Overview
A week of hiking in South Tyrol, walking in the foothills of the Dolomites along the Chestnut Route, so called because of the ancient chestnut groves and deciduous woodlands that line it. Starting in the cathedral city of Bressanone, the oldest in Tyrol, hike through vineyards and ancient villages, monasteries and mountain hamlets. Your final stop is Bolzano, an excellent example of the region’s melange of Austrian, German and Italian cultures. Your final treat is a trip by cable car to Alpe di Siusi, Europe’s largest Alpine plateau – with some of the best views of the Dolomites.
- Dolomites
- Trentino Alto Adige
- Abbazia di Novacella
- Monastero di Sabiona
- Piramidi di Terra
- Bolzano and Bressanone
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Bressanone
Depending on arrival time, take the time to stroll through the Old Town, and some of the celebrated architecture here, such as Hofburg Brixen Bressanone, a former 13th-century episcopal palace now home to a fascinating museum.
- Accommodation: Hotel Residence Gasser or similar in Bressanone
Day 2: Bressanone – Velturno | 10-15km
This morning begins by taking a local bus to Abbazia di Novacella, an abbey well known for its wine production. From here, the route follows quiet tracks and countryside paths through woodland and vineyards to reach Velturno, popular with aristocracy as a summer residence for centuries.
- Walking for the day: 10km, 5h, ↑720m, ↓471m
- Accommodation: Hotel Feldthurnerhof or similar in Velturno
- Extended route option: Walk from the centre of Bressanone instead of taking the bus – Additional 5km
Day 3: Velturno – Barbiano | 16km
Today’s walk passes Monastero di Sabiona, a monastery perched on the top of a steep cliff (alternative route available), before arriving into Chiusa. Also called Klausen, it’s an elegant town with an historic centre on the Isarco River. From here, the route continues along the river to Barbiano.
- Walking for the day: 16km, 6h, ↑778m, ↓798m
- Accommodation: Gasthof Kircher Stube or similar in Barbiano
Day 4: Barbiano – Collalbo | 10.5-15km
Today’s walk heads through woods and orchards to reach Collalbo, located on the Renon Plateau. The village is a well-known ski centre and home to Ritten Arena ice rink and Rittner Buam, the transnational Alpine Hockey Team.
- Walking for the day: 15km, 6h, ↑713m, ↓403m
- Accommodation: Hotel Dolomiten or similar in Collalbo
- Shortened route option: To avoid steep uphill climbs follow the alternate route to Longostagno where there is a bus to Collalbo – 4.5km shorter
Day 5: Collalbo circular hike | 11km
This panoramic walk along the Renon Plateau follows a trail through forests and alpine meadows. The route skirts around Lago di Costalovara and past Piramidi di Terra, cone-shaped formations created from moraine silt, by melting glaciers. At the end of the walk, hop on the Renon narrow-gauge railway to head back to Collalbo, enjoying views of the surrounding mountains.
- Walking for the day: 11km, 4h, ↑400m, ↓366m
- Accommodation: Hotel Dolomiten or similar in Collalbo
Day 6: Collalbo – Bolzano | 16-18km
Today’s hike starts off a trail through orchards and forests as far as Castel Roncolo, before taking a bus to Bolzano. We advise beginning the walk prior to 8:00 to avoid missing the last bus or alternatively, the route can be extended by walking the whole way.
- Walking for the day: 16-18km, 8h, ↑591m, ↓1396m
- Accommodation: Hotel Regina or similar in Bolzano
- Shortened route option: Walk to either Signato (11km) or the shortened route to Castel Roncolo (16km) before catching the bus back to Bolzano.
Day 7: Alpe di Siusi circular hike | 13km
The morning begins with a 30min bus journey from Bolzano to Siusi, where you pick up the cable car to Alpe di Siusi, the largest Alpine plateau in Europe. The route takes you past mountain huts and small hamlets, offering continuous views across to the jagged peaks of the Dolomites. From Compatsch, take the cable car back down to Siusi to catch the bus back to Bolzano.
- Walking for the day: 13km, 6h, ↑316m, ↓484m
- Accommodation: Hotel Regina or similar in Bolzano
Day 8: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel Residence Gasser, Bressanone
- Hotel Feldthurnerhof, Velturno
- Gasthof Kircher Stube, Barbiano
- Hotel Dolomiten, Collalbo
- Hotel Regina, Bolzano
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated moderate and is suitable for regular walkers with most days offering 4-8h of walking and sections with steep ascents. The routes cover a variety of terrain including grass, roads and stone paths as well as dirt roads and forest tracks. A good level of fitness is recommended to enjoy these walks to their fullest (read more about difficulty grades).
We strongly advise you to only follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed route notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This tour is available from May to October.
The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended arrival airports for this holiday is Bolzano-Dolomiti (BZO) or Innsbruck (INN).
By train or bus
Arrival:
If you are able to travel to Italy without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail, with railway stations in Bressanone/Brixen and Brennero/Brenner. For more details, see the national rail operator Trenitalia.
From Bolzano Airport: Take the 10A or 10B bus or a taxi to Bolzano/Bozen railway station and from here, take a direct train to Bressanone/Brixen (30mins).
From Innsbruck Airport: Take bus route F or a taxi to Innsbruck HBF railway station and from here, take a train to Bressanone/Brixen changing at Brennero/Brenner (1h 30mins). For timetables and further information, please visit Trenitalia for trains and Sasa for buses.
Departure:
To Bolzano Airport: Take the 10A or 10B bus or a taxi from Bolzano/Bozen railway station or centre to the airport.
To Innsbruck Airport: Take a train from Bolzano/Bozen railway station to Innsbruck HBF (2h) and then take bus route F from Innsbruck HBF to the airport.
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights in en-suite accommodation
- 7 breakfasts
- Luggage transfers
- RittenCard (three days)
- Detailed digital holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps. Please note that the info pack is emailed to you prior to departure, no printed documents are mailed or provided locally
- 24/7 phone support by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Local tourist tax and entry fees (payable locally)
- Personal expenses
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers
- Extra nights
- Printed tour materials
