Cortina Great War Via Ferrata Multi-Day Program

The first day of your Dolomites climbing adventure begins as you arrive in Cortina d'Ampezzo (private transfer available on request), a world-renowned resort town nestled in the heart of the Dolomites. Known as the "Queen of the Dolomites," Cortina is famous for its breathtaking mountain views, charming atmosphere, and its status as a premier destination for winter sports and outdoor activities! Check in your hotel, relax and meet your certified local mountain guide, before a nice dinner in a local restaurant.

Accommodation: Hotel in Cortina

Today you will immerse yourself in the sites of the tragic past of the bloody First World War by walking an entertaining via ferrata in honor of Lieutenant Fusetti, Medal of Honor for Military Valor. After breakfast you will take a private transfer with your guide and reach valparola pass with a scenic drive over the mountains of val Gardena and val Badia. 

To reach the actual via ferrata, you will don headlamps and enter the mountain through the tunnel dug by Austro-Hungarian soldiers during the conflict: the Goiginger tunnel! The tunnel is dark and damp, but the exit from the tunnel takes you to an incredible panoramic balcony where you will also see some precious edelweiss. Going around the south edge of the mountain, you will reach the via ferrata equipped in 2018: the climb is fun and takes about 1 hour, until you reach the trenches on the back of Sass de Stria. You will then continue to the true summit of the mountain by following the path between the trenches: the height is modest compared to the surrounding peaks, but it is incredibly panoramic. Not surprisingly, its summit was contested because it guaranteed a strategic vantage point! After the ferrata at Sas de Stria you will take the Lagazuoi cable car to one of the highest and most scenic mountain huts in the Dolomites and enjoy a good typical lunch! 

After your well-deserved relaxation, a few steps from the refuge, you will plunge downhill armed with headlamps into the Piccolo Lagazuoi tunnel, built by the daring Italian soldiers during the war with the aim of undermining the Austrian positions! It is a complex system of tunnels about 1 km long in the bowels of the mountain, which was equipped entirely with wire rope all the way down to the base, giving you a true picture of the harsh conditions of the soldiers during the war.  A long and incredible day of via ferrata fun in history among the soldiers' posts!

Accommodation: Hotel in Cortina

Today you will do an impressive mix of hiking and short via ferrata sections in the stunning 5 Torri and Nuvolau area, an area not particularly high but located in the middle of the 3,000-meter peaks. 

After a short private car transfer from Cortina to the Falzarego Pass area, you'll reach the 5 Torri by ascending with the lift, and from there you'll walk along a trail to first reach the Ra Gusela ferrata at Nuvolau (2574m), you'll then walk to reach the start of the Averau ferrata that reaches the summit of 'Averau (2649m). The area is full of Refuges, which again today will give you a real taste experience! At the end of the hike you will reach the lift to descend a few hairpin bends from Passo Falzarego, where you will take a private transfer to your hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel in Cortina

After breakfast, you will take the cable car to Passo Padon, where a beautiful panorama opens up toward Passo Fedaia and the Marmolada. From here, a short 30-minute walk brings you to the start of today’s via ferrata: “Via ferrata of the trenches”! 

The Via Ferrata is particularly fascinating for those interested in both fun climbing and history. It is equipped with fixed steel cables, ladders, and other climbing aids, allowing you to ascend the ridge while enjoying a combination of physical challenge and historical exploration. As you make your way up, you will pass through tunnels with the headlamps and trenches, some of which have been preserved to give a sense of the harsh conditions the soldiers faced. The entire fun via ferrata takes place on either side of the ridge line, offering an incredible view of the Marmolada Glacier and the Sella massif.

Accommodation: Hotel in Cortina

After breakfast, you will take a private transfer to Passo Falzarego and set off to climb the Via Ferrata degli Alpini – Col dei Bos. This beautiful, medium-difficulty route ascends the elegant pyramid of Col dei Bos, offering around 500 meters of elevation gain and a wonderfully varied climb. The approach begins near the “Da Strobel” hut, just below the pass, from where an easy path leads to the start of the ferrata.

Along the way, you’ll enjoy airy sections on solid Dolomite rock, sweeping views over the Lagazuoi and Tofane massifs, and several historical remnants from World War I scattered across the terrain. The area was once a front line, and you’ll still find old military posts and fortifications that add a powerful sense of history to the experience!

After lunch at the hut you will take a private transfer to your hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel in Cortina

Breakfast and departure on your own. Private transfert is possible on request.