Don’t Miss Out: How to Nail Your Dolomites Trek Planning for Summer 2026

Okay, real talk — a few years ago, I waited too long to plan a Dolomites hiking vacation and almost missed out on the rifugios I wanted. Lesson learned!

So if you’re thinking about hiking one of those jaw-dropping mountain trails in Italy for summer 2026, now’s definitely the time to start planning. These trips get booked way earlier than you’d expect.

But if you’re more into coastal walks and salty sea air, no rush — you’ve got some extra time to get your plans together.

Could This Be Your Next Unforgettable Alpine Adventure?

The Alta Via 1 is certainly the bucketlist hike, but there are SO.MANY.OTHERS like the Rosengarten or the Dolomites Traverse that can be just as scenic and less difficult to book.

Classic Dolomites Trek : Alta Via 1 Hike in 10 days

There is not one website to use for the AV1 like the TMB for booking huts, and there are not as many villages to book hotel rooms.

You’ve pretty much got to get into rifugios for most of this trek and contact them one by one.

I made a blog post and video series about how I SELF planned a hut to hut hike in the Dolomites here if you want to watch the process for a DIY.

Some people like to make their own routes, and with apps like Komoot it’s not that hard really.

Here’s my video on Crave the Planet youtube on the best websites for planning.

Booking the Alta Via 1 Hike the Easy Way

If you’re prepping for this trek but don’t want to self-book you can get some help from these great tour operators.

• Book a self-guided Alta Via I - ⚡️ A solid small business with excellent customer service.

• Book a small group guided AV1 - ⚡️ Most dates are already waitlisted, so jump in now if you want to hike it.

What I’d Bring Again on the AV1

• Quality Backpack with hip support - ⚡️ Your spine will thank you for having the proper backpack, and not too big!

• 20,000 Power Bank - ⚡️ We found places to plug in phones to be limited at many rifugios, so having a large power bank was essential.

Quick story: When I first planned my Dolomites hike, I wish I’d known a few insider tips beforehand — it would’ve saved me a lot of headaches!

If you’re dreaming about trekking the stunning Dolomites in summer 2026, now’s the perfect time to start planning. These trails are insanely popular and spots fill up fast.

I put together a video packed with my top tips to help you make the most of your Dolomites adventure — trust me, you don’t want to miss it!

Update here on the home front: The final touches are almost done for a dog-friendly high Alps hut-to-hut trek in Italy for next summer and I even found a guide to tag along and teach us about the flowers, animals, and history of the area.

It’s a bit backward since I route planned and booked everything, but I’m curious to go a little deeper with a local’s knowledge during the trek.