How to Book the Alta Via 1 Rifugios in 2026

The Alta Via 1 is the best-known hut-to-hut hiking trail in the Dolomites, famous for its breathtaking scenery, dramatically situated mountain huts, and reputation as the easiest of the Dolomite high routes.

We hiked the Alta Via 1 in 2019, booking all our rifugios a few months in advance without any trouble. However, the trail’s popularity has grown steadily since then, and many of our readers now report that securing rifugio reservations on their own has become increasingly challenging.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to book the Alta Via 1 independently.

For hikers who struggle to arrange the trek independently, booking a self-guided tour is an excellent alternative. You’ll still hike on your own terms, but a professional team will handle all the logistics, including itinerary creation, rifugio reservations and deposits, and optional transfers to trailhead, ensuring a hassle-free experience. 

We recommend booking self-guided and guided Alta Via 1 treks with Adventure Base because of their excellent customer support and easy-to-use navigation app. Our readers get a special perk if they fill out this inquiry form or use the code MOONANDHONEY at checkout.

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Book the Alta Via 1 Huts Independently (DIY)

The Alta Via 1 is a hut-to-hut hiking trail, whereby hikers overnight in staffed mountain huts (Hütten in German, Rifugi in Italian, Rifugios in English-Italian) along the way. Although mountain huts in the Dolomites vary in comfort and amenities, they are generally quite cozy, offering warm dormitory-style (and occasionally private) rooms, hearty meals, hot showers, drying rooms, and shared bathroom facilities.

Unlike the Tour du Mont Blanc, the Alta Via 1 doesn’t pass through alpine villages with a variety of accommodations such as hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and hostels. Because there are significantly less accommodation options for each stage along the AV1, compared to the Tour du Mont Blanc, it’s critical to book as early as possible (6-9 months in advance).

To make matters more complicated, mountain huts open their bookings for the next summer season at different times throughout the year, so you may need to set calendar reminders to keep track of when reservations become available.

How to Book Rifugios | Each hut must be booked separately. There’s no centralized platform to check availability or make reservations for all huts at once. You’ll need to contact each one individually using the request form, or reservation system on each hut’s website. In most cases, a deposit is required to confirm your booking. You will pay the difference during your stay. 

Alpine Club Hut Discounts | Many huts along the Alta Via 1 are privately owned, so you will not receive an alpine club discount in these huts. 

Payment | Many huts are still cash only. When making your booking, inquire about payment. Make sure to carry sufficient cash for all your overnight stays. Even huts that accept credit cards can’t always process card payments due to connection issues. 

North or South Stages | The Alta Via 1 is typically hiked north to south, starting in the province of South Tyrol and ending in Belluno. Many hikers decide to only trek the northern stages of the Alta Via 1, so they can end in Cortina d’Ampezzo. If you’re struggling to secure accommodation along the northern stages, consider hiking the southern stages only. Note: Rifugios in South Tyrol, located along the northern stages, are generally more comfortable than the Belluno-Veneto rifugios found along the southern sections. However, the southern stages are quieter, since many people exit the trail early. 

Dogs | Most huts have a no pet policy.

Alta Via 2 | Many hikers who can’t find accommodation along the Alta Via 1 begin to consider the Alta Via 2 instead. However, it’s important to note that the Alta Via 2 is significantly more demanding. It’s a challenging, technical route suited only to experienced alpine hikers who are comfortable with exposure and enjoy sections of secured, via ferrata-style trails. 

Cancellation Policies | Each mountain hut has a different cancellation policy. Make sure to note these policies as you make your reservations. Many deposits are non-refundable.

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Alta Via 1 Rifugio Options for Each Stage

• Stage 1: Rifugio Sennes, Rifugio Biella, or Rifugio Fodara Vedla 
• Stage 2: Rifugio Fanes, Rifugio Lavarella, or Rifugio Scotoni 
• Stage 3: Rifugio Lagazuoi, or Rifugio Col Gallina. If you stayed in Rifugio Scotoni, consider staying in Rifugio Dibona. 
• Stage 4: Rifugio Averau, Rifugio Nuvolau or Rifugio Scoiattoli
• Stage 5: Rifugio Città di Fiume, or Rifugio Passo Staulanza 
• Stage 6: Rifugio Coldai, or Rifugio Attilio Tissi 
• Stage 7: Rifugio Vazzoler (or push on to Rifugio Carestiato)
• Stage 8: Rifugio Carestiato, Rifugio C. Tomé at Passo Duran, or Rifugio San Sebastiano
• Stage 9: Rifugio Pramperet 
• Stage 10: Rifugio Pian de Fontana
• Stage 11: Hike down to the La Pissa Bus Stop near Belluno.

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Alta Via 1 Rifugios: How to Book, Showers, Private Rooms

Stage	Mountain Hut	How to Book	Showers	Private Rooms	CAI Alpine Club
1	Rifugio Biella aka Seekofel Hütte	Online Reservation – November 1st	No	No	Yes
1	Rifugio Sennes	Request form on website	Yes	Yes	No
1	Rifugio Fodara Vedla	Online Reservation	Yes	Yes	No
2	Rifugio Fanes	Request form on website	Yes	Yes	No
2	Rifugio Lavarella	Online Reservation	Yes	Yes	No
2	Rifugio Scotoni	Online Reservation	Yes	Yes	No
3	Rifugio Lagazuoi	Online Reservation	Yes	Yes	No
3	Rifugio Col Gallina	Online Reservation	Yes	Yes	No
3	Rifugio Dibona	Phone or email	Yes	No	No
4	Rifugio Averau	Online Reservation	Yes	Yes	No
4	Rifugio Nuvolau	Online Reservation – February 1st	No	No	Yes
4	Rifugio Scoiattoli	Online Reservation	Yes	Yes	No
5	Rifugio Città di Fiume	Online Reservation – January	Yes	No	Yes
5	Rifugio Passo Staulanza	Online Reservation	Yes	Yes	No
6	Rifugio Coldai	Online Reservation	Yes	Yes	Yes
6	Rifugio Attilio Tissi	Online Reservation	Yes	No	Yes
7	Rifugio Vazzoler	Online Reservation	Yes	Yes	Yes
8	Rifugio Carestiato	Online Reservation	Yes	Yes	Yes
8	Rifugio C. Tomé at Passo Duran	Online Reservation	Yes	Yes	No
8	Rifugio San Sebastiano	Phone or email	Yes	No	No
9	Rifugio Pramperet	Phone or email	Yes	No	Yes
10	Rifugio Pian de Fontana	phone or email	Yes	No	Yes
11	Stay in Belluno

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Book a Self-Guided Alta Via 1 Trek

If the task of booking all the rifugios proves daunting, or frustrating, consider turning the planning over to a self-guided hiking company. They’ll reserve all the rifugios for you along the route and customize your trekking itinerary as needed. 

Additionally self-guided hiking operators usually provide: on-trip support, navigation apps, and digital guidebooks.

Adventure Base

Alps-based Adventure Base offers several self-guided Alta Via 1 hiking tours including 4-day, 7-day, 9-day, and 11-day routes. In addition to the general planning and hut reservations, hikers can also book add-on services like pre-trek and post-trek accommodation, luggage delivery from pre-trek hotel to post-trek hotel and a private transfer from the Venice Marco Polo Airport. 

Hikers choose Adventure Base for their 24/7 support communication line, intuitive navigation app with offline GPX tracks, and price point. 

We’re thrilled to promote Adventure Base because they genuinely care about their customers and are committed to making them happy. While many self-guided companies take a more hands-off approach, Adventure Base is there to support you whenever you need it, so you’ll never feel alone on your Dolomites adventure. 

Adventure Base is offering a special perk just for our readers. Book any self-guided or guided trek and claim your reward by filling out this inquiry form or using the code MOONANDHONEY at checkout.

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Alpenventures UNGUIDED

Alpenventures UNGUIDED specializes in booking hut-to-hut tours in the Dolomites. They offer numerous Alta Via 1 itineraries based on length and comfort. Their flexible booking approach means they can often find availability even when other providers are fully booked. For example, some of their itineraries feature alternative starting and ending points and off-trail accommodation.

• 13-Day Alta Via 1
• 10-Day Alta Via 1
• 9-Day Alta Via 1 
• 8-Day Alta Via 1
• 7-Day Alta Via 1 
• 4-Day Alta Via 1 North
• 4-Day Alta Via 1 Central
• 5-Day Alta Via 1 South
• Alta Via 1 with via ferratas

In addition to the Alta Via 1, Alpenventures UNGUIDED has created a really interesting west-east route from the Geisler Peaks to the Sexten Dolomites: Best of the Dolomites Trek. This is a great alternative to the Alta Via 1. If you’re short on time, check out the 5-day west route and the 4-day east route. 

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Book a Guided Alta Via 1 Tour

This is the best way to trek the AV1 if you’re a solo hiker, enjoy the camaraderie of a group, and/or are inexperienced hiking in rugged limestone terrain. 

If you want to trek the Alta Via 1 with a certified guide, I recommend booking your trek with Adventure Base, a mountaineering and trekking tour operator based in the Alps. Adventure Base guides are praised for their professionalism, dedication to safety, and flexibility in re-routing when the weather turns. 

If you want to learn more about joining a guided Alta Via 1 tour with Adventure Base, complete this inquiry form for an exclusive reader perk. If you’re ready to book, apply the coupon code MOONANDHONEY at checkout.

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More Europe Hiking Guides

Dolomites Resources:

• Hut to Hut Hiking in the Dolomites
• 3-Day Tre Cime di Lavaredo Trek
• 3-Day Rosengarten Dolomites Traverse

Alpine Hikes in Europe:

• How to Book the Tour du Mont Blanc and Tour du Mont Blanc Hiking Guide
• Best Treks in Austria
• Alpstein High Trail in Switzerland
• Liechtenstein Panorama Trail in Liechtenstein

Hut-to-Hut Hiking:

• Hut to Hut Hiking
• Hut to Hut Hiking with Kids
• Hut to Hut Hiking in Austria
• Hut to Hut Hiking in Slovenia

Coastal Trails in Europe:

• Lighthouse Way aka Camino dos Faros in Northern Spain
• South West Coast Path in England
• Fisherman’s Trail in Portugal

Europe Trail Inspiration:

• Best Multi-Day Treks in Europe
• Day Hikes in Europe
• 2-Day Hikes in Europe

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