Explore the Dolomites with the Passo Giau to Averau, Nuvolau, and Cinque Torri round tour. This is a straightforward hike with stunning views, well-marked paths, and several mountain huts along the way. Everything you need to know is here.
Elevation numbers & other details
- Route difficulty: simple walk.
- Useful map: Tabacco number 03, Cortina d’Ampezzo e Dolomiti Ampezzane, 1:25000.
- Elevation at the start: 7736 ft (2236 m) Passo Giau.
- Highest point: 8448 ft (2575 m) Rifugio Nuvolau.
- Lowest point: 7159 ft (2182 m) close to Rifugio Cinque Torri.
- Time needed for the round tour: around 6-7 hours.
Access roads and map details
The interactive map below shows all the details of the route. All you need to do is to follow the markers and to zoom in for details. Zoom out to have an overview of the access roads.
The meaning of the markers is as follows: 1) Passo Giau, 2) Rifugio Averau, 3) Rifugio Nuvolau, 4) Rifugio Scoiattoli, 5) Rifugio Cinque Torri.
Assuming that you do the round tour in clockwise direction, here is the breakdown of the route:
You first climb 339 meters of elevation from the pass to rifugio Nuvolau, then descend 393 meters to rifugio Cinque Torri, and then walk up to the Giau Pass and climb 54 meters of elevation difference.
Looks simple, but there are also some ups and downs on the last part of the round tour, so this adds a lot to the formal elevation difference, and it is not easy.
Orientation is never a problem, most of the time you have several huts in site. Only on the last part you are on a rugged and lower terrain and views are limited, very different from the first part, but the route is always easy to follow.
Finding a parking
There is a small hotel at the pass, and two large parking areas belong to it, so this is not for hikers.
But there is plenty of free space along the road on the side towards Cortina d’Ampezzo. The picture below shows the cars on the right where you already have free space, and this continues down the road.
Many people even sleep there in their cars and vans, me included.
The route description
The picture below shows the start of the route, this is the Passo Giau, and from here you can go either left or right around the beautiful peak of Ra Gusela in front of you.
Going left means walking the route in clockwise direction, and this manner is described here. When you are back after making a round tour, you will come from the right side of the Ra Gusela mountain in the picture.
Note that there is a ferrata to the peak Ra Gusela, it approaches the summit from the right side in the picture above. Here is an information table at the pass for some routes and directions:
Continuing in the clockwise manner, you will soon have Averau hut in sight on Forcella Nuvolau as in the picture below. Behind it is the peak of Averau (2648 m; 8688 ft).
Early in the morning this part of the route is in the shade and this you realize from the pictures. The route goes up most of the time and you slowly gain elevation. The Averau hut is at 2415 m (7923 ft) of elevation.
Rifugio Averau contact:
- 5 Torri Dolomites Cortina d’Ampezzo.
- Località Forcella Nuvolau, 9.
- Colle Santa Lucia (BL) – Italy.
- Email: rifugioaverau@gmail.com.
- Tel: +39 0436 4660.
- Cel: +39 335 6868066.
- https://www.rifugioaverau.it/en/
This is the place where several routes from various sides converge. The table below shows some directions. Note that this all are is on the Dolomites Alta Via 1 route, and many hikers sleep in some of the huts shown here in the post.
From this point you continue walking up in the south east direction to the Nuvolau hut which is at an incredibly attractive position with perfect views everywhere around. The area is broad and easy to navigate, you can walk up as you wish, the hut is visible all the time.
Below you see the Nuvolau hut in early morning, with yet another information table on the left. There is a toilet outside, just to know if Nature calls. This is the best place to take a rest.
Rifugio Nuvolau contact details:
- Monte Nuvolau, 32043 Cortina d’Ampezzo.
- Tel 0436 867938.
- info@rifugionuvolau.it.
- https://rifugionuvolau.it/
Below you have the view towards Rifugio Scoiattoli, and Tofana di Rozes is in the background. Cinque Torri group is on the right next to the hut.
The Scoiattoli hut is the most crowded place here, there is a lift station nearby, and people use it to get here from the main road to passo Falzarego.
Rifugio Scoiattoli contact:
- Tel +39 0436 867939 ; 333 8146960
- E-mail: info@rifugioscoiattoli.it.
Below is view back from Scoiattoli hut: Averau hut is on the lowest point on the pass above, and rifugio Nuvolau is on the top of the peak on the left, which is the highest point on the route.
From there you continue and after a short walk Cinque Torri rocks are in front of you. On a sunny day like in the picture, the highest of them is full of rock climbers on all its sides.
Now you descend to the nearby Cinque Torri hut, the path is visible in the picture above. This last hut in the group is with a car access, I have seen people arriving by car but did not check if permission is needed or not. The access point is from the main road Cortina-Falzarego, I have seen it many times but have not made a stop there ever.
Rifugio Cinque Torri contact:
- 5 Torri Location, Cortina d’Ampezzo 32043 (BL).
- +39 0436 – 2902/866853.
- info@rifugio5torri.it.
- https://5torri.it/
Here too you have plenty of signs for directions, this is not surprising, the area is one of the most popular in the Dolomites and with many hiking routes.
Walk back towards the Giau pass
At Cinque Torri hut, it is time to decide: going back the same way, which would be easier, or make a round tour. If you keep going on a round tour, the picture below shows view back towards the last hut. The Cinque Torri rocks are above.
The remaining part may be hard for some people, below you can see a part of the route. There are big ups and downs here, and you do not want to be caught in bad weather when you are in this area.
There is no water on this part, so make sure you have it enough with you. You will need around two and a half hours for this section. No doubt, you will meet people coming in your direction from the Giau pass.
Eventually, you will be back at the pass. The picture below shows the place from where the pass area is in sight.
My walk and timing
Obviously, I followed the route the way described above. I started from the pass at 5:45 AM and was at the Averau hut before 7 AM.
After just a short break I continued to Nuvolau hut, and arrived there at 7:40. Here I had a much longer break, did not have any reason to hurry, this round tour was my only plan for the day.
Later, I descended to the other two huts, and around 10 AM I was ready to continue from the Cinque Torri hut in the direction of the pass. At around 12:30 I was at the Giau pass again.
I am giving this timing so that you get some idea about the time needed, no doubt the tour can be done much faster if you have to do so, I didn’t.
The area around Cinque Torri was a bit crowded, not surprising at all, this is a very popular place. But this was not a problem for me because, first, I do not mind people in the mountains, and second, quite generally I am able to remain alone even in a crowd.
Equipment, supplies & accommodation
For this day tour I used my Osprey Stratos 24 backpack. The boots were Mammut Sapuen GTX. and I also had a pair of Komperdell trekking poles . Any hiking shoes or boots will be fine for this tour.
Have a hat, glasses, and all other items to protect yourself from the sun, this is a walk on a relatively high elevation.
The weather in the mountains can change quickly, but on the half of the route you have those four huts to get a shelter. However, if you make the described round tour, for the remaining part after Cinque Torri it is wise to carry the usual waterproof layers in the pack.
Regarding water and food, you have seen it, no less than four huts on the route. Note that near the last hut, which is Cinque Torri, there is a pipe outside. Make sure you refill your bottles there before continuing on the last part where there is neither huts nor water.
As for accommodation, this is about the Dolomites, so make sure you make a reservation in time. There are four camps in the nearby Cortina d’Ampezzo and numerous small hotels and flats to rent.
Final thoughts
In summary, the tour from Passo Giau to Averau, Nuvolau, and Cinque Torri offers a well-marked route with breathtaking views, manageable challenges, and convenient stops at mountain huts.
While the early parts of the hike provide sweeping panoramas and accessible navigation, the latter sections demand preparation for uneven terrain and limited water sources.
Completing this circuit requires a mix of proper gear, planning, and awareness of weather conditions, ensuring a rewarding experience in the heart of the Dolomites.
Thank you for reading and let me know if you have questions, there is a comment box below. For more texts about mountains in this area please check under the category Italian Alps.
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