Grava Pass Traverse
Four days from a dairy farm to the far valley, with one big day over the Grava Pass.
The Grava Pass Traverse is the gentlest way into the Dolomites that still crosses a real pass. The first two days are short and nearly level. Day 1 covers 9.0 km to Malga Pradel, a working dairy farm with rooms. Day 2 adds 9.9 km to Rifugio Lago Scuro on the shore of its lake.
The third day carries the grade. You walk 14.3 km and climb 1,176 m to the Grava Pass at 2,625 m, then come down to Rifugio Grava on its far side. It is the only day over 1,000 m of ascent, and the last morning runs downhill to Val Dores.
It suits walkers who already do long days in the Lake District or Snowdonia and want to try one Alpine pass before a longer route.
Day by day
Meeting point
We meet in the start village at 9am on the first day and finish around 3pm on the last. Fly into the region’s airport, then take the train and bus; the timetable comes with your route notes.
Every route has a bad-weather line. Your guide decides on the morning, and the price stays the same.
If storms are forecast over the Grava Pass, Chiara leaves it out. She walks the group round its foot on a lower valley path to Rifugio Grava, with no exposure.
Day 01
San Vidal to the dairy farm
Malga Pradel still milks its own herd and puts walkers up in its farmhouse rooms. Dinner is polenta with the farm’s own cheese and butter. From San Vidal, farm tracks and meadow paths wander up the valley to reach it and never rise above 1,368 m. With only 158 m of climbing all day, your legs stay fresh for the lake on day 2 and the pass on day 3.
Day 02
Up the valley to the lake
Rifugio Lago Scuro stands on the shore of its lake at the end of a short day, and the afternoon is free. A forest path climbs slowly to 1,481 m, then spends its last hour almost level along the shore. The lake is too cold for more than a quick dip. Dinner is canederli in broth, then trout, and an early night is wise before the pass.
Day 03
Over the Grava Pass
At 14.3 km and 1,176 m of ascent, this is the longest day of the four and the one that climbs most. It leaves the lake shore early and climbs through larch, then open scree, to the Grava Pass at 2,625 m. There is no water above the trees, so carry all of it from Lago Scuro. The scree is loose near the top, so poles help on the last zigzags. Rifugio Grava sits under the pass on the far side, at 2,162 m.
Day 04
Down to Val Dores
Switchbacks lead down into Val Dores in a short morning, with only 6 m of climbing and 666 m of descent in all. Chiara sets a slow pace on the steep bends and stops the group at regular intervals. Lunch is not included: buy it at a hut on the way or ask your hut for a packed lunch the night before. By about 3pm the transfer is driving you back to San Vidal along the valley road.
Departures 2027
Full dates keep a waiting list.
Places as of 1 October 2026
What is included
Guide, half board in huts, all bookings, route notes, return transfer.
- A guide for the whole route
- Every night in huts and guesthouses, with dinner and breakfast (half board)
- Booking of every night
- Printed route notes with the elevation profile
- Last-day transfer back to the start village
Not included
- Travel to the start village
- Lunches on the path and drinks
- A hut sleeping sheet, which you bring
- Insurance with mountain rescue cover, which is required
Your guide
Chiara Pescosta
International Mountain Leader
She carries a hand lens and stops below the Grava Pass to show the group the gentians on the scree.
Groups of 4 to 10, with a second guide from seven walkers.
The five other routes, drawn to one scale
Each line runs as far as its route and as high as its ground, on one scale for all six.
