A self-guided walking holiday through Val Badia, often called the heart of the Dolomites, based in a single alpine village with one night at a mountain hut beneath the Fanes plateau.
8 Days / 7 Nights
Moderate to Challenging
Val Badia, Dolomites, Italy
1 June to 10 October
Varies daily by route option, roughly 8.5 to 19 km per day
€950
The Dolomites are widely regarded as one of the finest walking regions anywhere, and Val Badia sits at their centre, ringed by limestone peaks and threaded with excellent trails. The valley has been inhabited since pre-Roman times, and remains one of the few places where the Ladin language is still spoken day to day.
This route explores the South Tyrol from a single base in the alpine village of La Valle-Wengen, with one night spent higher up at the Rifugio Fanes mountain hut. Each day brings fresh mountain air, birdsong, and views of snow-capped peaks reflected in clear alpine lakes, with plenty of opportunity to enjoy the region’s cheeses and wines along the way.
Accommodation:
Six nights in a 3-star hotel in La Valle-Wengen, in a private en-suite room, plus one night at the Rifugio Fanes mountain hut, a 3-star equivalent, in a private room with a shared bathroom in the corridor. Additional nights can be booked at either.
Please note that Rifugio Fanes is fully booked from mid-June to mid-September 2026. For dates within that window, a 6-day version of the trip is available instead, with 5 nights at the hotel in La Valle and Days 6 and 7 of the standard itinerary left out.
Meals:
Breakfast and dinner included throughout, plus one packed lunch on Day 5, provided at Rifugio Fanes.
Availability:
Starts any day of the week, between 1 June and 10 October.
Difficulty:
Graded moderate to challenging. Paths are well maintained but sometimes stony or steep, with daily altitude changes between 500m and 1,300m. Basic mountain walking experience and a good level of fitness are recommended. Most days can be shortened or extended.
Settle into the small, idyllic village of La Valle, set among mountain pastures in the Fanes-Senes-Braies nature park and characterised by traditional Ladin hamlets known as les Viles. There's time for a stroll to take in the surroundings of the Alta Badia.
Overnight: La Valle/Wengen
Option 1: 13 km, 745 m ascent and descent, around 5 hrs
Option 2: 17 km, 921 m ascent and descent, around 7 hrs
A circular walk via Sas de Crosta, with a stop at Crusc de Rit for panoramic views south over Val Badia and north to the Valpusteria and the Austrian peaks. Forest tracks and wide pastures follow, with views of the Sas Dalesc Desc, Sas Dales Nu and Ju de Sant Antone rock faces.
Overnight: La Valle/Wengen
Option 1, Circular walk Pederoa to Spizan: 13 km, 772 m ascent and descent, around 5 hrs. Starting and ending in Pederoa, a gradual climb reaches wide glades with views over La Valle, Longiarù and Monte Putia, before a descent along the Gran Ega stream back to Pederoa.
Option 2, Ciampei Loop Walk: 9 km, 410 m ascent and descent, around 3 hrs. An easier route between farmsteads and small villages, with panoramic views over the valley.
Overnight: La Valle/Wengen
Distance: 15 km, Ascent: 572 m, Descent: 1,181 m, Walking time: around 6 hrs
A short private transfer brings you to the high mountain pass of Passo Valparola (2,168m), where a panoramic trail along the Sett Sass leads to the wide upland meadow of Pralongià, with views of the Val Badia and the Marmolada glacier in the distance.
Overnight: La Valle/Wengen
Distance: 12 km, Ascent: 1,200 m, Descent: 580 m, Walking time: around 5 hrs
A gradual climb and descent on stony footpaths to Rifugio Fanes, passing the rock faces of Sasso delle Nove and views over the Pares ridge. A steep final section leads through Ju De Sant Antone before crossing high pastures to reach the hut. Those with energy to spare can continue 1km further to the lakes of Lé Vërt and Limo.
Overnight: Rifugio Fanes
Distance: 19 km, Ascent: 810 m, Descent: 1,470 m, Walking time: around 8 hrs
A woodland walk through larch forest leads to the alpine lake Lech Parom, before the landscape shifts from open upland to rugged limestone peaks. A more gradual alternative avoids the steepest climb. The final stretch crosses the wide meadows of the Armentara back to La Valle.
Overnight: La Valle/Wengen
Option 1: 8.5 km, 440 m ascent and descent, around 3 hrs
Option 2: 17 km, 1,100 m ascent and descent, around 6 hrs
A short bus ride to Longiarù starts the final walk, along the flank of Monte Putia and beneath Passo Poma to Rifugio Genova, with views over the Puez-Odle National Park and the Fanes massif. The route returns via the Seres Valley, passing old windmills, before a direct bus back to La Valle.
Overnight: La Valle/Wengen
The holiday ends after breakfast, unless additional services have been booked.
Please note that the order of walks may vary slightly, depending on room availability at Rifugio Fanes.
From
€950
per person
Minimum 2 people per booking; high season supplement may apply
