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DOLOMITES · ALTA BADIA AND PUEZ · DIY ITINERARY

Across Puez to Gardenacia

Hikers with backpacks follow a narrow marked path through pale limestone and green grass on the Gardenaccia plateau

Walking across the Gardenaccia plateau in summer.

Photo: Guillaume Baviere · Italy 2016-07-20 (29104794431) (Commons) · CC BY-SA 2.0. Image resized; uncropped.

Base yourself in La Villa and arrange to leave your main bags at your hotel. Take a morning taxi or seasonal bus to Gardena Pass, then walk via Puez to Gardenacia with your overnight kit. After one night at the hut, walk down to La Villa and back to your hotel to collect your bags. The transfer is at the start; you walk back.

WALK2 days
MOUNTAIN OVERNIGHT1 night
TERRAINRocky passes · steep cable-protected descent
WALKING DISTANCEAbout 15.6 km
Read the full route introduction

High passes, pale limestone and an evening above Alta Badia.

Cross high limestone passes from Gardena Pass to Puez, then turn east across the Gardenacia plateau to a refuge above Alta Badia. Day one is the main mountain journey, with a possible Puez refreshment stop and an evening at Gardenacia. The next morning, descend to La Villa on trail 11 or first follow path 1A out to the Col Plö Alt viewpoint and back. The longer version gives you another morning above the valley without adding a second mountain night.

WALKING DISTANCEAbout 15.6 km over two days; 22.1 km with the Col Plö Alt morning
WALKING DAYS2 walking days
WALKING EFFORTDemanding plateau crossing · rocky passes and a cable-protected descent
SLEEP INDOORSOne Gardenacia refuge night · rooms for 2–4 with shared bathrooms
Terrain, equipment & seasonal safety details

01 / GET YOUR BEARINGS

See where the walk takes you.

Route information & maps (new tab)

Purple dashed line: walking route overview Walking stops Places to stayOpen a marker for location, booking and access details.

Loading map controls. The route and stay links remain available below.

Loading the map. Places along the route are listed below.

© OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL 1.0

About this map and its limits

Start with a taxi or seasonal bus from La Villa to Gardena Pass. Walk via Puez to Gardenacia for the night, then descend to La Villa and walk back to your hotel for your bags. Col Plö Alt is an optional out-and-back before the descent. The map shows the walking route; the outward transfer and final hotel approach are separate.

The purple lines follow paths on OpenStreetMap: about 12.7 km on day one, 2.9 km for the direct descent and 6.5 km for the optional Col Plö Alt walk. Distances are map estimates and exclude the final approaches to accommodation and transport. At Gardena Pass, the line starts at a path junction beside SS243; agree a safe drop-off and a safe way from the road to the trail. At Gardenacia it reaches a path junction near the hut, so ask about the final approach to the entrance. In La Villa it ends on a footway beside Strada Colz. Continue on foot to your hotel to collect your bags; ask the hotel about that final village walk and safe crossings, which are outside the mapped distance. No return transfer is normally needed. The map also stops at the Col Plö Alt viewpoint, without a separate path to the summit. Day one includes steps, a gate, two stream fords and demanding mountain terrain. On day two, allow for village streets where pavement and safe crossings haven’t been checked. Ask locally about snow, weather, gates, ford water levels, cables and signs. Carry a current topographic map and use local advice for navigation; this overview isn’t a navigation track.

02 / MAKE ROOM FOR THE WALK

Your two walking days.

A long mountain crossing on day one, followed by a shorter descent to your La Villa base.

03 / THE PLACES ALONG THE WAY

Choose your overnight stays.

Reserve your Gardenacia night first. The La Villa hotels are optional before or after the walk; agree bag storage directly.

Places on the selected walk
PlaceNext walking sectionStays & trail access
Night 1 · Gardenacia1.8 mi / 2.9 km to La Villa footway finish

Descend trail 11 through its steep gorge and safety-cable passage to La Villa. For the longer option, first follow path 1A to Col Plö Alt and return to the same junction near Gardenacia. Ask the hut about the separate final path to its guest entrance.

Section reference ↗ (new tab)

Rifugio Gardenacia ↗ (new tab)

One refuge night · rooms for 2, 3 or 4 · shared bathrooms

View hut booking and contact details ↗Open in Google Maps ↗
Room, arrival & booking details

Spend your mountain night at Gardenacia after the crossing from Gardena Pass via Puez. The next day, descend path 11 to La Villa. The marker shows the hut building; ask the hut about the final path to its entrance.

Small rooms have two, three or four beds, a washbasin and hot water; showers and toilets are shared on the floors. The rate page advertises 5 June–3 October 2027 and linen is included. Ask for the room arrangement and board you want; sauna and showers are charged separately.

Email info@gardenacia.it or call +39 0471 840128 to request a stay, then get written confirmation. The booking link opens the hut’s terms and contact details; there’s no instant reservation form or confirmed Booking.com listing here. Check your dates, room occupancy, meals, payment and cancellation terms. Wait for the hut to accept your reservation and rate in writing.

Rooms, facilities and booking details ↗ (new tab)
Location and arrival details

View the property location ↗

Details checked 6 Oct 2026
Optional La Villa hotel · before or after7.9 mi / 12.7 km to Rifugio Gardenacia

Follow trail 2 via Jimmy, Cir, Crespëina and Ciampëi to Puez. Retrace the short hut spur, then follow the 2 / 5 / 15 / 11 connection to Gardenacia. Check the signed junctions against a current map. Agree a safe drop-off and route from the road to the trail before setting out.

Section reference ↗ (new tab)

Garni Villa Alba ↗ (new tab)

Practical La Villa base · breakfast B&B

Check dates via Alta Badia ↗Check dates on Booking.com ↗Open in Google Maps ↗
Room, arrival & booking details

Use this La Villa B&B before the walk and arrange bag storage during your Gardenacia night. Take a taxi or confirmed seasonal bus to Gardena Pass on day one, then walk back through La Villa to collect your bags on day two. Ask for the final village route and safe crossings; the hotel approach is outside the mapped hiking distance.

A family-run B&B on Strada Colz below the old village, with buffet breakfast, homemade cakes and jams, Wi-Fi, a garden and parking. Confirm your room, breakfast time and parking arrangements for your dates.

Check dates on Booking.com or through Alta Badia’s online booking page. Confirm one-night and minimum-stay rules. Agree main-bag storage during the hut night, collection after checkout, charges and any parking in writing; these are not automatically included. A listing does not confirm availability for your dates.

Alta Badia property and booking information ↗ (new tab)
Location and arrival details

View the property location ↗

Details checked 6 Oct 2026

Hotel La Majun ↗ (new tab)

Optional La Villa stay · rooms, suites and spa

Check dates with the hotel ↗Check dates on Booking.com ↗Open in Google Maps ↗
Room, arrival & booking details

Take a taxi or confirmed seasonal bus from La Villa to Gardena Pass on day one. After the descent on day two, walk back through the village to the hotel to collect your bags. Ask for the final route and safe crossings; this extra hotel approach is outside the mapped distance.

Central La Villa hotel with rooms and suites, an 800 m² spa, buffet breakfast and afternoon treats advertised on its official site. Confirm the room, board and spa services included in your rate.

Check dates through the hotel’s own booking page or its Booking.com listing. Availability and rates haven’t been checked for your trip. Confirm any one-night or split stay, meals, luggage storage between stays, payment and cancellation terms before booking.

Rooms, facilities and booking details ↗ (new tab)
Location and arrival details

View the property location ↗

Details checked 6 Oct 2026
Back in La VillaFinishing area

Finish beside Strada Colz, then walk back to your La Villa hotel to collect your bags. Confirm the final village route, safe crossings and collection time with the hotel. No return bus or taxi is normally needed.
Hotel filters, room choices & booking guidance

Book one night at Gardenacia, then a La Villa hotel before the walk. Garni Villa Alba is the practical B&B option; Hotel La Majun is the spa splurge. Agree main-bag storage with your chosen hotel, then walk back there to collect your bags on day two. Another hotel night afterwards is optional.

Confirm your mountain room

The mountain overnight and optional valley hotel nights are separate bookings. Reserve the mountain stay, then confirm any split hotel stays, luggage storage and final walking approaches.

Use the map to see the paths and places to stay. Check the notes for final approaches that aren’t shown, and ask each property how to reach its entrance. Carry a current topographic map and follow local advice.

For an enquiry, wait for the property to confirm your room. Arrange meals, arrival and bag storage directly.

More about the walk

Walking times, terrain & day-by-day directions
Stage distances, ascent & place names

Walk about 15.6 km over two days: 12.7 km from Gardena Pass via Puez to Gardenacia, then 2.9 km down to La Villa. Adding the Col Plö Alt viewpoint makes day two about 9.4 km and the trip 22.1 km. These distances are estimated from mapped paths, before the final approaches to hotel doors and transport. The first day’s roughly 700–800 m ascent and 800 m descent are provisional; the full elevation profile hasn’t been confirmed. Day two finishes about 625 m lower. The published viewpoint walk adds about 300 m up and down, but those figures aren’t a complete total for the day. Book Gardenacia first, then your La Villa hotel before the walk and bag storage. A second La Villa hotel night after the walk is optional.

Full plan, optional viewpoint & dates

CHOOSE YOUR WALK

Puez crossing and direct descent · one refuge night

2 walking days · 15.6 km / 9.7 mi

La Villa hotel → morning taxi or confirmed seasonal bus to Gardena Pass → Puez → Gardenacia overnight → trail 11 down to La Villa → walk back to your hotel for your bags. A full first day and a short but steep descent.

The walking plan includes one night at Rifugio Gardenacia. Book your La Villa hotel before the walk separately; another hotel night after you collect your bags is optional.

CHOOSE YOUR WALK

Add Col Plö Alt on day two · one refuge night

2 walking days · 22.1 km / 13.7 mi

Follow the same Puez crossing on day one. On day two, walk path 1A to the Col Plö Alt viewpoint and retrace it to Gardenacia before the La Villa descent. The extra 6.5 km makes a 9.4 km second day. The separate cable-and-ladder ascent from Badia on path 1 is excluded. Then walk back to your La Villa hotel to collect your bags; no return transfer is normally needed.

The walking plan includes one night at Rifugio Gardenacia. Book your La Villa hotel before the walk separately; another hotel night after you collect your bags is optional.

Puez crossing and direct descent · one refuge night

La Villa hotel → morning taxi or confirmed seasonal bus to Gardena Pass → Puez → Gardenacia overnight → trail 11 down to La Villa → walk back to your hotel for your bags. A full first day and a short but steep descent.

This is a starting plan, not a reservation. Confirm every overnight stay, walking stage and required lift or transfer for the same dates. Rest days add time and another night; they do not shorten a walking stage.

Explore places to stayCompare operator trips

THE MOUNTAIN OVERNIGHT

White Rifugio Gardenacia with green shutters and wooden balconies below snow-covered limestone slopes and autumn larches

Rifugio Gardenacia after autumn snow, October 2011.

Photo: 2015 Michael 2015 · Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0. Image resized; uncropped.

These are lodging starting points, not reserved rooms. Access notes and any quoted distances come from the linked sources. Confirm your dates, room type, actual walking route and luggage collection with each property before booking.

MEALS, SNACKS & DRINKING WATER

Your food and water, in walking order.

The cards follow the walking section selected above.

Listed by a property or official trail sourceTown option near a stage start or finishCarry it when a food stop or refill may be unavailable

Opening days and meal arrangements change. Reserve meals at remote overnight stops, request packed lunches in advance and fill or buy water before each walking section. Check that any planned drinking-water refill will be available.

This is a planning guide, not a promise that a café, shop, meal service or tap will be open. Confirm dietary needs, packed lunches, dinner reservations and water access directly before walking.

LUGGAGE & BASE STORAGE

Carry the mountain kit; store the rest.

Plan the overnight pack and any valley storage separately.

Ask your La Villa hotel to hold your main bags during the mountain night, then collect them when you walk back on day two. Agree storage dates, collection hours, charges and any parking in writing. If you are not staying again, confirm that collection after checkout is allowed; storage is not automatic.

OPTIONAL VALLEY STORAGE

Give the main bag a home.

Ask your La Villa hotel to hold your main bags during the mountain night. Agree dates, charges, collection hours and any parking in writing. Confirm collection after checkout if you are not staying again.

ON THE WALK

Carry what you need overnight.

Carry your clothing, weather protection, water, food, map, headtorch and personal essentials for both walking days. Your main bags stay in La Villa; this plan does not use a luggage transfer to Gardenacia.

Confirm current prices, operating dates, collection times, excluded properties, bag limits, liability and any finish storage directly.

YOUR OVERNIGHT KIT

What to pack for this route

Carry a small overnight pack that still covers a full day on a high plateau and the following descent.

  • Footwear and layers Mountain footwear, waterproofs, a warm layer, sun protection and gloves.
  • Food and water Enough for the crossing, with a fallback if Puez is not serving; extra supplies for the viewpoint option.
  • Navigation and light A current mountain map, offline backup, charged phone and headtorch.
  • For the hut Personal essentials and any sleeping items the hut requests. Linen is advertised as included; check the current terms.
  • A comfortable overnight pack Use one that fits your complete kit and water; test it on a walk before the trip.
  • Optional walking poles Practise folding and securing them when you need free hands. Folding poles are not automatically allowed in cabin baggage; check departure, transit and return-airport rules and your airline.

Choose the day for the conditions. Snow, ice, storms or poor visibility can make this walk unsuitable. Ask the huts or a qualified local guide about current conditions and the equipment you’ll need before setting out.

Gardena Pass to Puez ↗ (new tab)Gardenacia and Puez connection ↗ (new tab)Col Plö Alt from Gardenacia ↗ (new tab)Gardenacia dates and terms ↗ (new tab)

Booking an arranged mountain trip?

Compare the operator's exact overnight property, board plan, packed lunches, transfers and route direction with the independent route plan shown here.

Do not assume the package carries luggage to the mountain stay; confirm what you must carry and whether it includes base-town storage.

Compare operator trips →

Get there—and get back—simply

Use La Villa as your base: leave your main bags at the hotel by agreement, take a morning taxi or confirmed seasonal bus 473 to Gardena Pass, then walk via Puez to Gardenacia for the night. On day two, walk down trail 11 to La Villa and back to the same hotel to collect your bags. No return bus or taxi is normally needed. Another hotel night afterwards is optional.

Open the practical transport guide

Reach Gardena Pass

The official Alta Badia directory lists the Alta Badia Taxi Consortium, +39 0471 180000. Ask for pickup from your La Villa hotel and a written price for your date, group and bags. Agree a safe drop-off and route to the trail: the map marker shows a path junction beside SS243, not a confirmed taxi stopping place. Ask the driver about journey time as well as the fare.

Check the seasonal bus

Seasonal bus 473 is an option for the morning journey to Gardena Pass. A published summer-2026 example runs from La Villa, Casa della cultura at 08:23 to Gardena Pass at 09:03, about 40 minutes. Check the timetable for your exact year, date and stop; 2027 service has not been confirmed. Check safe access from the stop to the trail before setting out.

Finish in La Villa

The mapped walk finishes on the footway beside Strada Colz. Continue on foot to your La Villa hotel to collect your bags; no return bus or taxi is normally needed. Ask the hotel for the final village route, safe road crossings and collection time. This extra walk to the hotel door is outside the mapped distance. Stay another night only if you want to.

Official Alta Badia taxi directory ↗ (new tab)Alta Badia Taxi Consortium contact ↗ (new tab)Published 2026 bus 473 timetable ↗ (new tab)

Confirm Gardenacia first, then your La Villa stay, written bag-storage agreement and transport to Gardena Pass. Get a taxi quote and journey time or confirm the seasonal bus for your dates. Carry everything you need for the mountain night.

SPECIAL STAYS & EXTRA DAYS

A little more time, or a more comfortable night.

These are optional additions to the walking plan. A room upgrade replaces that night’s room; an extra night or excursion needs its own booking and transport. Nothing below changes your selected stages automatically.

OPTIONAL VALLEY SPLURGE

Hotel La Majun

Central La Villa hotel with rooms and suites, an 800 m² spa, buffet breakfast and afternoon treats advertised on its official site. Confirm the room, board and spa services included in your rate.

How it fits: Take a taxi or confirmed seasonal bus from La Villa to Gardena Pass on day one. After the descent on day two, walk back through the village to the hotel to collect your bags. Ask for the final route and safe crossings; this extra hotel approach is outside the mapped distance.

Nights: Add one valley hotel night before or after the two-day walk if it suits your travel plans. If you already planned a valley night, choosing this hotel replaces that room rather than adding another night. A full recovery day needs another separately booked night.

Costs to add: Request a dated total for your exact room, meals and spa access. Prices, treatment bookings, day passes and availability are not confirmed.

Check dates through the hotel’s own booking page or its Booking.com listing. Availability and rates haven’t been checked for your trip. Confirm any one-night or split stay, meals, luggage storage between stays, payment and cancellation terms before booking.

Hotel and facilities ↗Check dates with the hotel ↗Open in Google Maps ↗

Adding a rest day in the planner allows another night; it does not choose a property or reserve an activity. Confirm the room, meals, transport and any extra costs, then include them once in the budget below.

PLAN YOUR BUDGET

Add up your trip costs.

Room type, party size, meals, lifts and transport can change the total. Enter whole-party quotes for your selected trip, including taxes. Add a package once, then only the extras it excludes.

Your selected itinerary

The calculator follows the route option, walking days and extra rest days in your plan above.

Check every overnight stay in your selected plan before asking for quotes.

Conversions use the European Central Bank reference rates dated 2 October 2026, independently checked on 4 October 2026. They are approximate, not live card or cash rates. Every entered quote keeps its original currency. ECB reference rates ↗ (new tab)

Your trip inputs

Enter totals for everyone, not per-person or per-night rates. These amounts are added once, never multiplied by the party size or nights. Leave an unknown cost blank; enter 0 only if included or not needed.

Include taxes and every night you actually plan to book. Enter a package once; do not add its included meals, lifts, bags or transfers again.

Include meals on rest, arrival and departure days where needed. Do not count a half-board dinner or breakfast twice.

Count only the lift journeys your selected itinerary requires and any optional shortcuts you choose.

Include buses, taxis and trailhead transfers for your exact start, finish and rest-day arrangements.

Add any guiding, permits or access fees required for your agreed route.

Use a quote for the actual collection, storage and delivery plan; mountain-stay luggage access is not assumed.

Include extra activities and any remaining charges. Extra-night lodging belongs in the lodging total above.

ARRANGING YOUR WALK

Your walk. Your way of travelling.

You can change this as you plan.

05 / ROUTE TRIPS & NEARBY ALTERNATIVES

Arrange your mountain night directly.

Book one night at Rifugio Gardenacia first, then arrange any La Villa hotel nights, luggage storage and transfer to the start. Confirm your dates, room, meals and cancellation terms. We haven’t found a guided or self-guided package that matches this exact two-day walk.

Book the stays directly, or ask a local guide.

We haven’t found an operator package that matches this two-day walk. Use the links here to arrange your stays and transport, or ask a qualified local guide to help with the route.

Read the route information ↗

CHECK THE DETAILS

Full route sources

Route research, overnight-stay information, booking references and detailed maps. Check the exact route, direction and your travel dates against each source.

Open all route and booking sources (13)

ROUTE & CONDITIONS

Gardena Pass to Puez

Read the official description of the Gardena Pass–Puez crossing, then check the direction, mountain conditions and Puez’s daytime service for your dates.

Read official information ↗ (new tab)

ROUTE & CONDITIONS

Gardenacia and Puez connection

Check the paths between Gardenacia and Puez against a current map. The official outing may run in a different direction or continue beyond the section used here.

Read official information ↗ (new tab)

ROUTE & CONDITIONS

Col Plö Alt from Gardenacia

Read about the Col Plö Alt walk from Gardenacia. This itinerary uses path 1A out and back; ask the hut about current conditions before adding it to day two.

Read official information ↗ (new tab)

STAYS & BOOKING

Gardenacia rooms

See the hut’s rooms for two, three or four people, with washbasins and shared showers and toilets. Ask which room arrangement is available for your stay.

Read official information ↗ (new tab)

STAYS & BOOKING

Gardenacia dates and terms

The hut advertises 5 June–3 October 2027, with linen included and separate charges for showers and sauna. Confirm your dates, meals and current booking terms directly.

Read official information ↗ (new tab)

TRANSPORT

Seasonal bus 473

This is the published summer-2026 timetable. Check your exact year, date and stops before relying on bus 473; 2027 service hasn’t been confirmed.

Read official information ↗ (new tab)

STAYS & BOOKING

Rifugio Gardenacia · rooms and access

Spend your mountain night at Gardenacia, which can also be reached from La Villa on path 11. The marker shows the hut building; ask the hut about the final path to its entrance.

Read official information ↗ (new tab)

STAYS & BOOKING

Rifugio Gardenacia · direct booking information

Email info@gardenacia.it or call +39 0471 840128 to request a stay, then get written confirmation. The booking link opens the hut’s terms and contact details; there’s no instant reservation form or confirmed Booking.com listing here. Check your dates, room occupancy, meals, payment and cancellation terms. Wait for the hut to accept your reservation and rate in writing.

View hut booking and contact details ↗ (new tab)

STAYS & BOOKING

Garni Villa Alba · rooms and arrival

Use this La Villa B&B before the walk and arrange bag storage during your Gardenacia night. Take a taxi or confirmed seasonal bus to Gardena Pass on day one, then walk back through La Villa to collect your bags on day two. Ask for the final village route and safe crossings; the hotel approach is outside the mapped hiking distance.

View the Alta Badia property page ↗ (new tab)

STAYS & BOOKING

Garni Villa Alba · online booking via Alta Badia

Check dates on Booking.com or through Alta Badia’s online booking page. Confirm one-night and minimum-stay rules. Agree main-bag storage during the hut night, collection after checkout, charges and any parking in writing; these are not automatically included. A listing does not confirm availability for your dates.

Check dates via Alta Badia ↗ (new tab)

STAYS & BOOKING

Hotel La Majun · rooms and access

Allow a separate walk through La Villa from the trail finish to the hotel. That final approach isn’t included in the map or distance, so ask the hotel for directions. Arrange transport to Gardena Pass for day one.

Read official information ↗ (new tab)

STAYS & BOOKING

Hotel La Majun · direct booking information

Check dates through the hotel’s own booking page or its Booking.com listing. Availability and rates haven’t been checked for your trip. Confirm any one-night or split stay, meals, luggage storage between stays, payment and cancellation terms before booking.

Check dates with the hotel ↗ (new tab)

MAP DATA

OpenStreetMap attribution and licence

The walking lines follow OpenStreetMap paths. Check current access, trail conditions, road crossings and accommodation entrances locally before relying on them.

Read the map-data licence ↗ (new tab)

This two-day itinerary brings together established paths. Some official descriptions follow them in the opposite direction or as part of a longer walk, so check each against your plan. Distances are estimates from mapped paths, and a reliable full elevation profile isn’t available. Confirm the safe roadside approach, hut entrance, trail conditions and final walk to your hotel separately.

BEFORE THE BOOKINGS

Make the plan work
on the ground.

Reserve Gardenacia’s one-night stay and board, check the staffed season and current mountain conditions, then arrange your outward transfer. Confirm the safe Gardena Pass stopping point and path access. Allow a full first day, carry a food-and-water fallback for Puez, and choose the Col Plö Alt extension only with enough time, suitable weather and energy for the descent.

Confirm an indoor bed for every night, the distance to each stay, and how you will reach and leave the route.

Official descriptions of the paths used on this walk ↗

Information checked 6 October 2026. Dates, access and services may change.

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