Guides
Practical guides for Dolomites hut-to-hut walking
27 guides on rifugio booking, transport, weather, costs, training, and sample itineraries.
Start here
The three questions almost every first Dolomites trip starts with.Booking
How to book Dolomites huts: the practical step-by-step
How to book Dolomites rifugi for hut-to-hut walking: when slots open, how to email in Italian, deposits, cancellations, and the CAI half-board system.
7 min read
Season
Best time to hike the Dolomites: month-by-month
When to hike the Dolomites: month-by-month breakdown of weather, snow on the passes, hut openings, crowds and prices for hut-to-hut walking.
6 min read
Logistics
Closest airport to the Dolomites: which one to pick for your base
The closest airport to the Dolomites depends on where you stay. Venice wins for Cortina, Innsbruck for Val Gardena, and Verona often makes the cleanest western transfer.
9 min read
Choose your trip
When to go, which route, how many days.
Hut to hut hiking in the Dolomites: the complete guide
How hut-to-hut hiking works in the Dolomites: the rifugio system, choosing a 3-7 day route, what nights cost, when and how to book, and what to pack.
9 min read
How to plan Alta Via 1: the complete step-by-step
Plan the Alta Via 1 hut-to-hut trek in the Dolomites: how many days, when to go, which rifugi to book and when, how to get there, and how to build your night-by-night itinerary.
9 min read
Dolomites itinerary for 3 days: the iconic short trip
A tested 3-day Dolomites itinerary around Cortina and Tre Cime: Lagazuoi, Nuvolau, Tre Cime Loop. Distances, ascents, rifugi and where to start.
6 min read
Dolomites itinerary for 5 days: Cortina to Civetta
A 5-day Dolomites hut-to-hut itinerary from Passo Falzarego through Lagazuoi, Croda da Lago, Pelmo and the Civetta wall. Daily distances and rifugi.
7 min read
Dolomites itinerary for 7 days: a full Alta Via 1 section
A 7-day Dolomites hut-to-hut itinerary covering the heart of Alta Via 1: Braies, Fanes, Lagazuoi, Nuvolau, Croda da Lago, Pelmo and Civetta.
8 min read
Where to stay in the Dolomites: rifugio, valley base, or both?
Where to stay in the Dolomites for hikers: when a mountain hut is the right answer, which valleys make the best bases, and how to mix both on one trip.
8 min read
Dolomites in September: the connoisseur month
September is one of the best months for the Dolomites: fewer crowds, cooler mornings, good hiking conditions, and just enough season left if you watch hut and lift closing dates.
7 min read
Tre Cime di Lavaredo day hike: the classic loop, parking and bus options
How to hike the Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop in a day: clockwise vs counter-clockwise, the Auronzo toll road, reservation reality, buses, easier variants and the smart overnight plan.
8 min read
Seceda ridgeline hike: how to walk the famous viewpoint without overthinking it
What the Seceda ridgeline actually is, the easiest lift-assisted walk, the no-cable-car ascent, the Col Raiser variant, and how to time the light for the Fermeda viewpoint.
7 min read
Lago di Braies hike and how to get there: the lake loop, bus rules and AV1 start
Everything you actually need for Lago di Braies: the easy loop walk, summer 2026 access rules, bus booking reality, and why this lake is the natural start of Alta Via 1.
8 min read
Alta Via 1 vs Alta Via 2: which Dolomites traverse to pick
Alta Via 1 vs Alta Via 2 compared honestly: difficulty, length, scenery, via ferrata, crowds, booking pressure and which one suits a first Dolomites trek.
7 min read
Hut-to-hut in the Dolomites with kids: what works
How to do a Dolomites hut-to-hut trek with children: realistic age cut-offs, child-friendly rifugi, easier routes that still feel adventurous, and what to skip.
7 min read
Book your huts
How rifugio booking really works, what it costs, and when to act.
When to book Dolomites huts: month-by-month booking calendar
When Dolomites rifugi open their booking calendar and how fast each month sells out. A practical month-by-month timeline for hut-to-hut planning.
5 min read
Dolomites hut-to-hut cost: what a week really adds up to
A real 2026 budget for a 7-day Dolomites hut-to-hut trek: rifugi half-board, transport, gear rental, CAI membership and the small costs everyone forgets.
6 min read
Is CAI membership worth it for a foreign hiker?
What the CAI club membership gets you in Dolomites rifugi, how much it costs in 2026, how to join from abroad, and the reciprocal rights with DAV, ÖAV and CAF.
5 min read
Get ready
Packing, training and skills for hut-to-hut walking.
Dolomites hut-to-hut packing list (35 L, 7 days)
A tested 35 L packing list for hut-to-hut walking in the Dolomites: clothing, footwear, sleep liner, the via ferrata kit you do (or don't) need.
8 min read
Via ferrata in the Dolomites for hikers: when you need the kit
What via ferrata grades mean, which Dolomites routes need a kit, the easy beginner options, whether you need a guide, and the named ferratas that sit right by famous rifugi.
7 min read
Training for a Dolomites hut-to-hut trek (12-week plan)
A realistic 12-week training plan for a 7-day Dolomites trek: weekly mileage, ascent, pack-loaded hikes, leg strength and the stair-machine sessions that actually transfer.
7 min read
Get there
Airports, buses and trains into the valleys.
Getting to the Dolomites: airports, trains and trailhead buses
Which airport to fly into for the Dolomites, the train and bus combinations to Cortina, Braies, Bressanone and Sappada, and when a rental car is worth it.
8 min read
Venice to the Dolomites: train, bus and every real option
Every realistic way from Venice to the Dolomites: the direct Cortina bus, the train and bus combination via Calalzo, reaching Lago di Braies, and when a car helps.
8 min read
The Dolomites without a car: hut-to-hut on public transport
You do not need a car for a Dolomites hut-to-hut trek. The four transit systems explained once, the gateways, how to reach the famous trailheads, and when a car wins.
9 min read
On the trail
Hut life, weather and staying safe up high.
Rifugio etiquette: what to expect inside a Dolomites hut
What to expect inside a Dolomites rifugio: shoes off at the door, half-board dinner, dorm rules, paying, tipping, and the small things wardens notice.
5 min read
Are there bears in the Dolomites? The calm, honest answer
Yes, but mostly in western Trentino around the Brenta group. On Alta Via 1, Tre Cime and the classic eastern Dolomites, bears are essentially not part of trip planning.
7 min read
Dolomites weather and afternoon storms: how to read the day
How Dolomites weather works in summer: the daily storm pattern, which forecasts to trust, what to do if you're caught above tree line, and snow timing on the high passes.
7 min read
Apply it on a real route
All routes →Every guide pairs with a route. Pick one and load it straight into the planner.
Famous views
The famous views, solved
Braies, Seceda, Tre Cime and more: parking, best light, and the huts that let you sleep next to the view.
Browse the highlights