Walking holidays in Alta Badia: emotions in natural surroundings
There are many ways to spend a walking holiday here in the Alta Badia, from leisurely walks to challenging hikes and climbs or various guided excursions that we organise weekly, including evening briefings with our mountain guides. After all, there’s a reason why the Dolomites are on every real mountaineer’s bucket list. If you are planning a walking holiday in Corvara, get ready to meet the local VIPs (very impressive peaks): the Sella Group, Mt. Sassongher, the Cir Group and others will make your mountain holiday unforgettable for all the right reasons. We especially recommend the routes to the Gardenaccia and Jimmy shelters and the one leading up to the Valparola mountain pass. There are hiking trails at different levels of difficulty, and plenty of huts along the way where you can catch your breath and sample tasty local specialities. So, grab your map, poles and backpack – the Dolomites are calling!
The real white magic: winter in the Dolomites
Did you think a walking holiday in the Dolomites was just a summer option? Think again! You don’t need to be a consummate skier to enjoy a winter holiday at Hotel Col Alto: taking a walk or showshoe hike through the idyllic snowscape can be a source of endless joy as well as a healthy form of exercise and an excellent cure for stress! With 80 kilometres of groomed and signposted winter paths in our vicinity, you will be spoilt for choice. Take a few steps away from the buzzing pistes, and you will find yourself immersed in a magical world.
Summer or winter, come and spend a walking holiday at Hotel Col Alto in Alta Badia – you’re in for a real treat!
Our tips
Here are some of the excursions that await you during your hiking holiday in the Dolomites.
During your holiday you should not miss a hike on the Colfsco High Trail. It leads you from Passo Gardena through Val Stella Alpina to Colfsco. It is a pleasant alpine hike on well-marked paths, suitable for the whole family.
From Colfosco take the Col Pradat chairlift to the mountain station: go northwards to the saddle in front of the Sassongher and at the foot of the mountain pines to Rifugio Edelweiss. Continue in a few hairpin bends down to the mountain station of the ski lift; on the right take an unmarked path to the Rifugio Forcelles (2,102m, closed in summer). Continue along the well-marked Via di Colfosco, across mountain meadows and pine forests in a south-westerly direction to Malga Cir and on to the adjacent Via del Passo Gardena. On the way back take path n. 650 – if you want, make a detour through the valley to the waterfall before heading back to Pecei.
Start: 1,550m
Peak: 2,109m
Time: 4 hours
Easy, well-marked route, not suitable for strollers, but ideal for a family outing
The hike begins in Corvara at the Col Alto cable car – either on foot (50min) or by cable car. Once at the mountain station head to Rifugio Bioch, where the last section with a view of the beautiful Val Badia begins. At Rifugio Pralongià you can immerse yourself in the past and admire the peak of Col di Lana. To head back home walk in the direction of Campolongo. Once you reach Rifugio Marmotta, you can return to Corvara along an easy path that passes Rifugio Boconara.
Start: 1,956m
Peak: 2,667m
Time: 6 hours
Via ferrata for advanced climbers in possession of climbing harness and helmet. The path is well-marked and not suitable for children.
From the car park at Passo Gardena go uphill on path n. 29 and continue on the via ferrata, which offers a breathtaking view. A suspension bridge leads to Lago Pisciadù. Approach path n. 666 and then take path n. 667, which leads to Lech dl Dragon, where you can admire the breathtaking glacier. Return to the car park through the beautiful Val Setus.
(Aileen, reception)
Start: 2,136m (Passo Gardena)
Peak: 1.5 hours
Easy, well-marked route, not suitable for prams, but ideal for a family outing
For a leisurely walk I recommend the path from Passo Gardena to Corvara. You can reach Passo Gardena by bus or by cable car. I usually leave late and arrive at Rifugio Jimmy at noon.
Afterwards I descend on the path near the cable car, which leads me to Colfosco. From there I take the bus back to Corvara or I walk on the path near the church which leads me directly to the foot of the Sassongher and then to Corvara.
The walk is pleasant and not particularly demanding. It is a hike with several alternatives, as you can take the shortcut through the forest to Colfosco or you can walk to Forcelles, a village above Colfosco, and stop at Rifugio Edelweiss before returning to the village.
For me the highlight of this hike is the fantastic view of the surrounding mountains and of the Sella Group.
(Stefano, Pezzei family)
Start: 1,730m
Peak: 2,200m
Time: 5 hours
Well-marked path of medium difficulty
One of my favourite hikes is the one from Capanna Alpina to the heart of the Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park. The Alpe di Fanes is without doubt one of the most fascinating places in the whole Dolomite area.
From Capanna Alpina the path n. 11 takes you first in eastern direction, then uphill in northeastern direction to Col de Loćia (2,069m), with panoramic view of the Sella Group and the Marmolada. Continue along the same path through vast mountain pine forests until you reach Gran Plan or Plan de Ciaulunch, a large green area at the beginning of which there is a junction to Lagació/Lagazuoi. Once you have crossed the Gran Plan, go uphill towards Passo Tadega (left turn to Lavarela and Conturines). Continue in the same direction, slightly downhill until you reach Malga Gran Fanes (2,110 m). From there, after a slight climb, you reach Lech de Limo, where you descend to the huts Ütia Fanes and Ütia Lavarela (2h 40min). Between the two huts is the beautiful Lech Vërt. Tip: Have lunch in one of these huts and then return to Rifugio Alpina to admire the natural beauty of this plateau.
