Italian Dolomites Runcation: Hut-to-Hut Trail Running

Cortina d'Ampezzo, Province of Belluno, Italy

RT
Runcation Travel
  • Email address verified
60 reviews
Jul 15 - 21, 2019
Group size: 5 - 12
Italian Dolomites Runcation: Hut-to-Hut Trail Running
Cortina d'Ampezzo, Province of Belluno, Italy

Runcation Travel
  • Email address verified
60 reviews

Jul 15 - 21, 2019
Group size: 5 - 12

About this trip

Take the high route this summer 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 scenic and comfortable staffed mountain lodges, or rifugios, which offer warm lodges, scenic vistas, and four-course Italian dinners as well as a full bar and beverage list. On this guided trail running tour, our hut-to-hut adventure ensures that we'll be waking up and falling asleep to spectacular mountain sunrises and sunsets by sleeping up high at the foot of these impressive mountains.


This retreat adventure is open to ages 15 and up of any pace. Must be able to complete 8-15 miles/day of hiking/running at altitude, including 2,000-6,000 feet of elevation gain per day. 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! 

What’s included

Roundtrip transportation from Cortina d'Ampezzo

Trip logistics of route planning, lodging, and transportation reservations

A 8:1 ratio of guide to participants
Breakfast and dinners at the mountain lodges, or rifugios

Baggage transport from accommodations

Knowledgable guide and running coach along the entire route

Special bonus adventures including a guided trail run tours and wellness options

Not included

International airfare

Alcoholic beverages and lunch/snacks during the day

Travel Insurance


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. 


Room info at the Rifugios:

Rooms are FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. If you are inclined to participate, book or contact the organizer ASAP as rooms will book up in advance by other vacationers.


Fitness/Pacing:

While there are guides to accommodate every pace of attending runner, this trip requires participants to be able to run/hike for 7-14 miles on trails at a time in mountainous/high altitude climates with an elevation gain of 2,000-6,000 feet per day. Training for this trip is essential in order to be able to complete and enjoy the trip. It is highly recommended that you participate in the 12-week group training program designed specifically for this trip as a package add-on to ensure you're able to tackle the trails and get maximum enjoyment of this running retreat!


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.


Available Packages

Trip Price
$1,799
Deposit:$750

Available options

12-week training program for this hut-to-hut adventure
$195
Highest sauna in the dolomites
$25
Highest jacuzzi in the dolomites
$25

Itinerary

Cortina + Lake Runs
Day 1

July 15: Our trip will start midday on July 15th with a meet-and-greet and orientation meeting to meet the guides and go over the logistics and itinerary of the upcoming week! After meeting in Cortina, we'll get a start on the road to our Dolomite adventure. Our base for the evening will be a nearby mountain town with a stunning alpine lake that sits at the start of our route, the Alta Via 1. We'll enjoy a light shakeout run on the spectacular trails of Parco Naturale Fanes-Senes-Braies and enjoy checking out town.

Your Organizer


RT
Runcation Travel
60 reviews
Runcation Travel creates international running adventures for runners. Instead of having to squeeze in a run on vacation, your run becomes the vehicle to explore and learn different cultures, countries, and landscapes. Our current runcations and trail running trips include hut-to-hut running adventures, retreats, training camps, and guided trail tours of the best trail running in the Italian Dolomites, Chamonix Mont Blanc, Patagonia, Peru, Slovenia, the Balkans, Pyrenees, California's Sierra Nevada, and more. Learn more at Runcation.org

Reviews

The wonderful country of Peru really showed us a great time! The nature, the food and the people was lovely!
By Tommy S for Run to Machu Picchu Peru Runcation Fall 2024 on Oct 04, 2024
This was our second tour with Runcation (the first was the Tour of Mt. Blanc in Chamonix, France) and we loved it! The course and technicality differed from our first tour and we had to adjust our expectations of runnablity and timing but the views did not disappoint! Iban from Camins met with us in Vielha before we started our trek and gave us many great suggestions for our tour and was friendly and approchable. We were able to contact him as needed with questions about weather, etc, which was really nice. Expect steep and technical climbs up and down with stunning views of lakes, dams, rivers and mountains. We had a few days of excellent running but the rest was mostly fast-hiking as the descents were very technical. We stayed in cozy hotels along the way and our bags made it without issue each and every day. Dinner and breakfast was served in the hotels we stayed in and we found the food to be ok, with a few excellent exceptions along the way, breakfast was always plentiful and varied, even for vegetarians like us. We recommend venturing out in Vielha for a drink and a snack as the town is quaint and lovely with many options for drinking and dining. Weather can be quite unpredictable depending on what area of the mountains you're running through so pack warm clothes and rain jackets in your day pack. Stop along the way for coffee or a snack from the mountain refuges, there was always a warm bowl of something to be had, a bathroom and water, nothing restores the soul from a long day of hard running quite like a bowl of warm soup or a piece of cake. Overall we had an amazing time running through the Pyrenees! People were friendly (even when we didn't understand the local dialect) and helpful and we appreciated an opportunity to see this epically beautiful part of the world. Runcation once again put together a great trip for us! Count us in for the next one!
By Devon H for Devon + Jimmy's Self-Guided Pyrenees Val d'Aran Trail Running on Sep 23, 2024
JS
When I returned home to Australia from Europe, my gorgeous Runcation X Fractel Limited Edition Edelweiss Hat was quietly waiting for me. It is such a unique and fabulous reminder of the spectacular time we spent in the Alps. Love it!
By Julie S for Runcation X Fractel Limited Edition Edelweiss Hats Pre-Order on Sep 12, 2024
SH
The Runcation team were super smooth to communicate with, pulling together a plan that suited my solo run/hike plan for TMB in August. The organisation was easy, the program included all the necessary information, and the luggage service was incredible and made the fastpack fully possible. Coming from Australia and never been on these trails - Runcation took away all the ‘unknown’ in making this adventure epic. Gaia maps was very accurate and had no issues throughout the entire trip, and was easy to change trails to fit in all that I wanted to explore/see/do. Runcation team also emailed information re: major weather events, trail challenges to help preparation. Totally recommend this team for any adventure, the TMB was such a great adventure, will be doing more in the future. Thanks 🤩
By Sarns H for Sarnia's Custom Self-Guided TMB Aug 2-6, 2024 on Sep 07, 2024
This was a trip of a lifetime for us. As mountain runners, we couldn't have been in a better place. Our guide was so accommodating, fun, and knowledgable. We were so lucky to have such a wonderful group of runners who all seemed to be at the same level. The hotels were just incredible, the food so delicious, and because I've talked about this trip so much, I'm sure that some of my friends will be signing up. Thank you Runcation!! I'm not sure how we can ever top this trip. Freddi and Brian
By Freddi T for All Levels Cortina Runcation: Best Trail Runs in the Dolomites on Sep 05, 2024
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References

Highest recommendation! So many memories and so many lifetime views! If you've never been on a run vacation, make this company the one you use! They've thought out the best routes, best lodging, and excellent food. Mega!!!
By 534mu5 D on 23 Jun, 2024
My husband and I went on the Hut to Hut run in the Dolomites, July 2022. What a luxury to have all accommodations booked and luggage transport taken care of, for us! The scenery was unimaginable, and you just can't imagine the beauty-you have to be there! We had 8-15 miles runs each day and felt challenged by the ascents and terrain, but not defeated. (We are from Ohio, NO moutains.) The runcation organizer, Liz and guide, Dario took care of all of the logistics and it was amazing to just have to cover ground an eat a bunch of great food! Thanks for a fantastic experience.
By Amanda F on 21 Jul, 2022
The tldr: Do it! This was an amazingly well planned trip (thoughtful planning, clearly),, the runs and views were unforgettable, and I'm already looking at the next one I can go on. The longer version: Runcation in Patagonia was amazing. Every thing was well-planned, the views were unforgettable, the crew was the best you could ask for, we stayed at nice spots with great staff...I could go on and on. Also, as someone who is super type-A, I really appreciate all of the early communication of expectations, what to pack, itineraries, and super quick responses from Liz.
By Marne P on 05 Jan, 2020