Bus de le Neole

Hidden treasure of the Monti del Sole

The Bus de le Neole is a huge natural chimney of the Dolomites UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, located on the Monti del Sole in the Municipality of Rivamonte Agordino in the Province of Belluno, Veneto Region. With a great visual impact, the Bus de le Neole crosses transversally the Monti del Sole, connecting the Forcella de l’Om to the valley floor of the Val Pegolera. The Bus de le Neole [literally: Clouds Hole] owes its name to the fact that, with particular climate conditions, the humidity raising from the Val Pegolera passes through the gigantic hole and exits from the top of the Bus, creating a very particular and striking phenomenon.

The Bus de le Neole measures barely 20 meters in diameter and it’s more that 200 meters deep. The attractions is included in the protected area of the Belluno Dolomites National Park and it’s located in the context of the 3rd of the 9 officially recognized and protected UNESCO Dolomites Systems, that is the Pale di San Martino, San Lucano, Vette Feltrine e Dolomiti Bellunesi.

The Bus de le Neole is reachable in different ways. The most challenging one is from the area of Castei, south of Agordo, by following the signs to Forcella de l’Om (in 5-6 hiking hours on difficult paths). The second way is through the Mining Area of Val Imperina, by following the indications to Bivacco Le Mandre (also 5-6 hours on hard trails). The third and most popular way to reach Bus de le Neole is from Forcella Franche between the Municipalities of Rivamonte Agordino and Gosaldo with the CAI Path 874, which is always challenging but shorter (2-3 hours). In any case, the ascent to the Bus de le Neole is a difficult hike suitable for mountain experts, so in case you are not very familiar with the area, our suggestion is to hire a professional Mountain Guide in order to avoid difficult situations. Anyway, this attraction is definitely worth a visit, once in a lifetime.