Tre Cime is the Dolomiti park I am most frequently asked about. People flock from all corners of the globe to see the park’s most famous feature, the three grand monoliths. Although the Three Peaks are spectacular, most people don’t realize that other mountains in the park are even more dramatic: Croda Dei Toni, Tre Scarperi, or Cadini di Misurina, to name a few.
This 4-day / 3-night north-to-south Tre Cime traverse will allow you to see them all and tackle several fantastic via ferratas along the way.
Everything to know about Tre Cime Traverse
Best time of the year to do the Tre Cime traverse
The Tre Cime traverse is achievable between mid-June and the third week of September. Don’t forget that being in the mountains means you can expect snowfall even in the height of summer. Some of the snowy pictures in the post were taken at the end of August.
An interactive map of the Tre Cime traverse
Although this map is pretty accurate and will help you visualize and plan your route, it should not be used to navigate in the mountains.
The Sesto region of the Dolomites (which contains Tre Cime Nature Park) is detailed in Tabacco Map No. 10. I strongly suggest you purchase it and highlight the route on the map, following my article’s suggestions.
Where does the Tre Cime Traverse start?
The trailhead lies in the North part of the Tre Cime Nature Park in the Fiscalina Valley near Hotel Dolomitenhof. It’s the same trailhead as the Croda Fiscalina Circuit day hike.
The biggest towns nearby are either Moos/Moso (a 5-minute drive), Sesto/Sexten (an 8-minute drive away), or San Candido/Innichen (a 15-minute drive away). If you want to make an early start, I recommend splurging on the fancy Hotel Dolomitenhof before spending three less luxurious nights in the high alpine huts.
How to get to San Candido, Sesto or Moos
San Candido is a 2-hour train ride (or car ride) away from Bolzano (Bozen), the nearest city. Sesto is a 12-minute bus ride from San Candido, and Moos is 5 minutes away.
If you are coming from overseas you can fly to Venice airport, take a shuttle to Cortina D’Ampezzo then a public bus to one of the towns mentioned above.
You can also fly to Innsbruck in Austria (ca. 3 hours away) or Munich in Germany (ca. 5 hours away by public transport).
Where to stay the night before the traverse
How to get to the trailhead
By Bus
The trailhead bus stop is Moso (Sesto) Pian Di Val Fiscalina. To check bus schedules, go to the Sued Tirol Mobil website. It’s an excellent tool for navigating public transport in the Italian Dolomites.
Type in your departure and arrival stop. You can find a bus stop near your hotel using the map provided on the site.
Example: To determine the bus schedule from San Candido/Inninchen train station type in Innichen, Bahnhof Innichen in the departure point, and Moso (Sesto), Pian di Val Fiscalina as the destination. You will have to take bus no. 446 and then 440. They travel at 30-minute intervals, and the journey takes 27 minutes.
By Car
Since 2023, seasonal driving restrictions in Val Fiscalina have been in place. From approximately mid-June until the start of October, the trailhead can only be reached by bus. The exact dates can be checked on the official tourism website.
TIP: If you are coming by car, park near Lago Antorno or in the town of Misurina, where this backpacking trip ends, and catch the bus to the trailhead. That way, your car will be waiting for you when you finish the traverse.
Tre Cime Nature Park Traverse day-by-day breakdown
Day 1: Val Fiscalina to Rifugio Pian di Cengia via Rifugio Zsigmondy Comici
- Distance: 8.9 km / 5.5 mi
- Walking time: 3-4 h
- Elevation gain: ca. 1000 m / 3280 ft
- Path numbers: 102, 103, 101
As the first days go by, it doesn’t get much easier than this; there is only a mere 1100m of elevation gain. I hope you get my sarcasm. The first day starts with a stroll through the Fiscalina Valley. Head south on path no. 102 from hotel Dolomitenhof. It’s a wide-access road that hugs the side of many large fields.
After another twenty minutes of continually touching the old river bed, the route reaches the Talschlusshuette, the first refuge along the way.
The route then swings past the hut and turns onto path no. 103. You may have noticed some switchbacks earlier on the mountain in front of you; that’s where you’re heading. These switchbacks, which have intermittent sun protection, will help you gain most of the elevation of the day.
As you go higher, the views back north into the valley improve. If you need an excuse to rest, a photography break will make for one.
Eventually, you’ll round a corner and see, for the first time, the unobstructed view of Croda Dei Toni (Zwölferkofel in German). Zwölf in German means 12, so as you can probably guess by now, the mountain is called Zwölferkofel because it has 12 separate peaks, much like the Dreizinnen (Tre Cime), which has three distinct peaks (Drei in German means three).
German and Italian are the Dolomites’ official languages, and you will often see signs in both languages around the area.
After around 2 – 3 hours, you will reach over 700m and be at the doorstep of Rifugio Zsigmondy Comici. This is a great stop to grab lunch, coffee, and cake and enjoy it on the hut’s terrace with unobstructed views of the Zwölferkofel.
After the break, continue uphill on path no. 101 for approximately another hour until you reach Rifugio Pian di Cengia (Büllelejochhütte), your first-night accommodation on this epic Tre Cime Nature Park traverse.
Day 1 – Alternative route: Via ferrata Strada Degli Alpini
- Distance: 13 km / 8 mi
- Walking time: 6-7 h
- Elevation gain: 1200 m / 3940 ft
- Elevation loss: 700 m / 2300 ft
- Via Ferrata level: beginner
- Path numbers: 100, 124, 101, 103
A high alpine route that runs parallel to the one described above is the beginner via Ferrata Strada Degli Alpini. This is an alternative approach to Rifugio Pian Di Cengia with even more scenic views, not to mention a great warm-up to the upcoming via ferratas.
It starts at the top of the Croda Rossa Gondola near Rifugios Rudi and Prati di Croda Rossa. Head away from the two huts on path no. 100 until you reach the Valon di Sentinella before a steep push on a scree slope and cable-protected section to Forcella Undici on path no. 124.
The route then undulates on path no 101, mostly downhill until you reach more cables. The route then bends westward, passing Lago d’Ghiaacciato and the scree slope directly beneath Zwölferkofel before dropping slightly to Rifugio Zsigmondy, which joins the abovementioned route. From here you can continue to rifugio Pian Di Cengia.
Day 1 Extension: Mitti di Mezzo
- Distance: 2 km / 1.2 mi
- Walking time: 1 h
- Elevation gain: ca. 150 m / 500 ft
- Path number: 101A
If you’ve set off early and have some spare time in the afternoon, behind Rifugio Pian di Cengia starts the route to the summit of Mitti di Mezzo.
It doesn’t take long, but on a decent day, you can spend ages at the top looking down into the Fiscalina Valley you’ve just hiked up or into the Sassovecchio Valley, which branches off from it.
Looking at eye level instead, you’ll see Tre Cime to the southwest, Tre Scarperi to the northwest, Zwölferkofel to the South, and Croda Rossa to the East.
The best part is that I didn’t see another person (who wasn’t in my hiking group) from this viewpoint. We had the whole place to ourselves.
Night 1: Rifugio Pian Di Cengia (Büllelejochhütte)
This is a beautifully situated albeit tiny refuge with super friendly staff and a cosy atmosphere. There are only 15 sleeping spaces
| Club Alpino Italiano member (CAI) | Price/night (half board) | Summer season 2025 opening times | How to make a reservation |
| NO | Euro 77 | June 14 – October 4 | Send booking requests via the website |
TIP: If Pian Di Cengia hut is full, then Rifugio Zsigmundy Comici is an excellent alternative. You can make a reservation directly on their website.
Day 2: Rifugio Pian di Cengia to Rifugio Locatelli
- Distance (Option 2): 4 km / 2.5 mi
- Walking time (Option 2): 2-3 h
- Elevation gain (Option 2): ca. 370 m / 1213 ft
- Elevation loss (Option 2): ca. 470 m / 1542 ft
- Via Ferrata level: beginner
After leaving Rifugio Pian di Cengia, the hike continues northwestward on path no. 101 towards Forcella Pian di Cengia. Here, the route splits, and you will face two choices.
Option 1: Hike along Laghi Di Piani
The first one is to continue on path 101 to Rifugio Locatelli. The refuge is only a 1-1.5 hour from the Pian di Cengia hut. Choose this option if you are tired from the previous day or don’t want to do two via ferratas in one day.
Option 2: Via Ferrata Innerkofler and the summit of Monte Paterno
The second recommendation is taking the high alpine route that runs parallel to path no.101 and tackling the Via Ferrata Innerkofler with the summit extension to Monte Paterno. This option will take 2-3 hours, depending on your fitness level.
Via Ferrata Innerkofler, also known as Via Ferrata De Luca, is drenched in WW1 history. From Forcella Pian Di Cengia, you must head towards Forcella dei Laghi, then Forcella Camioscio. If you were wondering the meaning of the word Forcella, it means saddle.
After scaling a few protected ledges, the route to the top of Monte Paterno becomes available. It’s a broad summit attained by a few switchbacks on a well-trodden scree path.
The views at the top are terrible and not worth visiting. Just kidding. I sometimes run out of adjectives to describe the beauty of the Dolomites.
After checking out the summit, you must descend to Forcella Camiosco and follow the signs for Rifugio Locatelli. You will also cross a couple of hundred meters of tunnel network created by the soldiers during World War I. It’s a surreal place.
I have a separate article describing Via Ferrata Innerkofler, starting at Rifugio Locatelli and ending at Forcella Lavaredo, but since you will be coming from a different direction, I highly recommend that you study the route on Tabacco Map no. 010 and the map I provided above.
Entension Day 2: Via Ferrata Torre di Toblin
- Distance: 2 km / 1.2 mi
- Walking time: 1.5 – 2 h
- Elevation gain/loss: ca. 200 m / 650 ft
- Via ferrata level: intermediate
In the afternoon, once you’ve seen all the sights near the Locatelli hut, your next challenge is Via Ferrata Torre di Toblin. It’s not an easy climb, but with some steady feet, it’s attainable even for those just beginning their adventure with Italian via ferratas.
I think the prominent problem people have on this route is exposure. In one section, you must climb a ladder on a rocky cleft, with a decent fall below you (see the photo above of me clinging to that ladder).
Climbing a secure ladder is easy under normal circumstances, but when it’s cold, windy, and icy, dangling above a 100m drop becomes mentally more demanding.
The route goes clockwise around Torre di Toblin and ascends its northern side. The descent on Torre di Toblin’s eastern face is much easier climbing and of a far shallower grade.
It’s generally accepted that the eastern route can be done as the ascent and descent as there are multiple safe places to pass groups going in the other direction (unlike the north face).
I’ve been to the summit a few times—I even bivouacked up there once! The view is outstanding. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. For more info, visit my in-depth article about the via ferrata Torre di Toblin, which is available in the via ferrata category of my Italian Dolomites Guide.
Night 2: Rifugio Locatelli (Dreizinnenhütte)
This is the toughest rifugio to get reservations at. It’s a big but very sought-after hut, so make a reservation here and plan the trip accordingly.
The terrace of Rifugio Locatelli has a view of the northern faces of Tre Cime. Their stark, flat slabs rise more than 600m above. You can often spot climbers scaling the faces of these monoliths.
Interesting rock formations, flowers, and lakes near the hut make excellent photography foregrounds. The famous WWI caves, highlighted on the map, are a ten-minute hike away on the slopes of Sasso di Sesto.
| Club Alpino Italiano member (CAI) | Price/night (half board) | Summer season 2025 opening times | How to make a reservation |
| Yes | To be announced | June 28 – September 28 | Bookings directly on hut’s website |
TIP: If Rifugio Locatelli is fully booked, try Rifugio Lavaredo instead. It is only 30-40 minutes away. Another Alternative is Rifugio Auronzo.
Day 3: Rifugio Locatelli to Rifugio Fonda Savio
- Distance: 12.5 km / 7.8 mi
- Walking time: 4h 30min
- Elevation gain: 685 m / 2250 ft
- Elevation loss: 720 m / 2360 ft
- Via Ferrata level: beginner
- Path numbers: 101, 117, or 105, 117
On the third day of the traverse, you will again be faced with a choice when leaving Rifugio Locatelli.
You can circle the Three Peaks clockwise, crossing the famous Forcella Lavaredo – one of the most iconic views in the Dolomites. This is a good option if you didn’t secure a reservation in Locatelli and stayed overnight in Rifugio Lavaredo instead.
The second option is to go around the Tre Cime counterclockwise on path no. 105 following the Alta Via 4 route for the day. Distance-wise, both ways are roughly the same and will lead you to the same spot – rifugio Auronzo.
The route then heads south on Via Ferrata Sentierro Bonacossa (path no. 117). For the most part, Sentiero Bonacossa is a hike with a short downhill cable-protected section in the middle.
It has a Fletcher/Smith climbing rating of 1A, making it the technically most straightforward, most unexposed route. However, I would still recommend putting on your via ferrata equipment. Always follow the rules in the mountains—it is better to be safe than sorry.
The frustrating part is that when you go down the cabled section into the Val De Le Cianpedele, you lose a lot of elevation, only to gain it again on the last push to Rifugio Fonda Savio.
Night 3: Rifugio Fonda Savio
Apart from the location, my fondness for this hut lies in its excellent staff, particularly a woman called Marianna. She’s a no-nonsense, strict, fair, amicable woman who epitomises mountain culture. You go to bed early at night, wake up early, and work hard during the day.
| Club Alpino Italiano member (CAI) | Price/night (half board) | Summer season 2025 opening times | How to make a reservation |
| YES | 67 Euro for Alpine Club Members and 76 for non-members | approx. June 15 – September 30 | E-mail florianpoernbacher @rolmail.net or call +39 (0) 435 39036 |
Day 4: Via Ferrata Merlone
- Distance: 3 km / 1.85 mi
- Time required: 3-4 h
- Elevation gain/loss: ca 400 m / 1310 ft
- Via Ferrata level: intermediate
This is rewarding via ferrata. Although it’s very exposed, the route doesn’t involve any technical climbing. For the most part, it’s a series of steep ladders going straight up the western faces of Cima Del Cadin. The views of the Fonda Savio hut are especially grand in the approach to the ferrata.
The approach is short. At first, it gains a little elevation directly south of the hut, then drops into and crosses the Ciadin Del Nevaio. This was probably once a vast glacier, but now all that remains is a small and easy-to-navigate snowpack.
Climbing via ferrata Merlone is fun and exciting. If you move quickly, you can be at the top in less than two hours after starting. Sitting on the summit after spending a considerable chunk of yesterday admiring this range is satisfying.
The route down is the same as the ascent. Once you get back to the refuge, where you could have left some stuff to lighten your load, you can enjoy a nice lunch before completing the last leg of this traverse.
Day 4: Rifugio Fonda Savio to Lago Antorno
- Distance: 3 km / 1.85 mi
- Time required: 1.5 h
- Elevation loss: ca. 600 m / 1970 ft
- Path numbers: 115
This is the final section of the traverse, and after what you’ve been through for the past four days, it’s a welcome downhill hike on path no. 115 to the road.
The car park where the path finishes is almost equidistant between Lago d’Antorno and Lago d’Misurina. I suggest going first to Lago d’Antorno and looking at Tre Cime reflecting in its calm waters.
Afterwards, you can head down to the much larger and busier Lago Misurina, where regular buses run to Cortina D’Ampezzo or northward back to Toblach, then San Candido and Sesto.
Alternatively, you can stay in one of the hotels in Misurina. This would be the luxury you deserve after completing this traverse.
Frequently asked questions about Tre Cime Traverse
How to get back to the trailhead after completing the traverse?
Suppose you left your car at the trailhead on day one and must return to it. Take a bus from Lake Antorno to Pian Di Fiscalina. The journey takes 1 hour 24 minutes and requires two changes (bus 444, 446, and 440).
Once again, check the schedule on the previously mentioned Sued Tirol Mobil website. Type in Auronzo di Cadore, Lago d’Antorno as your departure point and Moso (Sesto), Pian di Val Fiscalina as your destination.
How to shorten the Tre Cime Traverse to 3 days?
Skip the night at Rifugio Pian di Cengia and push to Rifugio Locatelli on day 1, where you can spend your first night. Tackle via ferrata Torre di Toblin or Innerkoler either on the afternoon of day one or the morning of day two. On the second day continue to rifugio Fonda Savio.
How can we extend the Tre Cime Traverse to 5 days?
If you want to add another day to this traverse, I recommend following via ferrata Strada Degli Alpini to Rifugio Carducci, where you can stay the first night.
On the second day, add via ferrata Severino Casara around Zwölferkofel to the itinerary. You can spend the second night at Rifugio Pian Di Cengia and then continue the trip as described in the post.
TIP: If you would like to adjust this itinerary to your personal needs then use my trip planning services. We can schedule an online meeting and talk about personalizing the trip.
How to pack for the Tre Cime Traverse?
Since you don’t have to carry food, water, or camping equipment, you can go light on this trip. I have a complete hut-to-hut packing list that will ensure that you don’t overpack but still bring everything necessary for a safe and enjoyable backpacking trip.
Is there electricity, running water, and showers in the huts?
Whilst you can expect electricity and running (cold) water in the huts, showers are more of an exception than a reality in the high alpine huts. Out of the three huts, only Locatelli offers showers, but they will cost you extra. The water is scarce in the mountains, after all. Please visit my other article for a complete list of what to expect when staying in mountain huts in the Dolomites.
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Osprey 30+ Litre Backpack
30-40 litre backpack should be more than enough to pack everything you need for a hut-to-hut trip in the Dolomites with plenty of room for water and snacks. If you can’t fit in, it means you are overpacking. I am a huge fan of Osprey backpacks and currently own the Eja 38-litre. Osprey has plenty of options in this storage volume range to choose from.
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Sleeping Bag Liner
Sleeping bag liners are required for hut stays. Duvets and blankets aren’t washed after each guest who stays at the hut. Liners ensure that you don’t come in direct contact with the sheets and subsequently, it is more hygienic. Some huts rent or sell them, but it’s better to bring your own.
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Patagonia Insulated Jacket
Even in the middle of the summer season evenings can be quite cold. If you don’t plan on venturing out of the hut in the evenings, you can skip this layer. I personally always bring one with me as I like to take sunset photos outside.
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Merino Wool T-Shirts
Having a couple of Merino Wool T-shirts which you can alternate and then wash at the hut each day will be more than enough to keep body odors at bay. I am personally a big fan of the Icebreaker brand, however these days plenty of other brands have Merino products in their inventory.
Merino Wool Socks
I always carry 2 pairs of socks in my backpack and one on me during multiday backpacking trails. Merino wool fibers and their unique properties are resistant to odors. Merino wool socks also prevent getting blisters as opposed to cotton socks.
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Peak Design Camera Clip
A must-have for any mountain photography enthusiast who is tired of carrying a camera around their neck. The peak design capture clip allows you to attach your camera to a backpack strap. That way you don’t have to take your backpack off and take your camera out every time you want to take a photo. You will always have it handy.
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More Backpacking Trips In the Italian Dolomites
- Alta Via 1 (11 days)
- Alta Via 2 (14 days)
- Alta Via 4 (6-7 days)
- Monte Popera Circuit (3-4 days)
- Rosengarten Traverse (3-5 days)
- Pale Di San Martino Traverse (2-4 days)
- Dolomiti Brenta Traverse (3-5 days)
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If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below!
Great info, thanks. I am looking at this route for next summer: from Fischleintal parking lot, staying at Pian di Cengia on night 1, then onto Locatelli (or Lavaredo) for night 2, then back out to Fischleintal on the third day. Is that doable without traversing any Via Ferratta, i.e. using just hiking gear?
Hi Andrew. Yes this route is doable without the via ferrata gear. What you can do is to combine the Croda Fiscalina Circuit with the Tre Cime Circuit. That would make the most sense and you wouldn’t have to repeat the hike through Val Fiscalina (Fischleintal). You would return via Val Sassovecchio.
Hi Marta,
Thanks so much for the incredibly helpful guide to hiking in the Dolomites! The detailed information is exactly what I needed to start planning my own trip. Your hard work has really made a difference. Is there a way for me to offer a small token of my appreciation for your wonderful content, like a “buy me a coffee” link?
I also had a question about the Day 4 itinerary from Rifugio Locatelli to Rifugio Fonda Savio. I’ve been doing some research and would like to avoid the Via Ferrata Sentiero Bonacossa (path no. 117), as I don’t have the necessary equipment and want to stick to a regular hiking trail. Is there an alternative route that bypasses this section? I found a possible option using trails 104 and 119 to reconnect with trail 117 at Forcella Rin Dibianco. Is this a feasible non-Via Ferrata alternative?
Finally, I’m trying to figure out the logistics of renting Via Ferrata gear. Do you have any recommendations for rental shops? I’ve seen a few mentions of Snow Service in Cortina, and I was wondering if they are a good option. I’m also curious if it’s possible to rent gear at one trailhead and return it at another, or if that’s not a common practice in the Dolomites.
Thanks again for your help!
Hi Walter! Thanks so much for your lovely feedback. Yes, there is a ‘buy me a coffee” widget in the sidebar, thank you for asking.
Now to your question, yes you can bypass Sentiero Bonacossa, however even when you rejoin at Forcella Rin Bianco you will still have a short cable-aided section right before reaching Rifugio Fonda Savio. A lot of people do this section without the via ferrata gear, but it really is up to you on how comfortable you are on cable-aided sections.
As for Via ferrata gear rental, there are plenty of shops that rent those in Cortina. You really only have to look for sport shops. Generally though you need to rent and return the gear in the same shop, because rental shops are often family run business in completely separate areas. I hope that helps!
Hi Marta,
Thank you for the great blog post, has been super helpful for planning our trip in August!
Question for you – is it possible to do the full itinerary without doing any via Ferratas? For days 1-3 there seem to be alternative routes without them but is that possible for day 4?
Thank you! 🙂
Hi Amanda. Yes it is, You will need to detour from the original path between Rif. Auronzo and Fonda Savio. Some people do this part without the via ferrata Sentiero Bonacossa without the gear as the VF sections are short, but it is not something I recommend. If you get the map I recommend in the text you will see the alternative routes.
Hi Marta! Your blog has been incredibly helpful for planning my late summer (September) hiking trip in the Tre Cime area, especially this detailed hut-to-hut multi-day guide. The maps and pictures are fantastic – truly the most comprehensive resource I’ve found!
I have a quick question on a logistical challenge.
After finishing my 2-night Tre Cime hike (Rifugio Locatelli, then Rifugio Fonda Savio, ending at Lago Antorno on Day 3), I was hoping to immediately head to Ortisei for a Seceda trip (Day 4: Seceda, then back again to Ortisei). Day 5 would then be travel back to Venice Marco Polo for my flight.
My main concern is the travel from Lago Antorno to Ortisei – it looks like a long bus journey with many transfers (around 6 hours). Do you think this connection is generally feasible in one go after a hike, or perhaps too ambitious for a quick transition?
Hi Izzat. Thanks for your great feedback.
Yes, there is no direct connection and you will have to catch a few public buses to get to Ortisei. My advice would be to go to Cortina instead. THere are so many great things to do there and you will be very close to Cortina when you finish the trek. There are also very good shuttle buses from Cortina to Venice aiport, so travelling will be breezy.
Seceda has become a tourist trap. I revisited it in June this year (Still considered low season) after a few year break and I was shocked at the amount of people there. It’s a lovely viewpoint, but because it is so easy to get to, the are hoards of people up there. Even more than in Tre Cime.
Do yourself a favour and pick a different location. Check out my article about Cortina. So much to do there!
Hi Marta, thanks for the previous response. It helped me to decide to skip the Seceda.
So now I decided to go from Lake Misurina to Cortina but I’m having a hard time to figure out the bus route. I can’t find any bus using the Dolomitibus app, neither in Sudtirolmobil website. The best one in the sudtiromobil is the Auronzo di Cadore station but that is 1hour walk from the Lake Antorno.
Do you have any better suggestion for the bus stop?
Hi Izzat. I would also recommend checking google maps. Unfortunately there is not one cohesive app that will cover the whole Dolomites. Many private companies run their own sites like the Dolomiti Bus.
Hello– I’m planning my first trip to the Dolomites and it’s a bit overwhelming– Thank you so much for all of your helpful info.! I’ve seen another blog where they did Tre Cime di Lavaredo in a 2-night trek, staying in Rifugio Locatelli on Night #1 and Rifugio Pian di Cengia on Night #2. Does this make sense? I wanted to stay in Hotel Dolomitenhof the night before starting so that I’d be in the right place for the trailhead. Does this plan work? And is it possible to leave my car at the hotel and end the route right back where I started near Hotel Dolomitenhof? Does it make any sense to hike only to Pian di Cengia, stay overnight, and then just backtrack to return the same way– just to get the experience of a hike and overnight stay in a mountain hut? Forgive me if this is a ridiculous idea… it’s my first attempt at planning a Dolomites trip! Thanks so much for any advice you can give! nancy
Hi Nancy. Thanks for visiting. Staying in Locatelli and Pian Di Cengia might be a bit of an overkill unless you plan on doing some via ferrata extensions. The two huts only lie 1-1.5 hour apart. It is better to choose one for staying overnight (I prefer Pian Di Cengia to Locatelli). What you are describing is the Croda Fiscalina Circuit trail. Which you can do in one day but you can also easily split it into two days. I recommend that you read through it. It will give you info on parking etc. It starts near the Dolomitenhof hotel
My close friend and I are trying to put a trip together for the end of the season, mid September. Do you think it is too late to book huts for this area? Is it worth digging into and reaching out to huts? Also, if it is too late, is there a less frequented trail you would recommend we would have better luck with?
Thank you in advance for your help, this website has already been extremely informative!
Hi Allison. Pale Di San Martino traverse is quieter and you might still be able to secure reservations. Tre Cime is a bit of madness so getting spots now is a bit late. You can also look into the Rosengarten Traverse. They are a lot of huts there, so scoring a reservation is easier. It does involve quite a few via ferratas though. I hope that helps!
Hi Marta!
Thanks for the recommendation we will look into that trek as well.
One more question, we are planning on doing other travels on this trip, what do you recommend we do with our other clothes/ bags that we are not bringing on the hut to hut while we are gone? Are there hotels or services that will allow us to drop our things off for 4 days or so while we are gone?
Thanks!
Hi Allison. There is a luggage storage in Cortina, but you can also ask hotels directly if they would be willing to store something for you.
hi Marta,
thank you very much for the article. we are eager to do this route, but trying to understand whether it’s possible to avoid buying a via ferrata set. I saw that you’ve already mentioned that for the first two days it’s optional, but necessary on the fourth day. from what I understand, this day should be the most beautiful, as it includes Tre Cime and Cadini di Misurina. would you happen to know if there’s an alternative way to complete the fourth day without using a via ferrata?
Hi Slava. Yes, there is an alternative trail between Auronzo and Fonda Savio, which doesn’t include a via ferrata. I would recommend getting a map of the Sesto Dolomites to familiarize yourself with the area.
Hi Marta, thanks so much for the super helpful guide! We’ve been able to successfully book the huttes for the 3 nights, mid-July. Just have a few questions for you.
1. The huttes that were available for us were
Night 1: Zsigmundy
Night 2: Lavaredo
Night 3: Fonda Savio
I know that the recommended huttes for Night 1 and 2 were Rifugio Pian Di Cengia (Büllelejochhütte) and Rifugio Locatelli (Dreizinnenhütte), respectively. Would you recommend still walking by Locatelli on our way to Lavaredo? It looks like there is a shorter / alternate path between Zsigmundy and Lavaredo – but not sure if it’s an enjoyable one.
2. Are we able to do these paths without hiking gear? We’re ok to take the easier / more boring trails, if available.
3. From Lavaredo, is it possible to visit Cadini di Misurini? Or can this fit elsewhere in the itinerary?
Thank you, really looking forward to hear from you.
Hi Yasmin. I am glad to hear you have managed to secure those reservations.
I would still recommend walking from Zsigmondy to Lavaredo passed Pian Di Cengia and Locatelli. The other trail that you are mentioning is a lot quieter, but won’t give you the classic view of the Tre Cime.
Part of the trail between Lavaredo and Fonda Savio runs along VF Sentiero Bonacossa. You can skip it, but you will need to reroute (I recommend getting a map to familiarize yourself).
You do need hiking gear for all trails though. I am not sure what kind of gear you wanted to take otherwise 🙂
Cadini di Misurina viewpoint is just before the VF Sentiero Bonacossa starts. If you want to skip the Via ferrata you can walk to the viewpoint and back then take the different route to Fonda Savio.
I hope that helps!
Thank you Marta for the quick and detailed response! Super helpful!!
Yes for sure, I misspoke haha we definitely have hiking gear and have prepared for the trip. What we don’t have is helmets or harnesses
In that case you should definitely skip the via ferratas.
Hi Marta,
My son, daughter, and I are planning our Dolomites trip and we are booked for Day 1 Zigmondyhütte, Day 2 Rifugio Lavaredo Tre Cime and Day 3 Rifugio Fonda Savio. I just wnated to check if you know whether via Ferratta’s are mandatory on these routes and if there are ways to avoid. We may want to try them as additional fun but wanted to see whether they are avoidable if possible.
Hi Cameron. If you want to follow the route to a T, then you would have the Via Ferrata on last day between Rifugio Auronzo and Fonda Savio called Sentiero Bonacossa. The ones on day 1+2 are optional and can be done as extensions. You can skip the Sentiero Bonacossa and walk around to Fonda Savio. I recommend getting the map, so you can understand the trails better. I hope that helps!
Hiya _ Despite booking when the huts first opened we were not able to book to localletti or the laveredo
we our plan is day one Val Fascina to Auronzo
day 2: Auronzo to Fonda SAvio
day 3: either back down to the road or back to Val Fascina
Do you know any extensions for day 2 or 3 as they are rather short !
Hi Lucy. Sorry to hear you weren’t able to book Locatelli or Lavaredo, but hiking from Val Fiscalina to Rif. Auronzo in one day is totally doable. As for the second day extension you can do via ferrata Merlone which starts at the Fonda Savio hut.
On day 3 you can continue from Fonda Savio to Rif. Col De Varda along Via Ferrata Sentiero Bonacossa and then take the chairlift down to Misurina.
From Col De Varda you can also hike for an hour to rif. Citta Di Carpi. From there you can descend to Giralba. I hope that helps!
I’m so sorry if this was answered previously! There’s so many comments and I looked but didn’t find this. I read you suggest to park the car near Lago Antorno or in the town of Misurina which I agree also makes the most sense. We were going to park at Tre Cime di Lavaredo but they now require a reservation and it’s $40 a day. My husband found this small parking lot called Parcheggio Diga di Santa Caterina at 32041 Auronzo di Cadore, Province of Belluno, Italy. Google maps says it’s free but I’m afraid to trust it or that our car will get towed after they see it there for a couple of days. Do you know anything about this or another parking lot? Thanks for your time!!
Hi Katelyn. You can try and park your car near Lake Antorno, or at the trailhead to the hike of Rifugio Fonda Savio. I have parked my van countless times at parking lots whenever I did multiday hikes and was never towed. If you park in Auronzo it will be a long way away to travel to the trailhead, unless you plan on extending the hike and finishing in Auronzo.
Hey we were planning on doing this trip in the 3rd week of June 2025 and have all our huts booked. Wondering if you have any opinion on what snow conditions to expect? I know it hasn’t been a good snow year overall, but with some late spring snow not sure what to expect. Do you think any of the via ferratas in particular won’t be accessible? Thanks!
Hi Martha. Thanks for stopping by. There will be snow in places (gullys, shaded areas), Generally it is the kind of snow that is soft and slushy, because the days are very warm. The conditions also vary on Southern and Northern slopes. The latter retain snow for a lot longer. I just did a hike this weekend and stumbled upon snowfields at 2300 meters (south facing slope). This week we have some warm temperatures, so a lot of it will melt fast. If you plan on doing Strada Degli Alpini on day one you can expect some snow in places.
Hi Marta
Thanks for an excellent guide. My girlfriend and I are doing the trek this summer and are super excited about it. Two questions:
1) There was no space in the Fonda Savio hut, so we booked the Rifugio di Carpi hut for the last night. This means we have to hike from the Locatelli hut to Rifugio di Carpi in one day. Is it doable?
2) Do we need Via Feretta equipment (helmet, harness, lanyard, gloves) for the trek?
Many regards Johan
Hi Johan. I am glad my guide has helped you with planning. Both answers to your questions are Yes and Yes. When hiking from Locatelli to Cita Di Carpi, you won’t be able to do the VF Merlone extension though.
Thanks for your quick answer Marta.
I assume we take the trail you have suggested from Locatelli to Fonda Savio. But which route would you then recommend (which one is the easiest) from Fonda Savio to Cita di Carpi?
Hi Johan. I only walked the original route from Fonda Savio to Col De Varda. From there you could continue around the Misurina group on an easy path to Citta Di Carpi.
You can also choose the alternative route via Forcella della Torre and Sentiero Durrisini, which will be shorter (at least in terms of distance). I hope that helps!
Hi, Marta! When we wrap up the Tre Cime Traverse at Lago Misurina what would you recommend to get back to Cortina? I used the https://www.suedtirolmobil.info site but nothing is populating for a bus route from Auronzo di Cadore, Genzianella to Cortina. Are there ample amount of taxis present or should I schedule a taxi ahead of time? Appreciate any support!
Hi Stephen. The buses start running on May 30th this year. You can check the connection on Google Maps or directly with Dolomiti Bus. They have a new app but it is rated terribly. I hope that helps
Hey Marta.
Thank you for you post, I will be using most of these plans for my trip this august. There’s one problem Ive encountered, the buses. It’s currently april and I searched the internet and there are no lines that connect lake antorno; misurina to cortina. If you could help Id very much appreciate it. Thanks
Hi Elad. Thanks for visiting. I just checked on google maps and the buses between Cortina – Misurina and LAke Antorno start running on May 26. Please check again.
Hi Marta,
Thank you so much for this thorough trip report, it has definitely helped and inspired me and I appreciate the thoughtfulness you put into it! I’m curious how to find more info about places to park to do this trek? Do you have any suggestions for parking or how to find more info?
Thank you again,
Audrey
Hi Audrey. Thanks for your great feedback. I always recommend people to park their car at the end of the trailhead and then do the bus transfer on day 1 so your car is waiting for you at the end. There is a parking lot near Chalet Lago Antorno and also at the trailhead going to Rifugio Fonda Savio (you will descend that route on last day). You can zoom on google maps to see the parking. I hope that helps! There are also parking spaces in Misurina https://maps.app.goo.gl/F4JeBbGTQvEZ51YZ7 I hope that helps!
Hi Marta, thank you so much for your quick response and sharing those tips, and for responding to all these comments generally. It is so helpful! I have a few follow up questions if that’s alright –
– For these parking places you shared, are they paid lots or free, if you know? I saw that the parking at R. Auronzo is really expensive for example, and I’m hoping to avoid unforeseen large expenses elsewhere too.
– That’s a great suggestion to use that view on Google Maps and zoom in to find parking. I may do a slightly different itinerary, starting at R.Carducci and ending at R.Citta di Carpi, so I’m curious about finding spots in other places as well. Do you have any suggestions on finding more info on whether the parking spaces seen on Google Maps are free and okay to leave a car overnight for several days?
– I love the idea to have the car waiting and do the bus transfer on day 1, that definitely seems the most relaxing and least stressful way to do it! How do you find more information on the bus routes and times for coordinating? Are there other options besides buses? For example, with my itinerary of Carducci -> Citta di Carpi, I may start in Giralba. I haven’t been able to find a convenient bus to/from there, but not sure if I’m searching in the right place.
Thank you again for your advice, will send you another Ko-Fi now 🙂
Audrey
Hi Audrey. Thanks for your support on Ko-Fi!
Now to your questions.
– Most parking lots are paid, but the price is usually up to 8 euros a day. The one at Auronzo is a huge exception, because it is a busy area and the road leading to it is a private road. The price there is extortionate.
– If you stay in Citta di Carpi on last day you can loop around to Rifugio Col de Varda and then take the chairlift down to Misurina. You can also hike from Citta di Carpi to Giralba so if you left your car there (or somewhere in Auronzo) it would already wait for you at the end. There are some bus stops near Giralba which you can find zooming in on google maps. You can check Dolomiti Bus, google maps or Sued Tirol Mobil for bus connections (they are usually seasonal)
If you need a trip consult you can also book a call with me. Check the trip planning advice in my tab. I hope that helps!
Hi Marta,
Firstly can I say how wonderful and educational this website is, I am so glad that I was recommended this by a friend! I am planning my 1st visit to the Dolomites this July for my partner’s 30th birthday, and we have decided to do the 3 day version of the Tre Cime Traverse. Rifugio Locatelli has availability, however Fonda Savio have replied to my email stating they are fully booked for my chosen dates- can you recommend some alternative rifugios, that add on maximum 2-3 hours extra hiking/ferratas on our 2nd/3rd day (day 3 or 4 of your original 4 day itinerary), ie after we leave rifugio Locatelli.
Thanks in advance!!
Hi Navi. You could keep hiking for another 2 hour to Rifugio Col De Varda following Alta Via 4. Or from Fonda Savio reroute a bit and keep hiking for approx. 3 hours to Rifugio Citta Di Carpi. I hope that helps!
will this pass through many areas with wildflowers? thanks xx
No, it’s more of a lunar type of landscape. There will be some green along the way, but not a lot. With that said you will definitely spot some wildflowers as they also grow in rocky outcrops. Given you go during the wildflower season.
hello, and thank you SO much for your detailed itineraries. im planning my trip for end of august and i think we will do this one 🙂
my only question/concern is, do you need climbing experience for the ferratas.
we both are experienced hikers and relatively strong/fit, but ive never properly rock climbed.
thank you!!
Hi HM! THanks for stopping by. I am glad you find my posts helpful. I answered your question in detail in my beginner’s guide to via ferrata climbing in the Dolomites. Please check it out. Let me know if you have any questions after reading it.
Hello, thank you so much for all of your wealth of knowledge. Four of us are going to do this hut to hut this year at the end of August. So far we’ve been able to secure a night at Zsigmondyhutte Rifugio Comici for the first night, we are still awaiting to hear back for the second night, and we secured some beds at Rifugio Fonda Savio for the third night. My question is, if we need to get the alternative choices you suggested for that second night, how difficult are they to get to and will they add much mileage? Im not sure how much longer we should wait to hear back from Dreizinnenhutte, we’ve waited over a month. Dont want to lose a chance to get another spot. Any suggestions would be so appreciated!!
Thank you,
Melissa
Hi Melissa.
Rifugio Locatelli has now (finally) a booking system, which they introduced just a couple weeks ago. They no longer could manage the amount of emails they were receiving. You should check their availability on their website. The next closest one would be Rifugio Lavaredo (they also have a booking system). It is only 30 minute hike from Locatelli. Last one (although I am not a big fan of it because it is right to the massive parking lot) is Rifugio Auronzo. Another 30 minutes from Lavaredo. Fingers crossed you manage to book it all!
Thank you so much, I was able to get reservations at Lavaredo. Thank you for your reply. I have another question if you have time. For the first days hike, if we choose to do the optional via Ferrata, it looks like the starting spot is different. Would you recommend we not get a room at the Hotel Dolomitenhof? or is there a route to get to it from that hotel? we could alternately stay in Moos if you think that would be better for that alternative route.
Hi Melissa. Dolomitenhof hotel is only one bus stop away from The Kabinen Rotwand (croda rossa gondola). You can stay at a hotel at the bottom of the gondola if you want to be there right at the start or keep your reservation at Dolomitenhof. It really is down to the best option that you find. Sesto has many hotels too, and it’s only a few bus stops away from the Fiscalina valley. I hope that helps!
Wonderful! We do not have the Dolomitenhof booked yet. Do you have a favorite place to stay near the Kabinen Rotwand? You have been so helpful. Thank you so much!
Hi Melissa. I find the Rotwandwiesen chalets beautiful and you would be right at the trailhead if you stayed there. If you prefer to be in town then Berghotel Sexten has great vibe and amazing views.
Hello Marta. We are so excited for our upcoming hiking trip. We have decided to stay at the Berghotel sexten per your recommendation. From that spot what route would you suggest we take that first day to get to our first hut rifugio Zsigmondyhütte. We looked at the optional route on your itinerary and it sounds fun, but is it really 3,000 ft elevation gain? Is there a better route we should take? We do love via ferratas. Thank you again for your help!
Hi Melissa. Yes, via ferrata Strada Degli Alpini has more elevation gain than the hiking route. It is beautiful though. If you want the straight forward route, just follow the one that I recommend in the article.
Hi Marta! Is it possible to hike from the Val Fiscalina Valley to Rifugio Fonda Savio without doing any of these technical bits/via ferratas? We are planning to spend the night at Rifugio Talschlusshütte and then make it to Fonda Savio in a single day. The following day we will hike from Fonda Savio to Misurina and catch a bus to Cortina d’Ampezzo. We are fit people in our 30s with hiking experience but do not want to do any of the ferratas and stick to regular hiking trails. Do you think these distances are doable? Thanks!
Hi Calla. Thanks for visiting. You can do that, but I would recommend getting a map. The trickiest part will be to avoid Via Ferrata Sentiero Bonacossa between Rifugio AUronzo and Fonda Savio. The other via ferratas are optional. This one, albeit beginner level it is not, so you will have to reroute. It is possible to do, but get the map of the park so you can see the routes. I link to the map in the post.
Hi Marta,
Thank you so much for a brilliant post! Aiming for a 2 night / 3 day version of this and hoping to book Pian Di Degia –> Locatelli and then walk down to Refugio Auronzo for onward travel. A few Qs:
What is the Via Ferrata like on Day 1 and Day 2 of this route? We have never done Via Ferrata before and would like to try on our trip but thinking we should hire a guide (something we will not have for this hike!) Is it possible to do Days 1 and 2 to Pian Di Degia and then onto Locatelli without the Via Ferrata (if extensions are not taken)?
If we do opt for the via ferrata element, is there a need to hire equipment?
Hi Anna. Thank you for visiting and for your great feedback. I am happy to answer any questions you may have, but everything that you asked is already answered in the post 🙂 Please read the post first (and also open the links to the individual via ferratas that are mentioned in the post. You can also look at the map I created to see where the ferratas are in relation to the hiking trails. I hope that helps!
Hey Marta, this and the AV4 page have been great thanks for all the info! I could only book Rifugio Lavaredo, as Locatelli opens a few days after I’m there (3rd week June – any issues with snow?) and have a few questions about my proposed route. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!
1. Would you recommend back tracking to the Locatelli side before walking to Fonda Savio or are the trails from the Lavaredo side just as good?
2. I’m thinking about pushing on to Vandelli and San Marco but a bit time constrained. We are fairly fit hikers in our 20s, do you think it is doable to go to Lavaredo on Day 1, then Fonda Savio Day 2, Vandelli Day 3, San Marco Day 4, then exit down to San Vito di Cadore on day 5?
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for visiting. Yes, in the third week of June there is still snow in gullies and shaded areas. I did the AV4 at the start of July and whilst passable we did walk through a few snow fields. My friends wanted to do it in June and had to cancel due to snow.
1. Sorry I don’t really understand your question regarding backtracking to Locatelli. You will already pass Locatelli when hiking from Val Fiscalina. I would recommend that you book the first night at Rifugio Zsigmondy or Pian Di Cengia then stay the second night at Lavaredo.
2. You can hike to Lavaredo from Val Fiscalina in 1 day if you are fit. You could probably also fit in the Torre Di Toblin or Innerkofler Via ferrata on that day (providing you were not starting day 1 with via ferrata Strada Degli Alpini). As for the rest of the huts that is exactly what I did when I hiked the AV4 so yes it is possible to stay in those huts. Again though you would have to watch for snow situation before heading out.
I hope that helps!
Hi Marta,
Your blog posts have been so incredibly helpful for planning our honeymoon in the dolomites! We had originally planned on completing the Tre Cime Traverse, but now are wondering about doing the Alta Via 4. I have seen from your maps that there is some overlap, but different routes to begin with and around Tre Cime di Lavaredo. I wondered your opinion on which route you would do if you were to choose?
Thank you so much from two BC hikers!
Hi Bronwyn. Thanks for visiting. You can combine Tre Cime Traverse with Alta Via 4. I think the best is to start with Strada Degli Alpini and then keep on hiking as per my posts. If you combine them you will need approx 6-7 days to complete the route. I hope that helps!
Hi! I am last minute doing this trek solo starting next week and am frantically trying to book everything. Two questions- I have not heard back from Rifugio Fonda or my alternative of Rifugio Carpi. Do you think walk ups will be possible? I have tried calling and emailing.
Secondly, are there frequent busses from Cortina to Venice? Does this need to be booked in advance or is there a bus station where I can get sorted? I have a flight that evening out of Venice and am worried I will be struggling to get back.
Hi Megan. I hope you managed to book all your huts by now. The walk ups are treated different and it usually depends on a hut policy. I have been turned away before and asked to hike down to the valley because the hut didn’t have availability. I now never go without a reservation. As for the buses. There are shuttle buses that run from Cortina to Venice and I would recommend prebooking one. You can find them on Get Your Guide for example. I hope that helps!
Kia ora Marta,
Thanks for your extremely helpful blogpost (among many).
My friend and I are planning on doing the Tre Cime circuit between 19-21 September staying at Rifugio Lavarero the first night and then Rifugio Fratelli Fonda Savio on the second.
Since we are both travelling from Aotearoa New Zealand, we made the decision to leave our boots behind and take trail runners. However, it’s been snowing this week but we are hopeful that it will melt by next week.
Do you think our shoes will still be appropriate? And are there any routes you’d recommend to try and avoid the snow line as much as possible if we need to, noting that on the first day we are combining day 1 and 2 that’s outlined in your itinerary above.
Also, if you have any alternative easier routes suitable and doable in snowy conditions, if we have to abandon our trip plans, that would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Kind regards,
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth. Due to recent extreme weather conditions I would highly recommend hiking boots. We had a pretty significant amount of snow in the last couple of days with up to one meter of snow at 3000 meters. there are some much warmer temperatures coming back this week so a lot of the snow will melt but the trails will remain wet and slippery. I hope that helps!
Thanks for your comprehensive guide. I bought you a coffee in appreciation. My wife and I are scheduled to stay at Rifugio Locatelli on September 25 and Rifugio Fonda Savio on September 26. We couldn’t get a reservation at Rifugio Pian di Cengia, so we will go directly to Rifugio Locatelli on our first day. We would like to do the Via ferrata Strada Degli Alpini but wonder if that would make for too long of a day. Also, the forecast suggests the possibility of rain. So we wonder if a long day puts us at risk of getting caught in the rain or a lightning storm. What do you think about trying to include via ferrata Strada Degli Alpini on day one?
Hi Jeff! Thank you for your support. If you are strong hikers you can do Via Ferrata Strada Degli Alpini then hike to Locatelli. That would be around 6 hours from the top of the gondola to Zsigmondy, another hour to Pian Di Cengia and 1-1.5 hour to Locatelli.
You can also try to get a reservation at Rifugio Zsigmondy Comici or Carducci first on September 24th. As for the weather forecast it is pretty pointless checking in now. I also have a hut-to-hut hike planned for the last week of September and hope that the snow that is falling this week will be gone by then. I hope that helps!
Hi Marta,
Me and my friends did a 4-day version of this hike and we had an amazing experience. Thank you for all the detail you provided in this article. The map alongside the detailed descriptions really helped us as first-timers doing a multi-day hike. The different options and extensions were helpful in fitting each day to our fitness level. I will make sure to refer to your other travel guides in the future.
As this was our first time doing a multi-day hike, and also our first time doing via ferratas, I wanted to give our day-by-day experience. Hopefully this helps other newcomers in choosing the best route, hut and possible extension.
Intially, we were unsure if the day-by-day activities would provide enough of a challenge. But having done the 4-day I can easily admit that it was quite a humbling experience.
Day 1:
We chose the alternative route following Via ferrata Strada Degli Alpini. We stayed at the Zsigmundy Comici hut which made the hike around 1 km shorter.
This was an amazing day, but it absolutely destroyed us. Eventhough you take the gondola to 2km hights, you’re still ascending 1.2km this day. The views are amazing right from the start, and once you’ve finished the first part of the via ferrata you’re blessed with the view of Croda Dei Toni. The via ferrata parts are quite easy and could easily be done without any protection. It was indeed a good warm up. We did the route in August, and some parts were covered in snow, or destroyed by landslides. This required some work arounds but nothing too much. The last section to reach the hut requires some more ascending however, as the ‘easy’ path to reach the hut is destroyed by a landslide. This requires you to come further down to the valley to climb back up again. Because of this, we opted to not do the extension to Metti di Mezzo, and also not the Via Ferrata Severino Casara in the morning.
Zsigmundy Comici was by far our most favorite hut. The hosts were amazing, the views were great and the food and breakfast where the best of the 3 huts we had. It was not too crowded as the hut was quite difficult to reach. There was even an option to shower !
Day 2:
We followed the article to a T, but we moved the extension of Torre di Toblin to the morning of day 3 as we started from Zsigmundy Comici which required some more climbing. This was the easiest day. Via Ferrata Innerkofler and the summit of Monte Paterno (difficulty A) was everything we hoped of a via ferrata. Everything was still quite easy, but it really gave us the ‘climbing/adventure experience we were looking for. Everyone should be able to do this via ferrata. You’re rewarded with amazing views of the drei zinnen, and you continue you hike through the WW1 tunnels afterwards to eventually reach the Dreizinnen hut where we stayed.
The dreizinnen hut definitely had the most beatiful views of all 3, but it was clearly also the most commercial and touristy of the 3. As the drei zinnen are the main attraction of this part of the dolomites, there are a lot of day people here which makes the area quite crowded. The food was pretty good, put not as good as the previous night. The rooms were ok. The breakfast was not great. But the location makes up for everything!
Day 3:
Normally you’re only required to do a 12.5 km hike this day, but we started the day of by doing the Torre di Toblin Via Ferrata (Difficulty rating B). This via ferrata was clearly a step-up from the previous 2 days. It was a lot more exposed and had a lot more ‘technical’ sections. While some of us were huge fans of this experience, 2 of us also got a bit spooked as they are a little scared of heights. Some sections require you to do some small rock (while attached ofcourse) climbing on exposed sections. I found this an amazing experience which made me want to experience more difficult via ferratas, but for some of the others they opted not to do the Merlone Via ferrata the next day as they got spooked by this experience.
After the via ferrata we took the clockwise route. Until the first hut you’re passing a lot of day tourists as there is a parking lot nearby. The views are amazing however. Once past the hut (I forgot the name), you lose the crowds and continue on an amazing trail with beautiful views. The cable protected section is quite easy. The last climb of this hike was indeed killer. But you’re rewarded with the Fonda Savio hut shortly after. The only thing that I wanted to mention is that the article mentions a length of 12.5km, but we only clocked in 10km going clockwise. We also missed around 300 meters of height. Maybe the counter-clockwise direction is different.
Fonda Savio hut was cosy, but we weren’t a huge fan of the personel there. They seemed quite rude didn’t seem happy that we were there. The food was good. The sleeping rooms were quite uncomfortable.
Day 4:
Quite an easy day.
Only me and my friend did the Merlone via ferrata (difficulty B/C) as the others got spooked. This was definitely our favorite via ferrata. It had everything Torre di Toblin had, but more extreme. It was much longer in general, had longer sections of climbing stairs, longer rock climbing sections, and was quite exposed all the way. If you liked the previous days, you will love this one! It also sparked our interest in doing more difficult ferratas.
After the via ferrata we had a 1.5 hour walk to lake misurina. An easy descent through a beautiful forest.
Once again, thanks for everything Marta. You’re guide gave us an experience we will never forget!
Wow Jorian! Thank you for leaving such a great recount of your trip for all the future potential hikers who might want to take it. I am so glad to hear you are hooked with via ferratas. I hope you will come back for more. Sorry to hear that Fonda Savio wasn’t as great. I hope the staff just had a bad day and nothing else. Merlone is also one of my favorite via ferratas in the Dolomites. I have done it 3 times already. Yes, the distance is a bit longer and there is more elevation gain if one decides to hike from Locatelli to Auronzo via Malga Langalm.
Once again thanks for taking the time to do this write up. Happy trails! Marta
Hi, Thanks for all of the information you have provided. It looks amazing and we are going very soon! We are doing Zsigmondy -> Locatelli -> Fonda Savio. However my partner does not want to partake in Via ferratas.. im wondering if you think this route would still be possible for us just hiking? and if it would add substantial time on not doing via ferratas? Thanks for any help you can give me 🙂
Hi Beth. To be honest if you don’t plan on doing any via ferratas then the day from Zsigmondy to Locatelli (which takes only 2 hours) might be quite boring for you.
When hiking from Locatelli to Fonda Savio via Rifugio Auronzo you will hike along the beginner via ferrata Sentiero Bonacossa. You do need gear for it. To bypass it you will need to hike down (or take a bus) from Rifugio Auronzo to Lake Antorno and then hike back up to Rifugio Fonda Savio. It will be longer but will maybe add 1.5 hours to the hike (if you take the bus it will make the route shorter). You will exit on the same route from Fonda Savio the next day. I hope that helps.
Thanks so much for getting back to me this is really helpful! I will try and see if my partner will change his mind haha.
If we were to stick with just hiking do you think we could do some hikes around locatelli region instead to fill the day? if so are there any you recommend?
thanks again i really appreciate it
Hi Beth, Yes there are plenty of trails. You can do a little detour from Pian Di Cengia and walk to rif. Lavaredo around Monte Paterno first then to Locatelli via Forcella Lavaredo. You can check out my post about Tre Cime Nature Park where I enlist some of the hikes.
You can also check out the tunnels near the Locatelli refuge, spend some time hanging out at the Laghi Di Piani (lakes).
Thanks again, Marta!! All sounds amazing 🙂
Hey! Is it possible to do this in reverse? We’re struggling to find space at Rifugio Pian Di Cengia. Also we can only do our trip in the last week of September, do you think it’s possible?
Thanks
Holly
Hi Holly. Yes you can do this traverse in reverse. I was back there at the very end of September last year doing the Monte Popera Circuit. It’s still a hiking season.
Hi Marta, as nearly everyone has shared, I have found your site to be a true lifesaver in my Dolomites research and planning. We have decided to spend 3 nights in Tre Cime the first week of September and, since availability is a bit tight, was hoping to get your advice. I am able to book Rifugio Lavaredo for night 2 and either Col de Varda or Citta di Carpi for night 3 (would you have a recommendation? I don’t want to make Day 3 impossible but want a few hours of hiking on Day 4).
But mostly, I am trying to figure out what to do about Night 1. Is there a doable route from Rifugio Berti to Rifugio Lavaredo? Beginner via ferratas are fine, but I don’t want the high route that passes Carducci and is the only option I can find…Is there a regular trail? I am also waiting to hear about availability from Caduccio for Night 1. (Pian di Cengia, Zsigmundy Comici, Locatelli are all full).
Finally, do you have recommendations for any good online trail maps to help with planning? Yours are wonderful but obviously don’t provide all the possible route connections. Any advice appreciated – thank you!!
Hi Kate. You can try and book rifugio Tre Scarperi for the first night and instead of starting in Val Fiscalina you could start the hike in Val Campo Di Dentro the same way as Alta Via 4 starts. There is no hiking path between Berti and Lavaredo that won’t involve a lot of kilometres and elevation gain/loss.
All trails are good for online maps, but I always use paper maps for my planning. I find they give the best overview. I hope that helps!
Thank you! I managed to book Carducci -> Lavarado -> Col di Varda and can’t wait!
Amazing! Have a fantastic time
Hi Marta – we will be in the Dolomites in September and we have based our trip on your blog + staying at all the places you recommend.
We are staying at Hotel Dolemitenhof before starting the hike and just wonder where we can hire the VF gear from?
Thank you and best regards Steph and Hans Christian
Hi Guys. I am glad to hear you are following my recommendations. Sesto and San Candido have gear rental shops. I would recommend that you contact them beforehand. You can type in Sesto noleggio or San Candido Noleggio into google maps. You might also want to ask directly at your hotel. Sometimes they offer gear rentals too. I hope that helps.
Hi Marta, we are also looking for via ferrata gear rentals. We are staying in Padola the night before, driving in from Venice. These two searches you mentioned only seem to have bike or ski rental shops. Am I missing something in my search? Really appreciate how helpful your articles are! Thank you very much.
Hi Alexis, you should be able to find something in Sesto and San Candido. Padola isn’t a tourist town so it will be harder there. Once you finish the trek in Misurina you can easily get back to San Candido by bus.
Hello,
My husband and I are going to be doing this hike the 3rd-4th week of August. I was wondering if crampons are needed? I noticed you said some of the pictures with snow are taken at the end of August. Just wanted to be sure!
Thank you for all this amazing information!!!
Hi Erin. There was one occurence when we had snowfall in August because the temperature dropped overnight and it got really cold. It was very short lived though as during the time the temperature was back to high teens (Celsius) and everything melted by afternoon. The snow was very soft too, the kind that you sink into when you hike. Again this is rather exception then common occurence in August. So no, crampons are not required to hike in the Dolomites in August (only if you cross glaciers and year-round snowfields). None of those are along this route.
Dear Marta,
My wife and I just took our two children (13 and 10 years old – complete Via Ferrata beginners) on the 4 day version of this hike. We followed your guide almost completely, only adjusting huts due to booking. I would like to express our immense gratitude to you for making this guide available to us. Without it our ability to take our children on such an adventure would have been significantly more challenging, complicated and fraught. Thank you so much for sharing your excellent work which I cannot recommend high enough.
(We parked at Mizura and took the 3 buses to Bad Moos, then the Gondala to the start on the alternate Day 1 route to Zsigmondy Hutte (that was a bit too long as we were unable to start until 1100 due to parking and busses at Mizura which was very crowded at 0830 (first bus) we didn’t arrive until 1930). We did Via Ferrata each day on our journey between Auronzo and Fondo Savia Huts, before walking out to our car).
Hi Ben! Thanks so much for your awesome feedback. I am so glad to hear you had a fantastic time. I hope you come back one day and try Rosengarten Traverse or even the Brenta Circuit, once your kids are a bit older and you have a bit more experiences. Via ferratas are so much fun.
Hi Marta,
First of all thank you for the amazing blog 🙂
We are planning to go for the 5 day-hike the second week of August.
Unfortunately it seems most of the huts are already fully booked since we were a bit late. Is there a possibility to pitch up our tent in a designated field close to the mountain huts?
We always did this in the Pyrenees and we just had to pay a small fee for using the field.
Kind regards,
Sebastien
Hi Sebastien. I am sorry to hear about the booked huts. Unfortunately camping in the Nature Reserves and Parks is prohibited in the Italian Dolomites. Keep checking for cancellations or look into alternative huts. along this route. Good luck!
Hello Marta!
First of all – your website is amazing! Thank you so much for the work and detailed information.
Me and my friends are doing this hike next week (thanks to your blog), we have all the huts reserved since january and we are very excited. Only thing, as i’m checking the weather, all 4 days we will be there, it is showing thunderstorms almost all day long. Do You have any advice or safety tips? I have read too much about how dangerous lightning can be in the mountains.
Thank You 🙏
Hi Madara. I answered this comment earlier but I did some changes to my site and notices some of the answers disappeared so here I go again. Don’t panick. The forecast always looks like this in June and August. Pretty much storms every day. The key is to always leave early. The trip is designed in a way that the distances between the huts are pretty short and that allows you to get to the next hut before the thundestorms arrive. Once at the hut you will have to see if the weather allows for extensions. Have a happy trip!
Hi, Marta!
First up, thanks for all the hard work you do on this incredible blog! I’ve been leaning on it heavily in the past few weeks and it’s been instrumental in planning my Dolomites trip. Really inspirational stuff!
My partner and I are looking to do the Alta Via 4 but huts on the back end are all booked so I’m now considering the Tre Cime. I’ve run into an issue with Fonda Savio as it’s booked all week. I’m wondering if there are any alternatives to this hut for the 3rd night. Thanks in advance,
-Ryan-
Hi Ryan. thanks for your great feedbak. You could extend that day and continue on VF Sentiero Bonacossa to Rifugio Col De Varda (ca. 2-2.5 hours) or descent and stay at Chalet Lago Antorno. The second option would be better if you plan to do the VF Merlone extension. I hope that helps!
Wow, thanks for getting back to me so quickly!! That’s a great idea, I didn’t even see Col de Varda on the map! Sorry to pester you on this, I know you can’t spend your life trip-planning for procrastinating Canadians but if you have any thoughts on whether Citta de Carpi would be a suitable alternative, that’d be awesome. Sadly the Chalet is full on our dates. Much appreciated and thanks again for doing really great work!!
-Ryan-
Hi Ryan. You can always buy me a coffee in support of my website. 🙂
Citta Di Carpi is a good alternative too, but it will take a bit longer to get than Col De Varda.
It is a nice refuge though. Col De Varda is right next to a chairlift so there are many day hikers there during the day.
Coffee done, what a great idea!! Happy to support and will happily do so again. LAST QUESTION – if we did Citta di Carpi, could we hightail it down early in the morning to return rental via feratta gear to San Candido AND make it to Bergamo by 7 or 8? Just to be clear, I don’t expect you to look up train times or anything, it’s more the hiking part of it I’m unclear on.
Awesome, enjoy the beverage and looking forward to seeing where you head to next.
-Ryan-
Thanks for the coffee! 🙂 It should be possible but I would definitely leave early. You can hike from Citta di Carpi to Col De Varda in ca. 90 minutes then take the chairlift down to Misurina and a local bus to San Candido from Misurina. Always keep in mind that businesses close between 12-3 in the Dolomites so make sure to be in San Candido before midday. From San Candido to Bergamo the journey time by train is approx 5.5 hours.
Hi Marta,
It turns out our Tabacco Map 10 that we ordered got refunded, leaving us map-less! Do you happen to know if they sell these types of map in the area (or any where we can get them in Italy)? Or perhaps a way to print a map of the region with detailed enough trails? Thank you!
Hi Valery. I am sorry to hear that, but don’t worry. A lot of places sell maps (tourist shops etc). Even huts will have them on sale. The maps also are on display in the huts (usually somewhere outside) so you can take a photo of the area. I hope that helps!
Hello, Thanks for your great blog! My husband and I are going to the Dolomites in mid-September and would like to do a two-night trek. Based on availability of huts, we go do night one at Zsigmondy and night two at Locatelli. What do you think of that for a short trip?
Or we could do night 1 at Fonda Savio and night 2 at Locatelli. From what I’ve read, it sounds like the hike up to Fonda Savio might be pretty difficult.
Also, my husband has a fear of heights, so we want to avoid via ferratas or areas with very narrow paths and a steep drop off.
I appreciate your insight!
Hi Elena. Thanks for visiting. Zsigmondy and Locatelli are only 2-hour hike from one another, but It’s not a problem. You can reach Zsigmondy and Locatelli by doing the Croda Fiscalina Circuit hike and then once at Locatelli you can do the Tre Cime Circuit. Both of those hikes meet at the Locatelli hut.
When at Zsigmondy you can also do a little extension and hike there and back to Rifugio Carducci.
You are not wrong the path between Fonda Savio and Locatelli goes over a via ferrata so I do not recommend it for someone with a fear of heights.
Have an amazing time!
Hi Marta,
Thank you for the insight! I ended up not being able to book Locatelli, so I currently have night 1 at Zsigmondy and night 2 and Fonda Savio. But I’m concerned about the route between then with the via ferrata… there’s no way around it?
I really want to stay at Fonda Savio. Do you have a recommendation of a second hut to pair with it for a two-night trip? A lot are booked up, it’s like playing tetris trying to find the right combination of huts on the right days!
Hi Elena. Yes you can omit the Via ferrata and take a different route to Fonda Savio. I would suggest that you get the Tabacco map 10 to understand the routes a bit better.
Hello Marta!
I could spend forever reading your website! In regards to this traverse, would you say that it is very crowded? Looking to likely shorten it to the 2 night / 3 day option but would ideally like to avoid large numbers of crowds! Also was looking at your Rosengarten traverse vs. this one!
Hi Liz. Thanks for your great feedback! The area around Locatelli and Tre Cime circuit is always very busy. It gets quieter in the evening when only the guests of the hut are around. If you want to experience a more quiet route then look into my Pale Di San MArtino Traverse. I hope that helps!
Booking last minute for a July 2023 trip was a tough one. Marta provided the insight to try and call the day of the trip to see if there were any cancellations, and there were. However, I had already booked 2 nights at Fondo Savio and I didn’t want to cancel and risk it… so I used this guide and made the best of it. However, I did a fun little deviation from this route in case a last-minute guide is useful.
On the long first day of three, I started at Ref Auronzo and did the Tre Cime circuit with the Innerkolfler via ferrata, stopping at Locatelli for an early lunch, tackled Innerkofler, and had a fantastic beer at Lavaredo. I could have gotten a last-minute room at Lavaredo or Auronzo, had I listened to Marta. Instead, we went back to the car, drove to Lago Antorno (parking in their lot for free) and hiked to Fondo Savio where we had already booked and I did not want to cancel. The hike to Fondo Savio was not that bad (unless it is the end of the day and there is no chairlift in case you look at the Tobacco guide app MAP=E03F and get confused). Having booked last minute, getting to Fondo Savio felit like a super long hike. But, every part of it was fantastic and the streusel at Fondo Savio is to die for (I had three servings). The next day (2/3), we did Merlone and a loop 112 around which was a great chill day with fantastic views. The next morning (3/3), hiked back to Lago Antorno. It was a fast 3day/2night adventure that I would have done again in a heartbeat. I booked less than 1 month in advance which was far too short-notice. Marta’s guide helped immensely and I was so happy with my first Dolomite adventure albeit a less-than-ideal planning effort on my part.
Thanks so much Gabriel for providing the feedback. I am glad you made the most of your trip and you still managed to do lots. Hopefully your next visit to the Dolomites will be super exciting! Happy hiking and travels!
Hi Marta!
Thanks so much for all of your guides – they’ve been SUPER helpful in trying to organise a trip to the Dolomites with my friend 🙂
One question though … We’re planning on doing the 3-5 day traverse in late July/August but with the extension Day 1 with Strada Degli Alpini. We are going to be hiring a car but I understand that you cannot drive through this region during the summer/there are restrictions. You advised leaving the car at Lago Antorno and then catching the bus to the trailhead (in Sesto?) – yet when I Google this, there don’t appear to be any bus route options at all….
Do you know which bus in particular this would be / have any advise on where to leave car and get to the trailhead etc? With this extension we’re not sure exactly where to stay the night before and after the trek.
Thanks in advance!
Charlotte 🙂
Hi Charlotte. That’s strange because when I google it myself there is a bus (or buses). There is no direct bus, you will have to switch a couple of times, once at Lake Dobiacco, once in the town of Dobiacco, but it is definitely possible to do this journey by bus. Do check again and type in Lago Antorno as departure and Pian Di Val Fiscalina as arrival. It shows bus no. 444 and 446. If you plan on starting with Strada Degli Alpini then stay in Moos or Sesto. Check my guide for Strada Degli Alpini to see the exact location of the start and how to get there. Let me know if that helps!
Hi Marta,
Ahh that seems to work! Not sure why I can’t follow a guide and type into Google Maps but thanks for helping! :’)
Hi Marta
Thank you very much for the comprehensive blog on the Tres Cime traverse. I find myself in a bit of a pickle and hoping you might be able to assist me. I have planned the 3 night-4 day tres cime traverse as you have suggested back in early March (First night Zsigomodi, second night Lavaredo, third night Fonda Savio), I managed to secure my 1st and 3rd night several months ago but unable to get in contact with Rifugio Lavaredo now for several months despite multiple attempts (?have been told they are under new management). Rifugio Auronzo is now full booked for the date I am looking for as well.
Firstly are you aware of whether Lavaredo is opening for 2024?
Secondly, in the event I cannot secure my second night in Lavaredo, do you have any suggestions for an alternative?
I look forward to your reply.
Hi Pablo. I know it might be a strange question, but did you email or call them? It happens often that emails from hikers end in Spam folder hence calling might be the best option. on the official drei zinnen site for Tre Cime it says that Lavaredo opens on June 14 2014. Mobile is +39 349 6028675
If that doesn’t work I would suggest this options:
Stay two nights in rifugio Zsigmondy which I would recommend reaching through Via Ferrata Strada Degli Alpini. On the second day you can do the Via Ferrata Severino Casara (Zwolferkoffel) from Zsigmondy which takes around 6 hours. It goes in a loop. You can read about it in this post (day 3) On day 3 continue from Zsigmondy to Rifugio Fonda Savio. If you are fast on day 3 you might be able to do one of the two ferratas near Locatelli on the same day before continuing to Fonda Savio. I hope that helps!
Hi Marta
I love your site and appreciate your beautiful photos and sage advice. My daughter and I are dreaming of visiting the Dolomites during the third week in August for a 3 day hut experience. I am wondering if you have any recommendations. We will be coming in from Venice. Hope to stay the night prior to hiking in a town. We will be traveling by bus/train. Looking for moderate hiking. As I search around for options, I have been overwhelmed by the cost of accommodations. I am wondering if there is a way to have this kind of experience affordably? Are there areas that are more affordable yet also accessible by public transit with huts that still have space availability? I feel like its asking a lot. Would really like to find a way.
Hi Claudia. Thanks for the great feedback. August is a really busy month. I would suggest that maybe you try the first 3 days on Alta Via 2. On night 2 instead of staying in Rifugio Puez you could veer off after Forcella Roa and stay at either Rifugio Firenze or Fermeda. The last day you could descent down to Ortisei. Another option would be the Rosengarten Traverse without the via ferratas (i explaing how to do it in the FAQ section of the article about the traverse). If you need more personalized suggestions I am happy to schedule a call with you. here are my rates:
Hi Marta, amazing blog with all the info you need! We planned based on your itinerary and had an amazing time in the Dolomites! The proof in video here 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZzze64Kbl4
Hi Issam. Thanks for the feedback. Looks like you had a lot of fun. Camping is not allowed in Tre Cime NP so it’s not something i would support, but I hope at the very least you left no trace. Next time try to use the huts:) I saw that Sentiero Bonacossa was inaccessible. Was this at the start of last season?
Hi Marta, yes it was early June so most. Huts were closed unfortunately, and Sentiero Bonacossa as well (quite a bit of snow). We put the tent at night and left early, leaving no trace 🙂
Gotcha. I am glad you had a great time. Sorry about the Sentiero Bonacossa. Hopefully you can finish the trip another time.
Hi Marta,
Your blog is amazing with such good information. I am working on planning the 3 day hut to hut hike Traverse Across Tre Cime Nature Park. I was able to book the second hut at Rifugio Fonda Savio, but the first night hut I’m having issues with. Still waiting on a response from Rifugio Locatelli and Rifugio Lavaredo. Are there other places close to Rifugio Lavaredo that I could make reservations?
Thanks for everything
Bobby
Hi Bobby. I am glad you are enjoying my blog. You can spend your first night in either of these 3 huts if Locatelli and Lavaredo are full: Zsigmondy Comici, Pian Di Cengia or Carducci. I hope that helps.
Last question, those other locations were either booked or did not respond. I was able to book a night at Rifugio Auronzo. If we start at Hotel Dolomitenhof do you think we could make it to Auronzo before 18:00 since that’s the latest to check in?
Hi Bobby. Yes you should be able to get to Auronzo hut no problem by 6PM if you start early at Dolomitenhof. I reckon a total walking time (no breaks) is ca. 6 hours.
This is an incredible post – thank you so much.
I have two questions:
1. How did you create your map? I am hoping to create a custom one for my trip (we are taking a slight deviation from your suggestion). Is google maps accurate?
2. Is it possible to go directly from Fonda savio rifugio to cortina (by hiking, not by bus). Ideally, we would stop by Lake Sorapiss on the way too, but I wondered how long that would take an if that is even possible?
Super grateful for any help! Thanks so much.
Sam
Hi Sam,
Thanks for stopping by. The map was created with mymaps google where I often import my own GPX data from the treks i did. Those maps are for visual only and google maps are not meant to be used for navigation in the mountains as the detail is just not good enough. For navigating in the mountains I always have regular maps with me.
As for your second question yes it is possible to walk from Fonda Savio to Cortina. You could first walk from Fonda Savio to Vandelli following day 3 of Alta Via 4 (6 hours). From Vandelli you could hike trails 216 then 213 to the top of Faloria gondola and then take the gondola down to Cortina (2-3 hours). I hope that helps!
Hi Marta,
Thank you for your incredibly comprehensive blog. It has been so useful for planning my trip to Tre Cima national park.
Unfortunately I have not been able to snag any of the huts for ‘night 2’ (i.e Auronzo, Locatelli or Lovaredo which seems to be changing over management right now so can’t accept bookings).
For now I have booked two nights at Comici – Zsigmondy Mountain Hut and a third night at Fonda Savia. Just wondering if you have a recommendations for:
– A return hiking route from Comici – Zsigmondy and back (since we will have to return for our second night)
-An appropriate hiking route to get all the way from Comici to Fonda Savia on day 3?
Many thanks
Jess
Hi Jessica. I would suggest that you check the map on the Tre Cime NAture Park guide. I have marked many trails on it. You could for example do via ferrata Severino Casara (since you already will have VF gear with you). By doing this route you won’t be repeating any route on day 3. You could hike around Monte Paterno and include the Via ferrata Innerkofler or Torre Di Toblin. As for hiking from Comici to Fonda Savio you can easily do it in one day. First to rif. Locatelli then Auronzo then Fonda Savio over VF Sentiero Bonacossa.
Hi Marta! I am trying to organize a 3-night group trek in Tre Cime in late August, with the following route: Rifugio Zsigmundy Comici –> Rifugio Locatelli (Dreizinnenhütte) –> Rifugio Fonda Savio. A bunch of us were able to snag reservations at these 3 huts, in this particular order, but two of our trekking companions weren’t able to (both Rifugio Zsigmundy Comici and Rifugio Locatelli are now fully booked). Do you have a recommended route for these two individuals, where they would overlap with our group? Even if they have to shorten their trek to just 2-nights instead. Would appreciate any insights you have! I was thinking that maybe they could do 2-nights: Rifugio Auronzo (since it’s only like 45 min hiking from Locatelli) –> Rifugio Fonda Savio but would love to get your thoughts.
Hi Elizabeth. Sorry to hear about the huts being full. What I would recommend is that your friends look for the reservation on the first night in either Rifugio Carducci or Rifugio Pian Di Cengia. The latter is tiny so they might have more luck with Carducci. Carducci is ca. 45-60 min walk from Zsigmondy. You could also start the route with Via Ferrata Strada Degli Alpini then your friends would split at the end and go to Carducci then you would continue to Zsigmondy. The next day they could meet you at Zsigmondy and you would hike together to Locatelli. You could then tick off the via ferratas next to Locatelli and they could continue with their hike.
For the second night their best alternative would be to stay at Rifugio Lavaredo. The second option is Auronzo (ca. 2 hours from Locatelli). on day 3 you could all continue together to Fonda Savio. If you did that then for the most part you would keep the group together. I hope that helps!
Hi Marta, my wife and I have really been drawn to your excellent website. So much detail and amazing pictures. My wife walked part of Alta Via 1 30 years ago and we want to return. Are we crazy trying to book a trip late June/early July 2024 at this notice? Do you think there will be any Refuggio space still? We’re fit enough for long walks, (just been away at the English Lake district walking 15 to 20km a day) but a little phased by the via ferrata photos. Where do you suggest we look for a 5 day trek? Thanks for any help
Hi Phill. Thanks so much for the amazing feedback. To be honest with you yes I think it will be quite tough to score reservations for Alta Via 1 at this stage, but if you won’t try you won’t know. Rifugios Lagazuoi and Averau (Night 3 and 4) have online booking system where you can see their availibility so maybe start there. Second half of AV1 is definitely quieter as a lot of people decide to exit earlier.
You could also consider Alta Via 2, but there are some beginner via ferrata sections along the way. Rosengarten Traverse can be done without via ferratas and extended with a couple of extra nights in the Puez Odle Group. Let me know if that helps.
Hi Marta, thank you for your great guides with such a detailed info and recommendations!
I wanted to ask you for an advice, I will be doing an Alta Via 2 on July 8th. But I will be coming to Europe on June 24th, so I have a lot of extra time. I decided to stay for a week in Austria doing Ratikön high trail, and going to Italy on July 1st. So I still have time to plan something else.
Would this traverse be a good option before alta via 2? I see the days are not long and it’s in a different location from Alta Via2 so the scenery should be a little different. If I do this traverse and add an extra day going from Fonda Savio to Rifugio Citta di’Capri, and then going down to Musirina, I will still have 2 days that I can spend in the area before checking in to my hotel in Bressanone the night before Alta Via 2.
Do you think I should head to the other side of the mountain range and stay 2 days near Val Gardena, and explore that area, or should I just stay 2 days near Cortina d’Amprezzo?
Thank you for your time!
Hi Iryna. Yes, it will be a good traverse, albeit you will need VF gear to do it, but since you are doing AV2 I presume you will have your gear with you. From Fonda Savio you can hike to rif. VAndelli and then from Vandelli down to Cortina D’Ampezzo then stay 2 nights here before heading to Bressanone. I wouldn’t go to Val Gardena, because AV2 runs very close by, so you will be able to see a lot of the sights from AV2. I hope that helps!
Marta, thank you so much for your quick response. You are right, if I’m doing an AV2 I will see all the mountains in the area of Val Gardenia while tracking that route.
One thing that is worrying me: considering the fact that I’m more of an introvert and like to do wild camping in remote areas, with less tourists, am I making the right choice with the Tre Cime traverse prior to AV2 ? I read some comments about how touristy those huts and trails are during the day, and I will only have a space in a shared dormitory while on that traverse. Maybe I should just spend two nights in the area and choose another 5-7 day track elsewhere ?
Maybe I’m overlooking some other beautiful track in Italy, worth visiting that is less crowded and will give a more serene experience?
Sorry for so many questions, I really appreciate your time!
Hi Iryna. You can look into Alta Via 6. I haven’t done that myself, but from what I know it is the quietest Alta Via of them all. I hope that helps.
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Hi Marta, do you think it’s possible to bivouac this trip with a tent and still do the via feretta? Is there any gps on this route available and are there many covered spots, I read there are lots of storms in June, do you think this is a good idea?
Greets Siebe
Hi Siebe. I am sorry but wild camping is prohibited within the Nature Park boundaries. There are some basic Alpine Bivoucas in the park but they would require to do some advanced via ferratas (for example there is one along the Monte Popera Circuit or Giro Del Sorapiss. As for your other question I did multiday traverses that included via ferratas but I stayed overnight in the huts so my backpack was only around 10-12 kg heavy. I didn’t understand your question about the GPS sorry. I hope that helps!
Hi Marta thanks for replyin, im sorry my English is not that good I meant is there any GPX for this route that I can download?
Ah Gotcha. There are online tools (for example garmin connect) where you could outline a route and create a GPX files for yourself. I just use maps (the Tabacco map no. 10 in this case) Navigating in the Dolomites is super easy as everything is very well marked.
Hi, thank you for your hard work put into all these blogs, really appreciate it.The huts Rifugio Pian Di Cengia and Zsigmundy Comici are both fully booked in July when we plan to go. So I have booked Rifugio Carducci for night 1, I’m still planning on doing the original route you describe of path numbers: 102, 103, 101 then cut across to the alternative yellow path by rifugio zsigmundy down to rifugio carducci. How long will this extra hike be? The following day we will hike back up it to continue the transverse. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Jani. Thanks for stopping by. It will be an extra hour to hike from Zsigmondy to Carducci. In Total from trailhead to Carducci is around 4 hours.
I do highly recommend taking the Strada Degli Alpini, since you need to bring the VF gear for the traverse anyways.
Hey Marta,
Thanks for all of these details and inspiration to do this hike! My fiance and I are hoping to do this during a larger trip around the Alps. We are also hoping to use public transportation and trying to avoid renting a car while we are there. With that in mind, I was wondering if you had recommendations for storing belongings during the hike. Obviously we would like to pack lightly and not bring unnecessary things on the hike if possible. Looking forward to hearing back from you!
Eric
Hi Eric. Not sure where you are coming from to the Dolomites, but you can first travel to Cortina, leave your luggage at the storage there then bus from Cortina to the start of the hike. The journey is around one hour by bus with 3 changes. You can look up the connections on Sued tirol mobil website.
If you extended the hike by one more night and hiked from Fonda Savio to rifugio Vandelli then on the last day you could just simply walk back to the Faloria Cable car and take the cable car down to Cortina. You can find this section of the Fonda Savio-Vandelli in my Alta Via 4 guide. Otherwise you can just exit normally as per this post and take a bus back to Cortina. I hope that helps.
Hi Marta, I am leaning toward doing the figure 8 Croda Fiscalina Circuit through Val Fiscalina and the second Tre Cime Circuit, that you mentioned to Nicholas a few posts earlier. But we will probably extend it to 2 nights in the park. I was able to get reservations at Rifugio Auronzo on our first night (not your favorite, I know), but I’m concerned the other huts will be booked already as we have 5 people to fit in. Do you think we can make it from the Parkplatz Fischleinbodenhütte to Rifugio Auronzo if we start hiking around 10-11am?
Hi Claire. Starting at 11 is a bit late for walking all the way to rif. Auronzo. It would take me around 6 hours to walk to it. I don’t know which month you are travelling in but you have to account for afternoon storms. You would be better off staying the first night in Zsigmondy (has a proper booking system) or rif. Carducci then on the second night in rif. Auronzo. You should also check out my post about Tre Cime Nature Park to understand some of the routes a bit better.
Hi Marta, do you know if it is possible to reach Rifugio Carducci by starting on the Croda Fiscalina circuit trail/path 102? According to the Via Alta map you posted above, the trails do appear to connect? How long did it take you to hike from Moos to Carducci? Thank you in advance!
Hi Claire. Yes, you absolutely can. It’s another hour from rifugio Zsigmondy to rif. Carducci over Giralba saddle. I visited Carducci hut when I was doing the Monte Popera Circuit. if you plan on doing via ferratas then go over via ferrata strada degli alpini to rif. Carducci. I also recommend getting a map of the area. I hope that helps!
Hi Marta! thank you so much for this detailed guide on the Tre cime traverse! i’m planning to do your suggested path this summer, however we are not getting any answer from either Rifugio Locatelli or Lavaredo. Do you think it’s possible to hike in one day from Rifugio Zsigmondy to Rifugio Auronzo? planning to take Ferrata Innerkofler to Locatelli and then follow down the path to Forcella Lavaredo and Rif Auronzo.
Thank you in advance 🙂
Hi Alessandra. Thanks for stopping by. Yes you can easily hike from Zsigmondy to Auronzo in one day.
Dear Marta, I am planning a hiking tour in the Dolomites during summer with my family and my dog and I just discovered your blog which will be very useful. You mention that you love hiking with your best friend Jasper and so do we. But I assume you do not take him on paths involving via ferrata. Would you be able to suggest one of your itineraries in the Dolomites where we could easily take our dog (also an Aussie), hence an itinerary of 4/5 days in the Dolomites without via ferrata?
Hi Renaud. Thanks for visiting. Yes I do hike a lot with Jasper but we usually do day hikes together. When I do hut to hut traverses I don’t bring him with me. I did stay with him in a couple of huts in Austria, but not all huts are dog friendly. I do know that Passo Principe, Schlernhaus, Rifugio Alpe Di Tires and SassoPiatto (the first three are in the Rosengarten group) the last one is at the foot of Sassolungo are dog friendly and I have met people staying there with dogs. Maybe look into doing a little Rosengarten Traverse. You can leave the via ferratas out of it (look into my FAQ section in the Rosengarten article). I hope that helps!
I am having trouble sending an email to Rifugio Fondo Savio to make a reservation. It says the email address is invalid??
Hi Holly. I just double checked and on the website of Club Alpino Italiano it is still the same e-mail whilst on the huts website it has been removed. Have you tried calling them?
Hi Marta
We would like to do a 4-day hut to hut trek around Tre Cime area and really like the itinerary above, however we are ideally looking for a challenging hike that has either none, or only beginner level via ferrata. We want a good long hike without too much technical difficulty. It looks like the Torre di Tobin extension and potentially the Interkofler route are ‘intermediate’ level and potentially too tricky for us. Can we avoid these and still get a solid 5-7 hours of trekking per day? Thanks
Hi Ryan. Thanks for visiting. Torre Di Toblin is intermediate but Innerkofler is a beginner route so you can include the latter. I would suggest you stay in Zsigmondy or Pian Di Cengia the first night and get there on VF Strada Degli Alpini then the second day travel from either of those huts all the way to Rifugio Fonda Savio (along VF Sentiero Bonacossa which is a beginner) then on the third day go from Fonda Savio to Vandelli (you can find this stage in my AV4 guide) and on the the last day walk out from Vandelli to Cortina on the LAgo di Sorapiss route. Let me know if that helps!
Hi Marta, thank you so much for this very detailed information – we our planning our trip based on your suggestions! I have a few follow-up questions:
1. When booking Rifugio Locatelli, their website states they will start to review reservations during mid-February. Do you recommend going ahead and requesting the reservation now, or waiting until February when they state the reservations will open? Their guidelines seemed a bit confusing, but as this is a highly sought after hut, we wanted to make sure we are requesting the reservation correctly and at the right time.
2. My partner and I are novice climbers (aka no climbing experience/no gear, though could purchase some); Would you recommend avoiding the ferratas all-together?
Thanks so much for your time and consideration in answering my questions.
Best,
Valery
Hi Valery. Thanks for visiting. I did receive your comments, they just need to be approved first by me to appear here (due to many spam comments that I receive). Now to your questions. Locatelli is a tough hut to secure a reservation and they do receive many e-mails. I am honestly blown away that they still haven’t put some kind of proper reservation system in place, but Italy can be quite behind with technology sometimes. To be honest it really is down to luck whether you will get a spot or not. I’d like to think they start to work through the request from an earlier date, but again I just don’t know for sure. Try to aim for less busy times (like September) and also avoid requesting a spot on a weekend and you may be lucky. As for your other question regarding via ferratas. Innerkofler is a great beginner one, but whether you should or shouldn’t do it is entirely up to you. I do have a beginner’s guide to via ferrata climbing in the Dolomites that might help you a bit.
I would also add that you can try staying at Lavaredo or Auronzo huts if Locatelli is fully booked.
I was wondering the same thing about Locatelli. Would it be wise to request spots at Larvaredo or Auronzo as well in case my group of 4 doesn’t get in? I am planning a 2 night, 3 day trek and am hoping to stay at Locatelli and then Fondo Savio. How much would having to stay at either of the alternate huts change the hike??
Hi Holly. Definitely wise. I am hearing from many of my readers already that Locatelli is already booked out. OF course it depends on the dates. You can also try staying two nights in Pian Di Cengia and then on your second day explore the area around Locatelli with a light day pack then return for the second night to Pian Di Cengia. They are only 1 hour walk from each other. Lavaredo would be the second best alternative. I hope that helps
Did you change this route recently? If I remember correctly you had a via ferrata marked out from Rifugio Locatelli to Rifugio Lavaredo. I customized my route based off of your Google maps which was extremely helpful, thank you for sure a detailed blog!
Hi Stephen. No I didn’t change the route, I just updated the post. You can do via ferrata Innerkofler which you are referring to, either when walking from Pian Di Cengia to Locatelli or from Locatelli to Lavaredo. Have you gotten a topo Tabacco map yet? that would be the best thing to do to understand the routes better. My google maps are for reference only. Let me know if you have any questions. I am happy to help. Happy hiking!
Hi Marta,
Thank you so much for your detailed and inspiring guides! I have booked for my group to stay at Zsigmondy-Huette, Rifugio Auronzo, and Rifugio Fonda Savio. We will be staying in the dormitory at each hut. I was wondering what we will be expected to bring to sleep in, as some of the huts mention that linen will not be provided. Will a sleeping bag be essential, or will a sheet/blanket be enough? Or do you know if we can pay for bed linen when we arrive at each hut? We would like to travel as light as possible.
Thanks again,
David
Hey David! That’s great to hear! Thanks for following my itinerary and amazing that you managed to book the huts. As for your question, bringing a sleeping bag liner is more than enough. No sleeping bags needed! A liner will fit into the palm of your hand. Some huts sell them, but the prices are inflated, just bring your own. I would also suggest that you check out my article about everything to expect when staying in the mountain huts in the Dolomites.
Hi Marta,
We’re booked in to do this hike starting tomorrow, but the weather forecast is looking like rain! The following 3 days weather wise are much better so shouldn’t be a problem. Will it be safe for us do get to bullejochhutte from fischleintalboden?
Hey Morgan! Yes it’s been raining a lot the past night and today. I am based not too far away. It seems like tomorrow mostly showers are in forecast, not heavy rain. I’d say wait it out and see. If it rains heavily in the morning then don’t go, wait until it subsides a bit and leave later in the midday. I would not recommend hiking in heavy rain. It hardly ever rains for the whole day in the mountains. Sooner or later the rain will turn into a small drizzle or stop completely. You can always call the hut and let them know you will arrie later. They usually hold your spots until 5PM, but if they will know you will arrive later they won’t give them away. You also have Rifugios Talschlusshuette and Zsigmondy along the way. where you can shelter from the rain for a bit if it starts raining again. Good luck. I hope you get to go!
Hi Marta, thank you for the detailed guide. I wanted to get your advice on this plan. I have reservations next week for Comici, Locatelli, and Fonda Savio. I’d really like to include Torre di Toblin and north-to-south Innerkofler (including Monte Paterno), and maybe Mitti di Mezzo. Should I attempt Toblin on day 2 after arriving at Locatelli (but it’ll be later in the day and thunderstorm risk, though I’m willing to skip Mitti to get back some time)? Or early on day 3, but it’ll be a very long day (Toblin + Locatelli to Lavaredo via innerkofler + Lavaredo to Fonda Savio hike/ferrata)? I am an avid hiker and rock climber, but new to ferrata, so I’m not sure what pace to expect. Thank you!
Hi Sum. Thanks for visiting. I think your plans will be quickly verified by the weather. If the weather and forecast will be good for day 2 then go for Torre Di Toblin on day 2. If the forecast is bad then leave it for the next day, however I would then either do one or the other (innerkofler or Toblin), otherwise as you said your day might become too hard. If you are extremely fit then you can manage it all, but I don’t know your capabilities so it is tough to say. For me doing Toblin, Innerkofler and then still hiking to Fonda Savio in one day would be too much, but I like to take my time.
Hey Marta!,
Thank you for putting up this detailed guide. Just completed the hike with all extensions and via-Ferrata, It was amazing. The amount of WW heritage is not to be missed.
Thank you and cheers 🙂
Mahesh
Hi Mahesh. Thank you for such a wonderful feedback. I am so glad to hear you completed the traverse. I hope you come back one day and tackle other ones too!
Hi Marta, would you recommend taking trekking poles with us? We are intending to do all the via ferratas, for during which I assume we’d stow the poles away, but I was wondering if it’s worth the hassle to bring trekking poles for the rest of the non-via ferrata portions of the trek. Thanks!
It depends how well you do without them. I never ever leave without my poles. Mine pack away really nicely and don’t stick out above my backpack. My pair of poles also weighs only 300 grams. The Z-type poles are my favorites, because the pack up very small.
Also the hike can’t be too technical or require any gear! thank you
Hi Marta,
Thank you for your amazing page. It is so helpful. I’m struggling with hut reservations. Is there a good route I could do starting at Rifugio Fonda Savio, (missing out Rifugio Lavaredo, Rifugio Pian di cengia (Büllelejochhütte), Rifugio Zsigmundy, Rifugio Auronzo). Drei-schuster-huette has availability on day 3 of the hike and Rifugio Prati di Croda Rossa on all 3 days. I’m still waiting to hear back from Rifugio Carducci and Rifugio Locatelli / Dreizinnenhütte.
Thank you in advance!
Hi Jennifer. I am afraid whichever way you go from Fonda Savio you will encounter a via ferrata (apart from the approach route to the hut which is only 90 minutes long) Fonda Savio lies halfway between rifugios Auronzo and rifugio Col De Varda which are connected with the Via ferrata Sentiero Bonacossa route. Most of the route is just a hike but there are a few cable protected sections for which you should have Via ferrata Equipment with you. Have you tried calling the huts directly? Once they are open for the summer season this is the best way to secure a booking and find out whether they are actually full.
Marta,
Thanks for valuable information. I plan a 2D hike at Tre Cime. I have a lot of time to do the hike. I love the overnight stay at Rif Locatelli (a 8 day hut-to-hut hike in 2016.) I will take my friends to experience the similar. The via Ferrata section near Mont Paterno is suitable for beginners. Is it still requires via ferrata gears? There are 3 paths from Rif Lavaredo to Rif Locatelli, one is the patern gallerie und kriegssteige (and passpotensteig), which is climb over the Paterno. I see there is a bypass route around the Paterno. Can we take that route to go around Paterno to avoid via ferrata? The other 2 paths on the west side of patern gallerie und kriegssteige are the commonly used by hikers via Forcella Lavaredo. Which of these 2 will you recommend, the east or the west one? Also, do you recommend the route via Forcella Pian di Cengia instead of via Forcella Lavaredo? I hiked the trail via Forcella Pian di Cengia in 2016 (in reverse direction), but never did the trail via Forcella Lavaredo. I plan to explore the tunnel leading to Mont Paterno, which I did in 2016. Is it the same trail as patern gallerie und kriegssteige? We will just walk a short distance for fun. Please advice. We will hike around Lacatelli: Grotta delle Tre Cime for photos, Laghi dei Piani, etc. Thank you so much.
Hi Ning-Chia. Thanks for stopping by. What I would recommend is that you start from Hotel Dolomitenhof in Val Fiscalina on the Croda Fiscalina circuit trail. Get to Locatelli, spend the night then do the Tre Cime Circuit including via ferrata Innerkofler (Yes you definitely need via ferrata gear for it). Then exit on the second day through Val Sassovecchio (past Laghi Dei Pani) back to where you started. So Basically you will combine Croda Fiscalina Circuit with Tre Cime Circuit and Via ferrata Innerkofler. As for the rest of the questions galleria stands for tunnels so yes it is the same trail. Kriegssteige however I am not sure what you mean by that one. I hope that helps!
Hey Marta!
Thanks a lot for putting up this guide! I’m deciding between this one or a shorter 4-day Alta Via 2 for the beginning of August.
It’ll be my first solo multi-day hike, and my only worry is with snow/ice on this specific trail. Do you need crampons to pass through certain areas?
Thanks a lot in advance!
Hi Jorge. Thanks for stopping by. All the snow is gone from the peaks and the weather is currently really hot. Don’t worry about the snow and ice, worry more about thunderstorms. Make sure you hike in the morning and be in the huts by afternoon when the storms approach. No crampons needed for any off the trails in this post during the summer season. I hope that helps!
Hi Marta,
I read this post and you inspired me to do this. I somehow was able to book all those huts in the order you suggested and I am making my way there in late August. It’s my first time going and I have never done anything like this. I am a little afraid because I am a beginner and heights scare me a little, so I am about to read all your blogs regarding what to expect and probably will message back with some questions, but I wanted to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for writing such a detailed blog. It was so helpful!!
Hi Jonathan. I am do glad to hear I inspired you to go. I understand the anxiety. The good thing is you will meet lots of people in the huts with whom you can team up. Always take your time, don’t bite more than you can chew for day to day hikes and be properly equipped. Have lots of fun and do let me know if you can’t find answers to any questions that may pop up.
Hi Marta,
Hope you’re doing well.
I am now under a month out from this part of my trip, very excited!
I did want to quickly check a few points, Are there spots on the way to top up on water/food or would you recommend we take all of what we need from the huts? if so can you purchase lunch snacks at the huts to take?
Planning to leave the car at the end of the hike. It looks like there is ample parking and no need to book?
Your guides have been a lifesaver thank you!
Hi Christopher. I would recommend that you check out my articled about everything to know about staying in the mountain huts in the Dolomites. It answers your questions about water, snacks and lunches. There really is no need to carry too much. You can’t prebook the parking lots before. They operate on a first come first serve basis. The weekends can get very busy and August is busy throughout the whole month, but if you are heading for a day’s hike then starting early is a necessity because the weather is usually better in the mornings. I hope that helps!
Also, what is the likelihood of thunderstorms in late August? We are planning to start our trek by taking the cable car up from Moos/Sesto. It seems like it starts running at 0830 in the morning according to the schedule and we are planning to being with the Day 1 via ferrata route (Via ferrata Strada Degli Alpini). Given the “late” start time in the morning and this being a longer route, would we safely be able arrive at Zsigmondy whilst avoiding thunderstorms? This would also be our first time with via ferrata.
Thank you so much for your guidance!
Hi Hamza. Storms usually happen in June and July. In August the chances for storms are slim but not zero. Best is to just check the forecast the day before. The storms are usually in the late afternoon so if you leave at 9 you should be at Zsigmondy by 2PM. If the forecast is bad than just skip the ferrata and hike to Zsigmondy along the trail through Fiscalina Valley. I am sorry I cannot give you a straight answer, but I simply can’t predict the weather for when you go 🙂
This information is very helpful, thank you! Of course the weather can’t be predicted, but this helps for us to have a backup plan in case of bad weather. Thanks again.
Fingers crossed for good weather and make sure to leave the huts early to get the most of the beautiful blue bird mornings.
Hi Marta, we are wondering if it’s possible to store our luggage somewhere in Misurina for when we finish our trek? I have learned there is luggage storage available at the Cortina d’Ampezzo bus station, but I was hoping there would be an option for storage in Misurina (we asked our hotel, Grand Hotel Misurina and they said they could not store luggage). Are we out of luck for that?
Hi Hamza. Sorry but I don’t know of any places in Misurina to store a luggage. It’s a very small place with only a few hotels and a souvenir/convenience store.
Thanks, no worries! I ended up switching our stay to a hotel in Cortina instead and they are able to keep our luggage.
That’s great to hear! Let me know how your trip goes.
Hi, thanks for such a great guide. I will be following your route this summer. Is the route signed at all or do you rely completely on a map and compass? Thanks!
Hi Nancy. thanks for visiting. the routes in the Alps are marked extremely well. On the signs you usually see markings for the huts so just know the names of the huts you are staying at and you will be good to go. Carrying a map is always a good idea though and I have mentioned in the text what map is needed for this traverse.
Thanks for all your wonderful information! We are planning a 3 day 2 night hike, making the tre cime traverse a loop beginning and ending at hotel dolomitenhof. Hut availability was limited. Got first night at Zsigmundy and second night at Lavaredo. Looping back around to Locatelli and out via Sassoverchio valley. It looks like on your interactive map the via ferrata would be optional. Am I reading that correctly? Would like to do the via ferrata but haven’t arranged/looked into rental and we are a group of 7. We are hiking on the 18th of June , driving from Milan that morning. Do you think I still have time to arrange rental of equipment and would you have a suggested location that would work for pickup/rental of the via ferrata with our route?
Could you give any rough estimates on times for hiking on each day of this route?
I read that we need sleeping bag liners for the huts but in Zsigmondy is says we are in a group room/ mattress camp and I saw someone else here in the comments say you needed your own sleeping bag for that. Is that correct bc we can’t do that. Would we be able to rent any locally prior to starting our hike?
Hi Vickie. Make sure to leave for the trail early as afternoon storms are come in June and July. As for your questions yes the via ferratas are optional apart from the stretch between Auronzo and Fonda Savio but you won’t be doing that. You can look for stores in San Candido or Sesto called noleggio (it means rental). As for rough estimates- Trailhead to Comici: 2-3 hours of walking. Comici to Locatelli: ca. 2 hours.
I never needed a sleeping bag in any of the refuge I stayed only sleeping bag liner. During covid some huts had the policy that you had to bring your own sleeping bag, but nowadays it is all back to normal.
Thanks so much for the information! One other question. On day two, if we take the high alt trail 101b and summit Monte Paterno we will be in the middle of the via ferrata innerkofler correct? Our second night is in Lavaredo hut. Just wondering if we should go left to the hut or go right and try for the torre di tolblen via ferrata and still have time to make it to lavaredo (starting from zsigmondy in the early am) or should we just head on to lavaredo after the summit of mounte paterno and see if there is enough time the last day to do the torre di toblin before we make our exit down the valley on 102 through sassovecchio?
Hi Vickie. Yes that’s correct. You can hike from Comici to Locatelli, do VF Torre di Toblin then afterwards VF Innerkofler and finish in Lavaredo in a day. You should also have enough time to do Via Ferrata Torre Di Toblin on the last time. I reckon just see what the weather is like on those days and plan accordingly.
Hi Vickie
How did you booked the Lavaredo hut? Unfortunately we don’t get any reply upon our e-mail on their website..
Hi Simon, just making sure you are checking the Spam folder. Replies from the huts often land there, because the huts sometimes use private emails for bookings.
Hi Marta thank you so SO much for putting all this time into these posts and questions! It is very selfless of you and very appreciated!
I am going mid-September with a friend, we have a stay at Rifugio Locatelli booked for the first night, we then have the option of staying at Rifugio Auronzo, Rifugio Lavaredo or Fonda savio. We are still deciding on whether to do 2-night trip or 3, which refugio would you recommend for our second night if a 2-night trip / 2nd and 3rd if a 3-night trip? Our route also has to be circular as we will have a hire car waiting at the bottom for us. Thank you so so much in advance!
Hi Bex. Thanks for your great feedback. If you were doing 2-night trip then Locatelli and Fonda Savio would make sense. If 3 night trip then you could do Locatelli, Lavaredo then Fonda Savio. Although Locatelli and Lavaredo are very close to one another on day two you could do extensions to Torre Di Toblin and Innerkofler. As for the need of the route being a loop I wouldn’t worry about that. You can easily get back to your car by public bus.
Hi Marta
Thanks for this great website and travel advice!
My partner and I have booked for 21-24 June to do this hike. However in reverse staying in Savio,
Lavaredo, Zsigmundy.
This would mean leaving our car at Val Escalina early on the 21st and then catching public transport to Lago Misurina to start the hike to Savio. The reason we’re doing it this way is that when we exit on the 24th we need a short hike to the car to then drive to Munich.
Can you advise how best to look for and book bus transport (or other transport) from Val Escalina to Lago Misurina. Google maps seems to say this will take 14hr.
You assistance will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks
Chris
Hi Chris. the journey takes around 1.30 min. Go to Sued Tirol Mobil website. put Moso (Sesto), Pian di Val Fiscalina as your starting point and Auronzo di Cadore, Lago d’Antorno as your destination. You buy the tickets on the bus. I hope that helps!
Hi Marta,
Your site is amazing and I’ve used it a TON to plan our trip late august to Tre Cime. One question on map options. I will probably use onX or fat map on my phone but also wanted to get a hard copy topo map. I’m having trouble finding anything online – can’t seem to find Tabacco 10 anywhere on my initial google/amazon search (it’s saying no longer available on amazon). I’m curious if you have any pointers or if there are local outdoor shops nearby where we can purchase them once we are in town (we should have a day in Sesto before starting our trek. Thanks so much!
Hi Marianne. It seems like they sold out. Yes, even huts sell the maps so you should be able to find a copy in a town where you are staying prior to hiking. Each hut also has a map framed outside or somewhere inside which you can study. There are some small outdoor shops and rental places in San Candido and Sesto where you should be able to purchase the maps. I hope that helps!
Hi Marta!
Just wanted to say your blog has totally inspired me to come visit the Dolomites. Not only are the photos beautiful, but you present the information so well, making the planning of the trip much easier! I will try to use one of your affiliated links when it comes time to booking to show you my support 🙂
I have a few questions:
1) In your blog, you mention that you drove and parked at Bad Moos Hotel’s parking lot to start your hike. From the information I have seen on the official drei-zinnen.bz website, it says that from June to October, the roads in Fischleintal valley are closed between Anderter and Kreuzbergpass (Sesto and the Bad Moos hotel are in the middle). The website says cars cannot enter that area and that we have to take the special 440 shuttle. Is this something new? I wanted to ask you if you know anything about it and if so, it can help me and also help the readers planning to do this hut-to-hut trek.
2) I am planning on staying overnight in Misurina and leaving my car there, then in the morning taking the buses to get to the start of the trek near Bad Moos Hotel. From my research, I would need to take bus 444 to Dobbiacho, then 446 to Anderter, then the special 440 bus to Bad Moos. You mention in your blog that you prefer parking the car at the end of the hike and bussing to the starting point. Is this the bus route that you took? If so, how did you go about purchasing the tickets?
3) You provide two awesome options to starting the hike at Val Fiscalina, whether hiking up, or doing the Via Ferrata Strada Degli Alpini. Since this is a point to point hike, so we will only have the choice of one, in your opinion, which route do you find more awesome? 🙂
4) You recommended using The tobacco map n10 for hiking this route. Does it help with both the hiking part and the Via ferrata trails? I also saw the book by Cicerone called Via Ferratas of the italian dolomites part 1 that seem to describe all the routes in this hike. Do you have any experience with it?
Thank you once again and I look forward to your response!
Hi Ryan! Thanks for visiting and for supporting my site I would really appreciate it.
as for your questions. There is a parking lot near Bad Moos hotel called Parcheggio Croda Rosa. That’s the parking lot for the chairlift. I just checked the drei zinnen website for the fischleintal and didn’t see any info about driving restrictions there, but parking is limited hence they recommend taking a bus instead. In the FAQ’s section of the Fischleintal you have all the info about the bus numbers etc.
2) Tickets can be purchased on the bus. I talk about this bus route in my Tre Cime Circuit guide. and Croda Fiscalina Circuit guide.
3) If you plan on bringing Via ferrata Equipment then I would 100 percent recommend VF Strada Degli Alpini, but this route is definitely a lot harder.
4) Yes. And yes the Cicerone guidebook for Via Ferratas is great too, but I wouldn’t bring it on the hike. A map is enough.
I hope that helps!
Thank you so much Marta for your quick reply 🙂
1) on the Drei Zinnen website, FAQ for Can I go to Fischleintal valley with my car, it says “From 06/11 -10/08/2023 the Fischleintal valley can only be reached by the Fischleintal Shuttle Val Fiscalina (line 440) on foot by bike or – with the exception of temporary closures in the time from 9 am – 4 pm – by car. Work is still in progress on a passage by showing a valid passage permit. For cars, the free parking space at the cable car Monte Elmo in Sexten is recommended.” It made it sound like cars are not allowed in but I may be misinterpreting it, or is it only not allowed in from 9am-4pm?
2) But in any case, my plan is to follow your recommendation to Park at the end of the hike in Misurina and then bus to the starting point. I used the Suedtirolmobil website to lookup the route and it does show I can take 444 + 446 or 444 + 446 + 440.
3) I will rent Via ferrata equipment in Cortina D’Ampezzo for multiple days. I am glad to hear that you would strongly recommend it so we will start with VF Strada Degli Alpini 🙂
4) I will purchase the E-book of Cicerone and then get the Tobacco map once I arrive in Italy.
Thanks again for all your help! It has been invaluable
Hi Ryan. This sounds like a new rule introduced because of the work that is going on on that road. Taking the bus will be a better idea for sure. For Via ferrata strada degli Alpini you will need to get off at an earlier bus stop called Kabinenbahn Rotwand then take the gondola up to Rotwandwiese and start your hike there.
Hey! This is fantastic – can’t thank you enough for the level of detail. We are booking only a month in advance (shooting for June 20-25) which I realize is a bad move, but it was a last minute plan – any advice if most of the huts you recommended are booked?
Hi Rachel. No worries. It would be fantastic if you considered supporting my site in return. As for your question. Locatelli might be booked out so you should aim for either Lavaredo or Auronzo if that is the case. Fonda Savio is another busy one, but there is no other refuge in close proximity so if that’s the case you might have to walk out down to lake Antorno on the last day. If you stayed in Auronzo the night before though then you could definitely still squeeze in Via ferrata merlone on the last day before you descend. I hope that helps!
Thank you so much! We are definitely supporting your site and purchasing from your links to prepare – very much appreciated.
One other question – I assume the bus is dropping us near Hotel Dolomitenhof, so if we are taking the Via Ferrata Strada Degli Alpini option on the first day, what is the best way to get from Hotel Dolomitenhof to the top of the Croda Rossa Chairlift near rifugios Rudi and Prati di Croda Rossa?
Hi Rachel. You take the same bus but instead of going all the way to the end you get off at the Kabinenbahn Rotwand bus stop then take the gondola up to Prati Di Croda Rossa. I hope that helps!
Thank you Marta for the great information, this is such a helpful guide to plan our trip. Much appreciated
Thank you Naomi! I hope you have a fantastic time there!
Just saw this comment and thought I’d let you know that we are also from Australia and have found travel insurance that covers via ferrata. Insure4less covers via ferrata so may be worth having a look at their website
Thanks for sharing this with others.
Hi Marta,
Thanks for your detailed blog, Tre Cime looks amazing! My partner and I are planning to do this trek in July. We are from Australia and we are struggling to get insurance for the Via Ferrata so we are now considering hiking without Via Ferrata. Is it possible to hike down to Lake Misurina from Rifugio Auronzo and back up to Rifugio Fonda Savio on day 3 to avoid the Via Ferrata? And are there any other side detours you would recommend we could do which don’t require Via Ferrata? Thank you!
Hi Charlotte. Thanks for visiting. Have you looked at World Nomads insurance? they have some good options for sports.
It is possible to hike down to Lake Antorno from rifugio Auronzo and then back up to Fonda Savio avoiding the via Ferrata routes. I also recommend that you grab a map of this traverse. Dolomiti Sesto no. 010. I’ve linked to it in the blog. Let me know if you have more questions!
Hi Marta,
Thank you so much for your blog! It’s really helpful and my friend and I cannot wait to attempt that excursion. However, we only have three days and nights available. We were wondering if we could shorten it this way (we found availability in these two huts only so far):
Start at Hotel Dolomitenhof
Hut Night #1: Rifugio zgigmundy
Hut Night #2: Rifugio Fonda Savio
End at Lake Antorno
And would VF equipment be required for this trek? (we’d like to do it, but aren’t sure if we have the budget for the equipment so would like to know whether we could go without).
Thanks so much for this blog and your amazing feedback!
Chris
Hi Chris. Thanks for visiting. It is possible to hike from Zsigmundy to Fonda Savio in a day, but it will be quiet a day: ca. 6 hours of walking. Between rifugio Auronzo and Rifugio Fonda Savio there is a via ferrata section called Sentiero Bonacossa. Even though it’s a beginner via ferrata, I would still recommend bringing the via ferrata gear with you. I hope this helps!
Thank you very much Marta! Yes, this was really helpful. I hope this will still be a pretty trek despite us keeping it so short on time!
No worries! Happy hiking!
Hello Marta thank you very much for this wonderful itinerary!
I was wondering what gear you’d recommend I take to complete this trail.
Thank you
-Aidan
Hi Aidan. Thanks for visiting. In the text, I have linked to my complete packing list for the hut-to-hut treks in the Dolomites. You should find it helpful. For the Tre Cime traverse you will also need the via ferrata gear but it is already included in the packing list.
Hi Marta, thank you so much for all your help.
I am arriving and departing from Venice Airport (VCE). Do you have any recommendations for how to get to and back from the hike?
Thank you so much,
Shane
Hi Shane. Thanks for visiting. You can take a shuttle from Venice to Cortina then a local bus from Cortina to Dobiacco and Dobiacco to Val Fiscalina. I have a link to the shuttle in my FAQs in the Italian Dolomites guide. The connection between cortina and val fiscalina you can figure out by using the Sued Tirol Mobil website. Let me know if that helps!
Hello,
Thank you again for you description and well written articles. It’s been a very helpful tool in our planning. While reading the Tre Cime traverse, I knew we would definitely want to do the VF Innerkofler and hike the Tre Cime circuit
Due to the unavailability of some huts, we had to modify our itinerary from your original recommendation, let us know if you have any other suggestions or recommendations.
We are staying in Misurina and we’ll catch the bus to R Auronzo, from there we’ll do the VF Innerkofler/Luca, and then stay the night at R Lavaredo. The next day we’ll circle the tre Cime counter clock wise , head to R Fonda Salvo, possibly do VF Torre di Toblin. The next morning, we might do VF Merlone, then head out back to Misurina .
Hi again Simone. I am sorry to hear that you cannot secure the spots in the huts. Have you tried rifugio Zsigmundy or Carducci for the first night?
Whilst I understand the urge to do Tre Cime circuit this is such a busy trek that I would actually suggest the Tre Cime traverse and starting with Via ferrata Strada Degli Alpini first then staying the first night in rifugio Zsigmundy or Carducci. Then from Carducci trekking to Rifugio Lavaredo and enroute do either Torre Di Toblin or Innerkofler.
On day 3 you can then head to rifugio Fonda Savio.
The itinerary you have outlines doesn’t exactly have much sense because it will mean you will backtrack and repeat tracks quite a bit. I hope that helps!
Yes, this helps a lot. Thank you for your feedback. I’ll look into modifying it as you suggested.
Thank you for this feedback, it was the right timing. When I originally made the reservations, Zsigmundy only had “camp mattresses” available and we did not want to have to add a sleeping bag to our pack. I checked today again after your message, and a few spots had open in the dormitory. We are now able to do the traverse as you suggest. Thank you for all your work and quick replies.
Woohoo!! That’s fantastic news! I am so glad to hear that. I am sure you will love this traverse. Have lots of fun and let me know if you have more questions. Happy hiking 🙂
Hi Marta,
I am enjoying reading your material so much! So helpful and detailed, thank you!
Friends and I are doing this in July, staying in, Zsigmondy, Locatelli and Fondo Savio and then a few nights in Cortina D’ampezzo to do day walks.
We won’t have a car and are thinking of starting in Cortina D’ampezzo and then bussing to the start of the track the morning of the walk, does that sound feasible?
I’m also having trouble arranging transport to and from Cortina D’ampezzo – we will be travelling from Munich to Cortina, and then from Cortina to Passau at the end, any suggestions for how to do that?
Many thanks!
Hi Madeline. Thanks for visiting. If you are traveling from Munich then the easiest would be to catch a train from Munich through Austria to San Candido in Val Pusteria. That will put you in much closer proximity to the start of this traverse. Then you finish it in Cortina. From Cortina, there are daily buses that go to Dobiacco and then again a train back to Germany. I hope that makes sense. let me know if you have more questions! Bus schedules are probably still not up yet because it is still winter season. You will have to look at the connections closer to the dates. Also check out my FAQ’s in the Italian Dolomites Guide page and look for transport.
Hi Marta, Such an inspiring website you have. We are a family who wants to take our 8 and 11 years old children on a 4 days hut to hut hike in july. Is this one too advanced for kids? If so can you recommend any other routes? Thank you, Stine
Hi Stine. Thanks for visiting and for your lovely compliment about my site. Unfortunately, I can’t give you a straight answer to that because I don’t know your kids or their capabilities. What I can tell you though is that I have seen plenty of young children on via ferratas, even a family with 3 kids on Dolomiti Brenta Traverse which is the hardest traverse I have done so far. Ultimately though you know your kids, whether they are scared of heights etc. Let me know if you have more questions.
Thank you for your quick answer. It makes sense. They are fit, but can be a bit scared of heights if the path is very narrow.
Do they need the full ferrata equipment for this route?
No if you only walk day 1,2 and 3 then exit after rifugio Auronzo down to Misurina. If you still hiked between rifugio Auronzo and Fonda Savio then yes you would need VF equipment. You would also need it for the extensions when at Locatelli which I talk about in the post.
Hi Marta,
As others have stated here, this is an amazing and very thorough blog. Thank you for taking the time to do this!
I have a specific predicament that I’d like to get your advice on. We were planing on following this plan exactly, but when booking the huts we ran into some issues with some of them being full. Right now we have:
Start at Hotel Dolomitenhof
Hut Night #1: Rifugio zgigmundy
Hut Night #2:
Hut Night #3: Rifugio Fonda Savio
End at Lake Antorno
Any advice on where to stay for the second night because Locatelli was full! Thanks so much for your expertise!
Heather Muir
Hi Heather. Thanks for your great feedback. You could either try rifugio Lavaredo or rifugio Auronzo. I am not a big fan of Auronzo because it is right next to the parking lot for the Tre Cime circuit hence the area is super busy, but if Lavaredo is fully booked then I would just go for Auronzo. The evenings are mornings are quiet around there.
Locatelli is a tough one to get a reservation at.
Hi Marta. Thank you so much for your detailed itinerary that I plan on doing end of June.
I’m used to long distance hiking but not to via ferratas.
And looking at the itinerary I have the feeling that the days will be short : for example for days 2 and 3, only 4h walks approximately. So if we leave at 7-8am, we will arrive at the next stop around noon (1-2pm with lunch breaks etc I guess).
Is it really different from a hike to add via ferrata in the itinerary? Will it be “exhausting” and fully sufficient to have a 4h walk ? Once at the hut are there other hiking path in the surroundings (apart from the extension you proposed) ?
I really want to do this tour, but I am shared between the fact that it seems “too short” for me (and have nothing in the afternoon), but I don’t want to extend it too much since I’m not familiar with via ferratas…
Thanks !! 🙂
Hi Camille. Thanks for stipping by and for your great feedback. Via ferratas do slow one down a lot because of all the clipping and unclipping one must do on the trail. Some are harder than others but all in all, I would say the time ration via ferrata vs hike would be 2 to 1.
You also have to take the afternoon storms into consideration. They are extremely common in the summer season and being stuck attached to a metal cable when you have lightining all around is, as you can probably guess, not an ideal scenario.
As for your question: will it be “exhausting” and fully sufficient to have a 4h walk. It is for me. I tend to hike max 4-6 hours. Anymore above that and I stop enjoying the hike. Of course everyone is different, so I reckon it’s a question only you can answer yourself.
If you are looking for a bigger challenge then I recommend a following itinerary: Day 1 via ferrata Strada Degli Alpini (the alternative start I suggest in the post) to Rifugio Carduci. Day 2 Via ferrata Severino Casara around Croda Dei Toni to rifugio Pian di Cengia or Locatelli. Day 3 Via ferratas Torre Di Toblin and Innerkofler. Day 4 Hiking from Pian di Cengia or Locatelli (depending where you stayed the night before) to Fonda Savio + Via ferrata Merlone weather permiting. Let me know if that helos. Do get the map for the Sesto Dolomites which I link to in the post. It will help you visualize the route.
Hi Marta,
Thanks you very much for your quick and complete answer!
I think I will stick to your original tour with all the variations. Since I’m not used to Via Ferrata it will allow me to avoid them (if, we never know, I’m not a fan), and also to adapt the journey depending on the weather, you’re right it’s a key point to take into consideration!!
Regarding availabilities in the rifugios I will sleep at Zsigmondy Hütte (Pian di Cengia already full), then Locatelli (this one I’m not sure it is available, otherwise I will adapt the travel to sleep in Auronzo or Lavarezzo Rifugio) then Fonda Savio.
I will write a feedback after my trip!
Hi Camille. Fingers crossed that you like the ferratas and if not then you can just explore the whole day along the nearby trails. Plenty of them around Tre Cime Park. Locatelli is notoriously difficult to get a reservation at so fingers crossed you do squeeze in. Many of my readers already report that it is fully booked for the summer. I am looking forward to hearing your feedback.
Happy hiking
Hi there, thank you so much for this very helpful article! We were planning on parking our rental car at Lago Antorno and using public transportation to get to the Croda Rossa chairlift. Do you know if this is possible, and how long it would take?
Thank you again so much for this post, it is incredible!! 🙂
Hi Tai. Yes this is possible. You can catch a bus to Dobiacco then another one to Fischleintal and get of at the bus stop for the Croda Rossa chairlift. You can check the Sued Tirol Mobil app for the connections (the bus schedules won’t probably be accessible until May or June so don’t check it yet). As for bus stop names you can find them on google maps, just zoom in on the location. It will probably take around 90 minutes in total because you will definitely need to change the bus once or twice. Let me know if you need any more help!
Hello,
Me again (see comment below). Could I just reserve a spot at Rifugio Auronzo instead of Fonda Savio? Would it be too much of a long day if we left rifugio Auronzo to do via ferrata Merlone?
Thanks again for your time,
Claudine
Hi Claudine. Thanks for visiting and for all your comments. I am sorry I didn’t respond sooner. I normally respond within max 48 hours, but I was on the road for the past 10 days. I am happy you managed to book Pian Di Ciengia and LOcatelli. As for Fonda Savio, I would still check back with them in a few weeks to see if maybe they had any cancellations. Rifugio Auronzo is the next alternative, to be honest. I personally walked from Locatelli all the way to Fonda Savio in a day then in the afternoon did the Via Ferrata Merlone and then hiked down to the parking lot.
Pian Di Ciengia and Locatelli are very close by but there are so many different summits you can do around Locatelli, that even if you stay in Auronzo for one night, ylu can first do an extension like VF Torre di Toblin or Innerkofler then head to Auronzo. When staying in Pian Di Cengia you could also do via ferrata Severino Casara. This one is still on my list, but it looks amazing. Don’t worry you won’t run out of things to do even if you stay in 3 huts which are close to one another. Let me know if you have more questions!
Thank you so much! One last question 😅, do you know if the VF Severino Casara is a beginner one?
Hey Claudine. It’s an intermediate one. You will find a great description of it in the Via Ferrata Cicerone guidebook part 1. By James Rushforth.
Hi Marta, thank you for sharing all of this information! For the alternative route on day 1, could we still access the trailhead from the Pian di Val Fiscalina bus stop or is there a different stop you’d recommend?
Hi Zahin. Thanks for visiting. You can hike directly from the parking lot near Hotel Dolomitenhof, however, it will be a heck of a day. Instead, I would recommend that you get off at the Kabinenbahn Rotwand Cabinovia Croda Rossa bus stop and take the Croda Rossa gondola then start the hike from Rotwandwiese. Let me know if I can help further!
Hello Marta,
I have to say your website is extremely informative, thank you so much. My husband and I will be doing this route end of June. We’ve managed to book the first two nights in rifugio pian di Cienga and locatelli, but Fonda Savio is fully booked. What would you recommend as an alternative itinerary? Maybe there is another rifugio near that wouldn’t change the itinerary too much? Please, I need your help 🙏🏻.
Thank you
Should I reserve at rifugio Auronzo for my third night? Although I’m afraid day 3 from rifugio Locatelli to Auronzo might be a bit boring and day 4 from Auronzo to via Ferrata Merlone too hard?
Hi Marta,
Thank you so much for all of this wonderful, helpful information, my partner and I are planning to do this route in the summer!
We will have a rental car and we are hoping to leave it at the end of the route in Misurina. Do you have any recommendations as to where exactly to leave it?
We were also wondering how to get from Misorina to Val Fiscalina once we have dropped off the car – if by bus, do we have to book this in advance? Apologies if this is an obvious question, we are struggling to find some of this information as we are coming over from New Zealand.
Thanks again for all the work that you put into this website,
Sophie
Hi Sophie. It would be good if you left it at a parking lot for the rifugio Fonda Savio trail. The parking is called Parcheggio Libero Cadini. From there you walk down to Misruina, catch a bus to Dobiacco and from Dobiacco you catch a bus to Val Fiscalina. Those are public buses, you pay as you go, and you don’t prebook them. I have more information about the buses on my Tre Cime circuit post which starts at rifugio Auronzo. As for buses to Val Fiscalina you will read about them on my Croda Fiscalina circuit post. Let me know if you have more questions.
Thanks Marta, that sounds great.
Another question, we have managed to book, Zsigmundy for the first night and then Fonda Savio for the third night. We have tried Locatelli however have not heard back yet. Is there another hut that you would recommend for the second night?
Thanks again, really appreciate it.
Sophie
Hi Sophie. You could either try Lavaredo or Auronzo as an alternative to Locatelli.
Hi there, my daughter (22) and I are looking to do a 3 night hut to hut hike at the end of June. We are fit and active, but not as doerienced climvers. We have been recommended to stay a night at the rifugio pian di cengia and perhaps finish up with a luxury night at the Berg hotel. I’m not sure how to build an itinerary around those suggestions! Any ideas or if do you think there are better options to base our trip around?
Hi Kate. Thanks for visiting my site. If by saying that you are not experienced climbers you are referring to via ferrata sections, then I can tell you that via ferrata is not climbing. It is scrambling along cable protected sections being attached to the cables by a lanyard. I recommend that you follow this route and bring VF gear with you for added fun. On the first day you can reach rifugio Pian di Ciengia on a regular route through Val Fiscalina then the next day move onto rifugio Locatelli and do either via ferrata Innerkofler or Torre di Toblin as a side trip (the first one mentioned is easier). The next day you can either exit through Val Campo Di Dentro or Val Sassovecchio to make it back to the Berg Hotel for a nice and well deserved relaxed evening. Let me know if that helps and if you have any more questions.
Hi Marta!
Awesome advice! I was looking into doing this at the beginning of April – is that possible or is it too snowy still?
Thanks!
Hi Isabella. Thanks for visiting. I am afraid the window for this traverse is from the end of June until the third week of September. The huts are closed otherwise and yes in April there will be loads of snow.
Hi Marta!
I’ve looked through your whole website. Your posts are amazing and detailed. Thank you! My wife and I have 12 days in the Dolomites and are considering this Tre Cime Traverse for part of it. We like being away from crowds, but might like to avoid the via ferrata though due to lack of experience. Would it be possible to make this a loop, starting in Val Fiscalina, going up to Dreizinnenhütte, looping around to Rifugio Auronzo, and back down? I think that avoids the via ferratas, but I am not sure if the trip would still be as epic as yours 🙂 Any thoughts?
Thanks for your time!
Nicholas
Hi Nicholas. Thanks for stopping by. If you look at the map of the traverse and read through the article you will find info about shortening this traverse. In short yes you can turn it into a loop or do it as two separate day hikes, the first one being Croda Fiscalina Circuit through Val Fiscalina and the second Tre Cime Circuit. You can find both hike descriptions in the day hikes category of my Italian Dolomites guide. If you want to do it with an overnight hut stay and finish at the same location then just connect the two day hikes as they inteconnect at rifugio locatelli. the whole route will form a figure 8 and can be done over 2 days/1 night. I hope that helps! let me know if you have more questions.
Hi Marta!
Thanks so much for this article! I’ve read all your posts on multiday hikes now! I’m going with my boyfriend in September and I am torn between this hike or 4 days of the alta via 1 (doing the first part). I really can’t decide!!! Which would you recommend?
(I’m very outdoorsy and like heights/climbing but my boyfriend not so much, although I’m sure he could do a via ferrata)
Thanks for your help!
Hi Pippa! Thanks for visiting. Tre Cime is awesome because most via ferratas are done as extensions so if your boyfriend isn’t up for them you can do them on your own. I do however recommend by starting with the via ferrata Strada Degli Alpini. It will be a great introduction to a VF world for him and it’s an easy one too. Just make sure to bring the gear. Rosengarten traverse is another awesome one if you can’t decide. AV1 is fantastic but more of a beginner multiday traverse. I hope that helps!
Marta Hello again! i’m about 8 days away from doing the Tre Cime route you have on here. I’ve checked around on all the websites but can’t find much info. Do you happen to remember which of the huttes had electricity? I just have a bunch of batteries for my cameras and drones. thanks for all your help!
Hi Matt! Thanks for visiting. All huts do, but you need to make sure to charge your things as soon as you get to the hut because the plug sockets often tend to be occupied in the evenings and the electricity is often turned off at night. Ask the staff as soon as you arrive about the policies. If you happen to stay in rifugio Pian di Ciengia then it’s a very small refuge and they do have electricity but it can be very limited. I don’t remember unfortunately if it was or not, but that might be the only one where charging might be more challenging, otherwise, you will have no problem recharging your things. The only thing I would ask you is to be aware of other guests and not to occupy plug sockets for too long, cause obviously everyone wants to use them 🙂 I hope that helps!
thanks so much! in cortina right now and was wondering if you had any suggestions for bus’ to sesto or as close to hotel dolomitenhof as possible. can’t seem to find any and the names are similar but show up not close at all. please let me know if you can help!
Hi Matt. Please check the Sued Tirol Mobil website (suedtirolmobil(dot)info/en) Put Cortina D’Ampezzo as the start and Moso (Sesto), Pian di Val Fiscalina. You will have to change the bus a couple of times and the travel time is around 1 hour 40 minutes. Look like the first bus leaves at 8:05 AM. Good luck! I hope that helps!
Hi Marta,
Great blog and very helpful tips. I’m planning to do a 4 days solo hike in the dolomites in mid October. I have never done this type of hiking before. Any suggestions or tips?
Thanks!
Mohamed
Hi Mohamed. My website is full of suggestions and tips. You’ve got to help me out here and ask me more detailed questions 🙂 I would recommend that you go earlier because in mid-October all the huts tend to be closed. Rosengarten group has huts which stay open from the beginning to mid-October. Bear in mind that wild camping isn’t allowed in the Dolomites.
Hello,
I will be getting on the trail around 3pm and I was wondering if it would be possible to have enough time to take the alternate route on the first day. What is the least amount of time do you think someone could complete the Via Ferrata. I would like to do it but if I do not have enough time I will take the normal shorter route.
Hi Maxwell. Starting a trail at 3PM in the Dolomites during the summer season is a bold move. Do bear in mind that afternoon thunderstorms are super common and being attached to a metal cable wire during a thunderstorm, isn’t exactly the safest passage:) I would only undertake the route (whether normal or through via ferrata) if you have a great forecast ahead.
The fastest you could do via ferrata Strada Degli Alpini to the Zsigmundy hut is probably around 3.5-4 hours, providing you took the gondola up. If you were going up to Pian Di Ciengia then add another 45 mins. This does not include breaks.
Hi Marta! I was wondering if you had any recommendations or if you thought there was a way to skip over staying at the Rifugio Pian di Cengia? We have made all our reservations per your wonderful guide but cannot get the dates we need for that Rifugio. Thanks so much for you help and this AMAZING travel guide.
Allie
Hi Allison. Consider either staying at the Zsigmundy Comici hut or doing a little detour and staying in rifugio Carducci. If you do the latter you can add a via ferrata around Zwölferkofel to your day! Let me know if that helps! happy hiking! Marta
Thanks for these comprehensive guides! Would it be possible to skip Locatelli and go from Rif. Pian Di Cengio to Rif. Fonda Savio?
Hi Christina. Yes, it’s definitely possible to do in a day. Rifugios Pian Di Cengia and Locatelli are only one hour walk from one another. If you don’t plan on any extensions and are fit, then I would say yes you can do it.
Me again! I just found your other post about hiring all the gear, sorry I got ahead of myself!
Obviously we would need to return the gear to where we got it from so would have to backtrack… where would you suggest is the best town to hire the gear for this traverse? Failing that, is this route possible to be just trekked (avoiding ferratas all together)?
Many thanks!
Hey Tara. You could travel to Cortina first then spend the day there before you Alta Via 4. Rent the gear in Cortina. although bear in mind that renting the gear for 6 days might amount to the same price as buying the whole set for yourself. It is ca. 25 euro/day. Cortina is well connected by public buses with other towns in the Dolomites. Once you finish in Pieve Di Cadore you won’t be very far from Cortina to drop the gear off. I am afraid you can’t skip the ferratas if you want to do this route. AV1 doesn’t have any via ferratas along the way. Maybe you should look into it instead? I also have a guide for it on my website.
Great post Marta, thank you!
We are coming to the Dolomites this summer and would love to do this traverse. We have no via ferrata experience nor do we have any gear. Do you know if we are able to hire ferrata gear before starting the trek?
Thanks again! 🙂
Hi Tara. Please have a look at my beginner’s guide to via ferrata climbing in the Dolomites which will answer all of your questions. You can find it in the via ferrat guide section on this blog. Once you comb through it let me know if you have any further questions!
Hi Marta, awesome work with this website BTW ! I really love this 4 day hike. Looking to do it with my Girlfriend first week of September 2022. I assume you just have to pack the bare minimum for the excursion ?! As carrying everything is a must… Also for another 2 extra nights as continuation, what do you reccomend ?
Hi Alin! Thanks for stopping by and your compliment! I really appreciate it. I do link to a complete packing guide for the hut in this article so please do have a look. In the other article you will also find a downloadable checklist for packing. You don’t need to pack food or snacks. Just change of clothes, via ferrata gear and a few little bits and bobs. Anyways do check out the article.
As for your other question you can continue from rifugio fonda Savio to Vandelli and then from Vandelli to San Marco. You can find this section in my AV4 guide which I also link to from this article.
Let me know if that helps and if you have more questions!
Hi Marta,
The blog is very well written and thanks for that.
I was planning to hike this trail in 2 nights and 3 days. Due to lack of hut availability is it possible to start from Lake Antorno and finish at Sexten? I am planning for September first week.
Regards
Rohit
Hi Rohit. Yes, you can do this trail in reverse if it fits better with hut availability. I hope that helps.
Dear Marta,
Great tips, info and amazing pictures! I am very excited to go to the dolomites this summer and planning our trip. Depending on availabiligy in the huts, can we just as easily do the trip the other way around?
Thanks for your advice!
Regards, Sara
Hi Sara, sure you can, but I always recommend hiking North to South rather than in the opposite direction. The reason being is the sun exposure. Hiking South to North is a lot more tiring due to higher sun exposure. Northern Slopes stay in shade for a lot longer in the morning. I hope that helps! Good luck with planning our trip!
Hi Marta,
Your blog is great, lots of inspiring info! Would it be possible to extend this traverse by adding 1 or 2 days, other than the suggestion made above (doing the Via Ferrata Severino Casara)?
Cheers,
Jasper
Hi Jasper! Thanks for your great feedback! It absolutely is. You can start with Via ferrata Strada Degli Alpini on day 1, stay at rifugio Carduccio, then on day two do via ferrata Secerino Casara around Croda Dei Toni (still on my list, I haven’t done that one myself, but it looks great), then you can stay the second night at the Bullelejochhuette, the next day tick of both via ferrata Innerkofler and Torre Di Toblin and stay at Locatelli or rifugio Lavaredo. Day 4 would take you to rifugio Fonda Savio where you could do via ferrata Merlone and on day 5 you could hike all the way to rifugio Vandelli located at Lago di Sorapiss. This stage is described in my Alta Via 4 guide (day 3). If you want you can even hike further than rifugio Vandelli and connect the Tre Cime Traverse with Alta Via 4! Let me know if you have more questions!