Booking

When to book Dolomites huts — month-by-month booking calendar

When Dolomites rifugi open their booking calendar and how fast each month sells out. A practical month-by-month timeline for hut-to-hut planning.

Updated: 2026-06-01 5 min read

There are two seasons that matter: when you walk, and when you book. They are six months apart. This guide is the booking calendar — for the walking calendar, see best-time-to-hike-dolomites.

Booking calendar, by hiking month

Rules of thumb for the 2026 season. Famous rifugi (AV1, Tre Cime, Sella) fill first; back-country huts on AV4–AV6 stay open for longer.

Hike in late June: book by early April. Snow risk on high passes — check with the hut first.
Hike in July: book by mid-March. The Alta Via 1 huts and Locatelli go in 2 weeks.
Hike in August: book by 15 March, the day calendars open. August weekends are gone within 72 hours.
Hike in early September: book by mid-May. Easier than summer but the famous huts still need a month.
Hike in late September: book 4 weeks ahead. Many huts close around 20–25 September; confirm closing date before locking the date.

Why the calendars open in March

Rifugi take bookings in season and over the winter on a paper logbook, then transfer to email when the warden comes off the mountain in October. Most of them publish a 'bookings open' date on their website between 1 and 20 March; some take rolling bookings year-round but only confirm in March.

If you write to a hut in January, expect a polite 'please write again in March' reply.

Cancellation windows by month

Most rifugi let you cancel up to 7 days ahead without penalty. Inside 7 days you should still call — wardens are reasonable about genuine weather cancellations, and Dolomites weather in late summer kills 10–15% of bookings.

FAQ

When do Dolomites rifugi take bookings for next summer?

From 1 to 20 March each year. Most huts publish a 'bookings open' date on their website. A few small private huts take bookings rolling year-round.

Is it too late to book for July if it's already May?

Famous huts on Alta Via 1, the Sella loop and around Tre Cime are usually fully booked by May for July. Less popular routes (AV4, AV5, AV6, eastern Dolomites) often still have space.

Can I book Dolomites huts online?

Some private rifugi yes (their own website, no booking platform). Most CAI huts still take bookings by email and phone only.