02 8319 2266 from Australia
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Alta Via 9 East
Your trip begins on arrival in Cortina. Known as the "Queen of the Dolomites," Cortina is one of the biggest towns in the Dolomites, and will be hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics. Browse the shops on Cortina's high street and enjoy the lively evening atmosphere. Stroll through the picturesque streets, admire the charming architecture, and soak in the breathtaking alpine atmosphere that makes Cortina a true alpine paradise.
Hotel in Cortina (breakfast)
Red 2 (grade) 9.2km, 910m ascent, 320m descent
Leaving Cortina, climb into the hills to reach the Forcella Zumeles, a pass in the foothills of the Monte Cristallo range. From here, we walk through the high woodland on an undulating path. Look out for a World War 1 tunnel with good views back to Cortina. Before the descent there is the option to climb higher to Rifugio Son Forca - a good lunch option. Descend on good paths, across gullies and through trees.
Hotel at Passo Tre Croci (breakfast)
Purple 3 (grade) 14.1km, 1050m ascent, 530m descent
A day of 2 halves. The route initially climbs back to traverse around the cliffs in the Monte Cristallo. We follow a scree path with a few loose gullies to cross, before descending to the charming lakeside village of Misurina. Walking around the lake, the route then begins the ascent to Rifugio Auronzo on the edge of the Tre Cime National Park. A busy area with panoramic views around.
Mountain hut (dinner and breakfast)
Red 2 (grade) 10.5km, 510m ascent, 610m descent
A highlight of the Alta Via 9, today the route heads around the famous Tre Cime di Lavaredo, with stunning views of this famous rock formation and the surrounding peaks. It's a stage to take your time over, and there are plenty of side paths to explore further. We describe a few options to reach Rifugio Pian di Cengia, from where the route descends to another overnight in the mountains at Rifugio Comici (Zsigmondyhutte) in the shadow of the Zwolferscharte.
Mountain hut (dinner and breakfast)
Blue 2 (grade) 10.3km, 30m ascent, 880m descent
On this final short day you will descend from the mountains through the scenic Val Fiscalina. Look back for a final good view of the Dolomiti peaks. Ahead, the Karnische Alps can be seen (with Austria behind) a contrast to the rocky formations of the Dolomites. Descend through pretty woodland pasture to reach Sesto (Sexton) in the valley. From here, take the bus to San Candido or Dobbiaco (depending on availability) and enjoy the afternoon in one of these historic towns.
Hotel in San Candido or Dobbiaco (breakfast)
After a last breakfast we depart from the Dolomites. Trains make it easy to reach Austria and Munich. In the other direction, take buses to Venice airport, changing in Cortina. We are more than happy to advise on onward travel.
Add a rest day
If time allows, we recommend adding a rest day to explore more of the area. A rest day at the start in Cortina works well as this is the largest town in the area. To take a break in the middle of the trip, we reccommend 2 nights in Lake Misurina. From Passo Tre Croci at the end of stage 1 take a bus to Lake Misurina for your rest day. Then return to Tre Croci to continue walking.
Circuit in the Dolomites
For a longer trip, we suggest an 8 stage tour which adds the 4 stages of the Alta Via 1 North to the beginning of the Alta Via 9 East. These extra stages include the famous Lago di Braies and Rifugio Lagazuoi. Please ask us for details of this lovely circuit option.
Hike with a guide
Hike with confidence in the company of our fully qualified International Mountain Leaders (IMLs), with the navigation, accommodation and all arrangements taken care of. If your group would like a guide for your trip, please get in touch for more details.
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Alta Via 9 14 July to 18 Sept 2025 |
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| Classic | |||
| Self-guided | |||
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4 stages (5 nights) |
GBP 1,160 Singles 220 |
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4 stages 1 rest day (6 nights) |
GBP 1,310 Singles 330 |
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| Options | |||
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Baggage transfer |
Please ask us |
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Where we stay
The accommodation on our Alta Via 9 is of a high standard, with buffet breakfasts included on every morning and dinner included in the huts. We'll book 2 huts in the mountains, and 3 hotels, in Cortina, Passo Tre Croci and Dobbiaco or San Candido. At the huts we'll try for private rooms where possible, but it depends on availability. Passo Tre Croci is a roadpass with just 1 hotel. For your first and last nights we book lovely 3 or 4* hotels with delicious breakfast and comfy rooms.
Single Room Supplement
If you would like to stay in single occupancy rooms in the hotels we add our single room supplement. This covers the additional cost of booking rooms for 1 person (rather than sharing twin, double or triple rooms). This is for 3 nights on our 5 night trip.
We do not take bookings for solo walkers on self-guided trips. If you are still interested in this trip, we do have availability on our guided trips.
Our Alta Via 9 East follows sections of the last stages of the recognised Alta Via 9. The full Alta Via 9 beings in Bolzona and traverses the Dolomites from West to East. From Cortina we follow the recognised route as far as Lake Misurina, part way through stage 2. We then take a lower varient between the lake and Rifugio Auronzo, to avoid sections of via ferrata. Finally we finish our route with a descent through Val Fiscalina to reach Sesto, which is different from the official route which ends in Santa Stefano di Cadore. After visitng the area and walking a few different routes, we feel the pictureque route through Val Fiscalina is the best way to finish the trip.
The Terrain
The Alta Via 9's terrain comprises the full range of Alpine walking. Typically the route follows well made mountain paths, which in many cases traverse the hillside. Zig-zagging paths acrross scree are typical on steep ascents and in the valleys follow sections of tracks and two short sections along the road. On the higher sections good balance is needed on rocky paths with drops to one side. The hardest section on the Alta Via 9 East is the traverse around the Mone Cristallo on the first half of stage. The path crosses steep scree and is quite loose in places. Our Alta Via 9 route doesn't follow any sections of via ferrata.
Is it for me?
The Alta Via 9 East suits those with a good level of fitness who are happy to walk for around 5-7 hours per day over rocky and at times loose terrain. This shorter trip gives a good introduction to the Dolomites and, with a mix of huts and hotels, gives a flavour of staying in the mountains, whilst stayig in comfortable accommodations.
Difficulty
The Alta Via 1 North is first and foremost a walk; there are no glaciers, via ferrata or climbing sections. There are, however, a few sections of steep and loose terrain, particularly on the first half of stage 2. The final stage includes a long steep descent on solid, well-made paths.
We book your last night in San Candido or Dobbiaco, pretty resort towns on the train line between Fortezza (Italy) and Lienz in Osttirol (Austria). Flights from Munich or Innsbruck work well. To return to Venice take the bus to Cortina and then retrace your steps.
- Bespoke accommodation itinerary - tailored to suit your particular requirements
- Breakfast every morning
- Dinner at the huts (on 2 nights for our main trip)
- Detailed Routecards AVN8-11 of the Exploratory system, printed on waterproof paper
- The 2 topographical maps needed
- Downloadable GPX Tracks covering the 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)
- 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 6 nights on our main trip)
- Baggage transfers (available as an extra)
Baggage transfer
We offer baggage transfers as an extra. Bags can't be delivered to the huts in the mountains, but can be delivered to the stops in towns or on the road. Due the high cost of transferring luggage by road, we generally recommend that you carry everything you need for the trip on your back; there is not too much you need during your trek. If you would like more information about our baggage transfer service, please ask.
 
Enquiry Form
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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 |
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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.
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Views over the Candido di Misurina range on stage 2 of the Alta Via 9 East
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Alpine Exploratory
63A George Street
Edinburgh
EH2 2JG
United Kingdom
info@alpineexploratory.com
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