Trekking in the Dolomites: the most beautiful trails and how to organise your trip

The CAI difficulty scale: reading the signs before you set off

The Italian Alpine Club classifies trails using a scale based on objective parameters such as elevation gain, length and type of terrain. Understanding these grades is the first step towards choosing an itinerary suited to you and avoiding unpleasant surprises halfway through the day.

The four main categories range from the tourist path, practicable by virtually anyone, to equipped routes requiring a via ferrata kit. This is not a hierarchy of prestige: it is an honest map of what awaits you underfoot. If you want to orientate yourself by level, we have gathered itineraries by easy difficulty and demanding routes.

If you are a beginner or walking with children, head for T and E trails and take a look at our selection of easy itineraries. Those seeking more of an adrenaline rush will find plenty to challenge them among ferratas and alpinism.

• T (Tourist): routes on roads, mule tracks or clearly visible paths, with no technical difficulty. Suitable for everyone.
• E (Excursionist): well-marked and waymarked mountain trails requiring a basic level of fitness and appropriate footwear.
• EE (Expert Excursionist): rugged terrain, steep slopes, scree or short snowfields, and exposed sections requiring a sure footing and a head for heights.
• EEA (Expert Excursionist with Equipment): via ferratas — equipped routes with steel cables and ladders requiring a harness, helmet and ferrata kit.

The most beautiful trails in the Dolomites

Drawing up a definitive ranking is impossible, but some itineraries have become true icons, and for good reason. Here is a selection covering different landscapes and levels, all achievable in a single day and all gathered in our dedicated trekking section.

Among the great classics is the Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop, the panoramic circuit that circles the most photographed symbol of the Dolomites. For those who love water, Lake Sorapis enchants with its milky turquoise colour, while the Viel del Pan trail offers a high-altitude walk with the Marmolada in view for the entire route.

On the South Tyrolean side, the Seceda loop and the Adolf Munkel trail at the foot of the Odle deliver views that look like paintings, as do the Sassolungo circuit and the sweeping Alpe di Siusi loop, perfect for those who prefer rolling meadows to vertical walls. Combining history and scenery, the Cinque Torri loop passes the open-air First World War trenches.

Want to see the full range? Explore the activities section and the complete list of itineraries to filter by area and difficulty.

• Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop: the iconic circuit par excellence.
• Lake Sorapis: the most beloved turquoise lake in the Dolomites.
• Seceda loop and Adolf Munkel trail: the Odle from every angle.
• Sassolungo circuit and Alpe di Siusi loop: from sheer walls to great pastures.
• Viel del Pan trail and Cinque Torri loop: panoramic balconies and Great War history.

The alta vie: multi-day trekking from hut to hut

The alta vie are long hiking routes that cross the Dolomites by linking refuge to refuge, to be walked over consecutive days. They are numbered and represent the most immersive trekking experience these mountains can offer.

The most famous and accessible is Alta Via No. 1, which starts from Lake Braies and descends to the Belluno area: roughly 150 km generally walked in 10–12 days, sleeping in the huts along the way. It does not require mountaineering skills throughout the route, but demands fitness, stamina and good organisation of the stages. Those with plenty of experience can seek inspiration among the itineraries for experts.

The window for tackling them is narrow — generally from late June to late September, when the huts are open and the residual snowfields have melted. Booking overnight places well in advance is essential: the most popular refuges fill up long before the season. To plan logistics, transport and stages, we recommend starting with the practical guide and the where to eat and sleep section.

Via ferratas: where trekking meets the vertical

Via ferratas are routes equipped with steel cables, iron rungs and ladders fixed to the rock, allowing you to tackle exposed sections while remaining clipped in. Many originate from the military paths of the First World War, when Alpine troops strung cables and ladders to move men and supplies between the summits: to walk them today is also a journey through history.

They fall in the EEA category and should not be improvised. They require a head for heights, a sure footing and the correct equipment: harness, helmet and a ferrata kit with an energy-absorbing lanyard compliant with standard EN 958, which absorbs the force of a fall. Without the kit — and without knowing how to use it — a via ferrata becomes dangerous.

Among the best-known routes are the Via Ferrata Tridentina, a well-frequented technical classic, and the Ferrata delle Trincee on the Marmolada, which winds through tunnels and wartime gun positions. If it is your first time, consider hiring a mountain guide and start with the ferratas and alpinism itineraries.

• Via Ferrata Tridentina: a classic, well-equipped route in the Sella group.
• Ferrata delle Trincee (Marmolada): a historic route through Great War trenches and tunnels.
• For the experienced: the Piz Boè normal route and other itineraries for those with altitude experience.

Sleeping in a mountain hut: how it actually works

The mountain hut is the heart of the Dolomite experience: you arrive tired, eat warm traditional dishes and sleep at altitudes where silence and the starry sky are priceless. But there are customs and conventions worth knowing in advance.

Booking is virtually obligatory at the most famous huts, especially in July and August, and must be made directly with the hut by phone or email. The most common arrangement is half board, which includes dinner and breakfast as well as the overnight stay. Dinner is served early — generally between 6.30 and 8.00 pm — and lights go out around 10 pm out of respect for everyone's rest.

In the dormitory you need your own sleeping-bag liner (often compulsory), because the blankets are not washed between every guest; shoes stay at the entrance and you wear flip-flops inside. Bring cash, a head torch and, if sleeping in a shared room, earplugs. To choose where to stop, take a look at the where to eat and sleep section and at huts such as Rifugio Locatelli, Rifugio Lagazuoi and Rifugio Coldai.

• Book in advance, directly with the hut — especially in high season.
• Always bring your own sleeping-bag liner and flip-flops.
• Keep cash with you: not all huts accept cards or have mobile coverage.
• Respect dinner times and evening quiet hours.

Equipment and safety: what to pack

You do not need an Everest-conqueror's equipment, but certain items make the difference between a relaxed day and a nasty adventure. The basics are always the same: boots with a good sole, layered clothing and protection from sun and rain.

Mountain weather changes fast: a clear day can turn to a thunderstorm within an hour, especially in the afternoon. Always check the forecast, set off early and plan to return during the early afternoon. Water, food supplies, a map or GPS track and a basic first-aid kit should never be left behind. You will find further logistical advice in our practical guide.

For via ferratas, the specific equipment (harness, helmet and an EN 958-compliant kit) is non-negotiable. And whatever the route, one golden rule applies: choose your itinerary based on your actual experience, not on the experience you wish you had. In an emergency, the single emergency number in Italy is 112.

• Trekking boots with a lugged sole and layered clothing.
• Waterproof and windproof jacket, hat and sun cream.
• Sufficient water, energy snacks and a basic first-aid kit.
• Map or GPS track, head torch and a fully charged phone (emergency number: 112).
• For via ferratas: harness, helmet and an EN 958-compliant ferrata kit.

When to go: the right season for every trail

The hiking season in the Dolomites is concentrated between early summer and early autumn. The ideal window for most high-altitude paths and for the alta vie runs from late June to late September, when the refuges are open, the snowfields have melted and the trails can be walked safely.

July and August are the busiest and warmest months: splendid, but with paths and huts crowded — especially on the iconic routes. September, for many, is the perfect month: fewer people, pleasant temperatures and a light that sets the walls ablaze in pink at sunset, the enrosadira. At the start and end of the season, however, watch out for residual snowfields and low overnight temperatures.

If you are travelling with children, choose routes and periods carefully, starting from the family itineraries; those seeking long traverses will find inspiration among the expert itineraries. And to make the most of lakes and waterfalls on the warmest days, there is the dedicated section on lakes and waterfalls.