekking, 2 hotel nights (before and after), 3 nights in mountain huts.

Program details - 7 Day Tour:

In this variant of the Alta Via 1 North, on the final stage you hike along the northern slopes of Mount Pelmo, from where a transfer takes you back to Cortina. 5 days of trekking, 2 hotel nights (before and after), 4 nights in mountain huts.

Program details - Group departure: 

The program follows the same itinerary as the 7‑day tour: from Lake Braies heading south through the Fanes‑Sennes‑Braies Nature Park, Lagazuoi, the Cinque Torri, and Nuvolau, all the way to the Mount Pelmo area. The itinerary also includes a visit to the Lagazuoi tunnels.

The group departure program does not include hotel nights before or after the trek. The meeting on the first hiking day is scheduled at 8:00 am in Cortina d'Ampezzo. 

Additional clarifications

The program could be changed at discretion of the Campo Base Team based on weather conditions and forecasts, mantaining however inalterate the basic structure and the aims of the proposal.

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