Join this incredible journey with local Dolomites guide and Aspiring Guides IFMGA guide Andrea Bruni over the varied, always dramatic full traverse (north to south) of the Brenta Dolomites range. Trek and climb through a maze of huge rock towers, wildly eroded limestone cliffs, alpine meadows and forests. Revel in rich and beautiful plant and wildlife, such as brown bears and golden eagles. End each challenging day in the comfort of a well-supplied mountain rifugio, well-placed shelters that sometimes feel more like b&b's than mountain huts. With one night in a bivouac along the way, this trip has a full range of ruggedness, beauty, and luxury.
book now Skills requiredDAY 1
Andrea, your guide, will arrange to meet you at the train station in Trento or Cles. The morning will be spent reviewing the plan for the trip, checking the weather and the equipment, and there will be time for last minute shopping and supplies before heading into the mountains. After lunch you'll transfer by car up on the range to Verde Lake, and begin with an easy trek into the mountains to Rifugio Peller (2000m).
Track n. 313
Elevation gain: 300 m
Distance: 5 km
Time: 2 hours
Stay: Rifugio Peller
DAY 2
Take the Costanzi Track, a wild and beautiful route that takes you through wild open meadows, alpine lakes, and weaving through mountain passes using fixed ropes. Today is a good warm-up for the via ferrata climbing to come. Views are breathtaking and well worth the effort. The day finishes with a descent to the Bivouac Bonvecchio (2700m), where you'll bivi for the evening.
Track n. 337 and 336 (Costanzi track)
Elevation gain: 900 m
Distance: 10.5 km
Time: 7-8 hours
Stay: Bivouac Bonvecchio
DAY 3
Following the Costanzi track and Benini track, you'll climb through mountain passes. The via ferrata is more challenging, and you finish up at the Rifugio Tuckett (2270m). The views from the refuge sweep westwards to the surrounding mountains and glaciers.
Track n. 336, 390 (Vidi track), 305 (Benini track/first leg of the famous "via delle Bocchette")
Elevation gain: 700 m
Distance: 13 km
Time: 8 hours
Stay: Rifugio Tuckett
DAY 4
A well earned rest day to recharge the batteries or to wait out bad weather. This day is the chance to sleep in and time to rest and enjoy a little bit of the rifugio's lifestyle.
Stay: Rifugio Tuckett
DAY 6
Today you start by climbing the highest segment of Via delle Bocchette to Cima Brenta. This famous via ferrata brings you to Rifugio Alimonta (2580m), where you'll be surrounded by marvelous peaks.
Track n. 305
Elevation gain: 700 m
Distance: 4.5 km
Time: 6 hours
Stay: Rifugio Alimonta
DAY 7
This is the day! You'll make your way to the Rifugio 12 Apostoli. You start with the most famous section of the traverse, called Bocchette Centrali. You will pass under Canpanil Alto e Basso, the two main rock towers, and traverse cliffs along narrow edges with full exposure. A good break at the Rifugio Pedrotti, and from here the second part of the day you'll negotiate the Range Cima Tosa e Cima Ambiez, crossing narrow saddles and traversing two glaciers with crampons. This day will be full on!
Track n. 323, 305 (Bocchette centrali), 318A, 358 (Brentari track), 304 (Ideale track)
Elevation gain: 900 m
Distance: 8.5 km
Time: 8-9 hours
Stay: Rifugio 12 Apostoli
DAY 8
Today is the last day with via ferrata, but it is a good one! The via ferrata Ettore Castiglioni will lead you to the Rifugio Agostini, where you'll stop for a delicious homemade lunch and relax for the afternoon.
Elevation gain: 400 m
Distance: 5 km
Time: 4 hours
Stay: Rifugio Agostini
DAY 9
Last day, last big effort! From the rifugio, a short trek down to the Rifugio Cacciatore and from there to the village San Lorenzo in Banale. It is a nice section, not technically demanding, in awesome alpine meadows, past alpine houses and through forest. This marks your completion of The Brenta Dolimites Traverse!!! You'll celebrate with a drink at the local restaurant Dolomiti. Then by taxi, you'll transfer to your hotel in Tuenno/Cles.
Track 348 and 349
Elevation gain: 500 m
Distance: 11 km
Time: 6-7 hours
Stay: Tuenno/Cles
DAY 10
Rest day and/or additional weather contingency day (if in the mountains). Tuenno/Cles has many local activities and places to explore, such as the local farmer's alpine huts, historical sites, and castles. Or simply relax, sample typical Dolomites cuisine, like fresh homemade cheese and wine. You could also spend your time exploring other via ferrata, like the one on Marmolada, which takes two days.
Stay: Tuenno/Cles, or in the mountains
Contingency Day
Extra day for weather contingency or extensions of the trip. If you finish the trip in time, it is possible to go to do other via ferrata, like Marmolada, as above.
Stay: Tuenno/Cles
NOTE: The program can be adjusted according with the weather and the needs of the group. It is possible to add via ferratas or making it easier. It is possible to stop the trip at any time if needed.
It was the first traverse to be created by local guides for touristic purpose, which is different from other via ferratas in the Dolomites which are historical and follow World War I paths.
Comfortable mountain huts allow us to connect all via ferratas in a 7-8 day loop with outstanding trekking in between. Small glaciers have to be negotiated and crampons come in handy. This trip is an advanced trekking trip. You must be fit, have good balance and be good with exposure.
Trip Date | Available |
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Watch this space |
Client Ratio | Price |
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1:1 | €9,200 |
1:2 | €4,900 |
1:3 | €3,400 |
1:4 | €2,700 |