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Adamello World War One Glacier Trip
Book Now
Enter your start date, end date and number of people and we will check availability and prices for you. The recommended duration for this activity is between 1 and 4 days. However, you can book as many days as suits your requirements. If your group size is more than 3 please contact us for a bespoke quote. Special prices for families and children: please contact us.
- Adamello Glacier: the largest in the Italian Alps
- Excellent huts with great hospitality and Italian food
- Hippopotamus Canon 149G
- The area is an open air WW1 museum
- Fun and friendly approach
Highlights
Location : Ponte di Legno
Ratio : 1:3
Available during : Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Full Description
While walking, mountaineering or rock climbing in the Adamello mountain range, ones mind goes back to the historical events that took place in this region: the Neolithic rock engravings, the strategic importance of this frontier land during the First World War, the resistance during the Second World War and the more recent pilgrimage of Pope John II to the glacier.
The journey that we are about to take you on is a magnificent trip to the centre of the Adamello mountain range and the Pian di Neve glacier (the largest in Italy with over 18 square kilometres). Due to global warming and the consequent rising temperatures, the icepack has been shrinking steadily over the last 100 years.
We are based in Ponte di Legno (1 hour drive from Madonna di Campiglio in the Brenta Dolomites). In Ponte di Legno we have a cosy b&b in the centre of town and you you can stay with us while experiencing the various activities of this region like Via Ferrata, rock climbing, mountaineering on glaciers, mountain biking in the Summer. Ski touring and ice climbing in the Winter.
The programme will be custom made according to the participants level, needs and according to the weather conditions. This trip can be done in both directions.
Example Itinerary
It is for you and your guide to decide the exact makeup of your booking however, these itinerary days shown below are an example of how a booking for this activity could be structured.
Arrival day |
Transfer from your arrival airport to our b&b in Ponte di Legno. |
Day 1 - Via Ferrata Sentiero dei Fiori |
A 10 minute walk will take us from our house in Ponte di Legno (1200m) to the gondola station. We take 2 gondolas all the way to Passo Paradiso (2585 metres). From here we follow the trail on the large boulders of the moraine to Passo Castellaccio (2963 metres). Here the “Sentiero dei Fiori” (trail of the flowers) starts, a Via Ferrata equipped with a wire cable that runs along the First World War front line. From Corno Lagoscuro (3166 metres), where we find a little bivouac, the trail continues down to Passo Lagoscuro and then up to Cima Payer (3056 metres). After a rest and time to admire the views of the Adamello glacier in front of us, we descend to the Rifugio Città di Trento lodge (2449 metres), where one can often spot Ibex and Chamois. Ascent: 700 metres approx. Descent: 800 metres approx. Average walking time: 5 hours Difficulty: EEA |
Day 2 - Hippopotamus Cannon on Cresta Croce |
After breakfast, we head towards the Vedretta del Mandrone, part of the Pian di Neve glacier, the largest in the Italian Alps. The scenery is unique: a desert made of ice, crevasses, icefalls, streams, peaks and ridges surround us for kilometres and kilometres. We continue up hill on the icy terrain towards the Rifugio Caduti all’Adamello lodge (3040 metres) from where one can admire a 360° view of the Adamello mountains. We leave some of our equipment at the lodge for the night, and after a cup of tea and a slice of cake, we head to Cresta Croce (3276 metres) where we can visit the Hippopotamus, a 6 ton 149G Cannon that was positioned here by the Italians during the First World War. Back to the recently renovated lodge in time to enjoy a beer while watching the sun set over the ice field. Ascent: 900 metres approx. Descent: 350 metres approx. Average walking time: 6 hours Difficulty: F |
Day 3 - Summit Monte Adamello |
This is a big day! We leave Rifugio Lobbia before dawn and cross the part of the glacier called "Pian di Neve" (Snow Plain) from East to West. Here the glacier is over 200 metres deep. After 4/5 hours we will reach the summit of Monte Adamello (3554 metres) with stunning views of the Dolomites, the Bernina range and Monte Rosa. From here we descend the East ridge that involves fun scrambling on great rock This section is called "Via Terzulli". At the base of the East ridge we follow an "off the beaten track" trail to the stunning Rifugio Tonolini (2467m). Ascent: 600 metres approx. Descent: 1200 metres approx. Average walking time: 10 hours Difficulty: PD, III grade rock climbing |
Day 4 - Passo Premassone |
The last day takes of right under the Adamello North face across the Passo di Premassone (2834m), along the initial part of the Alta Via dell’Adamello (Adamello haute route), until the Pantano dell’Avio artificial dam, built to generate hydroelectric energy. We also have the option to add the summit of Corni Premassone (3070m) if you have the motivation. From Passo Premassone, the trail heads down the Avio Valley towards the village of Temù. A jeep will pick us up at Lago d'Avio (1900m) and drive us back to Ponte di Legno. Our journey ends here but our eyes and our mind are enriched with historical memories and magnificent views. Ascent: 400 (600) metres approx. Descent: 900 (1100) metres approx. Average walking time: 5/6 hours Difficulty: F |
Departure day |
Transfer from our b&b in Ponte di Legno to your departure airport or to another location. |
- Services of IFMGA Mountain Guide
- Liability insurance
- All food and drinks for clients and guides
- Travel, accident and cancellation insurance for clients
- Hut costs for clients and Guides
- Guides travel expences
- Cable cars and ski lifts for clients and guides
- Accommodation (more info)
- Transfers (more info)
- Mountaineering equipment (more info)
What's Included
What's Not Included
Optional Extras
Prerequisites
You are a good hiker, with experience on all types of terrain. No mountaineering experience is required but you should not be afraid of heights. You are in good physical shape, able to walk 1000 metres up and down hill at altitude and for 6-8 hours per day.
- Technical equipment (these items can be rented): harness, helmet, crampons, ice axe.
- Personal equipment: mountaineering boots, hiking poles, 30-40 litre backpack, 1 litre thermos or water bottle, provisions (energy bars, chocolate, dried fruit, sandwiches), first aid kit, sun glasses (protection factor 3 or 4), goggles, gore-tex jacket and overpants, windstopper vest, gaiters, mountain pants, fleece jacket, breathable base layers, lightweight gloves, thick gloves, warm hat, bandana, sun screen factor 50.
- For the hut: sleeping bag liner, change of socks, headtorch and spare batteries, mountaineering club membership, toothbrush & toothpaste, small towel, wet wipes
Equipment Required
Availability & Prices
This activity is available to be booked for any date/dates within the availablity periods shown below. Because we tailor your booking to suit your exact requirements you can book this activity for as many days as you like. The recommended duration for this activity is between 1 and 4 days. If your group size is more than 3 please contact us for a bespoke quote. Special prices for families and children: please contact us.
Period | Starting | Ending |
---|---|---|
Availability period | from : 21/06/2025 | to : 21/09/2025 |
Number of people | Price (€) |
---|---|
1 Pax | €350.00 per person per day |
2 Pax | €200.00 per person per day |
3 Pax | €150.00 per person per day |
Adamello World War One Glacier Trip Reviews
Amazing trip
"What an amazing trip, it has it all! A breathtaking Via Ferrata, the largest Glacier in the Italian Alps, three comfortable mountain lodges with great food, fantastic views. Thank you for all the information about World War One, the local traditions, culture, geology and of course the technical tips. Would recommend to anyone who is looking for beautiful mountains packed with history and no crowds. "
Mark