Alta Via 1 Southern Trek: from Passo Falzarego to Belluno

The Alta Via 1 is one of the most fascinating treks in the entire Alps, in particular, in the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. By choosing the Southern section of this iconic route, you immerse yourself in the less-traveled part of the itinerary, where you can enjoy breathtaking landscapes wrapped in the silence that only the high mountains can offer.

Starting from Passo Falzarego, the first part of the itinerary runs in an environment characterized by the presence of small, enchanting alpine lakes and the majestic dolomite formations of the Ampezzo Dolomites. On clear days, water and rock blend together, with the towering peaks reflecting perfectly in the characteristic mountain pools.

As you continue along your path, you move through landscapes that change constantly while maintaining the same spectacular atmosphere. You walk past the grandeur of the Cinque Torri and the unmistakable scenery of Croda da Lago, an area beloved by hikers for its natural harmony and the light that wraps around the dolomite walls at sunrise and sunset. You then enter more solitary territories: Monte Pelmo, with its imposing shape and ancient geological history, and the Civetta group, one of the most iconic mountains in the Dolomites. Heading further south, the trail becomes even quieter. The Moiazza Dolomites, wild and rarely visited, offer you a rare chance to experience the mountains with a sense of adventure and discovery that is increasingly hard to find elsewhere.

On the longer versions of the Alta Via 1 South treks, you have the opportunity to explore the most remote areas of the Eastern Dolomites, leaving behind the more crowded and well‑known areas to discover the beauty of the peace and solitude that define the southern section of the Alta Via 1.

This trek remains accessible to anyone with good physical fitness and some experience in alpine terrain, without requiring technical skills or special equipment.

The Southern section of the Alta Via 1 is perfect if you are looking for a genuine experience: immersive, natural, far from tourist crowds, and capable of giving you that sense of freedom that only the mountains can provide. It is a trek that guides you step by step into the wildest heart of the Dolomites.

Program details - 8 Day Tour:

• Day 1
  Arrival in Cortina d'Ampezzo and check-in in 3* hotel. 
   
• Day 2 - CINQUE TORRI AND LIMIDES LAKE
  Ascent: +740m. Descent: -800m. Altitude 2000 - 2600m. Distance: 11km. Hiking time: 5h.
  From Cortina d'Ampezzo, short transfer to the trailhead. The first stage of the trek begins from Passo Falzarego, where you face a not too demanding height difference between the sparse vegetation of the mid-mountain. Immediately you meet the fascinating Lake Limedes with its bucolic postcard landscape. Continuing slightly uphill you meet the Averau and Nuvolau forks, a prelude to the encounter with one of the most famous Dolomite profiles in the world: the so-called “Cinque Torri”. You continue along the gentle ups and downs of the path admiring the landscape of alpine meadows. Dinner and overnight stay in hut.
   
• Day 3 - CRODA DA LAGO AND MONTE PELMO
  Ascent: +440m. Descent: -710m. Altitude 1800 - 2400m. Distance: 10km. Hiking time: 4h.
  The day begins immediately with the spectacle of Croda da Lago. Lake Federa here merges itself with the surrounding landscape and brings new emotions from every angle. Following the slightly uphill path, the contrasts between the green alpine clearings and the Dolomite peaks become harsher and more frequent with the suggestive profile of the Becco di Mezzodì and the Col della Puina, where the path continues downhill with a progressively lower altitude and below 2000 meters above sea level. The trek continues on a slight descent with the imposing 3000 meters of the majestic Monte Pelmo on the left. Dinner and overnight stay in hut.

• Day 4 - MONTE CIVETTA AND LAKE COLDAI
  Ascent: +950m. Descent: -470m. Altitude 1700 - 2250m. Distance: 11km. Hiking time: 6h.
  The fourth day route is characterized by a slight uphill alternating with short ups and downs with very limited height differences. The first part of the hike is immersed in alpine vegetation, but this becomes increasingly sparser as you approach Mount Coldai. Here you find the fantastic Lake Coldai, which takes on an unmistakable turquoise color on days of good weather. Passing through the Forcelle Coldai and Col Negro, the trek continues gently and you walk with the mountain group on your left. The latter is dominated by the 3200 meters above sea level of Monte Civetta, the last suggestive landscape of the day. Dinner and overnight stay in hut.

• Day 5 - MOIAZZA DOLOMITES
  Ascent: +1020m. Descent: -1450m. Altitude 1400 - 2100m. Distance: 14km. Hiking time: 7h.
  Today you enter in the most unexplored part of our tour: the Moiazza Dolomites. You leave keeping the Civetta group on the left, which accompanies you along the path with a succession of peaks between 2500 and 3000 meters above sea level. Walking towards gradually gentler landscapes, you enter the vegetation in the direction of the Mario Vazzoler hut, surrounded by the fascinating botanical garden dedicated to Antonio Segni. The excursion continues uphill hiking surrounded by green meadows and mountain woods. Dinner and overnight stay in hut.
   
• Day 6 - SAN SEBASTIANO AND PRAMPER
  Ascent: +590m. Descent: -560m. Altitude 1500 - 2000m. Distance: 13km. Hiking time: 5h.
  You hike in a very different scenario than the one of the first hiking days. In the southern part of the Alta Via 1 landscapes become more authentic and less crowded. During the hike you meet typical, not-renewed alpine dairies and other characteristic buildings of these remote alpine lands. The crossing of Forcella Moschesin (1940 m) represents the most demanding part of today's outing. Dinner and overnight stay in hut.
   
• Day 7 - DOLOMITI BELLUNESI NATIONAL PARK
  Ascent: +600m. Descent: -1880m. Altitude 750 - 2450m. Distance: 14km. Hiking time: 7h.
  Last hiking day in the Dolomites, discovering the beauty of Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park. You start the day hiking uphill to the Forcella de Zita Sud (2351 m), to then facing a long descent to go back down to valley. During the way you discover several casere. Originally, a casera was the building used by the alpine dairy staff as a shelter and for the production of milk derivates. Descent and private transfer to the base camp hotel. Overnight stay in hotel.

• Day 8
  After breakfast, check-out and departure.

Program details - 6 Day Tour:

Very popular version of Alta Via 1 South, including all the best sites from Passo Falzarego to the Moiazza Dolomites: Cinque Torri massif, Croda da Lago, Monte Pelmo area and Lake Coldai (4 hiking days, 2 nights in base camp hotel before and after the hike, 3 nights at huts).

Program details - 7 Day Tour:

The 7-day itinerary includes all the above mentioned highlights adding the discovering of Moiazza Dolomites (5 hiking days, 2 nights in base camp hotel before and after the hike, 4 nights at huts).

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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