In this email, we answer some of the most frequent questions we receive regarding food, water, and huts (and money!) on the Alta Via 1. We know that no FAQ is exhaustive, so if you have any other questions just respond to this email.
Best regards,
Pygmy Elephant
MEALS
By default, you are booked in rifugios and accommodation on the trail on half-board basis, which means that breakfast and dinner are provided. We usually book only breakfast in Cortina d'Ampezzo and Belluno, as clients prefer to find dinner at one of the many nice restaurants in these cities.
Important: If you have dietary restrictions or food allergies and have not yet communicated them to us, please do so as soon as possible. We will make sure your accommodations are aware of these restrictions. Additionally, you should check in with the front desk at your accommodation upon your arrival to remind them of these restrictions.
Rifugio dinners are typically a three-course affair, including pasta, a main dish (meat, cheese, or vegetarian), and dessert. As this region has both Italian and Austrian influences, you are as likely to see tagliatelle and ravioli as you are Schnitzel and Knödel. Though rifugio meals the world over tend more towards the rustic - simple, bountiful, and tasty - clients often remark on the high quality of meals on the Alta Via 1. And, vegetarian options are usually a bit more impressive here than on other Alpine treks, like the Tour du Mont Blanc.
Dinner includes water, but of course rifugios offer a nice selection of beverages for purchase. Wet your whistle with a fine German beer, or cool off with an Aperol spritz.
Breakfast quality varies from hut to hut: at the the higher end, a buffet of cereal, bread, meat, and cheese; at the lower end, the typical continental offering of bread, butter, and jam. You may well see Apfelstrudel offered for breakfast - we see take the opportunity and indulge. You'll burn the calories off on the trail.
Your accommodation will offer packed lunch for purchase, but if you plan your hike right, you can stop at a rifugio or hotel around midday and have a sit-down lunch. This won't be an option for every stage, so please plan ahead. We or your accommodation host can help you with this planning.
WATER
Water is unfortunately not as plentiful on the Alta Via 1 as on the other journeys we offer. This is because of a lack of glaciers and permanent snow fields, and the limestone rock of the Dolomites that transports water swiftly underground.
Many, if not most, accommodations offer potable water for free. We recommend you fill up with 3 liters before you start your day's hike. Some, however, must conserve the little water they have, and instead sell overpriced bottled water for drinking. Thankfully, you may never have to buy bottled water.
There are streams along the trail where you could potentially collect water, but you must always ensure that they are not below pastureland or human settlement. If you choose to collect water, we recommend you filter and treat it before drinking.
RIFUGIOS
Each rifugio has its own distinct feel and rules, but there are two hard rules that apply for almost all of them:
Bring slippers to wear in the rifugio.
If staying in a dormitory, bring a bed liner.
Almost all rifugios have shower facilities. Most are free, but for some you will have to pay a fee, so be sure to bring some cash. The water might not be optimally hot, and your shower time might be limited, but it's better than nothing. A few rifugios, like Rifugio Biella, have no shower facilities at all.
Remove your dirty boots before entering a rifugio and put on those slippers we mentioned above. You thereby help to keep the rifugio clean for your fellow hikers and for the host.
For many hosts, these rifugios are like their home. They often spend entire summers here, sleeping multiple nights, cooking hundreds of meals, and cleaning up after hikers. Be courteous when asking for a service from hosts; they may not appreciate demands for service.
MONEY
Italy uses the euro (€) as its currency. If you need to, check the current currency conversion before starting your trip; we often use XE.com. All prices below are approximations based on our experience and made in good faith. Actual prices may vary.
Depending on how shrewd a spender you are, you should budget approximately €25 to €50 per day for lunch, snacks, drinks, and potential shower and transport costs. A packed lunch from a rifugio usually costs around €12, but a sit-down lunch can be up to €20 or €30 per person, if you have any additional drinks. Public transport is sparse on the trail, which automatically limits transport costs, but a one-way ticket for a cable car is usually around €20.
Credit cards are widely accepted along the trail, even at far-flung rifugios. Generally, Visa and Mastercard are accepted; American Express carriers may not be able to use their cards. We nevertheless recommend you carry about €100 or more per person for the trek. There are no ATMs available on the trail, so tend towards more cash if you have any concerns regarding card payment. Whatever you don’t spend on the trail can surely be used afterwards for other expenses.
For inquiries regarding your specific itinerary, please contact your group leader or key travel builder. If you have any questions about the content of this email, feel free to reply here.
Pygmy Elephant, 306 S Washington, Royal Oak, MI 48067
