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6-day Hut-to-hut trek in Italy’s Friulian Dolomites, near Cortina d’Ampezzo

Trekking in Friulian Dolomites

Certified mountain guide Lucia will lead you on this epic and awesome 6-day hut-to-hut trek in Italy’s Friulian Dolomites, near Cortine d’Ampezzo, as you cross rocky high passes that loom over vast valleys, plains and desolate landscapes, with plenty of flora and fauna to admire.

Private

Dolomite Mountains

6 Days

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Fit

Intermediate


Highlights

  • Hut-to-hut trek through the spectacular and underrated Friulian Dolomites!
  • Be exposed to truly awesome views out over the rocky scenery and terrain
  • Trek through valleys, passes, plains and fields, and scale mountains

Description

The Friulian Dolomites are truly one of Italy’s natural gems, and if you join me on this 6-day hut-to-hut trek through them, close to Cortina d’Ampezzo, we will experience their raw natural beauty up close and personal, as we trek across amazing passes, through epic valleys and up massive mountains, all while taking in the solitary nature of the region and its native flora and fauna.

The Friulian Dolomites are the Easternmost mountains in the Dolomites massif, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the most untouched part of the Dolomites, ensuring there is a great abundance of wildlife, such as Ibex, that live in the area, and the famous ski resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo is nearby.

Our journey begins as we walk through the sublime Cimoliana Valley, traipsing and travailing through its beech woods, ravines, screes and pine forests to reach the stunning Rifugio Pordenone guesthouse, located high up in the mountains.

Day 2 entails hiking up to the famous Campanile di Val Montanaia, with the way down exposing us to brilliant views out over the Central Cadore and Great Marmarole Massif.

The 3rd day gives us 2 options, either crossing the Scodavacca Pass or the Val Monfalconi di Cimoliana, with both giving us excellent views of the rocky terrain below.

Days 4 and 5 involve much trekking across fields, plains and valleys, with Inferno Valley, Brica’s Valley and the Meluzzo plains being particular highlights.

Our adventure ends on day 6 as we head back to the Cimoliana Valley, hopefully exhausted yet immensely satisfied at having trekked through such a unique and splendid part of Italy.

Book now to experience this underrated, alluring and special place!

To explore Val Cimoliana in greater detail, look at our 6-day trek from the Rifugio Pordenone around Val Cimoliana, here!

Alternatively, try our 6-days of trekking in Val Zemola and Val Cimoliana, with accommodation in mountain huts, here!


Itinerary

Day 1: Cimoliana Valley

Arrive at Rifugio Pordenone through the magnificent Cimoliana Valley, with its varied
environments: beech woods, ravines, screes, pine forests and much more.

Day 2: Campanile di Val Montanaia

Go up to see the world famous Campanile di Val Montanaia, before descending to Rifugio Padova, with a great view over the Central Cadore area and the great Marmarole massif.

Day 3: Scodavacca Pass or Val Monfalconi di Cimoliana

We have two options: if you are a bit tired from the day before –  we can cross the
Scodavacca Pass (6km – 750m d+ – 650m d-), or if you feel like accepting a challenge we can cross to the Val Monfalconi di Cimoliana (7km – 1000m d+ – 900m d-) and take in the great views over the rocky post-glacial landscapes – both ways we will be ending up at the lovely Rifugio Giaf.

Day 4: Inferno Pass

With a great traverse along the gentians’ trail, and across the Campuros fields, we will arrive in Brica’s encanting valley, and then cross the Inferno Pass, before descending to Rifugio Pacherini.

Day 5: Meluzzo Plains

We will head upwards again, crossing four amazing passes to then descend the quiet Inferno valley and again reach Rifugio Pordenone, after crossing the Meluzzo plains.

Day 6: Finish

Go back along the Cimoliana Valley and prepare for leaving.

 

Details

Accommodation

Refuge accommodation every night.

Meeting point

Cimoliana Valley, Italy

About the guide

My love for the mountains grew up with me in the flats of Romagna, thanks to my family that let me spent all my vacations in the Dolomites when I was a child. The Dolomites and the mountains between Romagna and Tuscany are the most vivid memories I have of my childhood.
Then I forgot the outdoors for a few years, and spent some time following the other great passion I have: travelling. When I wasn't at school I spent all my time wandering from one hostel to the other all around Europe with my best friend, always searching for new landscapes and new emotions.
I graduated from high school as Business and Programming Consultant, then I completely changed my core subject as I attended the Undergraduate Courses in Anthropological Sciences at Bologna's University. My thesis project brought me back to the mountains, with a research in Landscape and Disaster Anthropology that took me to Erto for the fieldwork, the town where I spent the last six years!
After that I attended the Graduate Courses in Cultural Anthropology, Ethnology and Ethnolinguistics at Ca'Foscari University in Venice, and this time I wrote a thesis on Alpinism. The subject was again Landscape and Risk Anthropology, but this time fieldwork took me to all the best climbing sites in Europe and beyond: Mont Blanc, Arco, Siurana, Montserrat, Elbsandsteingebirge, Céüse, Osp, the Todra Gorge in Morocco and other more...
Once finished with University I decided to turn my passion into a profession, so I took part in the selection for the courses organized by the UIAGM Mountain Guide's Association, and after a year of hiking and studying I became a Mountain Leader.
Now I take other people with me to discover the wonderful vertical world of our mountains, and enjoy the great times together in the outdoors.

Languages

Italian | English


What people are saying about Lucia Montefiori

Faisal Faisal

5.00

August, 2019

It was lovely day. It is one of the best day we had in Italy. Lucia was very friendly and professional. We really liked the hike and she adjusted the hike according to our ability. We saw the open air museum for war . It was interesting. At the end , we had our lunch in the hut . The food was very delicious . I highly recommended this experience. Don’t miss it if you are in Dolomites.

Jennifer K.

5.00

August, 2019

The traveller did not leave a comment.

Sandra Radice

5.00

July, 2019

I approached Gauthier about doing a hike with Lucia at the 11th hour and he was quick to respond. They tailored the hike to suit my 10 year old. While the terrain is something we could have navigated on our own - it was fabulous having Lucia as our guide. She knew all the WW1 history of the area, and the geology around how the Dolomites were formed. It was fascinating

jack rademaker

5.00

October, 2018

i cannot say enough good things about lucia! she got me through to the top both physically and mentally. give her 10 stars!!!! the hike itself gets 5 stars...my age limited my enjoyment of it to about 1 star. i simply bit off more than i could chew. at age 65, 5 star experience, but at nearly 87 ....too much for me.

Mary

5.00

September, 2018

The hike up to the Rifugio was challenging but great. The mountains in the area are wild and spectacular.   We clearly could see the slopes of Sella Nevea where the Alpini were camped during WW1 (there's a famous old photo of these slopes with the encampments.  However, photos never seem to capture the steepness and expanse of the terrain).  We were pooped so we went to bed early.  The couple who manage the Rifugio are wonderful and unique.  And it was great to see all the climbers and the via ferrata people and hear them talk.  The Rifugio is primitive.    The hike up to Forcella Vallone was scary toward the top, because it was on steep terrain with loose ground.  That part of the climb seemed like it lasted a very long time but Lucia said it was only about 10 min.  We didn't do the Austrian tunnel at the top because we were so exhausted and it was a small via ferrata.  However, I later read that once you are in the tunnel it is easy but pitch-black.  The views at the top of the forcella are breathtaking.  our descent back to the Rifugio was easier than going up.  And we came down from the Rifugio on path 629 (I think).  We didn't make our hiking objective on the 3rd day because it was so hot and we were pooped from the previous 2 days.  However, we discovered an area in the woods where during WW1 there was a lot of activity, probably eating.  There was a lot of WW1 debris: shovels, cans, and even a sort of lunch pail with a top modified to grate cheese.  Although we didn't make our hiking objective, I got a clear picture in my mind of the terrain were my grandfather fought. Now back at home, I understand much better descriptions of the postings and also the maps!!

Benyapa Svasti-Xuto

3.00

July, 2018

The traveller did not leave a comment.


 

 

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