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The Runcation Experience
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Guided Dolomites

Hut to Hut

Trail Running Vacation

Alta Via 1 Variant for Summer 2025

 

Join our running retreat this summer as we take the high route in the incredible Italian Dolomites in the northeastern corner of Italy. The Italian Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009, have been described by the explorer Reinhold Messner as “the most beautiful mountains in the world.” On this hut-to-hut runcation, or trail running/hiking adventure, we'll crest the impressionable rock spires, mountain passes, and descend through alpine meadows along the famous Alta Via 1 along some of the most beautiful trails in the world. Along the way, we'll take respite from the trail in the best curated and scenic mountain huts, or rifugios, which offer warm lodges, scenic vistas, and fresh Italian cuisine and beverages. Our hut-to-hut adventure ensures that we'll be waking up and falling asleep to spectacular mountain sunrises and sunsets.

Trip Difficulty: Level 3 (click to learn more about trip difficulty levels).

We also offer this trip self-guided! Learn more below.

 
 

 
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Overview

• Trail running point-to-point in the scenic Dolomites

• Guided runs up stunning mountain ranges, peaks,             and alpine meadows

• Sunrises and sunsets from mountain huts, or italian rifugios

• Comfortable shared rifugio lodging with 3-course dinners
 

 

• Enjoy the highest sauna in the Dolomites

• Enjoy Italian cuisine, wine, and coffee

• Accommodates all levels of runners

• Baggage transport from hut-to-hut

• Special variant of the Alta Via 1 with less crowds and runnable trails
 

Enjoy the highest sauna in the Dolomites

Enjoy the highest sauna in the Dolomites

 

Sample Trip Itinerary Summer 2024

Day 1

Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy

Our trip will start in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy in the afternoon with a meet-and-greet and orientation meeting to meet the guides and go over the logistics and itinerary of the upcoming week! Enjoy an optional shakeout run, unpack, and explore the many cafes, restaurants, shops, and Olympic center in town.

Double accommodation in 4-star hotel with breakfast included

You’re welcome to bring sports gels, or you can enjoy the Italian cuisine above found along our route.

DAY 2

          First Full Day on the Alta Via 1

For our first day on the AV1, we'll head out from Lago di Braies and up towards the Parco Naturale delle Dolomiti d'Ampezzo with panoramic views of the Sass de Putia to the Tofane pyramids. We'll cover 11 miles on the trail at with options to stop for photo breaks, lunch, and cappuccinos at rifugios along the way. Our home base for the evening will be a modernized rifugio level offering typical South Tyrolean dishes and beverages. Located at 2,060 meters above sea level, it's a place to sleep "a few steps from the sky."

Shared dormitory in mountain rifugio with half board (breakfast and dinner) included

Roughly 10.5 miles/+3,300 feet ascent/-2,500 feet descent**

**Please note, exact mileage and ascent/descent info each day subject to change, but this is a good guideline**

DAY 3

Entering the Cortina Dolomites

Today we enter the Cortina Dolomites, starting our day with Passo di Limo. Along the way we'll have the chance to stop at a malga, or dairy farm, with beverages and simple meals. We'll be rewarded for the day's climbing with truly spectacular vistas from our rifugio at 2500m, which also boasts the home of the highest sauna in the Dolomites. At a total of 8 hilly miles, today will be a relatively shorter day on the trail, offering those a chance to rest for the days to come, or take advantage of the many side hikes and activities from our scenic rifugio.

Shared dormitory in mountain rifugio with half board (breakfast and dinner) included

Roughly 14 miles/+6,000 feet ascent/-3,000 feet descent

DAY 4

Dolomiti History

Today we pass through an important area in Dolomite history dating back to World War One. We will start off the run dropping down the trail before climbing up to the impressive Cinque Torri area. An optional side route includes exploring an extensive tunnel system through the mountain. Covering ten miles up and down the trails today, we will arrive at our rifugio in the afternoon. Our rifugio for the evening is one of the more remote rifugios, so the views of the dawn skies and starry evenings can't be beat.

Shared dormitory in mountain rifugio with half board (breakfast and dinner) included

Roughly 9miles/+2,400 feet ascent/-3,500 feet descent

DAY 5

Peaks, Passes, and Apple Strudel

After getting an early start, today will feature some of the most beautiful singletrack on both smooth and technical forest trails. Highlights include Passo Giau, the site of the ancient Mondeval Man, and a stop for coffee with the cows at Rifugio Citta di Fiume. After climbing up towards the stunning Passo Giau forcella, you'll enjoy a long and gradual descent towards a higher end rifugio. You'll be greeted with a warm welcome at your comfortable rifugio that serves excellent meals, apple strudels, has a spa, and sunset views of that special Dolomiti light on the nearby Pelmo.

Shared dormitory in mountain rifugio with half board (breakfast and dinner) included

Roughly 10.5 miles/+1,800 feet ascent/-4,000 feet descent

DAY 6

Grand Finale

Just around the corner from breakfast is one of the most impressive faces in the Dolomites, or Monte Civetta (some call it the El Capitan of the Dolomites). For your final biggest day on the trails, you’ll enjoy your last high alpine vistas at the start of the trail before descending in altitude as vegetation turns to forest and you get a view of the impressive mountain walls from below. Most of the high elevation gains and losses are completed midway through the route and there's moderate running to enjoy to your final rifugio.

Shared dormitory in mountain rifugio with half board (breakfast and dinner) included

Roughly 15.5 miles/+4,800 feet ascent/-4,400 feet descent

DAY 7

Dolomites to Venice

For our final morning, we'll enjoy an early breakfast and coffee at our rifugio before descending a couple of easy miles down to the town of Agordo. We'll then head back to Venice, reaching it by evening where we say our goodbyes with new friends and tons of memories.

5.5 miles/-4,500 feet descent

Private transfer to Venice included

 
Enjoy a meal and sunset at the end of your day here

Enjoy a meal and sunset at the end of your day here

this trip includes staying at italian rifugios, or mountain huts. to learn more about the mountain hut experience, visit this page

You can also read our blog about what sort of food to expect while running hut to hut here.

 

What’s included

Roundtrip transportation starting from Cortina d'Ampezzo on Day 1 and ending in Venice, Italy on Day 7

Trip logistics of route planning, lodging, and transportation reservations

A 8:1 ratio of professional trail running mountain guides to participants

Delicious coffee and breakfast spreads and three-course dinners at the mountain huts, or rifugios

Baggage transport from accommodations (all you carry is a hydration pack!)

Knowledgable local expert trail running mountain guides and running coach along the entire route

Communal accommodation in dorms at some of the nicest rifugios in the Italian Dolomites (two with saunas!)

Special bonus adventures including World War 1 museums, a spa, and side adventure hikes

Trip packet with detailed itinerary including packing lists and weather resources

Access to a personal trip WhatsApp group and community

Not included

International airfare

Alcoholic beverages and lunch/snacks during the day

Travel Insurance

Extra expenses due to a change in itinerary or in case of you having to shorten the day or trip as a whole (including personal return trips to the airport/next destination/etc.)

 

Before You Go

Passport: Must have a valid passport valid through 6 months upon date of travel.

Travel Insurance: Must have travel insurance prior to start of trip. 

Who should attend?

You do not need to be an expert trail runner! However, please note, this is a LEVEL 3 trip. Runners must be able to complete the full distance each day on the trip itinerary (10-16.5 miles) with significant amounts of elevation gain and loss (2,000-6,000 feet per day) in mountainous environments, on technical trails (think rocky, rooted, or steep with loose rock), and at times in unfavorable weather conditions in the mountains. It is expected that all participants will hike the long and strenuous uphill climbs at altitude, and also run whenever the guide determines is feasible (including downhill and flat sections). We cannot accommodate walkers or hikers on this running trip. If you’re psyched about visiting the Dolomites and can meet this trip requirements, you should attend!

Optional 12-week training package available from an experienced running coach to ensure you're trained and ready to go for this adventure of a lifetime!

Weather

Although the weather in late summer is often ideal, weather in the mountains is variable and trail conditions are subject to change on an hourly basis! Route subjective to change based on the safety of conditions and climate of the trail.

Cancellation Policy

Please inquire for the full cancellation policy.

How to Arrive

This trip starts in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The closest international airport to Cortina d’Ampezzo is in Venice, Italy. The Venice Marco Polo airport is 148km away and the smaller Canova di Treviso airport is 136km away. There are a few shared shuttles per day between Venice (Marco Polo Airport, Mestre, or Piazzale Roma) and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. We provide more information on recommended shuttles in your trip packet. You can also choose to book a private transfer. This trip ends in Venice, Italy.

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““Hands down the best vacation I’ve ever taken. The Dolomites were spectacular, and Liz did a great job ensuring people of all abilities had a wonderful time. The group was the perfect size - and we all got along great! The food at the Refugios was great and the wine and company was even better. I absolutely loved this trip and would recommend it to anyone!””
— Megha
“My first running centered vacation and it’s all I ever want to do in the future now. Everything was as advertised. The guides were great and very attentive. No wrong turns and they were great about setting expectations for each day and ensuring we all had a good time. They were also excellent photographers and I came away with some really great shots. Everyone in the group was incredibly friendly and added to the experience. I would do this and others again in a heart beat and am already missing the crew and mountains.”
— Matt
“We (a couple in our mid 40s) went on the July Runcation Dolomites Hut-to-Hut trip in 2024. We absolutely loved every minute of it and cannot recommend Runcation and these trips highly enough. The preparation was easy because of the clear and accurate information we had in advance. This made the trip a total joy. We knew what to pack, how far we’d be traveling each day and the elevation gain, where we’d be staying and more. Runcation made this a stress free trip. Our guides were absolute experts on the local history, flora and fauna and terrain. They were well-received and familiar at each refugio and this meant we were all well-received and welcomed. The accommodations were great, varied and fun and our group got along wonderfully. All in all, this was a terrific experience and I’d recommend it to anyone. We met repeat-Runcation customers which always gives you confidence in the company and would definitely travel with Runcation again.”
— Lorna
“This week long adventure in the Italian Dolomites was the perfect addition to my summer travels. Our guide, Liz, was super welcoming and made sure everything ran seamlessly. She gave us lots of information leading up to the trip, and there was no stress throughout the trip at all. The accommodation was a unique experience, and the food was great. This was a great way to meet people as a person traveling on their own, but would also be great for couples of groups of friends. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone interested in an active holiday.”
— Lauren
“What makes a trip special is the people in it, and this group of 14 runners and 2 guides was fantastic. The guides especially took every effort to make sure you were happy and taken care of, and that you knew what to expect each day and evening. The luggage transport to the huts each night was a huge bonus, and made it possible to run with just a running vest. The accommodations and food enabled the proper rest and recovery to go out again the next day. It’s easy to get hooked on hut to hut trail running after this trip!”
— Jeremy
“Runcation in the Dolomites was a dream vacation. It was the perfect mix of challenging yet rewarding running and hiking. We experienced endless breathtaking views and a spectacular scenery, we enjoyed plenty of cappuccinos, wine, delicious food, and restful afternoons, and made new friends to top it all off! If you are a runner who loves trails and beautiful mountains, I strongly encourage you to go on this trip!”
— Shelby
“I’m still riding a high from this trip. I’m so thankful for our organizer, Liz, who is a logistical genius. Because everything was planned and ready to go long before we began our trek, I was able to be entirely present for the duration of our journey. When you’re hiking or running through the Dolomites and staying in unique, culture-rich refugios every night, the ability to “take it all in” is of utmost importance. In addition to gaining new perspectives on both culture and adventure, I gained something much more valuable—a new appreciation for the beauty of friendship and community. You just can’t put a price on that!”
— Amanda
“Unforgettable trip - beautiful mountains and valleys, technical yet fun trails with plenty of runnable parts, comfortable and clean accommodation and best of all - an amazing group of strangers who became friends. Shoutout to our guides Dario and Chiara for the constant encouragement and never leaving us slower runners behind! Would give anything to relive this trip again!”
— Alvina

🕓 Originally published: January 1, 2017