Long journey to the Dolomites
Activity
Difficulty
Duration
Dates
Price
From 1695.00 €
About the Grande Traversée des Dolomites trek
From the Puez Oddle massif to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, this great west-to-east traverse takes in the most beautiful trails characteristic of the Dolomites surrounding the famous resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo.
This itinerary, one of the biggest in the Alps, with its extremely varied landscapes, will take your breath away. Each evening you’ll reach a different hut, but almost all are over 2000m high, offering exceptional views of the Dolomite mountains.
You will leave with :
Sébastien
Trek guide – Mont-Blanc specialist
“The trip to the mountains is a moment of discovery. So you shouldn’t try to arrive before you’ve left to take full advantage of it!”
Photo gallery of the Grande Traversée des Dolomites trek
The route of the Grande Traversée des Dolomites trek
Upcoming departures
What's included in the formula
- Supervision by a qualified French mountain leader.
- Overnight stays on a half-board basis as indicated in the program.
- Showers in the refuges. Water is limited on some evenings.
- Picnic lunches.
- Transfers as indicated in the program.
What's not included in the package
- Cancellation assistance insurance to be taken out on registration.
- Luggage transfer.
- Soft drinks in general.
- Personal hiking and travel equipment (shoes, poles, personal first-aid kit, etc.)
- Transport to and from the meeting point on D1 and D10. Transfer from Chamonix available at extra cost.
- Any private transfers or gondolas not included in the program.
- Everything not mentioned in the price includes
Day 1: Cortina d'Ampezzo to Paso Pordoi and start of the trek
1 hour 15 minutes transfer – 5 hours walk – Overnight in refuge without luggage – D+: 475 m / D-: 835 m
Meet your guide in Cortina d’Ampezzo at 7:30 a.m. for a 1h15 transfer to the start of the hike at Paso Pordoi.
We take the cable car up to Saas Pordoi (2990 m), then begin our adventure by climbing Piz Boe (3152 m) before descending to the eponymous hut. First magnificent views of the Dolomites. We then move on to the Antersas and a beautiful plateau before descending to the Cavazza hut (2585 m).
Day 2: Entering the Puez Odle massifs
5 hours’ walk – Overnight in refuge without luggage – D+: 760 m / D-: 860 m
A fine, varied day, with a passage over the Col Gardena (2121 m) before heading up into the Puez Odle massifs that we’ll be discovering over the next two days.
The Ciampei pass (2366 m) gives access to a beautiful plateau which we cross to our refuge at 2475 m.
Day 3: In a mineral atmosphere
5 hours’ walk – Overnight in refuge without luggage – D+: 580 m / D-: 760 m
A splendid, varied day in a mineral and steep setting, first, then quite open, with a wealth of geological and floristic interest.
Afternoon arrival at Genova hut (2297m).
Day 4: Genova hut to Scotoni inn
30-minute transfer – 3.5-hour walk – Overnight in hostel without luggage – D+: 300 m / D-: 800 m
A quieter day today, with a beautiful descent into the Val de Lungiaru followed by a transfer to the Fanes Senes Braies massifs. A short climb brings us to tonight’s hostel, ideally situated at the foot of the mountains.
Day 5: Balcony day
6 hours’ walk – Overnight in refuge without luggage – D+: 1050 m / D-: 490 m
Most of the day is spent along a balcony path at the foot of immense limestone walls. The Col Lagazuoi (2573 m) offers us beautiful contrasts before skirting the Tofana de Rozes walls and their Via Ferrata. A final climb awaits us before we reach the Giussani hut (2580 m), strategically located in an environment marked by the fighting.
Day 6: On a wilder route
6 hours 30 mins walk – Overnight in refuge without luggage – D+: 1040 m / D-: 1550 m
A beautiful alpine day awaits us on a little-frequented trail. We first descend into the Ravenanzes valley before starting a steep but steady climb towards the Ciase pass (2760 m) and the Pace bivouac. We continue on a wild and pleasant descent that joins the track leading to the refuge (2060 m).
Day 7: In the heart of the Dolomites
5 hours 30 mins walk – Overnight in refuge without luggage – D+: 840 m / D-: 570 m
This morning we follow the track cut to bring military troops to the Biella refuge (2327 m).
In the afternoon, optional ascent of Croda del Beco (2810 m / +/- 430m) from where the view extends far into the Dolomites.
Day 8: Refuge Biella - Refuge Pratopiazza
5 hrs 30 mins – Overnight in refuge without luggage – D+: 430 m / D-: 750 m
The day takes in panoramic ridges and karst desert at the foot of the massif’s giants, the Crioda Rossa and Croda Rossa Pizora up to the Pratopiazza refuge (1991 m).
Day 9: Arrival opposite Tre Cime di Lavaredo
6 hours 30 mins walk – Overnight in refuge without luggage – D+: 1460 m / D-: 1060 m
Steep but pleasant descent under the Strudelkopf to reach the bottom of the Rienza valley, which we climb before taking a wilder path to the Col Grande del Rondoi (2289 m). A beautiful balcony trail then leads us to the famous Locatelli hut facing the famous landscape of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo (2405 m).
Day 10: End of trek and return to Cortina d'Ampezzo
1 hour 30 mins walk – 45 mins transfer – D+: 110 m / D-: 210 m
The last stage of this beautiful route takes us along the path that leads to the Pian di Cengia pass (2522 m). We continue at the foot of the Cima Piccola to the Auronzo hut, which marks the end of the tour.
We are transferred to Cortina d’Ampezzo, which marks the end of our stay.
Highlights of the trip
General information
SAFETY
You can find the Quai d’Orsay’s position on these countries on the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: diplomatie.gouv.fr in the “Conseils aux voyageurs” section.
The information contained on the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is subject to change and is given for guidance only. Please note that no region of the world or country can be considered safe from the risk of terrorism.
REGISTRATION
By post:
Ask us for a registration form
- by phone: 06 65 93 29 29
- or e-mail: contact@watse.fr
Send us your registration with a copy of your passport, your postal address, telephone number and e-mail address, together with a deposit of 30% of the cost of the trip.
Also, if you wish to take out a Comfort or Comfort Multirisk cancellation insurance policy, this must be paid at the same time as the deposit when you register. You can consult our insurance contracts on our website.
By internet:
Book your holiday directly on our website: directly on the holiday page, choosing your dates and insurance options.
ATTENTION: air fares will be maintained until 3 months before departure and may be readjusted if necessary if you book during this period.
ASSISTANCE AND SAFETY
We strongly advise you to take out assistance insurance for the duration of your trip.
We offer two different types of insurance: Comfort Cancellation and Comfort Multirisk, to be taken out when you register for your trip.
Details of this insurance are available on request or can be viewed by by clicking here.
Other offers include Mondial Assistance, your own insurance company or Club Alpin Français. Check that your trekking activity is covered.
Make sure your insurance covers all medical expenses in the event of an accident.
You must make sure that you are covered for mountain rescue costs. If this is the case, you must provide us with the following information before you set off on your trek:
- a certificate from the insurance company covering mountain rescue costs.
- the contract number and telephone number of the assistance center
Beware of restrictive clauses in certain insurance policies (particularly those linked to Visa Premier, Gold or other cards), such as mountain insurance limited to snow activities, or altitude sickness not recognized as an illness requiring repatriation, which will be refused.
Please check the actual content of your insurance and take the necessary steps if necessary.
Health & climate
CLIMATE
The climate is much the same as in the French Alps: summer days are hot and temperatures drop considerably at night.
HEALTH AND VACCINES
No vaccinations required.
We strongly recommend that you are up to date with the usual vaccinations: diphtheria-tetanus-poliomyelitis, whooping cough, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and B.
We recommend that you have a check-up with your dentist before you leave.
IFREMMONT
No specific indications.
Transport and conditions
The meeting point is Cortina d’Ampezo.
We can organize transfers to and from Cortina d’Ampezzo on request and at extra cost: from Chamonix: €95 return.
AIR
No specific indications.
LUGGAGE
You carry your own belongings for the duration of your stay. We advise you to optimize your bag and not to load yourself unnecessarily.
The stay
MEALS
Picnics for lunch. Morning and evening meals are taken in the accommodation.
Snacks are provided, but you’re welcome to bring your own.
ACCOMMODATION
9 nights in mountain huts and hostels in dormitories.
TRAINING
Supervision by a state-qualified French mountain leader.
Practical info
ELECTRICITY
You can recharge your electronic devices every day in the accommodation.
FORMALITIES AND VISA
No visa required for nationals of France and bordering countries.c
BUDGET, CHANGE AND TIPS
Meals not included (cold drinks, snacks, etc.) and accommodation are included in the price of the stay. Tipping is not necessary and should reflect your satisfaction with the team.
Watse added value
AN EXCLUSIVE AND UNIQUE ITINERARY
This holiday has been designed by Watse to offer an in-depth exploration of the mountains around Cortina.
A CHOICE OF QUALITY ACCOMMODATION
You will stay in comfortable refuges. Evening meals will be taken at the refuges.
ACCOMPANIMENT BY A FRENCH GUIDE
A French Watse guide will take care of everything on site.