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The Dolomites. Photographer: Gabor Kozmon | Unsplash.
A hut-to-hut adventure across the Dolomites
By Tiffany West
Briefly …
From hut to hut across the iron paths of the Dolomites, multi-day via ferrata safaris transform historic routes into immersive alpine crossings shaped by rhythm, progression, and history.
Steel cables hum in the morning cold and majestic limestone walls glow rose-gold at dawn. High above the valleys, a line of iron disappears into rock once crossed by soldiers and now followed by travellers moving hut to hut through one of Europe’s most dramatic mountain ranges. In the heart of the Dolomites, via ferrata (Italian for ‘iron path’), is not simply an activity, it is part of the mountains’ history.
Florian Grossrubatscher, the Founder of Dolomagic Guides and International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA) certified mountain and ski guide, grew up in Selva Val Gardena in the heart of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage site. From his childhood home, the highest village in the Val Gardena valley, Florian spent his life exploring the mountains, “first as a passionate local kid, and later as a certified IFMGA mountain and ski guide. Every Dolomagic trip is designed using real local knowledge: timing, terrain, conditions, weather patterns, hidden gems and the safest, most beautiful routes. For me, guiding isn’t just work, it’s sharing the mountains I grew up in, with honesty, calmness and true local insights.”
Selva Val Gardena in the heart of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage site. Photographer: TT | iStock.
The Dolomites are internationally recognised as the birthplace of via ferrata, protected climbing routes equipped with fixed steel cables, ladders and bridges, originally developed to allow soldiers to move through otherwise inaccessible terrain during World War I. These historic lines are still visible today in tunnels, ledges, and remnants of military infrastructure. Guides share background information on the origins of the routes, the strategic significance of the terrain, and the transformation of former military paths into recreational climbing routes. This cultural dimension adds depth to the physical journey, connecting modern alpine travel with the historical narratives embedded in the landscape.
Via Ferrata Safaris Dolomites. Image courtesy Dolomagic Guides.
Florian is proud of his company’s new ‘Via Ferrata Safaris Dolomites’, a collection of multi-day guided adventures designed for travellers seeking immersive alpine journeys through one of Europe’s most iconic mountain regions. With hundreds of routes spread across imposing limestone massifs, the Dolomites offer the most extensive via ferrata network in the world, and Florian and his team build on this heritage by transforming individual routes into coherent, hut-to-hut mountain journeys. Days are planned to allow time for movement, observation and rest, with overnight stays deeply rooted in Dolomite alpine culture, offering shelter, meals and a sense of community high above the valleys.
“Rather than focusing on isolated day tours,” Florian tells us, “our safaris emphasise progression through the landscape. Our guests move from one mountain group to the next, spending nights in traditional high-alpine huts and experiencing the Dolomites as a continuous alpine environment. Each itinerary is designed to create a sense of journey, rhythm, and immersion, combining physical challenge, technical terrain, and cultural context.”
Daily itineraries are not fixed scripts, but flexible frameworks that allow for real-time decision making. Alternative routes, timing adjustments, or shorter stages can be implemented if conditions require. This professional, adaptive approach is a key difference between guided safaris and self-organised via ferrata trips.
Safety underpins each journey, beginning with a detailed equipment check and briefing and the continuous assessment of weather, terrain, and group dynamics. Small group sizes allow flexibility, enabling adjustments to pacing, route selection and timing as conditions evolve.
Above the valleys on the Via Ferrata Safaris Dolomites. Image courtesy Dolomagic Guides.
The company’s flagship experience – the Rosengarten Via Ferrata Traverse – represents a continuous and committing alpine crossing, linking a sequence of via ferrata routes, high passes and limestone towers from one side of the massif to the other. Unlike itineraries that return repeatedly to the same accommodation, the Rosengarten Traverse is defined by forward movement. Each day reveals new terrain, new perspectives, and a tangible sense of journey. The route follows natural corridors and historic lines, creating a logical progression through the massif rather than a collection of disconnected climbs.
These adventures are not designed as adrenaline circuits but as deeply involving, structured, and considered alpine journeys that are profoundly connected to place.
To learn more about Via Ferrata Safaris Dolomites visit their website here.
Tiffany West is The Solo Traveller’s Editorial and Pictorial Assistant Lead.