New Trip! – The Via delle Bocchette in the Brenta Dolomites is one of the best multi day Via Ferrata holidays in the World. It is a journey through history, and some of the most striking landscapes the Alps have to offer. Created in the 1930s, this multiday route was developed to allow climbers safe access across the dramatic towers and pinnacles of the Brenta. These days, it offers a highly rewarding holiday, linking together a series of comfortable and uniquely positioned mountain refuges.

Trip Info

This trip is guided by IFMGA guide Cain Olsen – originally from the UK, now living in Italy, with an intimate knowledge of the Brenta.

Rich in ancient culture and tradition, the mountains and valleys of the Dolomiti (Dolomites) are largely protected as regional parks and are crisscrossed by a vast network of well-marked trails and via ferrata. To the explorers of the 19th century, influenced by a romantic and heroic vision, these mountains were especially atmospheric. The bizarre vertical shapes, steeples, pinnacles and towers of white rock, standing out among brilliant green forests and grassy slopes dotted here and there with cows and tidy farms captured their imaginations. The landscape of today is no different. The meadows are still gentle and hospitable, flora and fauna are rich and varied, and the mountains are just as impressive.

Via Ferrata routes allow safe passage through these mountains, with modest technical difficulty but impressive exposure and views. This is one of the best of its type in the world.

Suitability

This is an intro/intermediate level trip. To take part you should be at Fitness Level 2-3 and Tech Level 1-2 (see our Fitness/Experience guidelines below). You need some previous Via Ferrata, rock climbing and/or mountaineering experience, are a good hiker and well acclimatised to the mountains, able to walk 800/900 metres up and down hill at altitude and for 5/6 hours per day. We advise you to prepare well in advance with regular exercise and training.

Guiding ratio

One IFMGA guide climbing with 5 clients.

Included in price

• 6 days of guiding
• All guides expenses
• 2 nights accommodation in Ponte di Legno, including breakfast and evening meals
• 5 nights accommodation in mountain huts, including breakfast and evening meal
• Local travel – return transfers between Ponte di Legno to the tour starting point

Excluded from price (see course factsheet for cost estimates)

• Cable cars
• Lunches and drinks
• Travel to resort
• Insurance
• Equipment hire

Valley Accommodation

Our start and end point for this trip is the excellent Chalet Olsen in Ponte di Legno, run by your guide Cain and his wife Alice – its a lovely spot, with great food and hospitality. Rooms are provided on a twin and triple sharing basis, with breakfast and evening meals included. Any extra luggage not required on the tour can be left until the end of the week. Accommodation details can be found on our Accommodation page.

Huts

For overnights in the high mountains we will use mountain huts. For more info please read the Using Alpine Huts article which provides an overview of typical hut facilities, average costs to help you budget for lunches/drinks and general info on hut etiquette.

ABTOT Protected

This trip is protected by ABTOT – Alpine Guides Ltd, Membership Number 5394.  For further information, please visit our Financial Protection page.

Subject to weather and climbing conditions, the plan is as follows. Please note that this is a sample itinerary only – on trips like this, itineraries are always subject to change as the current weather and conditions need to be taken into account. This is an essential part of safety planning for all mountain activities, so please be ready for changes as part of your trip.

Saturday

You should arrange outward travel on Saturday, arriving by 5-6pm latest in time for the briefing at your accommodation. Your guide will run through safety routines and kit checks, as well as hand out any rental equipment, before we go on to discuss plans for the week, together with the current weather and mountain conditions and how these affect our route.

We’ll have maps and guidebooks of the area to show you, so if you’ve any further questions or last minute requests, then this is the ideal time to bring them up before we head on to dinner. PM Overnight in Ponte di Legno.

Sunday

From Ponte di Legno we drive for 1hr to Passo Campo Carlo Magno, near Madonna di Campiglio. From here we take the gondola to Passo Grostè (2500m). After following an easy trail, the Via Ferrata Benini leads us to the cosy Rifugio Tuckett (2272m) where we will spend the night after a great Italian dinner! This is considered a moderate level Via Ferrata. 4,5 hours hiking, 400 metres elevation gain and 820 metres elevation loss.

Monday

After breakfast, we leave the hut a tackle a small glacier with crampons leading up to Bocca di Tuckett. From here, we start the Via Ferrata Bocchette Alte, a spectacular route that winds nearly all the way up to Cima Brenta (3150m), continuing with fantastic views and lots of ladders to Rifugio Alimonta (2580m). This is considered a difficult level Via Ferrata. 6 hours hiking, 1180 metres elevation gain and 830 metres elevation loss.

Tuesday

From the Alimonta hut, once again we will need crampons to reach Bocca delle Armi. From this Col, we start the famous Bocchette Centrali. This Via Ferrata heads into the untamed heart of the Brenta Dolomites beneath majestic spires including Brenta Alta, Campanile Basso, Campanile Alto, Torre di Brenta, and Crozzon. This panoramic itinerary is a celebration of high-altitude cliff faces and runs along easy but exposed ledges all the way Rifugio Pedrotti (2500m). This is considered a moderate level Via Ferrata. 4 hours hiking, 620 metres elevation gain and 750 metres elevation loss.

Wednesday

A panoramic Via Ferrata with exposed sections in the area of Cima Tosa. Inaugurated in 1950, the Brentari Via Ferrata connects Rifugio Pedrotti with Rifugio Agostini (2400m) along a stunning ledge that is narrow and highly exposed in places. It runs beneath Cima Garbari and then descends along a vertical cliff face for about a hundred meters with the help of iron cables, ladders, and rungs. This is considered a moderate level Via Ferrata. 4 hours hiking, 670 metres elevation gain and 600 metres elevation loss.

Thursday

The Castiglioni Via Ferrata was opened in the 1946 by some friends of the great Italian mountaineer Ettore Castiglioni. This Via Ferrata follows the route he first climbed in 1942, but enables you to follow in his footsteps without the difficulty of actual rock climbing. Running beneath Bocchetta dei Due Denti, the trail climbs vertically for 200 meters up the face of Cima Susat, where the views over Val d’Ambiez are stunning. Downhill to Rifugio IIX Apostoli (2500m) for an espresso boost (we are about half way) then uphill again to Bocchetta dei Camosci with stunning views on the West face of Cima Tosa and Crozzon. From here is downhill all the way to Rifugio Brentei (2180m). This is considered a moderate/difficult level Via Ferrata. 7 hours hiking, 700 metres elevation gain and 900 metres elevation loss.

Friday

From Rifugio Brentei we head uphill towards the start of Via Ferrata Sentiero SOSAT. This is a fun itinerary with lots of ladders and great views on the peaks that you are sure to be able to name by now. The Via Ferrata ends at Rifugio Tuckett where we stayed on the first night, very convenient lunch stop for today. From here we have a 2 hour hike on a very scenic trail back to Passo Grostè and the Gondola back to Madonna di Campiglio. This is considered a moderate level Via Ferrata. 6 hours hiking, 900 metres elevation gain, 700 metres elevation loss

PM Return to Ponte di Legno, final overnight.

Saturday

Return travel to the airport  / homeward.

Your course meeting point is the arrivals hall at Bergamo Airport (BGY), before onward travel to Ponte di Legno.

Fly to Bergamo. Ryanair offer direct flights from Stansted (arr Bergamo 13.55), and from Manchester (arriving 13.25).  If you plan to arrive via another route, then please make sure you arrive in plenty of time for the pickup.

We will arrange a private taxi transfer from the airport at 15.00 (TBC – depending on team arrival times) on Saturday 6th Sept 2025 – please do not book flights arriving later than this, to avoid the rest of the team having to wait.  The transfer to Ponte di Legno takes approx. 2 hours.

We will arrange a return transfer the following Saturday 13th Sept 2025, departing Ponte di Legno at 10.00 and  arriving Bergamo airport 12.00 in time for flights departing from 14.20. Ryanair have return flights to Stansted (dep 14.20), and to Manchester (dep 15.00).

If you are not able to meet the pick-up, or want to coordinate alternative transport (eg car hire with other team members), then please let us know and we will put you in touch.

There are also 3 buses a day running between Bergamo Airport and Ponte di Legno – see details on the airport website: https://bergamo.arriva.it/milanoorio-al-serio-ponte-di-legno/

For flights and other travel options, including train, coach and driving, visit our Travel Planning page.

To enjoy this trip you should be comfortable operating at Fitness Level 2, and Tech Level 2 (as appropriate for the style of climbing on this trip ie Alpine, rock climbing or ice climbing).

Fitness Level 2
You do 2-3 hours CV training/sport per week. At this level you should be happy doing either a 3-4 hour hillwalk, cycling 30-40 miles or mountain biking 2-3 hours without being exhausted. Eg: you should be able to walk from Ogwen Cottage in North Wales up Glyder Fach – Glyder Fawr – Y Garn – Ogwen in ~5hrs. Or in the Lake District Langdale – Bowfell – Esk Pike – Angle Tarn – Langdale in ~ 6hrs.

Tech Level 2
Novice climber. Indoor or outdoor sport climbing experience / seconding traditionally protected climbs at V Diff – Severe standard / winter hillwalking or mountaineering using an ice axe and crampons / alpine glacier treks or alpine peaks to F standard.

To view all climbing Technical and Fitness Levels, and for advice on trip preparation and training, please visit our training advice page.

Summer Alpine Kit List

Above all, alpine climbing kit needs to do the job, but be as light as possible. We work with various manufacturers including Arc’teryx, whose products we can thoroughly recommend.

Technical Clothing

• Wicking thermal top – long sleeved and light colour is ideal!
• Softshell Jacket – mid weight, wind resistant, light insulating layer (or a mid weight fleece jacket)
• Spare warm layer – lightweight synthetic/down jacket or other warm layer
• Waterproof jacket – lightweight breathable model
• Mountain trousers – light/mid-weight windproof softshell model
• Overtrousers – with long side zips
• Socks – warm ‘Smartwool’ type, plus thin liner socks and spares
• Gaiters – made from breathable material (or trim fitting trousers with ankle volume adjuster)
• Thin gloves – windproof ‘hardfleece’ model is good
• Warm insulated gloves – wind and waterproof
• Warm hat – must fit under a helmet

Personal Items

• Water Container – at least 1 litre
• Headtorch and batteries
• Map, compass and whistle (optional, but a good idea)
• Personal medications and blister kit – zinc oxide tape, compeed, painkillers etc
• Sun Glasses – CE rated 3 or 4 with side protection
• Goggles – for windy/snowy conditions
• Sun and lip cream – factor 30+
• Sun hat
• Shorts
• Wallet and passport
• Alpine Club/BMC card (if you are a member) and insurance docs

Hut Overnight Items

• Small wash kit
• Spare lightweight t-shirt/socks/pants
• Silk sheet sleeping bag liner
• Ear plugs
• (Hut slippers for indoor use, and blankets/duvets and pillows are provided by the huts)

Technical Equipment

• Rucsac – 35/45l is perfect for general use
• Rucsac – superlight 15/20l model, for taking on long multi-pitch rock routes (for technical courses/private guiding)
• *Rigid mountaineering boots – Axe, Boot and Crampon advice
• Rock climbing shoes – must be comfortable enough to wear for several hours (can be hired in resort if nec)
• Approach shoes or trainers
• Trekking poles
• Harness, locking karabiner and belay device
• 2 prussik loops + karabiner – if in doubt, bring 3m of 6mm climbing cord!
• 120cm sling + locking karabiner
• Climbing helmet
• Crampons with antiball plates
• Ice Axe classic type for intro and general mountaineering courses
• Technical Ice Axe and Hammer – required for parts of the Tech Alpine/Cham Alpinist/Ice and Mixed/North Faces courses

Your guide will have ropes, climbing rack, first aid and survival equipment.

*Boots: These are VERY important to the success of your trip! Its best to have your own boots and break them in well before the start of the trip – see advice below.

Recommendations and Advice
Visit the Knowledge Base section of our website or our blog for equipment advice. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please get in touch!

Purchasing Equipment
Backcountry UK in Otley offer an excellent walking boot fitting service and general equipment advice.

Hiring Equipment
Please see our Equipment Hire page for more details.

For this trip you must have specialist travel insurance providing medical, emergency search/rescue and repatriation cover for climbing and mountaineering activities as outlined in the course itinerary. We also strongly recommend that you purchase cancellation cover, in case you’re unable to attend your trip due to personal circumstances or injury. Please arrange your insurance as soon as your trip is confirmed to run.

Please find further details on our insurance info page.