Day 1 — Ortisei / Santa Cristina: Col Raiser → Seceda → Rifugio Puez
- 🥾 Today the real Dolomites journey begins: from the Val Gardena valley, it’s convenient to take the Col Raiser cable car from Santa Cristina so you don’t waste energy on a long forest ascent below and can instead start right away among alpine meadows, pastures, and broad panoramic trails. The active part of the day usually takes about 5–6.5 hours without long breaks; the approximate distance is about 11–13 km, total elevation gain around 700–900 m, and the difficulty is moderate / leaning high due to the duration and altitude, but with no technical sections. The trail follows well-known marked paths through the Seceda area and then on to the high-altitude Puez plateau, where the landscape gradually changes from green meadows and gentle slopes to a harsher limestone wilderness. This is a route for an ordinary hiker without special equipment: no helmet, rope protection, via ferrata set, or ice gear is needed, but sturdy trekking boots, water, a rain jacket, and extra time are essential. In July, patches of snow may still remain on some shaded sections after a snowy winter, and in September the days are already shorter, so you should start early; it’s worth checking the last cable car and the ridge weather the day before. An overnight stay at Rifugio Puez makes the day especially atmospheric: in the evening the plateau empties out, and the Dolomite walls around you seem almost unreal.
