Passo Giau (Giau Pass), at 2,236 m7,336 ft, links Cortina d’Ampezzo and Selva di Cadore. In 2026, Dolomiti Bus opened a summer bus line to it from Cortina, and the pass is the starting point for the climb to Rifugio Nuvolau, on foot or by the Ra Gusela via ferrata.
What can you see from Passo Giau?
From the pass you look down over the Ampezzo valley and see the Gusela del Nuvolau, the Croda da Lago, the Lastoi de Formin and Monte Cernera. From the car park, on trail 443, the jagged walls of Ra Gusela are on your left, the Croda da Lago and the Lastoi de Formin on your right.
For a wider panorama, trail 436 leads to Forcella Giau, after a descent and a climb back up. From there Monte Pelmo faces you; behind you stand the Odle, Ra Gusela, the Averau, the Lagazuoi, the Fanes group and the Tofane.
How do you get to Passo Giau?
By bus, since summer 2026: Dolomiti Bus line 53 (Cortina - Passo Giau - Pescul) ran from 8 June to 9 September 2026, with five departures a day to the pass from Cortina (Scuole stop), via Pocol.
- Beyond the pass, the line serves Rifugio Piezza and Fedare before Pescul.
- The 2027 summer dates are not published yet: check them before building your day around the bus.
- Timetables: Dolomiti Bus summer lines (in Italian).
By car, the pass lies on the road between Cortina and Selva di Cadore. On 4 July 2027, the day of the Maratona dles Dolomites, check traffic conditions with the organiser before planning your day at the pass.
What can you do from Passo Giau?
From the pass there are two ways up to Rifugio Nuvolau: on foot along the trails, or by the Ra Gusela via ferrata.
On foot, without the via ferrata, follow trails 452, 464 and then 439: allow about 2 hours 15 minutes to the hut.
Via the Cinque Torri, trail 443 starts from the pass car park and runs along the east side of the Gusela del Nuvolau, almost level at first, then in steep zigzags just before Rifugio Cinque Torri. From there, trail 439 climbs to the Nuvolau in about 1 hour 30 minutes: allow between 2 hours 15 minutes and 2 hours 45 minutes from the pass.
On the 439, Rifugio Scoiattoli and Rifugio Averau make good stops: the climb from one to the other is short and easy, about 30 minutes, and from the Averau the Nuvolau is less than an hour away. The full loop, out via the Cinque Torri and back by the 464 and 452, takes 5 hours and is for experienced hikers: keep it for a day when you have time to spare.
By the Ra Gusela via ferrata: from the pass, trail 443 then 438 lead to the start of the ferrata, which climbs to the hut. This is a via ferrata, not a stroll: only set out if you have the equipment and the experience. Route description: Cortina Cinque Torri.
Rifugio Nuvolau is open only in summer: outside the season, carry food and water for the whole day. For more hikes around Cortina, see our Cortina d’Ampezzo hiking guide.
When should you go to Passo Giau?
From June to early September, especially without a car: that is the season of line 53 (8 June to 9 September in 2026) and of Rifugio Nuvolau, open in summer only.
Nearby huts
Berghotel Passo Giau
A year-round mountain hotel right at the top of the scenic Passo Giau, offering comfortable rooms and sweeping 360-degree views of the Ampezzo Dolomites.
Malga Giau
A traditional alpine dairy farm just below Passo Giau, where hikers can enjoy fresh local cheeses and sleep in a rustic setting surrounded by open meadows.
Rifugio Averau
Perched on the saddle between the Ampezzo and Agordino valleys, this refuge is world-renowned for its gourmet high-altitude cuisine and panoramic terrace views.
Rifugio Nuvolau
The oldest mountain refuge in the Dolomites, built in 1883 atop Monte Nuvolau, commanding a legendary 360-degree panorama of peaks from Marmolada to Tofane.
Rifugio Croda da Lago
A beautifully situated refuge on the shore of Lago Federa, one of the most photographed mountain lakes in the Dolomites, beneath the towering Croda da Lago wall.
Nearby hikes
Nearby hiking bases
Cortina d'Ampezzo Hiking Guide
A practical guide to hiking from Cortina d'Ampezzo, the main base town in the eastern Dolomites. Covers the best trails, accessible rifugi, transport from Venice, and the right months to visit.
Updated 20 October 2026
Alleghe Hiking Guide
A guide to hiking from Alleghe, on its lake below the Civetta: the lake loop, the Col dei Baldi gondolas, the Coldai, Tissi and Vazzoler huts, summer buses from Belluno and when to go.
Updated 20 October 2026
Tours via this pass
Dolomites Self-Guided Hiking around Cortina
A 7-day hotel-based hiking holiday around Cortina d'Ampezzo. Five day walks to Cinque Torri, the Tofane massif, Lake Sorapis and the iconic Tre Cime di Lavaredo circuit.
Grande Traverse of the Dolomites - Bolzano to Cortina
A 10-day self-guided traverse from Bolzano to Cortina crossing the Rosengarten, Alpe di Siusi, Puez-Odle plateau, Lagazuoi and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo - all with refuge half-board throughout.
Guided Alta Via 1
Seven days on the classic Alta Via 1 from Falzarego Pass to Passo Duran. Cinque Torri, Croda da Lago, Mont Pelmo, and the Civetta massif with an EU-certified guide and full board throughout.
Guided Dolomites - Women Only
A seven-day women-only guided hiking week around Cortina d'Ampezzo, led by a female EU-certified guide. Cinque Torri, Tre Cime, Lake Sorapis, and the Tofane massif - hotel-based with all transfers.
