Dolomites - Alta Via 1 - Comfort Guided Hike

Guide gratuities are optional and at your discretion. To reward outstanding service, a suggested guideline is 5–10% of the total trip cost. Local currency is preferred.

For intermediate hikers. From 3 to 7 hours of walking a day, with up to +1000m/3281ft of elevation gain and up to -1330m/4364ft of elevation loss. Few technical sections, with a mix of mountain paths and trails.

You only carry a small backpack during the hikes, with what you need for the day. Your luggage is transported by vehicle to the next accommodation.

1 piece of luggage transported per person, 15kg/33lbs maximum.

From 4 to 12 participants (departures are confirmed from 4 booked guests).

Exceptionally, the group may include one more person, for example if a couple registers when only one place is left, or in the case of simultaneous registrations.

7 days / 6 nights / 5 days of hiking

Start

Day 1, at 2:30pm at Venice Airport. Arrival at the hotel at Lake Braies in the late afternoon.

End

Day 7: after breakfast, departure from Alleghe at 9am. Arrival at Venice Airport at about 11:15am: allow enough time to check in for your return flight.

Accommodation

4-star hotels, in twin rooms with private bathrooms. Single rooms are available on request, for an additional charge.

3-star hotels may be used instead if no 4-star accommodation is available.

Meals

Half board with breakfast and dinner, a picnic lunch on the trail each hiking day and hiking snacks (energy bars, nuts, dried fruit, chocolate, etc.). Lunch at a mountain refuge is included on D3.

If you let us know in advance, we can adapt meals to specific diets (vegan, gluten-free, food allergies, etc.).

You will receive an email about two weeks before your departure specifying the time and place of the meeting, the name and contact details of your guide as well as the address of the first accommodation.

By Plane

For this trip, we recommend flying into Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE): Venezia Airport – Airport in Venice Marco Polo (VCE)

From Piazzale Roma in Venice, a bus reaches the airport in about 20 minutes. More information: ATVO or Venice Airport transport.

By Train

Venice has 2 different main departure train stations. The Venezia Santa Lucia train station is the closest to the city center and historic area most frequented by tourists. The Venezia Mestre train station serves the Venetian mainland and is in the Mestre area.

Find out about schedules and tickets:

• Italian Railway: Trenitalia

It is the client’s responsibility to arrive prepared with the items listed below to help insure a safe and enjoyable trip.

CLOTHING CHECKLIST:

The following items are required for this trip unless otherwise noted. When packing, think layered clothing systems that work together and can be easily added or removed.

• Hiking Boots/Shoes – waterproof, sturdy molded sole, deep tread and ideally well broken in (Note: buy boots/shoes 1/2 size to 1 size larger than street shoes to allow for feet swelling and thicker socks)
• Hiking Socks – one pair for every day or two days of the trip. Hiking/Sport specific padded socks, no cotton please!
• Sun Hat – wide brimmed hat or baseball cap/bandana combo
• Warm Hat & Gloves – lightweight beanie and light-to-mid weight fleece or wool gloves
• Hiking Shirts – non-cotton, breathable short sleeve and/or long sleeve shirts (Note: long sleeve shirts provide better sun protection)
• Warm Top – mid-weight sweater or pullover of wicking material such as merino wool, fleece or polypropylene
• Insulating Jacket – down-fill or synthetic-fill insulated “puffy” jacket or warm, heavy weight fleece jacket
• Hiking Pants & Shorts – nylon pants AND shorts, zip-offs or leggings
• Base Layer/Long Underwear – 1 pair of wicking tops and bottoms that are lightweight to midweight, synthetic wicking materials such as polyester, polypropylene, merino wool, etc.
• Rain Gear – waterproof jacket and pants or high-quality poncho, breathable fabric such as Gore-Tex® or coated nylon. For the pants look for side zippers that will easily allow pulling them over footwear.
• Casual Clothing & Footwear – comfortable clothes and shoes to wear in the evening after activities.

Important Note: Please, no cotton hiking/cycling clothes. Synthetic clothing is very efficient in drying quickly. Merino wool material clothing is also efficient in drying quickly, is comfortable to wear and has the advantage of not developing a bad odor after use.

GEAR CHECKLIST:

• Backpack – a 30-45 Liter sized comfortable pack with a waterproof cover for use day-to-day while hiking.
• Personal Luggage – small duffel bag, rolling suitcase or backpack – for extra hiking clothes and casual clothes. This bag stays at the hotel during the day.
• Hydration System – 2+ liters capacity, either water bottles or bladder/hose system and an additional water bottle
• Trekking Poles – telescopic/adjustable poles to help reduce the impact on joints and support hikers in steep and/or rocky terrain. (Note: strongly recommended)
• Headlamp – preferably with an L.E.D. bulb that works with AA or AAA batteries (Note: always test headlamp before trips and travel/pack without batteries in device)
• Picnic/Lunch Kit – knife, plate or bowl, box with closeable lid, utensils, etc.
• Phone & Charger – local sim card or international plan may be needed. Consider bringing a small power bank to use to recharge devices during trip activities.
• Waterproof Travel Case or Pouch – used to keep important documents (i.e. passport, health/travel insurance, etc.) & phone safe from weather/water
• Sunglasses, Sunscreen, & Lip Balm

OPTIONAL ITEMS:

• Travel Power Adapter – Electric power voltage in Italy is 230 V / 50 Hz and the plugs are F & L type
• Support Braces – consider bringing any joint braces that may be currently needed or from past injuries (i.e. knee, ankle, elbow, etc.)
• Sleep Mask & Ear Plugs
• Bug Repellent
• Quick Drying Towel or Bandana(s)
• Swimsuit

FIRST AID KIT SUGGESTIONS:

After years of experience planning adventure travel around the world, we’ve learned that anything can happen, and every traveler should carry a basic personal first aid kit. We want to ensure our guests are well-prepared and make smart informed travel decisions. In many of the places we operate trips, it may be challenging to find certain medications and/or first aid supplies, and sometimes common items you desire may not be available in the destination you are travelling. That’s why it’s good to be prepared and carry a small supply of first aid supplies, any prescription medication, and/or over-the-counter medications you may require during your travels.

We recommend discussing your travel plans, vaccination requirements, and any medication usage with your primary healthcare provider before embarking on our trips. This helps ensure you have a safe and enjoyable travel experience.

During our “Guided” trips, our staff always have emergency equipment on hand to assist anyone in need, including our guests. This equipment includes communication devices and a comprehensive first aid kit with items we’ve found to be effective for the most common health issues we encounter.

Here is a basic list of what we think makes a good personal travel first aid kit:

• Medications – Brands of your choice, all medications should be either prescribed directly by your doctor or discussed with a doctor prior to use.
• Electrolyte Replacement/Drink Mix – brand of choice
• Creams – Antibiotic ointment, Anti-Itch: Hydrocortisone, Arnica
• Eye Problems: Dry/Itchy – Eye drops
• Feminine Hygiene – Tampons
• Wound Care – a various pack of bandages, antiseptic swabs
• Blister Care – blister kit made up of items of your choice
• Sun Protection – sunscreen, SPF lip balm
• Various Items – Athletic tape/"KT Tape", Nail clippers, Tweezers, Small bottle of hand sanitizer, Sewing kit (clothing/button repairs), Disposable surgical gloves (1-2 pairs)

PACKING FOR TRAVEL:
It is recommended that you prepare your items in the following manner for your travels to this trip.

“Carry-on Bag(s)” - This is the bag you will bring with you on the plane. We recommend all your pertinent information be in this bag (passport, travel documents, etc.) as well as your most important gear items (hiking footwear, jacket, prescription medication, etc.) in case any checked luggage items becomes lost or delayed.

“Checked Bag(s)” - This bag will be checked and contain the rest of your personal items (clothing and gear, etc.).

Please Note: Again, it is recommended to either wear or pack in your “Carry-on Bag” the main gear items you need for this trip vs. putting them in your checked “Travel Bag” (in case luggage is delayed). Hiking footwear is probably the hardest item to replace last minute if items become lost or delayed past the intended start date of the trip.

LUGGAGE MANAGEMENT DURING TRIP:
During this trip, the packing system needs to be in 2 bags.

Extra Luggage - “Checked Bag(s)” & “Carry-on Bag(s)”: This bag will contain all the items you want to bring along on the trip. It will be transferred by vehicle, and you will have access to it at the end of each day of activity, but not throughout the day. Only one piece of luggage is transported per person, limited to 15kg/33lbs.

Day Backpack (not provided): All guests need a backpack, which they will be responsible for carrying during trip activities. Items in this bag should include anything you may need throughout the day during the trip. (i.e. rain gear, warm layers, water, sunscreen/lip balm, snacks/food, camera/phone, etc.).

Italy, a member state of the European Union.
Capital: Rome

Documents

Travellers from the European Union, including children, need a valid identity card or passport. Check with the authorities in your home country for the conditions of entering this destination.

Health/Insurance

Do not forget your card and/or policy details for your health insurance and/or travel insurance.

In the Dolomites, the region is often bilingual: people speak either German or Italian or both. Tourist area employees almost always speak some English.

Central European Time (CET/UTC+1) and Central European Summer Time (CEST/UTC+2) during daylight saving time.

European Emergency Number: 112

Visit: Discover Italy: Official Tourism Website - Italia.it

Calling Italy: + 39

Italy is a Member-State of the European Union and uses its uniform currency – the Euro €. Italy, as is the case with the other Member-States of the E.U. uses eight coins as follows: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1 and 2 Euros. The banknotes are issued in the following denominations: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euros. Currency exchange rates are clearly displayed in every bank that accepts currency exchange, while credit card holders may acquire money from the ATMs of the collaborating banks. Italian banks are open for the public from 8:00 to 13:00 and from 14:30 to 16:30 Monday to Friday. They are closed on Public Holidays. Euros can also be exchanged for notes of other foreign currencies at exchange offices that are situated at the airport and certain main ports, in the larger cities, as well as at many tourist destinations. A passport is required when exchanging currencies. Italy more than other EU destinations, still prefer cash in most settings, but credit card use is becoming more and more available.

The Dolomites

Déodat Tancrède Gratet de Dolomieu (1750 – 1801) was a French man of aristocratic origin. He was the man who discovered the chemical composition of dolomitic rocks in which calcium and magnesium carbonates become crimson at dawn and at sunset. It arouses a deep emotion that warms your heart!

This new mineral was discovered in 1789 and it received the name of “Dolomite” in honor of Dolomieu. The rock itself was called “Dolomitic rock”. Later, in 1864, the whole mountainous region where this rock prevails took on the name we know today, the DOLOMITES.

In the Dolomites, which are a genuine stone garden, we find more than 1,500 different species of plants, but also wood and forests among the largest and the most varied ones in Europe. At the season of blooming flowers, it is an explosion of colors. More than 50 varieties of orchids and countless meadow flowers are mixed with red fruits, edelweiss, and other solitary mountain flowers. We can also find a great number of herbs and medicinal plants and mushrooms of all sorts. The diversity and the variety of the ground enable the blooming of this huge multicolored garden that contributes to the peculiarity of the Dolomites.

Painters, writers, and poets, have all praised the mountains of the Veneto region. For centuries, explorers, fearless climbers, tireless hunters, mushroom lovers, and hikers searched for unspoiled, hidden nature and pure air to breath within these mountains. The distinct and memorable contours etched against the boundless expanse of the celestial heights in the upper atmosphere offers an emotion you must experience firsthand to perfectly understand it. The Dolomites, mountains of legend and of extreme rock climbing, with their spiked summits and their bright pastel tints, exert a magical and strong attraction on all human beings.

They offer the possibility to live an unforgettable experience, an opportunity for all, of any age and physical condition; indeed, to appreciate them and be definitively conquered by their beauty, it is not necessary to climb them; you only must get close and look at them. This is the aim of this trip.