Hiking in the Fassa Dolomites - hut to hut through Marmolada, Sella and Sassolungo mountain groups

You are about to experience one of the most iconic and spectacular treks in the Dolomites: a journey on foot through the extraordinary variety of alpine landscapes of Trentino and, in particular, Val di Fassa.

This trek allows you to explore six legendary mountain ranges: Monzoni, Marmolada, Sella, Sassolungo, Antermoia and Catinaccio (Rosengarten). The trails unfold mostly between 2.000 and 2.600 meters, with sections that take you above 3.000 meters. Along the way, you walk across flower-filled plateaus, panoramic ridges, hidden valleys and high-altitude environments shaped by time and the elements.

The itinerary begins by crossing the Monzoni Group before reaching the Marmolada massif, the “Queen of the Dolomites”, with its towering rock faces and luminous alpine meadows overlooking Lake Fedaia. From here, you enter the heart of the Sella Group, a true high-altitude desert made of layered rock formations and lunar landscapes, leading you to the ascent of Piz Boè. At 3.152 meters, it is the highest peak of the group: an accessible yet always thrilling Dolomite “3000er”. You then continue toward the Sassolungo, walking literally beneath the emblematic walls of the Dolomites, until you reach the soft, verdant meadows of Val Duron - an alpine fairytale come to life. The tour concludes in the legendary realm of the Rosengarten mountain group, from where you return to your basecamp in Val di Fassa.

Each day ends in welcoming alpine huts, where you can enjoy traditional mountain cuisine and relax with hot showers. Many of these huts are set in spectacular locations, and those surrounding Val di Fassa are considered among the finest in the Alps.

You can experience this trek either as a guided tour, accompanied by an expert local guide, or in a self-guided version, following your own pace with a detailed program designed by mountain professionals. The itinerary includes long stages in terms of both distance and high-altitude, rugged terrain. No specific technical skills are required, but good physical fitness is essential.

Program details - 9 Day Tour: 

• Day 1
  Arrival in Val di Fassa and check-in in 3* hotel. 
   
• Day 2 - MONZONI GROUP
  Ascent: +790m. Descent: -680m. Altitude: 1920 - 2680m. Distance: 10km. Hiking time: 5h.
  With a transfer you reach the trailhead in Passo San Pellegrino. You start the hike entering in the Marmolada group, taking the slopes of the Monzoni group - the first mountain chain of the Dolomites on your itinerary. With the Monte Civetta in the background, you hike to the Fuciade basin first and to the hut of the same name then. From here, you hike up along meadows and gravel to Pas da le Cirele. You have few people hiking in this area and there are good chances of sighting wild animals, as for example the Alpine ibex. They are not fearful of hikers and can “pose” for cameras for long periods of time. You now have a stunning view on the south side of Marmolada and start descending towards the hut where you are going to spend the night. Dinner and overnight stay in hut.
   
• Day 3 - AT THE FOOT OF MARMOLADA
  Ascent: +1190m. Descent: -1180m. Distance: 18km. Hiking time: 7h.
  The hike starts ascending to Rifugio Passo San Nicolò, where you have a stunning view on Sella, Pordoi and Marmolada mountain groups. You face one of the most difficult passages of the hiking tour at the Forcia Neigra, where there is a short stretch of equipped trail. Having crossed the forcella, a quite steep descent begins. It brings you to the grassy hollow of Ciampac, a beautiful natural amphitheater which offers an amazing view of the Sella group. Here there are several huts for a break, to then continue descending to reach the small town of Alba. The last part of today’s hike develops on a trail that from ages is used by pilgrims as the main route to cross southern Val di Fassa. It goes uphill until you reach Lake Fedaia, where you spend the night. Dinner and overnight stay in hut.
   
• Day 4 - GROUP OF SELLA
  Ascent: +1250m. Descent: -740m. Altitude: 2050 - 2680m. Distance: 12km. Hiking time: 6h.
  Today you are headed to the Sella mountain group – a petrified coral atoll that had formed in a prehistoric ocean. You start hiking on one of the most scenic trails of the Dolomites: the Viel dal Pan. This trail follows an ancient route once walked by bread merchants between Veneto and Trentino regions, while crossing vast grassy slopes near the ridge line. The “road of merchants” offers stunning views of the Marmolada glacier on the opposite side and the still azure waters of Fedaia Lake at the foot of the massif. You reach Rifugio Viel dal Pan and continue without important elevation changes until reaching Passo Pordoi. From the mountain pass, you walk to the Ossario del Pordoi, a war memorial dedicated to the Germanic fallen of the two World Wars. Dolomites were indeed an important theatre of the WWI battles. From here, the hike itinerary continues at higher altitudes and it is fully “dolomitic”. You hike the south-eastern side of the Sella group on terrain of different types: gravel, soil and rocky terrain. The impressive landscape of Sella, famous for the lunar landscape of its highland regions, accompanies you to the hut. Dinner and overnight stay in hut.
   
• Day 5 - PIZ BOÈ
  Ascent: +900m. Descent: -1220m. Altitude: 1850 - 3150m. Distance: 12km. Hiking time: 7h.
  You start ascending Piz Boè, the highest point of the itinerary at 3.152 meters above sea level. Now you are on the top of Sella group and ready to descend its western side through new stunning lunar landscapes. The descent is long and challenging and brings you to Passo Sella. Here you can enjoy a sunset with a view of a new dolomitic mountain range: the Sassolungo group. Dinner and overnight stay in hut.
   
• Day 6 - SASSOLUNGO
  Ascent: +870m. Descent: -1190m. Altitude: 1970 - 2300m. Distance: 12km. Hiking time: 6h.
  On the last hiking day you hike across Sassolungo, with technical rocky terrain. You start ascending to Rifugio Demetz, located in one of the most suggestive locations of the Dolomites. You are in a narrow gorge that bisects the massif and the hut is at the top of it. You start the descent to Rifugio Vicenza and take the trail that circumnavigates Sassolungo and Sassopiatto with new views on Catinaccio mountain range. The day ends at the foot of Sassolungo. Dinner and overnight stay in hut.
   
• Day 7 - ANTERMOIA
  Ascent: +930m. Descent: -1290m. Altitude: 1950 - 2770m. Distance: 16km. Hiking time: 7h.
  Today you dive straight into the wild and secluded environment of the Antermoia Group, a high-altitude plateau almost entirely devoid of vegetation, shaped by pale rock formations and deep gorges. The trail climbs through a wide eastern ravine polished by ancient glaciers, a primordial landscape that leads you to the famed Lake Antermoia. At 2.495 meters, this icy and perfectly still lake appears suspended in time, nestled beneath golden cliffs rising more than 400 meters above the water—one of the most breathtaking settings of the entire trek. After taking a moment to enjoy the silence and beauty of the place, you continue along little‑traveled paths that preserve the true sense of wilderness. A long descent eventually brings you back to lower elevations, closing one of the most striking and remote days of the itinerary. Dinner and overnight stay in hut.
   
• Day 8 - ROSENGARTEN RANGE
  Ascent: +810m. Descent: -780m. Altitude: 1620 - 2550m. Distance: 10km. Hiking time: 6h.​​​​​​​
  Today you leave the wild gorges of Antermoia and enter a new Dolomite universe: the Rosengarten, an ancient fossil coral reef stretching for 10 km and remarkably preserved for more than 230 million years. Here you encounter one of the most iconic landmarks of the Dolomites: the Vajolet Towers. You walk right beneath these soaring pinnacles, circling them closely as they rise like the turrets of a fairytale castle. The trail then continues toward the opposite slope, where a natural balcony offers an even more spectacular view of the entire group. Your day unfolds along a panoramic ridge dominating all the summits of the Catinaccio. At your feet, vast scree slopes plunge toward the valley, while in front of you stretches one of the most elegant skylines in the whole Dolomite range. Finally, you descend toward Val di Fassa, where you return to your now familiar hotel. Overnight stay in hotel.
   
• Day 9
  After breakfast, check-out and departure.

Program details - 6 Day Tour: 

This is the shorter version of the itinerary and follows the first 4 legs of the main itinerary. The tour ends upon reaching Passo Sella, where you do not stay overnight but return to Val di Fassa using public transportation.

Program details - 7 Day Tour:

This route option includes 5 hiking days and ends after completing the loop around the Sassolungo and Sassopiatto. On the final day, a short shuttle ride takes you back to Val di Fassa.

Program details - 8 Day Tour:

The 8‑day tour crosses all the mountain ranges featured in the main itinerary, offering a complete yet more compact traverse compared to the 9‑day version. Unlike the extended program, this route does not enter the heart of the Sella massif, but instead crosses its western side along a panoramic stretch of about three hours before descending toward Passo Sella.

Program details - Group departure:

This program follows the same itinerary as the 7‑day tour but does not include hotel accommodation before or after the trekking.

Additional clarifications

The program could be changed at the discretion of the Campo Base Team / Mountain Guide (UIAGM certified) based on weather conditions and snow levels, maintaining unaltered, however, the basic structure and the aims of the proposal.

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