Dolomites Alta Via 1 South (Self-Guided)

Holiday Notes 2018

Please email us at [email protected] to ask about this trip. You’ll find all the latest information at www.alpineexploratory.com/holidays/dolomites-alta-via-1-south.html.

Our approach back of spectacular Monte Civetta brings us to Rif Vazoller in its wooded setting. Rifugio Your route Our trip gives a complete journey on foot from Stage 4: Rifugio Vazzoler to Passo Duran Cortina to La Stanga near Belluno. The local (10km with 580m ascent) bus can be taken from Cortina to the AV1 Today calls for striding out; the distance which runs above town, and then another bus passes quickly on generally good terrain, with is taken from La Stanga to Belluno. On the short sections of more slow-going and steep trek itself, no transport is needed. The AV1 is walking. Several combes are crossed on the a well-defined route that offers many variants, Civetta massif, which the AV1 is still skirting in as described in your routecards. Where the these stages. Reach the quiet road at Passo route splits, generally our normal route below Duran. Auberge

takes the easier option. The Lastoi de Formin above Cortina Stage 5: Passo Duran to Rifugio Fontana Routecards and maps (15.5km with 995m ascent) Enter an area of bold mountains today, at About these Holiday Notes Each day's route is explained in detail on your times with a more remote feel than the hills routecards, to bring you to your night's accommodation. We give you the real maps before... however, the walking is similar as These Holiday Notes help you decide whether you cross the Cime di Zita, and there is a this holiday is right for you. Before your trip we for you to follow, not printouts or photocopies. refuge half-way for lunch. A long and send you final detailed information. interesting descent brings you to a grassy Getting there and back Your holiday starts in Cortina and ends in shelf hidden from civilisation. Rifugio Details Belluno. Travel to Cortina and from Belluno is not included in the holiday price - we leave it Stage 6: Rifugio Fontana to La Stanga Start Cortina to you to make the arrangements that suit you (12km with 250m ascent) Finish La Stanga for Belluno best. Venice is the most convenient airport The trek is completed with a modest half- Region Dolomites with several transfer options available. Full day’s stage to the road. To avoid the AV1’s Country Italy information on flight and transfer options will via ferrata finish over the imposing Schiara Length 6 walking days be sent to you on booking. massif, we take the straightforward path and Total distance 85.5km track past Rif Bianchet, to reach the bus to Typical day 13.5km with 640m ascent Belluno. Belluno comes as a contrast to the Itinerary Highest altitude 2,575m calm of the trek, being a small yet lively town Grade Red3 very much in an Italian style. Hotel in Belluno Arrival day: Arrival in Cortina Evening arrival in Cortina. There is masses of Introduction Departure day: Departure from Belluno scope for eating out. Hotel in Cortina Departure from Belluno after breakfast.

The Alta Via Uno is one of the North-to-South Stage 1: Cortina to Rifugio Nuvolau treks across the Italian Dolomites, taking Our normal schedule of accommodation might (18km with 675m ascent) not be available, especially for busier times or roughly 10 days in its full length. Our AV1 Return to the hillsides above Cortina, with an South week spends 6 days on the Southern at shorter notice. We book accommodation as optional bus to miss the first 6km. Walk near close as possible to this itinerary and give you half of the trail, from Cortina to Belluno. the splendid Cinque Torri, five towers, and a schedule to check before we proceed. onto the bold ridge that holds the Nuvolau hut. The AV1 route can be walked without great Rifugio difficulty, being made up of standard Alpine paths. Our routecards also describe variants Stage 2: Rifugio Nuvolau to Rif Citta’ di which bypass the harder sections. Much of Fiume the route is over rocky paths in the mountains, (15km with 490m ascent) with long sections too on good solid tracks. Descend a steep and rocky path, which can Forested sections are interspersed with bare be bypassed, to reach Passo Giau and the rocky hillsides. hills beyond. Wide open walking over meadows is a theme for the afternoon, Our routecards follow the main Alta Via Uno interspersed with short climbs. At the end of route, starting in Cortina to meet the trail the day the realm of Cortina has been well left above town. We also describe all of the behind, and the Zoldo area looms large. common variants, so that on most days you Monte Pelmo is unmistakeable today with its have some choices of path. The only route two summits. Rifugio that we miss is the difficult via ferrata on the Schiara, the mountain at the end of the trek Stage 3: Rif Citta di Fiume to Rifugio above Belluno. We take the variant to La Vazzoler Stanga, for the local bus to Belluno, thus (18km with 750m ascent) keeping the whole trek to normal mountain Passo Staulanza or Passo Palafavera are paths and tracks instead of any via ferrata. crossed today, being two road passes giving . alternative routes. A long traverse around the

Dolomites Alta Via 1 South (Self-Guided)

Accommodation Passports and visas Hazards

Our standard schedule of accommodation Passport holders of the US, Canada, Health consists of 1 night in a 3-star hotel, 1 night in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore do not Italy does not require tourists to take any a 2-star hotel, 1 night in an auberge, and 4 need a visa to enter Italy. vaccinations. However, it is recommended to nights in mountain huts. keep tetanus vaccines up to date. Weather The huts are comfortable and welcoming. Hut Safety accommodation is in dormitories, either on The weather in these parts of the Italian Alps This is adventure travel! This holiday takes Alpine-style communal sleeping platforms or from July to mid-September is generally highly you to some wild and remote areas, in in bunk beds. We can sometimes book private suitable for Alpine walking. While snowfall is particular some areas of upland mountains rooms at some of the huts. In the hotels we possible on higher ground all year round, it is where navigation can be difficult in poor book ensuite rooms. In the auberge we book unlikely in this the summer season. weather. The weather can also be a hazard in non-ensuite yet still private rooms. Your info itself. During any walking, whether following a pack contains full details of your During cold spells in summer, rain can fall as routecard or making your own route, you are accommodation including contact details and snow on the Alta Via 1’s higher passes. responsible for your own actions and safety directions. Additionally, patches of snow left over from and you should join the trip with suitable skills, Winter and Spring might linger into July, but experience and equipment. The walking should not pose problems. July and August are commonly the hottest months but with Further information Terrain greater amounts of rain and greater risk of The AV1 South’s terrain comprises wide afternoon thunder storms; the first half of Please email us with any questions at tracks through forests, the odd country lane, September can be stable, with the chance of [email protected]. zig-zagging hillside paths and steep, rocky some beautifully clear days. mountain paths. In some places on optional Disclaimer variant paths the paths are particularly steep Thunderstorms are a particular danger in and loose, for example on the final summer, occurring most often in the This information is given in good faith and is approaches to cols and in loose descents. afternoons. believed to be correct at the time of issue. The most difficult section is the optional circuit Alpine Exploratory cannot be liable for any of Monte Pelmo. However, the AV1 has no via This all means that it is sensible to come loss or injury incurred. ferrata or climbing sections and is a trek equipped and expecting all the types of throughout. weather that might be experienced in a typical summer in the UK: from heavy rain storms Your own routes with a chill in the air, to hot sunshine. While your routecards make up the walking for the trip, you are of course free to walk Equipment wherever you choose, taking side trips or going by a different route of your own choice. You will need the usual equipment for Please note that if you follow your own route mountain walking in the Alps. Especially you will have left the holiday for the duration. important are good walking boots, good waterproof jacket and waterproof trousers, Food and sun protection. For the huts you will need a sheet liner. No via ferrata equipment is Meals included are all breakfasts plus 5 needed. We will send you an equipment list evening meals (at all of the refuges and on booking. Please also see the Equipment auberges). For lunches there is lots of page of our website for more information. opportunity to stock up on ingredients along the route. You will often find huts and cafés Local expenses during the walking, useful for lunch stops. Your routecards give information about food Local expenses include food and drink other shops and refreshment stops along the route. than those meals that are included, plus any For eating out on the nights when dinner is local transport, attractions and extras. not included, there are good options in the village or town. Guided days

Insurance Hire one of Alpine Exploratory’s leaders to join you on this self-guided holiday, for one or Clients must have insurance to cover more days. A leader helps plan and carry out themselves for helicopter search & rescue, each day’s walking and adds interest to your medical expenses and repatriation. We holiday by pointing out local features. Please recommend, but it is not compulsory, that you contact us for prices and more information. also have cover for personal liability, cancellation and your baggage and money. Groups You might find that your annual multi-trip travel insurance covers these items already. We will send you details of suitable insurance Walk by yourself or in your own group, or see policies on booking. if we can match you up with other like-minded walkers on the same holiday. Any group will be a maximum of 8 people.