Italy

Alta Via 2

The Alta Via 2, often called the "High Route of Legends", is a more challenging alternative to its famous sibling. Running roughly 160 kilometres from Bressanone to Feltre, it crosses wilder and less-travelled terrain, passing through the Puez-Odle Nature Park, the Marmolada glacier region, and the Pale di San Martino plateau. The route typically takes 12 to 16 days and includes several via ferrata sections that require a harness and helmet. Fewer refugios and longer stages make this trail best suited to experienced mountain hikers with some scrambling ability. The reward is a deeper immersion into the geological drama and solitude of the Dolomites, far from the busier trails below.