Via delle Bocchette: Brenta Dolomites – modular hut to hut via ferrata trekking (from 3 to 5 days)

The via ferrata trekking in the western Dolomites is a unique experience along the famous Via delle Bocchette. A concatenation of many via ferratas on the main crest of the Brenta Dolomite.
Via delle Bocchette in the Dolomites of Brenta is the most famous, classical, and old via ferrata trek, from hut to hut in the Dolomites.
On fact, Via delle Bocchette is a concatenation of different via ferrata that we can set at your preferred number of days of tour, from 3 to 5 days we can customise your tour at best. In this page you find the complete trekking of 5 days of the ferratas Via delle Bocchette. This project was born in the 1932 with the “via delle Bocchette Centrali” (DAY 3) the most popular section of this long tour. Then during the years was enlarged until today that is possible to cross along the complete crest of peaks of the Brenta Dolomites.

FIRST STEP

The easy access at the Dolomites is the focal point of my town: Bolzano "the door of the Dolomites". Lear the best combination for your arrival and departure flight and the transfers by train or rental car, but... more important: ask me every logistical info you need. I'm here to help you to find the best solution.
(click the map here below to enlarge it at full screen)

SECOND STEP

As second step: learn the local map of this modular Via Ferrata trek (click the map here below to dowload it in PDF format):

The day before (your arrive)

Depending where you arrive, generally you will land in the airport of Venice or Milan or Bergamo or Innsbruck or Munich or..... it's indifferent! I will suggest you the best logistical system to arrive in Bolzano. train, bus, or taxi.
When you will arrive in Bolzano we have a preparative briefing at the reception of your hotel on the evening. In this half hour meeting we will check all aspect of the next days tour.

Via delle Bocchette: DAY 1 – Via Ferrata Sentiero Benini

Walking to the approach: 1.30 hrs
Climbing the Via Ferrata in: 3.30 hrs
Walking to the next Rifugio: 0.30 hrs
Total time of this day: 5.30 hrs – Total vertical gain (up): 600 m.

The first day of the Via delle Bocchette we start early from Bolzano and go to the town of Madonna di Campiglio.
Here we take the Grostè cableway and arrive in high quote in the north area of the Brenta Dolomites where start the first via ferrata of this tour: the “Via Ferrata Sentiero Benini”.
This via ferrata is not particulary difficult, for this reason I prefer begin alway this tour from north in direction south. It’s a “overture” of the great panoramas of the next days!
We arrive at Rifugio Tuckett, a historical mountain hut of the Italian Alpine Club, where we overnight.

Via delle Bocchette: DAY 2 – Via delle Bocchette Alte

Walking to the approach: 1.30 hrs
Climbing the Via Ferrata in: 5.00 hrs
Walking to the next Rifugio: 1.00 hrs
Total time of this day: 7.30 hrs – Total vertical gain (up): 900 m.

The second day we have the approach for the Via delle Bocchette Alte on the glacier of the Bocca di Tuckett (the Tuckett pass). In this short and steep glacier are generally necessary the crapons.
From the pass Tuckett start the “Via Ferrata delle Bocchette Alte”. This via ferrata is long and in some sections a bit complicate, with many climbing up and down on long iron stairs, but is not exposed. We walk and climb for about 7-8 hours and arrive at the modern Rifugio Alimonta where we overnight.
In case of bad weather we can climb in 3 hours the variant on the “Via Ferrata SOSAT”.

Via delle Bocchette: DAY 3 – Via delle Bocchette Centrali

Walking to the approach: 1.00 hrs
Climbing the Via Ferrata in: 3.00 hrs
Walking to the next Rifugio: 0.30 hrs
Total time of this day: 4.30 hrs – Total vertical gain (up): 600 m.

The third day is the best! From the Rifugio Alimonta we have a short approach on the little glacier and then begin the Via delle Bocchette Centrali. This via ferrata is the oldest and classical section of this long tour.
Great panoramas, incredible exposition on the big walls, and easy climbing are the particular aspects of this via ferrata!
We arrive at Rifugio Tosa Pedrotti, mountain hut of the Italian Alpine Club, where we overnight.
(Here finish the 3 days trek and continue the 4, and 5 days trek)

Via delle Bocchette: DAY 4 – Via Ferrata Brentari

Walking to the approach: 1.00 hrs
Climbing the Via Ferrata in: 3.00 hrs
Walking to the next Rifugio: 1.30 hrs
Total time of this day: 5.30 hrs – Total vertical gain (up): 500 m.

The day 4 on the Via delle Bocchette continue with a other interessant via ferrata, the “Via Ferrata Brentari”. Now we will enter in the south part of the Dolomites of Brenta where the glaciers presence is more massive.
This via ferrata is easy, but in approach as in downhill we walk at some glaciers. The ambient is continue changing with great and impressive peaks.
We walk and climb for about 4 hours and arrive at the placed in the sunny east side of this group of mountains, where we overnight at Rifugio Agostini.
(Here finish the 4 days trek and continue the 5 days trek)

Via delle Bocchette: DAY 5 – Via Ferrata Castiglioni

Walking to the approach: 0.40 hrs
Climbing the Via Ferrata in: 2.00 hrs
Walking to the next Rifugio: 2.30 hrs
Total time of this day: 5.10 hrs – Total vertical gain (up): 700 m.

The last day we finish our long trek on the Via delle Bocchette with a exposed via ferrata, the “Via Ferrata Castiglioni”. A long sequence of exposed iron ladders climb this wall to have the access at the terminal area of the Brenta Dolomites. This via ferrata is a perfect end of our great experience on the rock of the western Dolomites!
After the via ferrata, we go downhill in direction of Rifugio XII Apostoli and to the Pinzolo cableway.
We arrive with the gondola lift to the town of Pinzolo where you sit in a coffe to rest and I take the local bus to Madonna di Campiglio and to the car parking. After 1-2 hours I come back with my car and we drive back to Bolzano at your hotel.
(Here finish the 5 days “great trek”)

And last: a new great opportunity along the Via delle Bocchette for rock climbers!

If you have a basic rock climbing experience, and if you have your climbing shoes… put it in your backpack! Every rifugio along the Via delle Bocchette have a near sport climbing cliff, generally are lot of easy single pitches routes where we can climb in amazing places with great panoramas every afternoon. It’s a great opportunity at condition that you have a basic rock-climbing experience (if it is only indoor is in any case ok), you have your properly climbing shoes, and last the weather will be good on the afternoon. With these three conditions we will complete your great experience in the Dolomites with a perfect integrative activity! At moment of the reservation, let me know your interest for this preference, because I need carry some integrative equipments.

PRICES FOR ALL INCLUSIVE SERVICE (*)

The best policy for pricing is the clarity and flexibility. Are you agree?

For this reason here below you find an extended explanation of the prices in one single sheet, based at the number of days and at the number of persons of your request.

Under the sheet is explained what is included in every price (accommodations, transfers, equipments, etc.).

Every price is consider per single person based at the composition of every single group that do the reservation.

At the moment of reservation you can ask to have a personal trek (without others participants) or to accept other potential participants.

If you accept others participants, the guide can combine more persons together of similar levels and it will apply, at every unity of reservation, 20 Euro discount for every day.

Choose your preferred combination of via ferrata trek here below:

(*) WHAT INCLUDED EVERY “ALL INCLUSIVE PRICE”?

- My personal suggestions for your vacation in Italy and for the travel logistics before and after the trek.

(this is a unique and valuable service: you can ask for help to best arrange any aspect of your vacation in Italy).

- Full time mountain guide service during the reserved days.

- Transportation during the trek.

with my car which holds a maximum of 6 people plus me, or other local transport like buses. (cableways are NOT included)

- The nights of lodging in the rifugios during the trek, with half board.

HB = bed + breakfast + dinner. (lunch and beverages are NOT included)

- 2 nights of lodging in Bolzano at a Bed-and-Breakfast, one night before and one after the trek.

B&B = bed and breakfast. (lunch, dinner, and beverages are NOT included).

- All technical gear for climbing, as you need.

helmet, harness, kit for via ferrata, protective gloves for via ferrata, ice axe, crampons, trekking poles, etc.

Note: How reduce the costs?

If you are independent with your rental car and don't use the overnights in Bolzano the night before and/or after the tour, the prices will be reduced proportionally.

WRITE HERE THE DETAILS OF YOUR REQUEST: