About

• Features

  The jagged peaks and towering cliffs of the World Heritage Dolomite Alps are a truly impressive sight. One of the best ways to see the Dolomites is the renowned Alta Via 1 trail, which offers spectacular views from a series of steep, rugged mountains and sheer cliff faces. For more views, take a side trip along one of the via ferrata (“steel roads” in Italian) that cross the route at various points along the way. The via ferrata provide you with cables and baskets to help you negotiate the rock walls. This experience is not recommended if you suffer from vertigo.

• History

  The naming of the Dolomites, where Alta Via 1 is located, daets back to the 18th century, when French geologist Déodat de Dolomieu discovered a mineral similar to limestone in the area. The new mineral was named dolomite in honor of his discovery and the mountains became known as the Dolomite Alps or the Dolomites. During the First World War the Italian and Austro-Hungarian armies fought a number of battles in the Dolomites, and the via ferrata were installed to help get troops to the frontlines more quickly.

• Nature

  The distinctive beauty of the Dolomites, towering in the sky like white sculptures, has long captivated people throughout the world. Yet the mountains we admire today were once at the bottom of the sea. Around 250 million years ago, the sea floor was pushed up by the movement of the earth’s crust, carrying with it a thick layer of deposits including coral and shellfish. Over time, the action of the glaciers, combined with erosion from the wind and rain, gradually exposed the rock surface to the sky, creating the distinctive towers and jagged cliffs that we see today, along with a series of stunning lakes that sit serenely in contrast with the rugged landscape. One of the most beautiful is Lake Braies (Pragser Wildsee), also known as the jewel of the Dolomites, which boasts pristine clear water that appear emerald green.

• The sharply sculptured contours of the Dolomite, the towering great sheer cliffs, the contrast between the rugged mountains and the serene lakes—the Dolomites, a registered World Natural Heritage Site, continue to entrance and captivate the imaginations of people all over the world. Alta Via 1 is the perfect way to enjoy the natural attractions of this remarkable place. Located in north-western Italy, the vast Dolomites regions boasts 18 peaks of over 3,000 meters in height. Of the many trekking routes through the Dolomites, Alta Via 1 is one of the best-known routes. Alta Via 1 runs for 120 km from Dobbiaco in South Tyrol to Belluno in Venetia, and takes about ten days to complete. Altitude variations along the route are 6,665 m in total. Along with the spectacular natural setting, a key feature of the trek is that it illustrates the scale of human endeavor in the region. There are huts dotted at regular intervals along the route serving home-cooked meals, wine, beer and coffee, which means that you don’t have to carry tents or all your food supplies with you. The experience is that much more enjoyable when you’re not weighed down with gear. Instead of breaking your back with heavy supplies, you can fill your heart with memories of breathtaking scenery, beautiful food and the friends you make along the way. Something you won’t want to miss on your trek through the Dolomites are the spectacular colors at sunrise and sunset, when the sculptured white peaks are bathed in a soft salmon pink light, a phenomenon dubbed “alpine glow.” To see the mountain faces transformed in front of your eyes is truly a wonderful spectacle. Possibly the most impressive peak along Alta Via 1 in terms of sheer scale, one that typifies the beauty of the Dolomites region, is surely Mt. Civetta, which reaches 3,220 meters into the sky. The northwestern face alone is over 1,000 m high and stretches some 4 km. There are countless climbing routes to choose from, which gives rise to its nickname as the Wall of Walls. Alta Via 1 gives you the opportunity to climb steep rock walls without having to master rock-climbing techniques, thanks to the cables and baskets installed on the via ferrata. All you need is basic safety equipment such as a harness with carabiner (snap ring), rope and helmet, and soon you’ll be on your way up the rock face! The route throws up many reminders of the war. At Mt. Lagazuoi, the highest point on Alta Via 1 at 2,835 m, you will find a series of wartime tunnels that you can explore, though you’ll definitely need a headlamp or flashlight to find your way around. Around the Cinque Torri (five towers), five peaks that jut skywards like church steeples, you can see the remains of trenches dug by soldiers during the war, a poignant reminder of when war came to the Dolomites. Note: Check local websites for the latest updates.