---
title: "Guided Alta Via 1"
type: "tour"
trip_type: "guided"
lang: "en"
distance_km: 68
elevation_plus_m: 3690
elevation_minus_m: 3710
difficulty: "Medium"
duration_days: 7
from_price_eur: 2120
season: "Late June to mid-September"
accommodation: "Hotel and mountain refuges"
start_point: "Cortina d'Ampezzo"
end_point: "Passo Duran"
url: "https://dolomites-guide.com/tours/guided-alta-via-1/"
description: "7-day guided Alta Via 1 from Falzarego Pass to Passo Duran. Hike past Cinque Torri, Croda da Lago, Pelmo, and Civetta with a certified guide."
---

# 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.

## Overview

The classic north-to-south Alta Via 1 with an EU-certified mountain guide. Starting at Falzarego Pass above Cortina, the route links Cinque Torri, Croda da Lago, Mont Pelmo, and the Civetta massif over five days of refuge-to-refuge hiking. One hotel night at the start and five nights in Dolomite rifugios bring you south to Passo Duran - one of the most rewarding long-distance walks in the Alps.

## Stats

- Trip type: guided
- Difficulty: Medium
- Duration: 7 days
- Daily hours: 4.5 - 6h / day
- Distance: 68 km
- Elevation gain: 3690 m
- Elevation loss: 3710 m
- Accommodation: Hotel and mountain refuges
- Start: Cortina d'Ampezzo
- End: Passo Duran
- From price: €2120 per person
- Season: Late June to mid-September

## Highlights

- Classic north-to-south traverse of the Alta Via 1
- Cinque Torri rock towers above Falzarego Pass
- Croda da Lago and the reflective waters of Lago Federa
- Traverse beneath Mont Pelmo - first major Dolomite summit ever climbed
- Civetta massif with views of Lake Alleghe
- Tofane peaks at {{3,225 m | 10,581 ft}} on the northern horizon
- Five authentic Dolomite refugio nights with Italian dinners

## Included

- 6 nights accommodation (1 hotel in Pocol, 5 mountain refuges)
- Full board (dinner from Day 1 through breakfast on Day 7, trail picnic lunches)
- EU-certified mountain guide for all hiking days
- Luggage transport between overnight stops (except Days 3 and 5)
- Taxi transfers at start and end of route

## Not included

- Travel to Venice or from Longarone
- Beverages
- Travel insurance
- Registration and refuge booking fees
- Personal expenses

## Availability

- 06/2026: available
- 07/2026: available
- 08/2026: available
- 09/2026: available
- 06/2027: available
- 07/2027: available
- 08/2027: available
- 09/2027: available

## Day-by-day itinerary

### Day 1: Transfer to Pocol

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**Arrival day.** Your guide meets you at Venice airport for the 2.5-hour transfer to the hotel in Pocol, near Cortina d'Ampezzo. The evening is free for a kit check and orientation briefing before the route begins tomorrow.

### Day 2: Falzarego Pass to Cinque Torri Refuge

- Distance: 10 km
- Time: 5 h
- Ascent: 850 m
- Descent: 580 m

**First steps on the Alta Via.** From Passo Falzarego the trail climbs to Col dei Bos at 2,332 m (7,651 ft) and then over Averau Pass before dropping to the Cinque Torri Refuge below the famous five rock towers. A strong start with wide views across the Ampezzo basin and toward the Marmolada.

### Day 3: Cinque Torri to Croda da Lago

- Distance: 14 km
- Time: 5 h
- Ascent: 630 m
- Descent: 840 m

**Formin Pass and the secret lake.** Leaving the Cinque Torri, the route climbs to Formin Pass at 2,461 m (8,074 ft) before descending to Lago Federa at the foot of Croda da Lago. The dark, still waters of the lake mirror the pale rock walls above. Overnight at the lakeside refuge.

### Day 4: Croda da Lago to Staulanza Pass via Mont Pelmo

- Distance: 17 km
- Time: 6 h
- Ascent: 860 m
- Descent: 770 m

**The throne of the gods.** Descend from Lago Federa and cross the high pastures toward Mont Pelmo, the massive isolated tower that was the first major Dolomite peak to be climbed. The trail traverses its western flanks to Staulanza Pass before dropping to Coldai Gap at 2,191 m (7,188 ft) for the overnight refuge.

### Day 5: Civetta - Lake Alleghe Views

- Distance: 15 km
- Time: 5 h
- Ascent: 720 m
- Descent: 770 m

**The great wall.** A traverse along the base of the Civetta northwest wall - over a kilometre of vertical limestone - with Lake Alleghe glinting in the valley far below. The scale of this face is overwhelming and the trail provides ever-changing perspectives as it winds through scree and short sections of fixed cable.

### Day 6: Col Palanzin to Passo Duran

- Distance: 12 km
- Time: 5 h
- Ascent: 630 m
- Descent: 750 m

**The final stage.** From Col Palanzin the trail climbs through Forcella dell'Orso before the long descent to Passo Duran. The pace is relaxed and the views south toward the pre-Alps confirm how far the route has come. A taxi transfer from the pass to Longarone marks the end of the walk.

### Day 7: Transfer to Longarone

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**Departure day.** After breakfast at the refuge near Passo Duran, a taxi transfer takes the group to Longarone station for onward connections by train or bus. The Alta Via 1 is complete.

## FAQ

### How difficult is the Alta Via 1?

This tour is graded Medium (Level III). Daily hiking ranges from 4.5 to 6 hours with steady elevation changes on well-marked trails. Some sections are exposed and require care, but no technical climbing equipment is needed. Prior multi-day hiking experience is recommended.

### What is the food like in mountain refuges?

Italian rifugios serve hearty multi-course dinners featuring regional dishes such as polenta, stews, and fresh pasta. Breakfast is continental. The quality of refuge cooking in the Dolomites is consistently high and a highlight of the experience.

### Is luggage transferred every day?

Luggage is transported between most overnight stops by vehicle. On Days 3 and 5 the terrain does not allow vehicle access, so you carry everything needed for that night in your daypack. A packing list is sent before departure.

### Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts with a transfer from Venice airport to Pocol near Cortina. It ends at Passo Duran, from where a taxi transfer takes you to Longarone for onward connections by train or bus.

### When is the best time for the Alta Via 1?

Mid-July to early September offers the most reliable conditions. Late June can still have snow on higher passes and some refuges may not yet be open. September brings quieter trails but check refuge closing dates in advance.