Hut-to-hut hiking in the Dolomites has long been a bucket list item! Planning our itinerary hiking in the Dolomites was time-consuming but incredibly rewarding, and we hope this guide helps you navigate the logistics of your own trip. Below you will find the ultimate guide to hut-to-hut hiking in the Dolomites.
This hiking experience blends breathtaking views and remote destinations with a touch of luxury. Each day, we hiked through the stunning Alps and spent our evenings enjoying three-course meals and celebratory drinks in cozy mountain huts.
The Dolomites, part of the Italian Alps in northeastern Italy, offer endless hiking opportunities. In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about hut-to-hut hiking in this region, including where to stay, how to plan your itinerary, and what to do.
Table of Contents
What Regions to Visit in the Dolomites?
While researching our trip, we were amazed by the sheer number of incredible places to explore in the Dolomites. You could spend weeks here and still not see it all! Given our time constraints, we divided our adventure into three key regions: Tre Cime, Seceda, and the Alta Via 1 (AV1) route.
Tre Cime di Lavaredo
Tre Cime di Lavaredo is a must-visit destination for both hut-to-hut and day hikes. We chose to do a day hike, staying one night at a rifugio to catch the unforgettable sunset and sunrise over the peaks. The nearby Cadini di Misurina range is also a highly photographed area worth exploring.
Seceda
Located in the western part of the Dolomites, Seceda is another highlight. Seceda is known for its impressive, jagged mountains, and endless green rolling hills. You can stay in the nearby town of Ortisei or opt for a mountain hut, as we did. A gondola ride offers easy access to the Seceda Ridgeline. Nearby, there is the beautiful Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm area, featuring lush alpine pastures.
Alta Via (AV1) Route
The Alta Via 1 route was the focal point of our itinerary. Renowned for its stunning views, this 75-mile trekking route truly lived up to its reputation! We completed the first half of the AV1 route, which took us five days and four nights, starting at Lago di Braies and ending at Passo Giau. Hiking through lush pastures and soaring peaks while staying at different rifugios each night was an unforgettable experience. We highly recommend including this in your itinerary! We will be back to complete the remainder of the AV1 route as soon as we can!
Best Time of Year to Hike in the Dolomites?
The ideal time for hiking in the Dolomites is from late June to the end of September. This window offers the best weather, but remember that mountain conditions can change quickly. Be prepared for possible sun, clouds, fog, rain, and even snow. We recommend the best months to visit are July and August.
What Airport to Fly into?
For international travelers, Venice Marco Polo Airport is the best option. It’s a 2- to 3-hour drive to the Dolomites.
Getting Around the Dolomites
We recommend renting a car for seamless travel between different areas in the Dolomites. Ensure you have a valid international driver’s license, which you can easily obtain from a local AAA store.
Dolomites Itinerary Planning
Here’s our step-by-step process for reserving accommodation at a rifugio:
- Be Flexible: A flexible travel window increases your chances of securing accommodations. We chose a three- to four-week timeframe.
- Select Regions: Decide which areas you want to explore. We focused on Tre Cime, Seceda, and AV1, allowing us to piece together our trip.
- Create an Itinerary: Outline the regions to visit and be open to rearranging based on availability.
- Plan Hut-to-Hut Hiking: This is crucial as it requires knowledge of your planned hikes and the rifugios along the way. We focused our hut-to-hut experience on the AV1 route while filling the rest of our trip with day hikes.
- Check Rifugio Availability: Research rifugio availability online and email those without online booking options.
- Book Your Huts First: Prioritize booking huts based on availability, then plan day hikes around those reservations.
Itinerary Overview
Night 1: Venice Airbnb
Night 2: Tre Cime di Lavaredo at Rifugio Pian di Cengia
Night 3: Seceda at Fermeda Hutte
Night 4: Hotel Lago di Braies
Night 5: AV1 at Rifugio Ucia dles Muntagnoles
Night 6: AV1 at Rifugio Lagazuoi
Night 7: AV1 at Rifugio Averau
Night 8: Cortina d’Ampezzo at Hotel de Len
Tre Cime Itinerary
After a day in Venice, we drove two hours to the Dolomites, parking at Rifugio Auronzo to kick off our hike in the Tre Cime area. We grabbed a croissant at Auronzo before setting off to Rifugio Dreizenhutte for lunch. The trail offered stunning views of the three peaks, and we enjoyed a hearty meal influenced by South Tyrol, featuring bratwurst, goulash, and polenta. Our first radler (beer with lemonade) became a refreshing staple for the trip!
After lunch, we hiked up to the Grotta delle Tre Cime, which are small caves overlooking the peaks of Tre Cime in the distance. We then continued to Rifugio Pian di Cengia, our quaint overnight stop. We were charmed by this family-owned hut. The cozy sleeping area accommodates up to 15 hikers in the bunk-bed style dorm room. The food was phenomenal, especially the potato-stuffed ravioli and freshly baked apple strudel. We capped off the night with their special Jager-tea, a delightful cocktail similar to a hot-toddy cocktail.
The next morning, we enjoyed breakfast at Cengia before hiking back to Rifugio Auronzo for a short hike to Cadini di Misurina. This famous lookout is stunning and well worth the visit—only a two-mile round trip from the parking area. After leaving Auronzo, we drove two hours west towards Seceda for the next part of our trip.
Accommodation in Tre Cime
We recommend Rifugio Pian di Cengia as a first choice and Rifugio Dreizenhutte as a second.
Hiking in Tre Cime
- Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop: 7 mile loop through Tre Cime. Check out the All Trails
- Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop + Rifugio Cengia: 9 miles loop. All Trails
Tips for Tre Cime
- There’s a park entrance fee for Tre Cime which costs about €30 per car per day.
- Expect a line of cars at the park entrance; it moves quickly.
Seceda Itinerary
We arrived at the Col Raiser lift in the early afternoon, taking it up to Fermeda Hut. The round-trip lift ticket costs €30, making it the easiest way to access Seceda. From the lift, it is a 20-minute walk along a scenic trail to the hut, bustling with day hikers and families enjoying picnics in the sunshine.
Fermeda Hut provided a blend of rustic charm and luxury. After a day of hiking, we relaxed in the hot tub and sauna. Dinner was phenomenal, featuring homemade pasta (the carbonara was a highlight!), rack of ribs, and a heavenly tiramisu. The dining area offers breathtaking views of the mountains.
We woke early for a sunrise hike along the Seceda Ridgeline. Starting at dawn allowed us to enjoy the trail without the crowds. Typically, in order to access the ridgeline, travelers are required to use the lift which is only open 8am – 5pm. Thus, the only way to catch the sunrise or sunset at the ridgeline is to hike. This was the primary reason we decided to book our accommodation at Fermeda Hut with its close proximity to the trail. Our morning sunrise at Seceda Ridgeline was an absolute highlight of the trip!
Returning from the hike, we feasted on breakfast at the hut, and then we returned to the lift and began our journey back to Cortina.
Accommodation in Seceda
We recommend staying at Fermeda Hut for a unique hut experience close to the Seceda Ridgeline.
Hiking in Seceda
Tips for Seceda
- Hike the Seceda Ridgeline at sunrise or sunset to avoid crowds.
- If time allows, explore Ortisei and the Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm area. We did not have time to explore these areas, but it is a perfect excuse for a return trip!
Alta Via 1 Route
From Seceda, we drove to Cortina d’Ampezzo, a central hub for accessing various hikes in the Dolomites. We parked in Cortina and took a bus to Lago di Braies, staying overnight at Hotel Lago di Braies before starting the AV1 hike.
The bus system is super user-friendly. For the first bus from Cortina to Dobbiaco, you can purchase tickets on board. They actually do not even offer pre-sale tickets. For the Dobbiaco to Lago di Braies route, we recommend buying tickets in advance. You can purchase these tickets here.
Upon arriving at Hotel Lago di Braies, we were awestruck by the stunning turquoise lake. This romantic hotel was the perfect place to unwind before our trek. We celebrated our arrival with a Hugo Spritz at sunset and a delicious three-course dinner.
Be sure to reserve the night at Hotel Lago di Braies in advance as it books up quickly! We noticed online that it required a 3-night minimum stay, but we emailed requesting a 1 night stay before the AV1 route and we were able to reserve a room.
AV1 Itinerary
Night 1: Hotel Lago di Braies
Night 2: Rifugio Ucia dles Muntagnoles
Night 3: Rifugio Lagazuoi
Night 4: Rifugio Averau
Night 5: Hotel de Len
After completing the AV1 hike, we took a bus from Passo Giau back to Cortina to retrieve our car. For our last night, we splurged at Hotel de Len, where we enjoyed complimentary spa access and stunning views of the Dolomites—an idyllic way to unwind after a week of hiking. Their spa includes a sauna, steamroom, emotional showers, and an infinity hot tub that we will forever dream about!
To cap off our trip, we celebrated our one-year anniversary with dinner at Ariston in Cortina, indulging in steak and homemade pasta.
There’s so much more to share about our time along the AV1 route—stay tuned for a dedicated blog post coming soon.
Rifugios
What You Need to Know for Staying in these Mountain Huts
In the Dolomites, accommodations range from hotels and Airbnbs to the charming rifugios (mountain huts). We knew we wanted to experience these remote huts, but booking them was a significant stressor during our trip planning. They tend to fill up quickly, often requiring reservations far in advance, and each rifugio has a different method for reserving accommodation. Coordinating availability across different rifugios and regions proved challenging.
We joined a Facebook group (Dolomites AV1) that provided valuable travel tips, especially regarding rifugio bookings. Many members advised reserving your hut at least a year in advance! We were surprised since we were planning our trip just seven months ahead.
The good news? Persistence pays off! Although we were initially disappointed about not securing a night at Rifugio Lagazuoi (one of the most popular on the AV1 route), we kept checking for last-minute openings. To our surprise, just weeks before our trip, several rooms became available, allowing us to book accommodations for ourselves and our friends!
Important Information to Know Prior to Visiting the Rifugios
Varied Policies: Each rifugio has its own website and booking policies. Some allow online reservations, while others require you to email for availability. Be prepared for differing deposit requirements—most require a credit card or wire transfer, and many deposits are non-refundable.
Food Options: Most hut reservations include breakfast and dinner. Breakfast typically features yogurt, granola, pastries, deli meats, cheese, and sometimes eggs. Dinners are often multi-course meals, with options for pasta, meat, and dessert. Many huts let you choose your meal preferences upon arrival.
Payment Methods: Some rifugios operate on a cash-only basis due to their remote locations and limited Wi-Fi. Check in advance to avoid surprises.
Essentials to Pack: We recommend bringing a sleeping bag liner and hut slippers. The liner is great for extra comfort, while slippers help keep the huts clean and your feet cozy.
Check out our Google Maps to track everywhere we went!
The Comments
Catherine
This is so good – an amazing resource and travel inspiration!!!