Alta Badia: The Complete Holiday Guide for Hikers & Nature Lovers
Alta Badia: The Complete Holiday Guide for Hikers & Nature Lovers
by Luca Mattiello – Volpi del Vajolet | Dolomites hiking blog
🚗 How to Get to Alta Badia
- Innsbruck Airport (INN) — ~2h drive, best option from northern Europe
- Verona Villafranca (VRN) — ~2h 30min, good for UK and German routes
- Venice Marco Polo (VCE) — ~3h drive
- Bolzano Airport (BZO) — ~1h 30min, smaller airport
By car: From the A22 Brennero motorway, exit at Bressanone/Brixen and follow signs for Val Pusteria → Val Badia → Corvara. Alternatively, approach from Val di Fassa via Passo Campolongo or Passo Gardena — both spectacular mountain passes.
Best season: Late June to October. Alta Badia is also one of the best skiing areas in the Alps in winter (part of the Sella Ronda ski carousel).
Language: Alta Badia is one of the heartlands of Ladin — an ancient Romance language. Italian and German are both official; English is widely spoken in hotels and restaurants.
🏨 Where to Stay in Alta Badia
| Village | Character | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Corvara | Largest, most central | All types, Sella Ronda access, lively apres-ski feel |
| Colfosco (Kolfuschg) | Quieter, more traditional | Families, walkers, close to Passo Gardena |
| San Cassiano (St. Kassian) | Upscale, peaceful | Gourmet dining, Fanes plateau access |
| La Villa (Stern) | Authentic, small | Budget-friendly, local feel |
| Badia | Gateway village | Armentara meadows, quieter side of the valley |
👁️ Things to See & Do
🏔 Sella Ronda – The Great Mountain Circuit
Alta Badia sits on the famous Sella Ronda circuit — a route linking four mountain passes (Passo Campolongo, Passo Pordoi, Passo Sella, Passo Gardena) around the Sella massif. In summer, this scenic road can be driven in about 3–4 hours with stops. In winter it's one of the great ski circuits in the world. The views from each pass are spectacular.
🌸 Armentara Flower Meadows
The Prati dell'Armentara near Badia are famous throughout the Alps for their extraordinary wildflower display in June and July — a carpet of gentians, orchids and mountain flowers stretching across high meadows with the Dolomite peaks as backdrop. One of the most beautiful natural spectacles in the region.
🍴 Alta Badia Gourmet Scene
Alta Badia punches far above its weight culinarily — it has more Michelin stars per square kilometre than almost anywhere in Italy, including the legendary La Siriola and St. Hubertus (2 Michelin stars). Even without fine dining, the mountain refuges and local restaurants serve outstanding South Tyrolean and Ladin food: Schlutzkrapfen, Speck, Casonziei (local pasta) and excellent local wines.
🪖 Lagazuoi – WWI History in the Mountains
The Lagazuoi massif was a major battlefront during World War I between Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces. A network of tunnels was dug inside the mountain for military operations. Today you can take the cable car up and explore the tunnels and war museum — a fascinating and moving experience alongside the spectacular mountain views.
🥾 The Best Hikes in Alta Badia
🟢 Easy Hikes
1. Cascate Pisciadù from Colfosco – Waterfall Walk
A short and very scenic walk from Colfosco to the spectacular Cascate Pisciadù — a series of waterfalls tumbling down from the Sella massif. The path is wide, well-maintained and suitable for all ages including young children. A great outing for a rest day or arrival/departure day. The waterfalls are at their most impressive in late spring and early summer when snowmelt is highest.
2. Rifugio Scotoni & Lago di Lagazuoi
A wonderfully scenic and relatively easy walk from the Passo Falzarego area to Rifugio Scotoni, set in a green basin below the Lagazuoi and Tofane massifs. The route passes the beautiful Lago di Lagazuoi — a small Alpine lake with extraordinary reflections of the surrounding peaks. The path is clear and wide throughout, with no technical sections. One of the most rewarding easy walks in Alta Badia.
3. Tru di Lech – Lakes of Sompunt & Lech dla Lunch
A quiet and beautiful loop hike visiting two hidden Alpine lakes — Lech de Sompunt and Lech dla Lunch — nestled in forest and meadow above San Cassiano. The Ladin name "Tru di Lech" means "path of the lakes". Peaceful, uncrowded, and beautiful in every season. One of the best easy hikes for those wanting to escape the more popular trails.
4. Rifugio Pralongià from Corvara – Panoramic Loop
A pleasant loop from the centre of Corvara up to Rifugio Pralongià (2,011m) on the plateau above the village. The views from the refuge take in the entire Alta Badia valley, the Sella massif and the Sassongher — the distinctive rocky pyramid that towers above Corvara. A great introductory hike to the area, doable by anyone with basic fitness.
5. Sentiero dei Mulini di Longiarù – Valley Floor Walk
A charming and very easy walk through the quieter Val Badia, following a restored trail past old water mills along the stream. A completely different experience from the high-mountain hikes — peaceful, cultural and very accessible. Great for families, rest days or bad-weather alternatives. The village of Longiarù is one of the most authentic in the valley.
🟡 Medium Hikes
6. Rifugio La Crusc & Armentara Meadows from Badia
One of the most beautiful hikes in the entire valley. The loop climbs from Badia through the famous Prati dell'Armentara flower meadows (spectacular in June–July) and up to Rifugio La Crusc (2,045m), perched on a ridge with sweeping views of the Fanes plateau, the Marmolada and the Dolomites in all directions. A truly complete mountain experience combining flowers, views and a great refuge stop.
7. Giro del Sass de Putia – Classic Loop
A Dolomites classic. The Sass de Putia (Peitlerkofel) is one of the most distinctive peaks on the border between Alta Badia and Val di Funes — a sharp pyramid of rock visible from much of South Tyrol. This loop circles the mountain through open meadows and rocky terrain, with constantly changing views of the surrounding Dolomites. Not technically difficult, but a sustained mountain walk. One of the most satisfying day hikes in the area.
8. Malga Gran Fanes – Into the Fanes Plateau
The Fanes plateau is one of the most mythical landscapes in the Dolomites — a vast, high, treeless plain ringed by rocky peaks, steeped in Ladin legend and folklore. This hike from Rifugio Capanna Alpina reaches Malga Gran Fanes on the edge of the plateau, giving a taste of this extraordinary landscape without the full commitment of the multi-day Fanes trekking route. The plateau feels otherworldly — unlike anything else in the Alps.
9. Rifugio Kostner from Passo Campolongo
A very scenic loop from Passo Campolongo with close-up views of the southern face of the Sella Group. The route passes Rifugio Kostner and the small alpine lakes of Bec de Roces and Laghetto Boè, with the Marmolada glacier visible throughout. A quieter alternative to the more crowded Piz Boè trail, with equally impressive scenery.
10. Rifugio Lavarella & Lago Limo from Rifugio Pederu
A beautiful hike into the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park, one of the most pristine and spectacular protected areas in the Dolomites. Starting from Rifugio Pederu, the trail climbs through the Fanes valley to Rifugio Lavarella and the beautiful Lago Limo — a high-altitude lake with extraordinary reflections of the Fanes peaks. The landscape here has a wild, remote quality rare in the more touristy Dolomites valleys.
🔴 Challenging Hikes
11. Anello del Settsass – High Ridge Loop
A demanding ridge loop around the Settsass massif from Passo Valparola, near Passo Falzarego. The route follows exposed ridges with some rocky sections requiring care, but the panoramic views throughout — taking in the Lagazuoi, Tofane, Marmolada, Sella and much of the western Dolomites — are extraordinary. A serious mountain hike for experienced walkers with a good head for heights.
12. Rifugi Biella, Sennes & Fodara Vedla – Fanes Grand Loop
The finest full-day hike in Alta Badia — a grand loop through the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park connecting three mountain refuges: Rifugio Biella, Rifugio Sennes and Rifugio Fodara Vedla. The route crosses the high Sennes plateau — a vast, lunar landscape of limestone pavements and distant peaks — and offers one of the most complete wilderness experiences in the Italian Dolomites. A long day requiring full fitness and good navigation skills.
📋 Quick Reference – All Hikes at a Glance
| Hike | Difficulty | Time | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Cascate Pisciadù | 🟢 Easy | 1.5h | minimal |
| 2. Rifugio Scotoni & Lago Lagazuoi | 🟢 Easy | 2–3h | ~300m |
| 3. Tru di Lech – Two lakes | 🟢 Easy | 2h | ~200m |
| 4. Rifugio Pralongià from Corvara | 🟢 Easy | 2.5h | ~350m |
| 5. Sentiero dei Mulini di Longiarù | 🟢 Easy | 1.5h | flat |
| 6. Rifugio La Crusc & Armentara | 🟡 Medium | 4–5h | ~600m |
| 7. Giro del Sass de Putia | 🟡 Medium | 5h | ~700m |
| 8. Malga Gran Fanes | 🟡 Medium | 4–5h | ~500m |
| 9. Rifugio Kostner – Passo Campolongo | 🟡 Medium | 4h | ~500m |
| 10. Rifugio Lavarella & Lago Limo | 🟡 Medium | 5h | ~600m |
| 11. Anello del Settsass | 🔴 Hard | 5–6h | ~700m |
| 12. Rifugi Biella, Sennes & Fodara Vedla | 🔴 Hard | 8h | ~900m |
💡 Practical Tips
- Cable cars & lifts: Several lifts connect villages to high-altitude starting points. Check the official Alta Badia tourism website for schedules.
- Refuge bookings: In July–August, book refuges in advance if staying overnight.
- Fanes Nature Park: Cars are restricted in the park — use the shuttle from Rifugio Pederu to access the upper valley.
- Weather: High-altitude routes can be affected by afternoon thunderstorms in summer. Start early and check forecasts.
- Ladin culture: Alta Badia is a fascinating cultural enclave — the Ladin people have their own language, traditions and cuisine. Well worth exploring beyond just the mountains.
Written by Luca Mattiello based on personal hiking experience in Alta Badia. All trails described first-hand. For the Italian version, click here.
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