Alta Badia is home to picturesque towns, towering mountains and vibrant meadows. Personally, I think it is one of the best places to stay in the Dolomites for hiking. Located in the South Tyrol region, it is nestled between some of the most beautiful mountain groups – Fanes, Sella and Puez. It’s a short drive from the famous region of Val Gardena and if you stay in Alta Badia you will have an abundance of hiking trails and climbing routes on your doorstep.
The main villages in Alta Badia are Corvara, Colfosco, La Villa and Badia. These all have a range of hotels and airbnbs you can book online ahead of time.
Late June to early October. September is ideal as it has more stable weather and less crowds.
Fly into Innsbruck or Venice and rent a car.
Alta Badia isn’t cheap, but you can save money by buying food at the supermarket and taking your own packed meals instead of dining out.
I would recommend a week, but if you can only explore for a long weekend you will get a great taste of the natural beauty in the region.
Distance: 11km
Elevation Gain: 1200m
Difficulty: Very Challenging
Trail Map: Here.
This challenging loop hike is one of my favorites as it takes in some of the most incredible views of the Sella group. It ascends up past Rifugio Pisciadu to Pisciadu peak, before looping down and back towards Passo Gardena. I recommend doing this hike in an anti-clockwise direction and only tackling it if you’re strong, sure-footed and not afraid of heights.
Distance: 15.3km
Elevation Gain: 558m
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Map: here.
This trail will give you some absolutely incredible views of the Odle Massif, as well pass by as a couple of small but beautiful lakes. Catch a cable car up to the start of the hike and loop around to Rifugio Puez, passing by some of the best scenery in the region.
If you’re like me and enjoy adding a few via ferrata climbs into your adventures, then here are my recommended routes in the region:
Gran Cir – A beginner friendly via ferrata which can easily be completed (including approach & descent) in under two hours.
Small Cir – An intermediate via ferrata which is a great route to prepare you for longer and more challenging climbs.
Brigata Tridentina – A moderately hard via ferrata with incredible views and fun features like a suspension bridge. It is the most famous one in the region, so arrive early in the morning (pre 6am) to avoid some of the crowds.
Sass Rigais – A moderately hard via ferrata with stunning views from the summit of the highest peak of the Geisler group. It gets less traffic than other climbs due to the longer approach.
Osker Schuster – A difficult but beautiful via ferrata which ascends through the peaks of the Sassolungo group – one of my favourites.
Top tips: You can rent via ferrata kit from the multitude of sports shops in the local towns. I use the website Ferrata365 to plan my climbs.
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