Self-guided hiking tour in the Dolomites: Alta Via 1 South

Alta Via 1 is one of the most fascinating treks in the Alps and in particular in the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The southern part of the Alta Via 1 in particular is less crowded and allows mountaineers to enjoy breathtaking landscapes immersed in the silence that only mountains can offer.

The southern itinerary is characterized by the presence of small, fascinating alpine lakes and the majestic blocks of dolomite of the Ampezzo Dolomites. On days of good weather, the elements of water and rock merge with the great peaks mirrored in the characteristic lakes.

The majesty of the Cinque Torri and the one-of-a-kind landscape of Croda da Lago, the unspoiled and silent nature of Monte Pelmo, the Monte Civetta group and the wild Dolomites of Moiazza, where the hiker still manages to experience a sense of adventure and exploration of the mountain, are the factors that make the southern part of Alta Via 1 unique and suitable for all mountaineers.

On the longer versions of the Alta Via 1 South hiking tours, you will have the possibility to experience the wildest areas of eastern Dolomites, leaving behind the most crowded and famous sites to discover the beauty of quietness and solitude characterising the southern part of Alta Via 1.

Program details - 8 days:

• Day 1
  Arrival in Cortina d'Ampezzo and check-in in 3* hotel. 
   
• Day 2 - CINQUE TORRI AND LIMIDES LAKE
  Ascent: +740m. Descent: -800m. Distance: 11km. Hiking time: 5h
  From Cortina d'Ampezzo, private transfer to the trailhead. The first stage of the trek begins from the Pass, 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Hotel accommodation in Longarone.

• Day 8
  Departure

Program details - 6 days:

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. The base camp hotel for the last night is in Belluno (4 hiking days, 2 nights in base camp hotel before and after the hike, 3 nights at huts).

Program details - 7 days:

The 7-day itinerary includes all the above mentioned highlights adding the discovering of Moiazza Dolomites. The base camp hotel for the last night is in Forno di Zoldo (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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