How to Plan and Book Rifugios for Hiking the Alta Via 4
The Alta Via 4 is one of the most breathtaking hut-to-hut treks in the Italian Dolomites. Known for its dramatic limestone peaks, challenging via ferrata sections, and stunning alpine rifugios, the AV4 is not just a hike…it’s an incredible Italian adventure. But before you lace up your boots, you’ll need to do some serious planning, especially when it comes to booking your rifugios.
How to Plan the Alta Via 4
In this post, I’ll walk you through how to plan and book accommodations, what “half board” means, and share our full 7-day itinerary. If you want even more details, check out my latest YouTube video where I break down every step of our journey.
Key Stats: Alta Via 4 at a Glance
Distance: ~85 km (53 miles)
Elevation Gain: ~5,000 m (16,400 ft)
Duration: 6–7 days on average
Via Ferrata Sections: Multiple, including exposed traverses—proper gear and experience are essential
Difficulty: Moderate to difficult; best suited for experienced hikers comfortable with technical terrain
Alta Via 4 Map!
Getting There
Our journey started in the U.S., flying from Denver International Airport to Frankfurt, Germany, before connecting to our final destination in Innsbruck, Austria. From there, we rented a car and crossed into Italy. We spent a few days warming up on smaller local trails before starting the Alta Via 4. This gave us a chance to acclimate, rest, and enjoy the Dolomites before tackling the longer trek. I am in the process of building a more complete guide to Hiking and Exploring the Italian Dolomites, stay tuned for that which outlines where and what we hiked before heading out on the Alta Via, like seeing the lake below, Lago Di Braies also known as Pragser Wildsee in the Prags Dolomites in South Tyrol, Italy.
Booking Rifugios: Why It’s Tricky
Unlike hotels, rifugios (mountain huts) are each managed individually. That means:
You’ll need to book each rifugio separately.
Reservations are typically made by sending an email request to the address listed on the hut’s website.
Some rifugios respond quickly, while others may take several days.
The challenge? You need to line up your bookings perfectly for each night of the trek. If one hut is fully booked, it can throw off your entire itinerary. That’s why starting early is so important.
Half Board vs. Full Board Options (when available)
When booking, you’ll often see the terms half board or full board:
Half Board (Mezza Pensione): Includes dinner, breakfast, and your overnight stay. This is the most popular option and usually the best value.
Full Board (Pensione Completa): Includes dinner, breakfast, and a packed lunch. Great if you want meals covered, but not always necessary since many huts sell sandwiches or you can carry trail snacks. We often carried snacks, cured meats, cheese, baguettes and snack bars we brought with us from the states.
We opted for half board at most rifugios, which made planning simpler and guaranteed hearty meals after long hiking days. They provide HEFTY portions of food, and often times (even as Americans) we would look around wondering if everyone else had finished their meals… big dinners, so bring your appetite.
Our Alta Via 4 Itinerary
Here’s the route we followed, with each rifugio we booked along the way, we did our hike in early July and the conditions were immaculate:
Day 1 (7/4): Rifugio Locatelli
Day 2 (7/5): Rifugio Fonda Savio
Day 3 (7/6): Rifugio Città di Carpi
Day 4 (7/7): Rifugio Vandelli
Day 5 (7/8): Rifugio San Marco
Day 6 (7/9): Rifugio Antelao
Day 7 (7/10): Back into town → two bus rides → rental car
For booking convenience, I’ve put together a free digital download with direct links to each rifugio we stayed at, plus my favorite maps and blogs that helped us prepare.
👉 Grab my free PDF guide below, makes planning your AV4 easier, links to all rifugios inside, map resources and more:
Be Prepared for Via Ferrata Sections
The Alta Via 4 is not just a long-distance hike—it includes exposed via ferrata (iron path) sections. These are routes with steel cables, ladders, and fixed anchors that require a helmet, harness, and via ferrata lanyard. The via ferrata (or “iron paths”) were first constructed during World War I in the Dolomites, including along ridgelines that the Alta Via 4 now follows, to help soldiers transport supplies and move troops across treacherous cliffs. These wartime routes, equipped with fixed steel cables and ladders, have since been preserved and adapted for recreational use. Today, local alpine clubs such as the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) inspect and maintain the routes, ensuring their safety for hikers tackling trails like the AV4. By following these historic paths, modern trekkers experience not only breathtaking alpine scenery but also a direct connection to the region’s dramatic wartime history.
If you’ve never done a via ferrata before, I recommend gaining experience on shorter routes beforehand. These sections add excitement but also significantly increase the difficulty.
Final Thoughts & Helpful Links
Hiking the Alta Via 4 was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life—but it wasn’t without challenges. Booking rifugios took patience, (so grateful to my wife for having the patience) and the via ferrata sections required focus, grit and preparation. When asked “What’s your favorite place you’ve ever hiked?” and keep in mind I’ve hiked in over a dozen different countries… the Italian Dolomites constantly land in first place, including this journey along the Alta Via 4.
If you’re dreaming about the Dolomites, make sure you plan ahead, book early, and research your gear. For a deeper dive into the trip, check out my YouTube video where I walk through logistics, planning tips, and what to expect each day.
And don’t forget to grab my free AV4 Rifugio Booking Guide to make your planning even easier!
Additional Resources
In a Far Away Land: Alta Via 4 Guide (one of the most helpful blogs we used, including her map, linked above)
