The trip

LEVEL ***

Elevation: +/- 650m to 750m approximately per day.
Walking time: 4 to 7.5 hours per day with optional itineraries possible.
Type of trek: mountain hike on marked, often rocky paths. The climb to the Giussani hut involves a short cabled section. Cable ramps secure steep or exposed sections on days 10, 12 and 13. For the optional itineraries, there are a few aerial passages secured by cables (cables on a flat 50m path on day 2, a cabled passage on the ascent of the Croda del Becco on day 4).

You have to be in a general good fitness level. Please practice a cardio sport such as hiking, running, cycling, from 3 to 4 hours a week.
Your physical preparation will enable you to enjoy your trek to the maximum.
Please find the description of the levels by clicking here: levels of difficulty

GUIDING

Group between 6 and 14 people supervised by a qualified professional mountain leader.

It is usual to tip your guide at the end of the trek, according to your satisfaction. It is not mandatory but, it is very appreciated.

ACCOMMODATION

12 nights in a refuge dormitory.
All accommodation has hot showers (except Day 3 and Day 6). However, due to increasingly recurrent periods of drought, access to showers is not guaranteed.

MEALS

Breakfast and dinner are served in the accommodation.
For lunch, your guide will prepare a picnic, usually consisting of a variety of salads and regional produce.
For nights without luggage, picnics are ordered from the refuges for the following day.

Please inform us about your food allergies and special diets at the time of the booking.
We do our best to accommodate special diets (gluten-free, vegetarian, etc.). However, we encourage you to bring some additional products for your own picnics.

Water is a scarce resource in the Dolomites during certain periods ... Plan to buy water a few times at refuges (around € 4 / liter) or to be able to purify it (tablets or gourds with filter).

MAPS

Tabacco Map 03 Cortina d’Ampezzo (1/25000)
Tabacco Map 10 Dolomiti di Sesto (1/25000)
Tabacco Map 31 Dolomiti di Braies (1/25000)
Carte Tabacco 05 Val Gardena (1/25000)

Practical information

ACCESS TO DEPARTURE POINT

Day 1 meeting at 1.30pm at the bus station of Cortina d'Ampezzo (plan to have eaten).
Day 8 meeting at 1pm at the bus station of Ortisei (St Ulrich) (plan to have eaten).

BY TRAIN (then bus transfer)
Outward journey:
Paris - Milano - Venice, then Venice-Cortina by bus (2h, about 60€ A/R): Bus ATVO/ Bus flixbus
Or by Stuttgart, Munich, Fortezza and Dobbiaco, then Dobbiaco - Cortina by bus (45mn, environ 20€ A/R)
SNCF Information: 3635 or sncf.com
CORTINA EXPRESS: cortinaexpress

At the end of the 1st week, possible transfer (optional) by Altitude Mont Blanc from Cortina to the accommodation on Day 7, and Day 8 transfer from the accommodation to the bus station of Ortisei to be there at 1pm.

Return Trip:
End of the hike in Siusi. Regular buses between Siusi/ Bolzano/ Ortisei, at your expense (about 5€ per person):
valgardena.it/en/bus-schedule/
Siusi (Seis) >> Ortisei (St Ulrich), Val Gardena with bus 172, departure every hour, 1h journey
Siusi (Seis) >> Bolzano with bus 170, departure every hour, 40 minutes journey.
Then train Bolzano - Verona - Milano - Paris: SNCF information, 3635

At your request, a group taxi can be organised during the week by the tour leader.

BY PLANE: Venice International Airport "Marco Polo"
Bus transfer Venice – Cortina, (2h, about 40€ A/R)
ONE WAY: bus on Sunday at 11.20am at the airport, arrival in Cortina at 1.25pm
RETURN: bus on Saturday at 3.30pm in Cortina, arrival at the airport at 5.45pm
ATVO bus
Flixbus bus

BY CAR
Two long-term free car parks on the outskirts of Cortina (about 10 minutes walk from the train station/1km): "Lungo Boîte" (west of Cortina) and "Parcheggio Via del Parco" (south of Cortina).
By Milan, Verona, Venice, Belluno and Cortina d'Ampezzo
By Milan, Brescia, Trento, Bolzano, the most convenient: We recommend you then take the train to Dobbiaco (9.02am/ 11.05am, or a train every two hours), then the bus to reach Cortina (11.10am/ 11.55am, or every two hours).

At the end of the 1st week, on day 8, meeting at the bus station of Ortisei at 1.00pm. You will have picked up your car the day before in Cortina.
2 car parks for this 2nd week: 
- Ortisei (for a fee): Alpe di Siusi gondola lift in Ortisei, €6 per day
- in Siusi (free): gondola Seiseralm. Parking, bus 172 to Ortisei. 

End of the hike on Saturday around 3pm in Siusi (Seis). 

ACCOMMODATION BEFORE AND AFTER

Cortina d'Ampezzo Tourist Office.

Val Gardena Tourist Office.

INSURANCE

In accordance with regulations, we are covered by Professional Liability Insurance. Under no circumstances, we can replace your personal civil liability.
The repatriation insurance EUROP ASSISTANCE that we offer is dedicated to French speaking people living in Europe. If it is not your case, we advise you to subscribe to another travel insurance which will cover you in case of injury and repatriation during your trek.

If you chose to take out repatriation insurance with EUROP ASSISTANCE whom we propose, Altitude Mont Blanc will only serve as an intermediary between the client and the insurer. We cannot influence either party. We adhere to strict conditions of sale. You are responsible for compliance with the reporting procedures of any incident.

Before making any decision, contact EUROP ASSISTANCE.

CONTACT US

If you are late please contact the agency as soon as possible on: +33 (0)4 50 79 09 16 or +33 (0)6 42 49 76 07

Equipment & luggage

EQUIPMENT LIST

Clothing

• Walking trousers
• Shorts (Bikini/swimsuit, just in case!)
• Breathable or merino wool t-shirts
• Breathable or merino wool leggings
• Fleece or jumper
• Wind stopper or Goretex jacket
• Waterproof poncho + gaiters or Goretex trousers + waterproof rucksack cover
• Pair of gloves and a warm hat
• Sun hat or baseball cap
• Walking socks (1 pair per day)
• Sturdy walking boots with a good sole, already broken in
• 1 change of clothes for the evening
• A pair of comfortable shoes for the evening

Other Equipment

• Toilet bag
• Quick drying towel
• Sunglasses and sun cream
• Water bottle or Camelback (1.5 litre minimum)
• Knife, fork and spoon
• Plastic lunch box/plate for your picnic lunches
• Plastic cup for coffee
• Small First Aid kit (antihistamine, ibuprofen, Compeed type blister pads...)
• Survival blanket
• Head torch or hand torch
• Sleeping bag liner sheet and pillowcase (blankets provided at accommodation)
• Two adjustable walking poles (highly recommended)
• Identity card or passport

BACKPACK

Bring a comfortable backpack of 30 to 40 litres for your personal belongings for the day (warm clothes, waterproofs, water, plate and cutlery for your picnic, sunscreen and your identity documents) and please keep a little room to carry a picnic and snacks.

LUGGAGE TRANSPORT

You are allowed 1 soft, sports type bag, with all your possessions inside, of 8kg maximum per person. Your baggage will be transported daily, except on Days 3, 6, 8 and 9, between accommodations by our logistics vehicle where access is not always easy.
Baggage which is too big and too heavy won't be accepted by the drivers, please think of their backs! 

YOUR BACKPACK FOR THE NIGHT WITHOUT YOUR LUGGAGE

On nights 3, 6, 8 and 9, your luggage won't be dropped off at your accommodation (you will get it back the day after). Here are the things to bring with you (about 2 kilos are enough!):

• small toiletries bag
• sleeping bag liner sheet
• change of clothes for the day after (bare necessities!) and comfortable for the evening.