Trekking the Best of Alta Via 1&2

Wonderful trip to the Dolomites which was carefully curated by the Holimites team! Helped book all the huts/lodges and mapped a route that fit our time constraints and ability. Also organized bus tickets and transfers and recommended a local spa to visit afterwards.

This was by far, the greatest trekking experience I have taken. Everything was well planned and beyond expectations. Our wonderful guide, Susann, made each step of our hiking Alta 1 and 2 a fun filled adventure. The lodgings and food were remarkable. Hiking with a local was essential. Susann was well loved by everyone and we received excellent service because of her. I cannot recommend this company enough.

My friend and I just completed the Best of Via 1 and Via 2, unguided by Holimites, and everything worked very well, all details accounted for. It worked well for us to do a loop and experience different landscape each day, high mountains as well as across valleys and the two different ranges were unique. Holimites was responsive to our needs and was able to accommodate our request for Hotel Gran Anders (yummy and great spa to complete the trip). Would absolutely recommend Holimites and this trip - shorter than either of the others but was enough for us - two age 60's women.

We normally like to make a go of things on our own, but this was one of those trips where we couldn't be happier that we put our faith in Holimites capable hands. They made our trek on the AV1&AV2 quite unforgettable. Everything was well communicated, well planned, and our guides (Susi and Barbara) were basically the highlights of the whole journey. The luggage transfer from hut to hut as well is a real game changer, as it just allows you to enjoy your time that little bit more. All in all, highly recommend Holimites for anyone looking to plan a trip in the Dolomites - enough so that we'll certainly be working with them again when we come back in the future

I don’t often write reviews for goods or services. But in the case of Holimites, it is very easy to make an exception. 

I recently completed a one week guided trek with them in the Dolomites, the best of Alta Via 1 and 2. I’m not normally one that gives high marks to many things. But again, it’s very easy to make this exception. Everything was simply top notch: the rifugios, the interesting and tasty Ladin food of the area, the incredible mountain scenery, our guide Susie, the route, wild flowers, etc. Susie is native to Alta Badia and is quite knowledgeable in local flora and fauna and is happy to share her knowledge as well as her chocolate bars!!

I normally hike in New Hampshire and Maine where the Appalachian Mountain Club maintains a network of huts. I’ve been irrevocably spoiled by the rifugios of Italy. Large outdoor decks with panoramic views of the mountains, well-stocked liquor cabinets, hot showers, great food—what’s not to like? Our August hiking group consisted of just five people. We had a knowledgeable and fun full time guide for the entire trip. 

The most amazing thing was the price. I paid less than $ 1.500 (without air fare) which included a price uplift for high season and a lodging uplift for a single person. I checked a few other trip offerings online. Both the Appalachian Mountain Club and REI offered similar trips for about twice the cost! This is an incredible bargain. I can’t recommend it highly enough. 

Note: Our five and a half day trip covered about 50 miles and gained about 15,500 feet in elevation. Be prepared.

14 American women ranging in age 50-65 years of age trekking the Dolomites? Sounds like a recipe for disaster....it was a life-changing adventure for, dare I say - every single one of us. The logistics were flawless, the guides were two amazing, patient, knowledgeable and empathetic natives of area. Their obvious enthusiasm for this breathtakingly beautiful part of the planet was contagious. We trekked the Best of AV1&2 - the huts were fabulous, the food good, the wine, beer and grappa excellent as well as quite varied. I would recommend that anyone who wants to really see and savor this part of the world be in touch with the top rate folks at Holomites. Do yourself a huge favor and go with the best.

My husband and I did the guided Best of AV1&2 in August with Holimites. It was our first time doing a multi-day trek. Holimites provided lots of information pre-trek and was very patient with all our queries. We requested private rooms where possible and were given those in 4 of the 5 huts. Like other reviewers we also thought the food fantastic and really enjoyed the hospitality in all the huts. I thought the itinerary/route was great, the scenery over the 6 days was varied and contrasting. It's a beautiful part of the world. Our guide Susie was so lovely, knowledgeable and helpful. It was obvious she loved the area (her hometown) very much. Because of my inexperience I did not really comprehend what the daily elevation gain/loss numbers would mean in reality and so day 1 was a slight shock to the system, combined with some altitude effect. I also wish I had brought trekking poles. The temperature was quite cool most days and we only had one day where rain/thunderstorm forced us to change routes. I came across Holimites while researching the AV1 and I'm very happy that I chose them. They are a local company and everyone there we dealt with were warm, friendly and helpful. Others on our trek also commented that they were the most reasonably priced. We loved the Dolomites and the trek and would absolutely recommend Holimites.

I decided to do for the first time this year a trekking route in the Dolomites and I turned to Holimites, which I had selected on the web. I chose the tour "The best of high route No. 1 and No. 2". The organization of the tour was unexceptionable. Both the staff working in the office and the one accompanying the groups turned out to be professional, competent and also very welcoming. I was at the first experience and I was not lacking advice, teachings and encouragement to adequately address the path, which is quite challenging. Good location in shelters and excellent food. Thanks Holimites for making me live an unforgettable experience, Enrica.

Translated from original to German

I just finished a weeks walking holiday in the Dolomites with my wife and three adult daughters. I can not recommend Holimites more highly. From start to finish the experience was just great. The route we walked was stunning. The places we stayed beautiful and our guide Suzy was just so helpful and fun to be with. All five of us loved our week and if you are a keen walker I suggest you walk the Dolomites and if you are going to the Dolomites I would highly recommend you use Holimites to book your adventure. Thank you to all for making the week so wonderful

It's incredibly freeing to wake each morning and know you will be expertly guided through the Dolomites by the Holimites guides! Our group of hikers and runners had a wonderful time experiencing the high mountains. Holimites took care of every detail so we could just show up and hike every day! Suzi our hiking guide was not only a joy to hike with, full of fun and laughter, but she also taught us about the flora and fauna and the history of the area. The refugios were a treat at the end of our hiking days, serving up amazing food and views. I highly recommend the Best of Alta Via 1 and 2 guided by Holimites. I've been home 3 weeks and I want to go back and climb, "Up, up, up!" It is the experience of a lifetime!

This was an amazing opportunity to trek for 6 days with a fabulous guide through the Dolomites. We had a lot of very steep inclines and declines over the rocky mountains, but our guide was so good at keeping us "slow and steady", that we accomplished it with no problems. I recommend getting into good physical shape, especially your leg muscles. I am in my 60's and enjoyed every minute of it. I wore good tennis shoes with good tread. Pack rain gear as we had an afternoon of rain.
So many wild flowers amidst the rocks and in the green meadows. The huts we stayed in at night should be called lodges. They are very nice and the food is amazing at each one! A few nights we shared rooms with others in our group but most nights, my daughter and I had our own together. Our guide was so fun kind and patient with each of us. I totally recommend this company!!!

We just got back from the guided Best of Alta Via 1 & 2 hike and we had the time of our lives, thanks for Holimites! The route was gorgeous and the rifugios were much nicer than we expected. And the food... We were really amazed at the selection and quality of food in the rifugios -- especially at Rifugio Pralongia and Rifugio Gardenacia in particular! Our guide, Susi, was the best -- she brought a cheerful, fun disposition and intimate local knowledge of the mountains, the history, the flora, the people and Ladin culture. We can't recommend Holimites and Susi highly enough!

We were a group of 7 hiking the Best of Alta Via I & 2. It was a fantastic trip. We hiked hut to hut for 6 nights and then added on a day of Via Feratta at the end (which was amazing!). Our guide Susi was knowledgeable, kind and funny and we loved her. A guide can make or break a trip in my opinion and we were so fortunate! The rifugios were great - some more basic than others but all were comfortable and had great food. The mountains are spectacular - views and rocks and flowers and streams at every turn. Holimites did a great job communicating and setting up our adventure. One of our hikers had a medical issue and their staff jumped right in and went above and beyond. I would highly recommend going with this Italian company, rather than traveling to the Dolomites with an American company - so many hidden benefits. Thank you Susie, Nadine and the Holimites team!

Wonderful trip to the Dolomites which was carefully curated by the Holimites team! Helped book all the huts/lodges and mapped a route that fit our time constraints and ability. Also organized bus tickets and transfers and recommended a local spa to visit afterwards.