This route in the Dolomites is for those who have already completed the Level 1 program or have via ferrata experience. You need to know how to use via ferrata gear, have mountain hiking experience and feel confident moving at height.
Over seven days you will climb rock routes equipped with steel cables, rungs and ladders. Expect long ascents, vertical sections, ridges and traverses above sheer drops. Be ready for sustained physical effort and for moving along exposed sections with height differences of hundreds of metres.
Climb routes we include only in Level 2 programs: rocky ridges, vertical ascents and exposed traverses.
Designed by Kuluar team leaders after several seasons on these routes. Exactly what experienced participants need!
We sleep in tents at a campsite with mountain views. We head out to the routes with small backpacks, taking only what we need for the day. The rest of your personal belongings stay at camp – there is no need to carry them from route to route.
From 1 to 5 participants per team leader, so we can take care of safety, give everyone attention and back you up.
We don't cancel or reschedule groups. Once your consultant gives the go-ahead to buy tickets, you can buy them with confidence. The program will not be cancelled through our fault.
Travel with the best Kuluar team leaders, who will share outdoor life hacks and great stories.
GROUP MEETS IN CORTINA D’AMPEZZO
We meet at a campsite next to one of the best-known towns in the Dolomites – Cortina d’Ampezzo. We get to know each other, check our gear and go over the plan for the coming days. In a practical session we practise moving and belaying on a via ferrata.
Five full days on the ferratas lie ahead, so today we tune in to the adventure. In the evening – dinner together and preparation for the first day in the mountains.
VIA FERRATAS Ra Bujela AND Ra Pegna
We start the program with a dynamic ferrata near Cortina. Combining the Ra Bujela and Ra Pegna via ferratas is how we get into the rhythm of the week ahead.
Rock, cables, short vertical sections and the first exposed traverses – everything you need to move gradually from ordinary trekking to ferrata climbing. The route doesn't take the whole day, so we'll have time to practise technique calmly, check gear and get ready for the days ahead. Best of all, from day one we get our first panoramas of Cortina and the surrounding peaks.
Via ferrata grades: Ra Bujela (B–C) + Ra Pegna (A–B).
Distance: 8–10 km. Elevation gain: 550–850 m. Highest point: 2,260 m.
VIA FERRATA Strobel ON Punta Fiames
After the first warm-up it's time to add some vertical. We head for Punta Fiames – a huge rock summit rising directly above Cortina – via the Via Ferrata Strobel. The route follows steep walls and rock ribs where you constantly work with both hands and feet.
Narrow ledges alternate with vertical sections, and behind you an ever wider panorama of the valley opens up. The scale changes with height: Cortina grows smaller and the surrounding peaks come closer. The final point is Punta Fiames, about 2,240 m. From here Cortina lies literally at your feet.
Via ferrata grade: Ferrata Strobel to Punta Fiames (C).
Distance: 9 km. Elevation gain: 1,000 m. Highest point: 2,240 m.
ROCK AND THE HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR: Col dei Bos
Today we head to Col dei Bos – one of the landmark routes near Passo Falzarego. This area is steeped in the history of the First World War. On the way up we pass old military fortifications, trenches, tunnels and the remains of defensive positions.
The route then reaches the open face of Col dei Bos and gradually gains height. The panorama is one of the main reasons to do this route: Tofana di Rozes, Lagazuoi, Cinque Torri and Passo Falzarego appear from different angles throughout the day. After the ferrata we hike up to the summit of Lagazuoi and descend through a tunnel more than a kilometre long.
Via ferrata grade: Col dei Bos (C).
Distance: 8 km. Elevation gain: 750 m. Highest point: 2,700 m.
TAKING ON THE CHALLENGE: the technical Sci Club 18 via ferrata
After several days of practice we move on to a route that demands much more confidence. Sci Club 18 runs across the Crepe Rosse massif above Cortina and is considered one of the most spectacular and technical ferratas of the program. Expect steep vertical sections, exposed traverses, ladders, narrow ledges and long stretches of rock.
The route keeps changing character: vertical climbing turns into traverses, open ribs into technical rock sections. And almost all the time Cortina d’Ampezzo lies before your eyes. After several days in the mountains we will already have a good feel for our own rhythm, technique and the height. That is why this route is an important step before the program's main summit.
Via ferrata grade: Sci Club 18 (D).
Distance: 3 km. Elevation gain: 560 m. Highest point: 2,100 m.
THE CLIMAX: Via Ferrata Giovanni Lipella to Tofana di Rozes (3,225 m)
We head to the Tofana di Rozes massif – one of the best-known peaks around Cortina. Ahead of us is the legendary Via Ferrata Lipella, which combines history, long rock traverses and a climb to over 3,200 metres. The route starts with a famous military gallery cut into the rock during the First World War. Dark tunnels lead into the mountain and then suddenly give way to open rock and the vast space of the Dolomites.
Next comes a long traverse of the south face of Tofana di Rozes. The steel cable leads ever higher. The rock gets steeper, the horizon wider and the valley below smaller and smaller. This is the day worth doing the whole program for: after several days of gradually increasing difficulty we get the biggest vertical, the greatest height and one of the most impressive panoramas of the entire trip.
The final part of the route takes us to a pass with views of the surrounding peaks. In good weather and if the group is ready, we continue the ascent to the summit of Tofana di Rozes – 3,225 m.
Via ferrata grade: Lipella to Tofana di Rozes, 3,225 m (C).
Distance: 12–14 km. Elevation gain: 1,200–1,600 m. Highest point: 3,225 m.
DEPARTURE DAY
Our ferrata week comes to an end. We pack our gear, say goodbye to Cortina and head home. Behind us – five days on the rock, dozens of vertical sections, Dolomite summits and hundreds of photos.
It is designed for participants with mountain hiking experience who feel confident at height. Via ferrata or rock climbing experience is a big advantage; if you have never done a ferrata, start with the “Via Ferrata in the Dolomites, Level 1” program.
Via ferrata routes require special equipment that has maximum weight and size limits. Participants weighing no more than 110 kg and with a waist of up to 115 cm can take part.
Depending on the weather, the group's condition and overall wishes, the team leader may make changes to the route.
If the weather does not allow us to go to the summits, a training session is held that day.
To take part in the trip, you must not have any of the conditions on this list.
This is an advanced-level program with long vertical sections, exposed traverses and technical rock sections.
If you have good mountain hiking experience and feel confident at height but have never tried via ferrata as such, talk to a consultant. For most people, though, this level is the second step that consolidates their skills.
The program has five active days in the mountains. Expect long ascents and descents, vertical sections, rocky terrain and significant elevation gain: on some days it reaches 1,200–1,600 metres, and the highest point of the program is the summit of Tofana di Rozes, 3,225 m.
Regular hiking, running, cycling or other physical activity will give you a good base. Most importantly, be ready to spend most of the day in the mountains and to handle long ascents comfortably. The load and technical difficulty don't start at the maximum: first we adapt to the format, then gradually move on to harder routes.
Exposure is an integral part of via ferrata. On some sections there really may be hundreds of metres of vertical wall below you, so you can't avoid the feeling of height completely. Expect exposed traverses, narrow rock ledges, vertical walls and ladders. That is why this program is only suitable for people who feel confident in the mountains and are not afraid of heights.
At the same time, all key sections are equipped for protection: each participant moves in a harness with a special set of carabiners clipped to the steel cable.
There's no need to buy a full set especially for this trip. The ferratas require a helmet, a harness and a special via ferrata lanyard set with carabiners – they can be rented on site for an extra fee.
Before the route the team leader will help you put everything on correctly, check your gear and explain how it works. You need suitable footwear for mountain routes and personal clothing for different weather; the full list is in the “Gear” section.
Weather in the Dolomites can change very quickly, especially at height. That's why safety always comes before completing the route as planned. Wet rock, thunderstorms, strong wind, fog or other adverse conditions can make some ferratas dangerous. In that case the team leader assesses the conditions and may change the route, shorten the program or postpone a climb.
But that doesn't mean a wasted day: the Dolomites offer a huge number of alternatives – easier via ferratas or scenic hikes.
As always, we recommend buying tickets in advance. But buy them only after we have confirmed your place on the trip.
You're probably wondering what we'll eat on the trip. Let us say right away: there's nothing to worry about.
If there are foods you don't eat, be sure to tell your consultant so the team leader can adjust the menu a little for you. We also recommend bringing some pocket snacks – gels, nuts or sweets.
Team leaders usually have their signature dishes that they love to treat participants to.
Food for vegetarians – if you don't eat meat, be sure to read this. We explain how we'll feed you and give a 5% discount if you bring your own food.
The campsite is 4 km from the centre of Cortina d’Ampezzo.
During the trip we sleep in tents. The campsite has hot showers, toilets, washing machines and a small kitchen area (where we wash the dishes). There are also sockets to charge your devices.
If your team leader met or even exceeded your expectations, we recommend thanking them with a tip of 20–50 euros per participant. You can also leave a tip online on your team leader's page.
You can also tip your consultant (online, on their page) if they did something amazing for you.
Tips are not mandatory, but the team usually gives it their all and will appreciate your gratitude.
If you didn't like the work of your team leader or consultant, of course there's no need to tip – please email us or write directly to the head of the company with your comments. We will look into it and improve our service.
Insurance covering extreme sports in Italy at altitudes up to 3,500 m is mandatory for this program. Please send the policy to your consultant a few days before the program starts. You will find our insurance recommendations here: "Insurance for Kuluar trip participants"
Minimum group size for this program: 3 participants
Mandatory expenses not included in the price come to about 135 euros in total: around 50 euros for buses to the routes, 60 euros for Venice – Cortina d’Ampezzo – Venice tickets, and from 25 euros for the cable car. On top of the mandatory expenses, we recommend bringing about 100 euros extra for food or drinks at the cafés you will come across in the mountains, and for souvenirs.
If the deposit is too much for you right now but you'd like to book a place, write to your consultant and they will split it into comfortable instalments.
👉 See: payment methods and refund terms in case of cancellation or leaving the route
Friends! Please don't bring 500-euro notes. They constantly cause problems when paying partners in Europe. Thank you for understanding!
*Please note: your consultant will help you choose and find flights and recommend an insurer, but buying them is not part of their job. Participants do this themselves or contact our partners; all contacts are in the article: tickets, hotels and insurance
