Hiking vacation Italy: 8 days on the road in the heart of the Alps South Tyrol

8 Days

Your trip

Castles, palaces and manors characterize the landscape of the South Tyrolean Wine Road between Bolzano and Merano. Numerous wineries invite you to taste the lush South Tyrolean wines.

This tour lets you experience the lovely heart of the South Tyrolean Alps. You are on the road in vineyards under the ever-changing but always magnificent mountain panorama of the Dolomites. You will experience the friendliness of this wonderful country.

Please note: The tour is not a mountain tour. It does not lead directly into high alpine rocky terrain. They move mainly on firm paths in the sunny ripe valleys and vineyards of South Tyrol.

From the southern part of the Alps, hike from the old bishop’s town of Bressanone to the cultural capital of Tyrol, multicultural Bolzano. You will then move on to the thermal city of Merano with its Mediterranean climate.

On the first part of the hike, the “Keschtnweg”, or chestnut path, gives you direction. It enchants your senses, like a terrace, with a magnificent view of the Dolomites to the south.

From the popular summer freshness place of Bolzano, the Ritten, it goes very close to the Dolomites. Vineyards and orchards line your path on the second section of the hike through one of the most beautiful areas of South Tyrol in the center of South Tyrolean viticulture. Lake Kaltern – South Tyrol’s most famous lake – becomes a real highlight on this hike through South Tyrol.

Accommodation

  • You will stay in selected inns and hotels of the 3***, partly 4**** category. We attach great importance to regional authenticity in our selection. You will experience genuine South Tyrolean hospitality.
  • Please pay tourist tax, if due, directly on site.

Catering

  • Every day the tour offers you a rich breakfast or buffet.
  • If you have booked half board, you can look forward to 3-course dinners every evening

Requirements & route

  • This sporty pleasure hike runs along marked trails, mainly through meadows and forests. It is not technically demanding and is oriented to the pleasure of movement, foresight and air.
  • You will remain in visual contact with the Dolomites, but you will not find rocky paths on your route.
  • Some sections can be shortened by public transport.
  • This hiking trip is suitable for children 12 years and older.
  • This trip is not suitable for people with reduced mobility. Please contact us for detailed information if needed.

Please see our notes on requirements and our tips on packing list and preparation. We recommend that you take out travel insurance .

Arrival

By train

By car

  • You can get to Brixen via the Brenner freeway (A22) or drive
  • via the Felbertauern Road to Lienz in East Tyrol. Cross the Austrian-Italian border and continue on the SS49 through the Pustertal valley to Brixen.

Parking lot

  • Parking possibility in Bressanone at the starting hotel:
    • Hotel garage: approx. € 60,00 / week; € 11,00 / day
    • Parking Residence Gasser: about € 40,- / week
    • Unfortunately, an advance reservation is not possible. Please pay directly at the hotel.

By plane

  • The nearest airports are Innsbruck (about 83 km), Verona Villafranca (about 191 km), Treviso (about 228 km), Venice Marco Polo (about 313 km).

Transfer back from Merano to Bressanone/Brixen

  • You have at your disposal very good train connections on the route Merano – Bolzano – Bressanone.
  • Information and timetables can be found at www.trenitalia.com, www.sii.bz.it
  • The price for the return trip is about € 10,- to € 20,- / person.

Country information

For information on entry requirements to Italy, please see our Country Information page.

Note on Day 1:

Please note: This tour has a ‘little sister’: Hike 148a is like it as a twin to the hair – only the first day is omitted.

So if you want to miss out on the round trip from Bressanone via Neustift Monastery to Lake Vahn, take a look at tour 148a. The rest of the course is the same.

From day to day

Arrival to Bressanone :
Day 1, Saturday

Arrival to Bressanone

Individual arrival to the starting hotel in Bressanone/Brixen.

On the first evening, take some time to explore the arcades of the small town of Bressanone. Visit the cathedral district and the once episcopal court castle.

Hotel
Bressanone - Neustift - Lake Varna :
Day 2, Sunday

Circular hike Bressanone – Neustift – Lake Varna – Bressanone, ~ 15 km, 200 m ↑↓, ~ 5 h

Let’s start our trip with a little round trip to get accustomed:
From Bressanone you hike leisurely along the river Eisack to the monastery Neustift. The Augustinian canons’ monastery invites to a short visit, especially worth seeing is the collegiate church “Unsere Liebe Frau”.

Today’s hike continues to the Vahrner See lake.

Back to Bressanone, follow the chestnut path.

Breakfast
Hotel
Bressanone - Chiusa :
Day 3, Monday

Hike Bressanone – Chiusa, ~ 18 km, 520 m ↑ 570 m ↓, ~ 6 h

From Bressanone you hike up the Pfeffersberg. On beautiful terraces you will pass small hamlets and mountain farms. To the south, the panoramic view of the mighty Dolomite peaks opens up.

You will reach Feldthurns and via Säben Monastery, the “Acropolis of South Tyrol”, you will reach the Dürer town of Klausen.

In the evening there will be a short information meeting in Klausen.

Breakfast
Hotel
Chiusa - Ritten - Bolzano :
Day 4, Tuesday

Hike Klausen – Ritten – Bozen, ~ 18 km, 900 m ↑ 550 m ↓, ~ 8 h

After a short bus transfer to Barbian, you will hike up to the Ritten, a gorgeous high plateau above the Eisack Valley with tremendous views of the Dolomites, especially the Schlern.

Don’t forget to take a look at the highest and most beautifully shaped earth pyramids in Europe.

You follow the high trail to the mountain station of the Oberbozen cable car. The train brings you relaxed to Bolzano.

Nowhere else do Italian and German cultures meet as closely as here. If you want, you can take the Rittnerbahn from Klobenstein to Oberbozen and shorten the stage.

Breakfast
Hotel
Bolzano - Lake Caldaro :
Day 5, Wednesday

Hike Bolzano – Lake Caldaro, ~ 15 km, 390 m↑ 410 m↓, ~ 6 h

The sun-drenched south of South Tyrol awaits you!

Today you will hike in the wine-growing area around South Tyrol’s most famous body of water, Lake Kaltern. But not only numerous vineyards, but also many castles, manors, churches and farms characterize the picture.

A must for every wine lover is a visit to the South Tyrolean Wine Museum in Kaltern. It offers a colorful insight into the wine history of South Tyrol. Those who wish can shorten the last climb from Lake Kaltern to the village by taking a bus ride.

Breakfast
Hotel
Circular hike Lake Kaltern - Tramin :
Day 6, Thursday

Circular hike Kalterer See – Tramin, 15 km, 450 m ↑ 450 m ↓, ~ 6 h

Picturesque vineyards and fascinating landscapes accompany you on your way today. Enjoy the wonderful view from Altenburg over the entire wine-growing region.

The largest wineries in the country and many of the widely known wine producers are found in this area. From Altenburg you walk through vineyards and orchards back towards the lake.

Those who wish can shorten the last climb from Lake Kaltern to the village by bus.

Breakfast
Hotel

Hike Lana – Merano, ~ 16 km, 360 m ↑ 320 m ↓, ~ 6 h

After breakfast a minibus will take you to Lana.

Shortly after Lana, the hiking trail leads along the famous Marlinger Waal – the longest of all South Tyrolean Waals – to the Forst. Waale are irrigation ditches that were created several hundred years ago to provide water to dry corridors. Today, along these whales lead beautiful hiking and walking trails.

Leaving Merano on your right, you cross the Adige River and walk towards Castle Tyrol. Below the castle you then follow the famous Tappeiner Weg to Merano. Even Empress Sissi appreciated the mild climate. Centuries-old pergolas and magnificent parks invite you to end the day on a leisurely note.

Breakfast
Hotel

Day of departure – or not yet …

Individual departure after breakfast or possibility of extension in this most beautiful capital of South Tyrol.

Services

contain

  • Overnight stay in inns and hotels of 3*** category, partly 4**** hotels
  • rich breakfast buffet or extended breakfast
  • Information talk about the hiking trip in the evening in Klausen
  • Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
  • Tickets for the transfers included in the program
  • Best worked out route guidance
  • Navigation APP
  • Detailed travel documents (route maps, route description, sights, important telephone numbers)
  • Telephone service hotline for the duration of the hiking trip

are not included:

  • Tourist tax. Please pay these, if necessary, directly on site
  • Return transfer Merano - Bressanone

Dates & Prices

Arrival days: every Saturday in …
Season 1 15.04.23 – 15.04.23
Season 2 16.04.23 – 13.07.23
Season 3 14.07.23 – 07.10.23
The day of arrival determines the season. From 5 participants also possible on request.
All prices per person. The prices in the booking form or shopping cart apply.
Travel package Season 1 Season 2 Season 3
Double room w. breakfast 750 € 830 € 920 €
Single room w. breakfast 950 € 1.030 € 1.120 €
Half board (7 x 3-course dinner) 190 € 190 € 190 €
Extra night in Bressanone
Double room w. breakfast 90 € 90 € 90 €
Single room w. breakfast 110 € 110 € 110 €
Extra night in Merano
Double room w. breakfast 95 € 95 € 95 €
Single room w. breakfast 120 € 120 € 120 €
Does the hike take place in any weather?

Basically: Yes! Hiking is done in any weather, rain, snow or sun. Of course, you should always check the weather conditions at your accommodation in the morning and choose an alternative route if necessary.
In case of timely request and after consultation with us, there is a possibility for you to ride along with the luggage transport on some stages (possibly for an extra charge!). Limited availability, only in exceptional cases, emergencies!

How does the luggage transport work?

Please carry only your daypack with bread, water, weather protection and whatever else you need during the day. We will take care of the rest of the luggage transfer. In the evening your luggage will be at the destination hotel.

What are the technical and physical demands of this trip?

The easy hike runs along marked trails, mainly through meadows and forests. You remain in visual contact with the Dolomites. However, you will not find rocky paths on your route.

How do I get back from Merano to Bressanone?

There is a very good train connection on the line Merano-Bolzano-Bressanone. Timetable at: www.trenitalia.it, www.sii.bz.it. Price person ticket: about € 10,00 – € 12,00.
We can also organize a cab, price on request.

Dog?

Dog! You are welcome to take your dog with you on this hike. Just let us know directly when booking. Please let us know what kind of dog would like to accompany you.

Map

Please note: Depending on the accommodations we book for you, the overnight stops may differ from the start and finish points indicated in the route plan. Please refer to your individual hotel list for accommodation locations! Also, in many places you have freedom to shorten the path or make it different. The proposal presented here is therefore more for inspiration and orientation than for compulsive imitation. We recommend: Download the komoot app on your phone, search for this "Collection", download the routes on your phone and let the app guide you as navigator and inspirer.

Write a Review

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Personal Information

Add Images

You can send your enquiry via the form below.

  • 148b
  • 8 Days
  • easy
  • trip from place to place
  • Summer
  • Hiking trip
  • Hotel
  • Individual trip

Ihre Ansprechpartnerin
für die Reise

Maria Ruch

Infos zu dieser Reise:

Speichern Sie Ihre Reise

Weitere Reisen:

Reisetipps
Sommer-3.pdf Download
Winter.pdf Download