The Alta Via 1 is an incredible adventure, but sometimes things don’t go as planned—and that’s okay! Whether you need a quick escape, a shortcut to save time, or a smoother way to navigate the logistics, this guide has you covered. From transport tips to alternative routes and exit points, you’ll always have a way to adjust your journey without missing out on the experience.
For detailed information on how to get to Lago di Braies the starting point for the Alta Via trek please see here: Getting To Your Adventure: The Dolomites, Alta Via 1
Several alternate routes along the Alta Via 1 also serve as shortcuts. These alternative paths are listed on your itinerary app under each day’s routes, giving you the option to choose them if preferred.
Taxi options:
Taxi Cortina / +39 3384889793
Taxi Afo / +39 347 94 20 530
DC Tranfers / booking@dctransfers.it
Cab Unterhofer / +39 348 672 08 63
Cab Rizzo / +39 329 460 61 90
Main Cable Car Options:
Rifugio Lagazuoi Gondola
The Lagazuoi cable car connects Passo Falzarego to Rifugio Lagazuoi (2,732m) — the highest point on the Alta Via 1 — and is the most popular shortcut on the route. It covers 1,150m and descends 630m in just three minutes, offering hikers flexibility to shorten stages or reach alternative rifugios when Lagazuoi is full.
Good to know:
- The ATM at Passo Falzarego (the only one on the AV1) has been reinstalled for 2025. If it’s removed again, the cable car staff may allow you to withdraw cash via card payment.
- Send your backpack down: For €9 (2025), you can send your pack on the cable car if you’re hiking down through the WWI tunnels.
- The Lagazuoi cable car runs every 15 minutes from 9am. The last downhill run is at 5pm. A one way adult ticket costs €18,50 – 21,00 depending on the low or peak season.
Chairlift Duca d’Aosta / Chairlift Pie Tofana
Cortina-Col Druscie Cable Car
Chairlift Cinque Torri
Main Bus Stops: (Dolomiti Bus, Cortina Express, SAD, Pragz.bz,ATVO buses,FlixBus)
Lago di Braies
Belluno
Pederu (via San Vigilio)
Sare / Sciaré – Bus stop (Off Scotoni variant)
Passo Giau
Passo Falzarego (nearby Lagazuoi)
Cortina
Passo Staulanza
Forno di Zoldo (Exit at Malga Pramperet)
La Pissa
Tip: Download the Dolomiti Bus App – for handy access to the bus timetable and purchasing tickets.
11 Day
Lago di Braies – Rifugio Biella
Shortcut: N/A
Escape Route: Road by Lago di Braies.
Rifugio Biella – Rifugio Fanes
Shortcut: N/A
Escape Route: From Rifugio Sennes Take path n.6A and then 6 all the way to Malga Ra Stua (car access) / Road by Rifugio Pederü.
Rifugio Fanes – Rifugio Lagazoui
Shortcut: From Capanna Alpina a taxi can be arranged to reach Passo Falzarego, then take the cable car to Rifugio Lagazuoi Saves 600m elevation +/- .
Escape Route: Walk past Lago de Limo and, before reaching Ütia de Gran Fanes, at the junction take path n.10 all the way to the road and the car park at S. Umberto / Capanna Alpina exit to Sare / Sciaré – Bus stop off the Rifugio Scotoni variant.
Rifugio Lagazoui – Rifugio Nuvolau / Rifugio Averau
Shortcut: Cable car from Rifugio Lagazuoi to Passo Falzarego: Saves 600m elevation +/- / Path 441 to Averau / Rifugio Scoiattoli can be reached with the chairlift starting at Rifugio Bai dei Dònes.
Escape Route: Take the cable car from Rifugio Lagazuoi down to Passo Falzarego. Road at Passo Falzarego.
Rifugio Nuvolau / Rifugio Averau – Rifugio Citta di Fiume
Shortcut: N/A
Escape Route: Take path n.439 to the chairlift by Rifugio Scoiattoli and take the lift down to the Passo Falzarego road. Road at Passo Giau / From Forcella Ambrizzola take the path n.434 to Rifugio Palmieri Croda da lago, from here take path n.432 to the road by Malga Fedèra (road closed in the summer but shuttle bus available).
Rifugio Citta di Fiume – Rifugio Coldai
Shortcut: N/A
Escape Route: Take the forest track n.467 to the Passo Staulanza road / Road at Palafavera.
Rifugio Coldai – Rifugio Vazzoler
Shortcut: N/A
Escape Route: N/A
Rifugio Vazzoler – Rifugio Carestiato
Shortcut: N/A
Escape Route: Follow path n.555 to the road by Capanna Trieste.
Rifugio Carestiato – Rifugio Pramperet
Shortcut: N/A
Escape Route: Road at Capanna Trieste / Road at Passo Duran / From Malga Moschesin take path n.542 to the road by La Valle Agordina / From Rifugio Pramperet take path n.523 to Malga Pramper and all the way to the road at Forno di Zoldo.
Rifugio Pramperet – Rifugio Pian de Fontana
Shortcut: N/A
Escape Route: From Rifugio Pramperet take path n.523 to Malga Pramper and all the way to the road at Forno di Zoldo.
Rifugio Pain de Fontana – La Pissa bus stop
Shortcut: N/A
Escape Route: Road at La Pissa bus stop.
9 Day
Lago di Braies – Rifugio Sennes
Shortcut: N/A
Escape Route: Road by Lago di Braies / From Rifugio Sennes Take path n.6A and then 6 all the way to Malga Ra Stua (car access).
Rifugio Sennes – Rifugio Fanes
Shortcut: N/A
Escape Route: From Rifugio Sennes Take path n.6A and then 6 all the way to Malga Ra Stua (car access) / Road by Rifugio Pederü.
Rifugio Fanes – Rifugio Lagazoui
Shortcut: From Capanna Alpina a taxi can be arranged to reach Passo Falzarego, then take the cable car to Rifugio Lagazuoi Saves 600m elevation +/- .
Escape Route: Walk past Lago de Limo and, before reaching Ütia de Gran Fanes, at the junction take path n.10 all the way to the road and the car park at S. Umberto / Capanna Alpina exit to Sare / Sciaré – Bus stop off the Rifugio Scotoni variant.
Rifugio Lagazoui – Rifugio Nuvolau / Rifugio Averau
Shortcut: Cable car from Rifugio Lagazuoi to Passo Falzarego Saves 600m elevation +/- / Path 441 to Averau / Rifugio Scoiattoli can be reached with the chairlift starting at Rifugio Bai dei Dònes.
Escape Route: Take the cable car from Rifugio Lagazuoi down to Passo Falzarego. Road at Passo Falzarego.
Rifugio Nuvolau / Rifugio Averau – Rifugio Passo Staulanza
Shortcut: N/A
Escape Route: Take path n.439 to the chairlift by Rifugio Scoiattoli and take the lift down to the Passo Falzarego road. Road at Passo Giau / Take the forest track n.467 to the Passo Staulanza road.
Rifugio Passo Staulanza – Rifugio Vazzoler
Shortcut:N/A
Escape Route: N/A
Rifugio Vazzoler – Rifugio Passo Duran
Shortcut: N/A
Escape Route: Follow path n.555 to the road by Capanna Trieste / Road at Passo Duran.
Rifugio Passo Duran – Rifugio Pian De Fontana
Shortcut: N/A
Escape Route: Road at Passo Duran / From Malga Moschesin take path n.542 to the road by La Valle Agordina. From Rifugio Pramperet take path n.523 to Malga Pramper and all the way to the road at Forno di Zoldo.
Rifugio Pain de Fontana – La Pissa bus stop
Shortcut: N/A
Escape Route: Road at La Pissa bus stop.
7 Day
Lago di Braies – Rifugio Fanes
Shortcut: N/A
Escape Route: Road by Lago di Braies / From Rifugio Sennes Take path n.6A and then 6 all the way to Malga Ra Stua (car access) / Road by Rifugio Pederü.
Rifugio Fanes – Rifugio Lagazoui
Shortcut: From Capanna Alpina a taxi can be arranged to reach Passo Falzarego, then take the cable car to Rifugio Lagazuoi: Saves 600m elevation +/- .
Escape Route: Walk past Lago de Limo and, before reaching Ütia de Gran Fanes, at the junction take path n.10 all the way to the road and the car park at S. Umberto / Capanna Alpina exit to Sare / Sciaré – Bus stop off the Rifugio Scotoni variant.
Rifugio Lagazoui – Rifugio Nuvolau / Rifugio Averau
Shortcut: Cable car from Rifugio Lagazuoi to Passo Falzarego: Saves 600m elevation +/- / Path 441 to Averau / Rifugio Scoiattoli can be reached with the chairlift starting at Rifugio Bai dei Dònes.
Escape Route: Take the cable car from Rifugio Lagazuoi down to Passo Falzarego. Road at Passo Falzarego.
Rifugio Nuvolau / Rifugio Averau – Rifugio Coldai
Shortcut: N/A
Escape Route: Take path n.439 to the chairlift by Rifugio Scoiattoli and take the lift down to the Passo Falzarego road. Road at Passo Giau / Take the forest track n.467 to the Passo Staulanza road / Road at Palafavera.
Rifugio Coldai – Rifugio Carestiato
Shortcut: N/A
Escape Route: Follow path n.555 to the road by Capanna Trieste.
Rifugio Carestiato – Rifugio Pian de Fontana
Shortcut: N/A
Escape Route: Road at Passo Duran.
Rifugio Pian de Fontana – La Pissa bus stop
Shortcut: N/A
Escape Route: Road at La Pissa bus stop.
4 Day
Lago di Braies – Rifugio Sennes
Shortcut: N/A
Escape Route: Road by Lago di Braies / From Rifugio Sennes Take path n.6A and then 6 all the way to Malga Ra Stua (car access).
Rifugio Sennes – Rifugio Fanes
Shortcut: N/A
Escape Route: From Rifugio Sennes Take path n.6A and then 6 all the way to Malga Ra Stua (car access) / Road by Rifugio Pederü.
Rifugio Fanes – Rifugio Lagazoui
Shortcut: From Capanna Alpina a taxi can be arranged to reach Passo Falzarego, then take the cable car to Rifugio Lagazuoi: Saves 600m elevation +/-
Escape Route: Walk past Lago de Limo and, before reaching Ütia de Gran Fanes, at the junction take path n.10 all the way to the road and the car park at S. Umberto / Capanna Alpina exit to Sare / Sciaré – Bus stop off the Rifugio Scotoni variant.
Rifugio Lagazoui – Cortina
Shortcut: Cable car from Rifugio Lagazuoi to Passo Falzarego: Saves 600m elevation +/- / Chairlift Duca d’Aosta – Pie Tofana / Chairlift Col Druscie – Cortina
Escape Route: Take the cable car from Rifugio Lagazuoi down to Passo Falzarego. Road at Passo Falzarego.
Note on exiting the Alta Via 1 at Rifugio Pramperet
You can leave the trail just before Rifugio Pramperet by taking trail 540 down to Malga Pramperet — about a 1-hour easy descent.
- Option to walk: Malga Pramperet → Forno di Zoldo (10 km / 30 min)
- Jeep Shuttle:
- August: 07:45 & 17:00 to Forno di Zoldo; limited daytime runs only to the mid-point parking area.
- June, July, September: Weekends only.
- Driver: Fabio — friendly local, speaks little English but makes the ride fun!
From Forno di Zoldo:
• Connect to Venice/Cortina via the Cortina Express or Dolomiti Bus (line 10) — both require online booking.
Leaving the trek from La Pissa the end point of the Alta Via trek:
The end of the AV1 trek is rather underwhelming, finishing at the Pissa bus stop. Please note that the bus service is restricted on a Sunday and in the shoulder seasons so do check what day you will be finishing. The bus cost €4.50 in 2025 and WAS ONLY PAYABLE IN CASH ON THE BUS. It’s a 20 minute bus ride to the nearest town of Belluno where you can catch a train or bus back to Venice or Cortina. There is also the option to take a taxi from La Pissa with the contacts at the top of the page.
Note: if you visit the tourist office in Belluno with your stamped AV1 passport they will give you a free AV1 badge pin.
