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Alta Via 1
Arrival day: Arrive in Dobbiaco
Your trips starts on arrival in Dobbiaco. This decorative town is in the Sud Tirol style and is on the branch railway line from the Brenner pass. There are several restaurants for dining out.
Hotel in Dobbiaco (breakfast)
Your trips starts on arrival in Dobbiaco. This decorative town is in the Sud Tirol style and is on the branch railway line from the Brenner pass. There are several restaurants for dining out.
Hotel in Dobbiaco (breakfast)
Stage 1: Lago di Braies to Rifugio Sennes
Purple 2 (grade) 9.4km with 940m ascent, 310m descent
Take the bus to Lago di Braies, and then the mountains start immediately above this glacial lake hemmed in by mountains. The local bus takes you there from Dobbiaco. Take to the hillside, steep and loose in places, and climb towards Croda de Becco, an optional 2,810m peak that is a detour on the way to your hut. Views of the limestone peaks open up as the route climbs higher. (We also describe an alternative route, avoiding the trickiest sections of the main Alta Via 1 trail today.)
Mountain hut (dinner and breakfast)
Purple 2 (grade) 9.4km with 940m ascent, 310m descent
Take the bus to Lago di Braies, and then the mountains start immediately above this glacial lake hemmed in by mountains. The local bus takes you there from Dobbiaco. Take to the hillside, steep and loose in places, and climb towards Croda de Becco, an optional 2,810m peak that is a detour on the way to your hut. Views of the limestone peaks open up as the route climbs higher. (We also describe an alternative route, avoiding the trickiest sections of the main Alta Via 1 trail today.)
Mountain hut (dinner and breakfast)
Stage 2: Rifugio Sennes to Rifugio Lavarella
Red 2 (grade) 10.3km with 500m ascent, 570m descent
Cross-country is the theme for the next two stages, as you cross large areas of upland meadow and rock through the Fanes-Sennes-Braies nature park. Cut across grassy meadows from Rifugio Sennes before descending in steep hairpins to Pederu. Follow a track up from the road to Rifugio Lavarella and the surrounding huts.
Mountain hut (dinner and breakfast)
Red 2 (grade) 10.3km with 500m ascent, 570m descent
Cross-country is the theme for the next two stages, as you cross large areas of upland meadow and rock through the Fanes-Sennes-Braies nature park. Cut across grassy meadows from Rifugio Sennes before descending in steep hairpins to Pederu. Follow a track up from the road to Rifugio Lavarella and the surrounding huts.
Mountain hut (dinner and breakfast)
Stage 3: Rifugio Lavarella to Rifugio Lagazuoi
Red 4 (grade) 15.3km with 1350m ascent, 640m descent
From Rifugio Lavarella take the track up to a high plateau where we have 2 options for the day. Our main route continues through the high valley to reach Capanna Alpina. From there we climb gradually to reach Le de Lagacio. Our harder alternative route reaches Le de Lagacio over the steep Forcella di Lech. From the lake, climb steeply to reach Rifugio Lagazuoi, the highest hut on the trip at 2,752m. From the hut it's worth making the short climb to the summit of Monte Lagazuoi.
Mountain hut (dinner and breakfast)
Red 4 (grade) 15.3km with 1350m ascent, 640m descent
From Rifugio Lavarella take the track up to a high plateau where we have 2 options for the day. Our main route continues through the high valley to reach Capanna Alpina. From there we climb gradually to reach Le de Lagacio. Our harder alternative route reaches Le de Lagacio over the steep Forcella di Lech. From the lake, climb steeply to reach Rifugio Lagazuoi, the highest hut on the trip at 2,752m. From the hut it's worth making the short climb to the summit of Monte Lagazuoi.
Mountain hut (dinner and breakfast)
Stage 4: Rifugio Lagazuoi to Rifugio Averau
Purple 2 (grade) 9.6km with 570m ascent, 850m descent
Today there is the option to explore the Galleria Lagazuoi, a restored First World War tunnel. The main walk takes you to under the shadow of the immense cliffs of the Tofana de Rozes, before heading into the valley. From the valley we climb back into the hills near the splendid Cinque Torri (five towers) and to Rifugio Averau, sited in a small col.
Mountain hut (dinner and breakfast)
Purple 2 (grade) 9.6km with 570m ascent, 850m descent
Today there is the option to explore the Galleria Lagazuoi, a restored First World War tunnel. The main walk takes you to under the shadow of the immense cliffs of the Tofana de Rozes, before heading into the valley. From the valley we climb back into the hills near the splendid Cinque Torri (five towers) and to Rifugio Averau, sited in a small col.
Mountain hut (dinner and breakfast)
Stage 5: Rifugio Averau to Passo Staulanza
Purple 3 (grade) 16.5km with 510m ascent, 1200m descent
From Forcella Averau we drop to Passo Giau, the second of the road passes above Cortina. The hills beyond allow wide open walking over meadows, interspersed with short climbs. At the end of the day, the realm of Cortina is far behind and the Zoldo area looms large. Monte Pelmo is unmistakeable in view with its two summits.
Mountain hut (dinner and breakfast)
Purple 3 (grade) 16.5km with 510m ascent, 1200m descent
From Forcella Averau we drop to Passo Giau, the second of the road passes above Cortina. The hills beyond allow wide open walking over meadows, interspersed with short climbs. At the end of the day, the realm of Cortina is far behind and the Zoldo area looms large. Monte Pelmo is unmistakeable in view with its two summits.
Mountain hut (dinner and breakfast)
Stage 6: Passo Staulanza to Rifugio Vazzoler
Purple 3 (grade) 15.2km with 680m ascent, 740m descent
Climbing from the road at Passo Staulanza, we pass Rifugio Coldai and the pretty turquoise lake of the same name. From here, pick up a long traverse around the back of Monte Civetta. We walk in and out of rocky hollows, the Civetta always on our left. Rolling downhill at the end of the day we come to Rifugio Vazzoler, one of the more basic huts on the Alta Via 1 but charming in its wooded setting.
Mountain hut (dinner and breakfast)
Purple 3 (grade) 15.2km with 680m ascent, 740m descent
Climbing from the road at Passo Staulanza, we pass Rifugio Coldai and the pretty turquoise lake of the same name. From here, pick up a long traverse around the back of Monte Civetta. We walk in and out of rocky hollows, the Civetta always on our left. Rolling downhill at the end of the day we come to Rifugio Vazzoler, one of the more basic huts on the Alta Via 1 but charming in its wooded setting.
Mountain hut (dinner and breakfast)
Stage 7: Rifugio Vazzoler to Passo Duran
Purple 2 (grade) 11.6km with 650m ascent, 760m descent
Today's distance passes quickly on generally good terrain, with short sections of more slow-going and steep walking, and a couple of rocky steps in exciting positions. Several combes are crossed as we round the Southern end of the Civetta massif. Reach the quiet road at Passo Duran and our welcoming hut, with its characteristically Italian menu.
Mountain hut (dinner and breakfast)
Purple 2 (grade) 11.6km with 650m ascent, 760m descent
Today's distance passes quickly on generally good terrain, with short sections of more slow-going and steep walking, and a couple of rocky steps in exciting positions. Several combes are crossed as we round the Southern end of the Civetta massif. Reach the quiet road at Passo Duran and our welcoming hut, with its characteristically Italian menu.
Mountain hut (dinner and breakfast)
Stage 8: Passo Duran to Rifugio Pian de Fontana
Purple 4 (grade) 16.7km with 1050m ascent, 1020m descent
Enter an area of bold mountains today, at times with a more remote feel than the hills before. The crossing of the Cime di Zita involves a narrow ridge, at the higher end of difficulty for the AV1. Just before the main climb, Rifugio Pramperet makes a good stopping point for lunch. Descend a long, steep and interesting hillside bringing you to a grassy shelf hidden from civilisation. Here sits the Pian de Fontana refuge, a rustic and charming place to spend the night. (This is our second quite basic hut, with dorms and with one cold shower, but the atmosphere is so cosy.)
Mountain hut (dinner and breakfast)
Purple 4 (grade) 16.7km with 1050m ascent, 1020m descent
Enter an area of bold mountains today, at times with a more remote feel than the hills before. The crossing of the Cime di Zita involves a narrow ridge, at the higher end of difficulty for the AV1. Just before the main climb, Rifugio Pramperet makes a good stopping point for lunch. Descend a long, steep and interesting hillside bringing you to a grassy shelf hidden from civilisation. Here sits the Pian de Fontana refuge, a rustic and charming place to spend the night. (This is our second quite basic hut, with dorms and with one cold shower, but the atmosphere is so cosy.)
Mountain hut (dinner and breakfast)
Stage 9: Rifugio Pian de Fontana to La Pissa
Blue 2 (grade) 12.3km with 250m ascent, 1440m descent
The trek ends with a modest half-day stage to the road. The Alta Via 1 trail splits soon after Pian de Fontana; we avoid the via ferrata variant over the Schiara massif, instead following a straightforward path to Rifugio Bianchet, then the wide track to La Pissa for the local bus to Belluno. The city comes as a contrast to the calm of the trek, being a lively place very much in an Italian style.
Hotel in Belluno (Breakfast)
Blue 2 (grade) 12.3km with 250m ascent, 1440m descent
The trek ends with a modest half-day stage to the road. The Alta Via 1 trail splits soon after Pian de Fontana; we avoid the via ferrata variant over the Schiara massif, instead following a straightforward path to Rifugio Bianchet, then the wide track to La Pissa for the local bus to Belluno. The city comes as a contrast to the calm of the trek, being a lively place very much in an Italian style.
Hotel in Belluno (Breakfast)
Departure day: Depart from Belluno
Enjoy your last breakfast in Belluno and look around the old town before departing. The train to Venice makes it easy to keep exploring and we can advise on further travel in Italy. Congratulations on completing the AV1!
Enjoy your last breakfast in Belluno and look around the old town before departing. The train to Venice makes it easy to keep exploring and we can advise on further travel in Italy. Congratulations on completing the AV1!
Trip Options
We try to be as flexible as possible with our trips and we can adapt the route and accommodation booked to suit your preferences. Whilst, the spacing of huts determines the schedules available on the Alta Via 1, there are some great options for longer or shorter itineraries alike. We love to work with hikers to plan a trip which best suits each group's walking style. This could be a more challenging dash, or staying at each available hut to savour the scenery and cuisine.Make the trip shorter
Our normal 9-stage trip can be made shorter, completing the full route in 8 or even 7 stages. The trip is made shorter by hiking futher each day. For fitter hikers, it is possible to walk from Rifugio Vazzoler to La Pissa (the finish) in 2 stages rather than 3, by staying at Rifguio Sommariva al Pramperet. It is also a viable option to condense the first 2 stages of the trail into one by walking directly from Lago di Braies to Rifugio Lavarella. Thus we have our 7- or 8-stage treks.
Our 4-stage Alta Via 1 North (Lago di Braies to Cortina) and 6-stage Alta Via 1 South (Cortina to La Pissa) holidays are fantastic trips in their own right. As a rule, we like to suggest our normal stages but walking fewer of them to those with fewer days to spend, leaving the others for a later visit.
Add a rest day
We suggest a rest day in Cortina for those wanting a break part way through. In this case we'd book your first night in Dobbiaco. The rest day comes part way through stage 4 of our standard itinerary, giving 2 shorter days (to and from the bus stop on the Passo Falzarego road) either side of the rest day. Cortina is a great base for a day, being a busy Alpine hub - similar to Chamonix in France.
Make the trip longer
If you fancy enjoying the majesty of the Dolomites for a bit longer, it is possible to extend your trip by splitting the route into more stages. For a 10-stage trip we split the two long days between Rifugio Averau and Rifugio Vazzoler into three shorter stages, with nights at Rifugio Citta' di Fiume and Rifugio Coldai. To make the trip even longer, you can add in a night at Rifugio Sommariva al Pramperet, between Passo Duran and Rifugio Pian de Fontana. Many options work well so please ask us for more details. We'll be delighted to provide suggestions and advice.
Hike with a leader
Hike with confidence in the company of our fully qualified International Mountain Leaders (IMLs), with the navigation, accommodation and arrangements taken care of. If your group would like a guide for your trip, please get in touch for more details or view our scheduled guided trips.
Combining trips in the Dolomites
We can combine the northern section of our Alta Via 1 and the eastern section of our Alta Via 9 to create an 8 stage loop of the Northern Dolomites. The circuit includes Lago di Braies, Lagazuoi, Lake Misurina and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. We suggest a first and last night in Dobbiaco and you can add a rest day in Cortina to make the trip longer. Please email us for details!
2026 Prices
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Alta Via 1 15 July to 17 Sept 2026 |
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| Dormitory |
Private Rooms (If available) |
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| Self-guided | |||
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9 stages (10 nights) |
GBP 1,730 Singles 130 |
GBP 1,930 Singles 170 Main Trip |
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10 stages Rest day in Cortina (12 nights) |
GBP 2,030 Singles 330 |
GBP 2,230 Singles 370 |
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| Specialised schedules | |||
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7 stages to Passo Duran (8 nights) |
GBP 1,590 Singles 130 |
GBP 1,790 Singles 170 |
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8 stages Longer hiking days (9 nights) |
GBP 1,665 Singles 130 |
GBP 1,820 Singles 170 |
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10 stages Shorter hiking days (11 nights) |
GBP 1,805 Singles 130 |
GBP 1,945 Singles 150 |
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12 stages 1 rest day (14 nights) |
GBP 2,180 Singles 330 |
GBP 2,320 Singles 350 |
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| Options | |||
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Baggage transfer |
Please ask us | ||
Accommodation
Where we stay
Our mix of accommodation aims to give an enticing taste of life in the Italian Dolomites and is our most popular option. We include lovely hotels (usually 3*) in Dobbiaco and Belluno plus 8 nights in cosy and welcoming Italian mountain huts.
Private Rooms
Private rooms are a possibility at 7 of the 8 huts we usually book on our 9-stage Alta Via 1 itineraries, and we can book these if they are available on your dates. Our 'Private Rooms' price assumes that we are able to secure private rooms, usually with 2 to 4 beds, on all 7 of these nights. Bathroom facilities are almost always shared at the huts, even if you book private rooms.
The final hut on all of our itineraries, Rifugio Pian de Fontana, only offers dormitory accommodation; this is the most remote area of the trail, and the peaceful setting and friendly welcome will make up for it! If you'd prefer to avoid this hut, you could finish your trip at Passo Duran, giving a 7-stage (8 night) trip.
Please note we are unfortunately not able to guarantee the availability of private rooms in advance, and it's best to expect that you will share rooms with other Alta Via 1 hikers on at least some nights of your trip; if there are no private rooms available at a given hut on your dates, we'll book accommodation in shared rooms or dormitories and reduce your price by GBP10 to GBP20 per hut (depending on the hut).
If you opt for a different length of itinerary (such as our 8- or 10-stage trips), this will usually involve extra nights in shared rooms or dormitories. Due to the spacing of accommodation along the trail, it's not usually possible to arrange longer or shorter Alta Via 1 itineraries with private rooms throughout.
Dormitory Accommodation
If you prefer to stay in shared rooms and dormitories at the huts, please book our dormitory accommodation option. We'd book the same 3 or 4* hotels in Dobbiaco and Belluno.
Hotel Upgrades
If you'd like a touch of luxury either side of your hike, we can upgrade your hotels in Dobbiaco and Belluno to 4* options for a supplement of GBP60 per person, or book a hotel in the resort town of Cortina d'Ampezzo for your first night (giving a slightly longer journey to Lago di Braies on your first day). We can offer these upgrades regardless of whether you opt for private rooms or dorms at the huts.
Single Room Supplement
Our single supplement covers single occupancy rooms in the hotels and at two of the huts on our 'Private Rooms' itinerary. Please note that there are very limited numbers of single private rooms at the huts and we cannot guarantee in advance that we can secure these.
Solo Travel
We do not take bookings for solo walkers on self-guided trips. For solo walkers we suggest our guided Alta Via 1.
Our mix of accommodation aims to give an enticing taste of life in the Italian Dolomites and is our most popular option. We include lovely hotels (usually 3*) in Dobbiaco and Belluno plus 8 nights in cosy and welcoming Italian mountain huts.
Private Rooms
Private rooms are a possibility at 7 of the 8 huts we usually book on our 9-stage Alta Via 1 itineraries, and we can book these if they are available on your dates. Our 'Private Rooms' price assumes that we are able to secure private rooms, usually with 2 to 4 beds, on all 7 of these nights. Bathroom facilities are almost always shared at the huts, even if you book private rooms.
The final hut on all of our itineraries, Rifugio Pian de Fontana, only offers dormitory accommodation; this is the most remote area of the trail, and the peaceful setting and friendly welcome will make up for it! If you'd prefer to avoid this hut, you could finish your trip at Passo Duran, giving a 7-stage (8 night) trip.
Please note we are unfortunately not able to guarantee the availability of private rooms in advance, and it's best to expect that you will share rooms with other Alta Via 1 hikers on at least some nights of your trip; if there are no private rooms available at a given hut on your dates, we'll book accommodation in shared rooms or dormitories and reduce your price by GBP10 to GBP20 per hut (depending on the hut).
If you opt for a different length of itinerary (such as our 8- or 10-stage trips), this will usually involve extra nights in shared rooms or dormitories. Due to the spacing of accommodation along the trail, it's not usually possible to arrange longer or shorter Alta Via 1 itineraries with private rooms throughout.
Dormitory Accommodation
If you prefer to stay in shared rooms and dormitories at the huts, please book our dormitory accommodation option. We'd book the same 3 or 4* hotels in Dobbiaco and Belluno.
Hotel Upgrades
If you'd like a touch of luxury either side of your hike, we can upgrade your hotels in Dobbiaco and Belluno to 4* options for a supplement of GBP60 per person, or book a hotel in the resort town of Cortina d'Ampezzo for your first night (giving a slightly longer journey to Lago di Braies on your first day). We can offer these upgrades regardless of whether you opt for private rooms or dorms at the huts.
Single Room Supplement
Our single supplement covers single occupancy rooms in the hotels and at two of the huts on our 'Private Rooms' itinerary. Please note that there are very limited numbers of single private rooms at the huts and we cannot guarantee in advance that we can secure these.
Solo Travel
We do not take bookings for solo walkers on self-guided trips. For solo walkers we suggest our guided Alta Via 1.
Route
Our classic Alta Via 1 trip gives a complete journey on foot from Lago di Braies near Dobbiaco, to La Pissa near Belluno without the need to use public transport.
The AV1 trail itself is a well-defined route with a number of variants. Where the route splits, our route generally takes the easier option, with harder alternatives also described in your routecards. This means that you can choose your route depending on the level of challenge you wish to take on.
The Terrain
The terrain on the Alta Via 1 provides an exciting mix of solid trails, over which you can stride out among the high peaks, combined with narrower zig-zagging hillside paths on steep, loose and sometimes exposed terrain. The Alta Via 1 is first and foremost a walk, with no via ferrata or climbing sections.
In some places the paths are particularly steep and loose, for example on the final approaches to mountain passes and in loose descents such as the descent from Forcella di Lech (stage 3) as well as the ascent to Col dell Orso (stage 7), and ascent to the Cita Zima ridge (stage 8). These sections require steady balance and a head for heights.
There are also sections of handrail used as aids to walking on the narrower, more exposed paths, such as those on the ascent from Lago di Braies (stage 1), on the alternative descent from Lagazuoi through the First World War tunnels (stage 4), and on the descent to Rif Pian de Fontana (stage 8). Please ask us for further details and photo of these sections.
Is it for me?
The Alta Via 1 is an outstanding trek with a mix of high mountain passes, excellent views and comfy mountain huts. It is manageable for fit mountain walkers who are happy to walk for up to 8 hours a day over rocky and sometimes exposed ground. If you are fit and active in your day-to-day life, and have day hiking experience, then the AVU can also be suitable for those new to multi-day trekking in the European Alps. The days are not too long and the route is generally well waymarked, aiding navigation, though a map and compass are essential for safe navigation poor weather.
A level of self-sufficiency on the AV1 is necessary as transfer bags (an optional extra) can only be transferred to the huts at Passo Duran on our classic itinerary, and to your hotel in Belluno at the end. On all other nights you’ll need to carry with you everything you need for daily life; it’s not too much and makes for a satisfying daily routine.
Difficulty
The Alta Via 1 is first and foremost a walk and we grade it as a Purple 3. There are no glacier crossings, via ferrata or rock climbing. There are, however, sections of steep and rocky ground which require steady foot placement and an ability to cope with walking along some narrow and exposed paths. One such section is a relatively narrow ridge between Passo Duran and Pian de Fontana (stage 8) with drops to both sides. Please let us know if you’d like more detail on the trickier bits of the trail.
We do not include the difficult via ferrata on the Schiara, the mountain at the end of the trek above Belluno, instead we opt for the variant to finish at La Pissa. From here we take the local bus to Belluno. Our trip also misses out the Monte Pelmo circuit: this is a widely underestimated variant, with exceptional difficulty and exposure, more than that of the Walker's Haute Route.
Alta Via 1 Walking Guide - more about the route itself
The making of our Alta Via 1 - our story
How to get there
Hikers who are seeing more of Italy after the AV1 can use Venice as a start point for the South - Rome by train, for example - and in fact Belluno links to the Northern cities of Verona, Milan and Turin. In Italy, we love Venice, Rome and Turin and we will be glad to chat about trains and travel around Italy.
Travel to and from the trip is not included in the holiday price. We take care to give the most useful notes possible about all the travel options. We supply these both on booking and in your info pack, and we offer personalised tips at any point. The aim is that our walkers arrange their travel by the simplest and most scenic means as suits their plan.
Please ask us if you have any questions about getting to the route; we'll be delighted to advise.
Included
- Bespoke accommodation itinerary - tailored to suit your particular requirements
- Breakfast every morning
- Dinner at the huts (on 8 nights for our main trip - unfortunately we cannot include dinner at Rifugio Averau if staying in a private room)
- Detailed Routecards AVU1-9 of the Exploratory system, printed on waterproof paper
- The 4 topographical maps covering the route
- Downloadable GPX Tracks covering the route
- GPX tracks covering our main route
- Expert advice and local information
- A comprehensive 'Season Update' following our pre-season recce
- Full support during your trip from the Alpine Exploratory team (9am until 9pm in the Alps)
Not included
- Travel to and from your trip
- Local transport whilst on the trip unless specified
- Travel insurance
- Lunches, snacks, drinks and evening meals in the towns (this would be 2 nights on our main trip)
- Dinner if staying in a private room at Rifugio Averau.
- Baggage transfers (available as an extra)
Baggage transfer
We offer a partial baggage transfer service on the Alta Via 1 as an optional extra. It is important to be aware that due to the AV1 route staying high up in huts, bags can only be transferred from Cortina to Passo Duran (which has a road) and Belluno. For clients on our Comfy trip, we can also offer additional drops to Passo Giau and Passo Staulanza which are road stops on the route. If you're adding a rest day we can organise baggage transfers from Dobbiaco to Cortina as well. Unfortunately we are not able get your bags to you at the other huts, so on these nights your bag will travel ahead to the next hotel and be waiting for you there. Please do contact us for more information on baggage transfer and for prices.
Got questions about the Alta Via 1?
Feel free to ask us any questions you have about any aspects of your planning and preparations! Lucy, Steph, Nicky, Rob, Evie, Ben and Amy will reply with expert advice. We spend a lot of time walking our routes and more broadly exploring ski and hiking trails around the world so do feel free to ask anything at all.
 
Enquiry Form
We're taking bookings for 2026 only.
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If you prefer, please feel welcome to email or call us. Thanks!
| Contact Alpine Exploratory | |
| info@alpineexploratory.com | |
| Phone | +44 (0)131 214 1144 |
| Our times |
9am to 5pm UK time Monday to Friday |
| Australia | 02 8319 2266 |
| Canada | 416-548-4819 |
| New Zealand | 04 889 4515 |
| USA | 646-757-1102 |
Open to the world
Since Alpine Exploratory started in 2005 we have loved getting to know our clients from around the world. Along with the UK, our best-represented countries are the US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Please use our national-rate numbers for a cheaper call to contact our office in Edinburgh.
Keep up with us on Facebook, Instagram, and our Blog for photos and updates from our own travels and clients' trips.
Rifugio Lagazuoi at the end of Stage 4
Alpine Exploratory
+44 (0)131 214 1144
