Take the high route this summer in the incredible Italian Dolomites in the northeastern corner of Italy in our new for 2027 5-day and 4 nights express hut to hut itinerary. The Italian Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009, have been described by the explorer Reinhold Messner as “the most beautiful mountains in the world.” On this hut-to-hut  runcation, or trail running/hiking adventure, you'll crest the impressionable rock spires, mountain passes, and descend through alpine meadows along the famous Alta Via 1 along some of the most beautiful trails in the world. Along the way, you'll take respite from the trail in scenic and comfortable staffed mountain lodges, or rifugios, which offer warm lodges, scenic vistas, and four-course Italian dinners as well as a full bar and beverage list. On this self-guided trail running tour, your hut-to-hut adventure ensures that you'll waking up and falling asleep to spectacular mountain sunrises and sunsets by sleeping up high at the foot of these impressive mountains.

This retreat adventure is open to ages 15 and up of any pace. Must be able to complete 10-16 miles/day of hiking/running at altitude, including 3,000-6,000 feet of elevation gain/loss per day. Optional 12-week training package available from an experienced running coach to ensure you're trained and ready to go for this adventure of a lifetime! 

All accommodations and bookings for 5 days and 4 nights on the trail

Trip logistics of route planning, rifugio lodging, and baggage transportation reservations

Curated rifugios with Italian delicacies and even a sauna!

Baggage transport from hut-to-hut on your days on the Alta Via 1 (AV1) 

A detailed trip packet with packing lists, mountain resources, and map gpx file maps

Half board (breakfasts and dinners) included at mountain huts and breakfasts at hotels 

Communal accommodation in dorms at mountain huts/rifugios

Detailed information on how to catch public transport from Venice, Italy airport to the start of the route and how to return to Venice, Italy by public transport at the end

International airfare

Alcoholic beverages and lunch/snacks during the day

Travel Insurance

Transport to the start/end of the route

Lodging before/after the trip

24-hr assistance on the trail (see our guided Dolomites trail running tours for this)!

Passport:

Must have a valid passport valid through 6 months upon date of travel.

Travel Insurance:

Must have travel insurance prior to start of trip. 

Fitness/Pacing:

While there are guides to accommodate every pace of attending runner, this trip requires participants to be able to run/hike for 7-15 miles on trails at a time in mountainous/high altitude climates with an elevation gain/loss of 1,800-6,000 feet per day. Training for this trip is essential in order to be able to complete and enjoy the trip.  Optional 12-week training package available from an experienced running coach to ensure you're trained and ready to go for this adventure of a lifetime! 

Weather:

Although the weather in late summer is often ideal, weather in the mountains is variable and trail conditions are subject to change on an hourly basis! Route subjective to change based on the safety of conditions and climate of the trail.

Where the Trip Starts and Ends:

The closest international airport to the trip is Venice, Italy. Your first day on the trail starts at Lago di Braies and your last day on the trail ends in Agordo, Italy. You can access both the start and end to/from Venice by public transportation or hiring private transfers.

Trip Difficulty: Level 3

https://runcation.org/which-trip-is-right-for-me

Mountain Hut Experience:

This trip includes staying in mountain huts/rifugios. To learn more about the mountain hut experience, click below:

https://runcation.org/mountain-hut-experience

Baggage Transfer:

Baggage transfer is a special service, not standard luggage handling. On our self-guided routes your bag may travel by mule, on foot with a porter, by taxi, or by gondola to reach the next mountain hut or guesthouse — so there are strict requirements every guest must follow:

• Weight limit: 15 kg per person maximum. This is a hard limit set by our mountain transport partners, not a guideline.

• Soft-shell bags only — no wheels or hard cases. Duffels and soft backpacks can be strapped to a mule or carried; rigid suitcases cannot.

• One bag per person

Packing within these limits is essential — bags that exceed the weight limit or can’t be safely carried may not be transferred. Full packing guidance is included in your trip packet.

If you’re new to hut-to-hut travel, don’t worry: we’ll walk you through exactly what to bring. These mountains reward packing light.

We recommend arriving to the start of the trip from the Venice Airport and transferring to the town of Cortina d'Ampezzo via a shared shuttle for the evening. From Cortina d'Ampezzo, you'll be able to take two short public buses to the start of your adventure the following morning!

For your first day on the AV1, you'll enjoy an early breakfast at your hotel before catching a public bus to the start of the route (detailed instructions included in your trip packet). You'll head head out from Lago di Braies and up towards the Parco Naturale delle Dolomiti d'Ampezzo with panoramic views of the Sass de Putia to the Tofane pyramids. You'll cover 11 miles on the trail at with options to stop for photo breaks, lunch, and cappuccinos at rifugios along the way. Your home base for the evening will be a modernized rifugio level offering typical South Tyrolean dishes and beverages. 

Communal Accommodation in Rifugio with Breakfast and Dinner Included

Roughly 11 miles/+3,300 feet ascent/-2,500 feet descent**

Baggage transfer included

**Please note, exact mileage and ascent/descent info each day subject to change based on accommodation availability at your time of trip request, but this is a good guideline**

Day 2: Today you will enter the Cortina Dolomites, starting the day with the spectacular Passo di Limo. Along the way you'll have the chance to stop at a malga, or dairy farm, with beverages and simple meals before entering the Val Travenanzes. You'll pass watefalls on the route and run underneath the spectacular towers of the Tofane. You'll cross multiple passes before a final descent to your rifugio for the evening. Today is the biggest day of the route with two route variants to choose from (details of each in your trip packet).

Communal Accommodation in Rifugio with Breakfast and Dinner Included

Two Route Variants to Choose From

1) 17 miles, +/- 6,000 feet (2 rifugios along the way to stop at)

2) 12 miles, +4,000 feet ascent/-3,000 feet descent (no rifugios along the route to stop)

Baggage transfer included

Day 3: You'll start the day with a climb that passes through an important area in Dolomite history dating back to World War One before circling the impressive Cinque Torri area. Have a coffee and enjoy the view before continuing on towards one of your most spectacular days on the trail as you cover almost miles featuring peaks and passes of both smooth singletrack and technical trails. Highlights include Passo Giau, the site of the ancient Mondeval Man, and a stop for coffee with the cows at Rifugio Citta di Fiume. After climbing up towards the stunning Passo Giau forcella, you'll enjoy a long and gradual descent towards a higher end rifugio. You'll be greeted with a warm welcome at your comfortable rifugio that serves excellent meals, apple strudels, access to an optional spa and sauna, and sunset views of that special Dolomiti light on the nearby Pelmo.

Communal Accommodation in Mountain Rifugio with Breakfast and Dinner Included

Optional Access to Sauna and Spa

~14.5 miles/+3,000 feet ascent/-4,000 feet descent

Baggage transfer included

Day 4: For your final full day on the trail, you'll enjoy your last high alpine vistas at the start of the trail before descending in altitude as vegetation turns to forest and we get a view of the impressive mountain walls from below. You'll be rewarded for a long day on the trails with epic amounts of climbing and descent with a rifugio perched on a bluff with a backdrop of Dolomite mountains. Enjoy a beer or pasta on the sun deck and celebrate your final evening in the mountains. 

Communal Accommodation in Rifugio with Breakfast and Dinner Included

~15.5 miles/4,800 feet ascent/4,500 feet descent

Baggage transfer included

Day 5: For your final morning, you'll enjoy an early breakfast and coffee at your rifugio before descending a couple of easy miles down to the town of Agordo. From Agordo you can catch transport back to Venice, or continue your travels onward!

Breakfast Included

~5.5 miles, +800 feet, -3,500 feet

Baggage transfer to the Agordo bus station included