Classic hut-to-hut routes · Italy

Alta Via 2

The harder, wilder Dolomite high route from Bressanone to Feltre, through the Puez, the Sella, the Marmolada and the Pale di San Martino.

In short

Alta Via 2 is a trek of about 160 km through the Dolomites from Bressanone to Feltre, taking 12–14 walking days. It is harder and wilder than Alta Via 1, crossing the Puez, the Sella, the Marmolada and the Pale di San Martino, and tops out at 2,829 m on the Forcella Pordoi. The season runs from July to mid-September, and our table holds 48 huts and shelters along its stages.

Also written as: Alta Via delle Leggende · AV2

Distance
~160 km
Days
12–14
Total ascent
not in our source
High point
Forcella Pordoi, 2,829 m
Season
July to mid-September

Alta Via 2 is what people do after Alta Via 1. It runs the length of the western Dolomites from Bressanone to Feltre, crossing the Puez plateau, the Sella group, the Marmolada's flank and the lunar plateau of the Pale di San Martino, then the quiet Feltre Dolomites where you may not see another party all day.

It is longer, higher and more exposed than its sibling. Several stages carry protected sections that are difficult to avoid, snow can sit on the northern passes into July, and the second half has fewer huts and longer days. Take the full two weeks or split it into two trips.

Who it suits
Level: ExperiencedExperienced hut walkers who are comfortable on cable-protected ground and want the Dolomites without the crowds.
The nights
Rifugi throughout, with two or three stages where the only bed is the one hut on the pass, so those get booked first.

Stage points and the shelters near them

Published path grades around the stage points run T1 to T6, from 12 of 13 stages. That describes the terrain there, not the exact line of the route. A via ferrata grade appears somewhere along it.

48 shelters within 4 km of the stage points, from the shelter table. Distances are from the stage point, not walking distances.

  1. 01Bressanone

    No shelter in our table within 4 km of Bressanone; this stage usually ends in a village or a private inn.

  2. 02Rifugio Plose

  3. 03Rifugio Genova

  4. 04Rifugio Puez

  5. 05Passo Gardena

  6. 06Rifugio Boè

  7. 07Passo Pordoi

  8. 08Rifugio Contrin

  9. 09Passo San Pellegrino

  10. 10Rifugio Mulaz

  11. 11Rifugio Rosetta

  12. 12Passo Cereda

  13. 13Feltre

    No shelter in our table within 4 km of Feltre; this stage usually ends in a village or a private inn.

How booking works

Alpine Club huts on this route take reservations through hut-reservation.org, the shared system of the German, Austrian and Swiss clubs. We link straight to it and earn nothing from a hut booking.

Members of any Alpine Club pay a reduced rate at all club huts, whichever club they joined, and membership usually includes mountain rescue cover. On a week of hut nights it pays for itself. Join the ÖAV

Fewer people, fewer beds

According to the official Dolomites site, the main line of Alta Via 2 has 14 rifugi and two bivacchi (unstaffed shelters). It is less crowded than Alta Via 1, but each stage has few places to sleep, so a full hut often means a long detour.

The same site gives the route as 180 km in 13 days with 11,300 m of ascent, more than this page's source. The difference comes from variants and measuring, and both say the same thing: this is one of the most demanding treks in the Alps.

What it costs and how to book

Huts of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI) follow the official 2026 tariff: a dormitory bed up to 30–39 euros for non-members and 24–31.20 euros for Alpine Club members, with at least 20% off half board for members. Private huts set their own prices; 60–80 euros a night with half board is a reasonable budget.

Some huts can be booked on prenotarifugi.cai.it and the rest directly. In CAI huts the deposit is refunded if you cancel by 18:00 three days before arrival.

Getting there from Tel Aviv

Venice is closest to the southern end at Feltre, and Munich, Verona or Venice serve the northern end at Bressanone. Venice and Munich had direct flights from Tel Aviv in summer 2026.

After the disruption of 2026, direct routes from Tel Aviv open and close often, so check the current schedule before fixing dates, and book the huts before the flight.

Plan Alta Via 2 around my datesOpens the planner with this route's area and length filled in.

Common questions

Every answer below is counted from the 48 shelters our table holds along this route. Where a shelter does not state something, it is counted as not stated rather than assumed.

How long is Alta Via 2, and how many days does it take?
About 160 km, usually walked in 12–14 days. The highest point on the route is Forcella Pordoi, at 2,829 m.
When can you walk it?
The season is July to mid-September. Of the 48 shelters along the way, 7 publish when a warden is present, and the most common season among them is June to September, stated by 6 of them.
Where do you sleep?
In 48 shelters within 4 km of the stage points, of which 48 are run by an Alpine Club. 0 of them can be booked online through the clubs' own system; the rest take a phone call, and every number we hold is on the shelter's own page.
Do you need to book ahead?
1 of the 48 shelters state that a reservation is required and 1 that it is recommended. The other 46 do not say either way, which is not the same as saying no.
What if you arrive out of season?
3 of the 48 shelters state that a winter room is left open. That is a room, not a service: no warden, no meals, and you carry what you need.
What is the highest place you sleep?
The highest shelter we hold on this route is Capanna Punta Penia, at 3,340 m.
What is the difference between Alta Via 1 and Alta Via 2?
Alta Via 2 is longer (about 160 km against about 120) and takes 12–14 days against 8–12. It climbs higher, to 2,829 m, and has fewer huts per stage. Most people walk it after Alta Via 1.
How many huts are on Alta Via 2?
According to the official Dolomites site, 14 rifugi and two bivacchi along the main line. Our table holds 48 huts and shelters within reach of the stages, including some off the main line.

Guides for planning it

Other classic routes

Distance, days, ascent, high point and season are approximate and taken from Wikipedia, Alta Via 2. Shelters from refuges.info (©Les contributeurs de Refuges.info, CC BY-SA 2.0 FR) and OpenStreetMap (ODbL).

Facts last checked: 25 October 2026

Sources