Overview
Experience classic Alpine hiking in South Tyrol’s Val Baldia, which will astonish you with its breathtaking landscapes. Take in dramatic limestone mountains with snow-capped peaks, picture-perfect alpine pastures and idyllic meadows, a rich variety of wildlife, such as the marmot and chamois. This unique German-speaking part of Italy also boasts exceptional cuisine, including specialities like dumplings, speck (smoked ham), polenta and apple strudel.
- Wild open spaces, mountain lakes, jagged peaks
- Amazing flora and fauna
- The charming village of La Valle (Wengen)
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in La Valle/Wengen
Arrive in the mountainside village of La Valle (Wengen in German) and go for a stroll to soak in the gorgeous and peaceful surroundings and marvel at the unique language you will hear spoken, as La Valle has a vast number of Ladinic speakers. La Val is off the main valley road, giving it a peaceful, untouched ambience. It will be the base for your hikes during the first four and the last two days of the trip.
- Accommodation: Hotel Pider or similar
Day 2: Crusc de Rit Circular Walk | 12-17km
Today’s walk starts and ends in La Valle and passes over the Sas De Crosta (Pares) mountain. A stop at the Crusc de Rit is a must; from this panoramic point, you will enjoy the views onto Val Badia to the south, Valpusteria and the Austrian peaks to the north. Then, walking across stretches of forest and wide pastures, you will take in more fantastic views, including the majestic rock faces of Sas Dalesc Desc, Sas Dales Nu and Ju de Sant Antone.
- Walking for the day: 17km, 7h, ↑920m ↓920m (shorter option: 12km, 5h, ↑745m ↓745m)
- Accommodation: Hotel Pider or similar
Day 3: Spizan Circular Walk | 13km
Today’s walk starts and ends in the village of Pederoa, 2km from La Valle, reachable on foot or by local bus (not included). Initially, the route alternates asphalted sections with walking paths that climb gradually until you reach wide glades offering panoramas onto the whole La Valle, as well as Longiarù and the impressive Monte Putia. Gradual descent on a dirt road along the Gran Ega stream (the largest in Val Badia) brings you down from the Spizan Peak back to Pederoa.
- Walking for the day: 13km, 5h, ↑770m ↓770m
- Accommodation: Hotel Pider or similar
Day 4: Passo Valparola to Corvara | 15km
A short transfer will bring you to Passo Valparola, where is the start of an outstanding panoramic trail along the Sett Sass to the wide upland meadow of Pralongià, from where you can enjoy extraordinary views onto the peaks and the valleys of the Val Badia with the Marmolada glacier in the backdrop.
- Walking for the day: 15km, 6h, ↑570m ↓1,181m
- Accommodation: Hotel Pider or similar
Day 5: La Valle to Rifugio Fanes | 14km
Today’s route is a gradual climb and then a descent on stony footpaths. Along the way, you will admire the rock faces of the Sasso delle Nove and a panoramic view of the Pares ridge and the Austrian peaks. The last uphill section is quite steep till Ju De Sant Antone, where you can enjoy more views onto the valley and the Fanes-Senes-Braines Natural Park. Crossing the high pastures, you reach Rifugio Lavarella and Rifugio Fanes from where it is worthwhile to deviate by 1km to explore Lé Vërt lake and Limo lake before you settle in your accommodation.
- Walking for the day: 14km, 6h, ↑1,278m ↓563m
- Accommodation: Rifugio Fanes or similar
Day 6: Rifugio Fanes to La Valle | 20km
Today’s route is rather demanding but rewarding. You will cross a larch forest as you climb to the alpine lake Lech Parom where the vast and majestic Fanes upland and meadows gradually turn to a sheer vertical rock surrounded by the typical Dolomiti peaks. To avoid the steep climb, it is possible to follow a more gradual trail and then descend to Val di Medesc through a narrow stony riverbed that brings you to La Crusc from where you can admire the other massifs of Val Badia. During the last stretch to La Valle, you will cross the Armentara with its wide Alpine meadows.
- Walking for the day: 20km, 7-8h, ↑790m ↓1,511m
- Accommodation: Hotel Pider or similar
Day 7: Longiarù Circular Walk | 13-17km
Today’s walk again starts with a steep climb on the side of the magnificent Monte Putia. As you head towards Rifugio Genova, a pleasant rest spot beneath Passo Poma, you cross wide meadows with exceptional views on the peaks of Puez-Odle and the Fanes massif. The way back is through the Seres valley with its ancient watermills. Longiarù is reachable by local bus directly from La Valle (not included).
- Walking for the day: 17km, 6-7h, ↑1,110m ↓1,110m (shorter option: 13km, 5h, ↑950m ↓950m)
- Accommodation: Hotel Pider or similar
Day 8: Departure
Departure on your own or extension upon request.
What to expect
Accommodation
The accommodations we use in La Valle/Wengen are small, comfortable 3-star family-run hotels that have a friendly atmosphere, and all the rooms have private bathrooms. The Fanes mountain hut is a wonderfully located cosy 3-star equivalent mountain hut. The inside is built in classic South Tyrolean style and has a marvellous panoramic terrace. There are different types of rooms where linen and blankets are provided. The 2-person rooms are all twins with separate beds (no double beds), while the 3- and 4-person rooms have bunk beds. The three 10-bed dorms have bunk beds and a shared bathroom. In these dorms, blankets are provided; however, you must take your own sleeping sheet/sleeping bag and towel. If you do not have one, you can purchase it there. Depending on the hut availability the day when you overnight here may change.
Click to view default hotels
Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired 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 will be served every day. Six dinners are included in La Valle, beverages are excluded and one dinner at the hut. When staying in La Valle, lunch is not included, and you have to buy your own lunch in the food stores in the village (shops normally close from 12.00-15.00h) or ask the hotel for a picnic lunch, to be paid directly on the spot. Sometimes it is possible to eat lunch in a restaurant along the route. On the day walk from Fanes to La Valle, a picnic lunch is included and provided by the hut.
Difficulty and terrain
The route is graded moderate but is a bit challenging on some days due to the elevation differences (however, as most of the walks are circular, you can optionally shorten them). A good level of fitness is required for enjoying the walks to the maximum (read more about difficulty grades). The paths are well-marked and well maintained though sometimes stony or steep. We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip can depart every day between early June and early October. Dolomites summers are mild with average monthly maximum temperatures in July and August rarely much over 25C and averages of around 20C in June, September and October. The best time to walk in the Dolomites is between June 20th and September 20th as this is when it is most likely to be free of snow, the weather is at its best, the hotels, mountain refuges and restaurants are open and the ski lifts and public transport services are running. Mid-June to early July is the best time for flower lovers with the full range of Alpine flowers in bloom. August is a very busy month and you will be more likely to find a lot of people on the footpaths and around the refuges. Late September and October is a particularly beautiful time in the Dolomites with the changing colours of the mountain forests and the footpaths all to yourselves. Please note that availability may be limited during big events such as the Dolomites Marathon in the first half of July.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended arrival and departure airports for this tour are Innsbruck (INN) or Verona (VRN). You can also fly to Bergamo (BGY) or Milan (LIN or MXP).
By train or bus
From any airport, you can take a train to Brunico and then a local bus to Pederoa (35min), followed by a local bus to La Valle (2km). Only a few buses are running from Pederoa to La Valle each day. Upon request, a private transfer can be pre-booked from Brunico to La Valle/Wengen, and vice versa.
The bus company that offers transports to South Tyrol is called S.A.D. For info about the schedule, see www.sii.bz.it/en/benvenuti.php or call the toll free number 840 000 471. Direct public buses run every hour, 8min past the hour, from 8.08h to 18.08h; the last service is at 19.18h. It takes about 35min to get to Pederoa. In case you miss the last public bus from Brunico to Pederoa you can always call a taxi.
Local buses don’t run on Sundays, so you need to take a taxi if arriving on Sunday.
Train and bus schedules are also available on:
- www.trenitalia.com
- www.fahrplan.oebb.at (Innsbruck)
- www.sii.bz.it (Südtirol)
Transfers on Walking Days
Optional transfer for the walk on Day 3
To reach Pederoa from La Valle-Wengen and vice versa, you can take a local public bus from Pederoa to La Valle-Wengen. For info about the schedule, see www.sii.bz.it/en/benvenuti.php or call the toll free number 840 000 471.
Optional transfer for the walk on Day 4
Today you reach the start of the walk in Valparola with an included private people transfer that leaves at 9.00 am from your hotel in La Valle-Wengen. In the afternoon, on the way back from Corvara to La Valle-Wengen, you can either pre-book a transfer at the moment of reservation or take one of the few local public buses, changing in Pederoa; for detailed information on timetables see www.sii.bz.it/en/benvenuti.php or call the toll free number 840 000 471.
Optional transfer for the walk on Day 7
To return to La Valle-Wengen from Longiarù, you can take one of the few local public buses. For detailed information on changing for detailed information on timetables, see www.sii.bz.it/en/benvenuti.php or call the toll free number 840 000 471.
Baggage Transfers
On 6 out of 7 nights, you will be staying in the same hotel, so no luggage transfer is needed. On Day 5, you will be staying in a mountain hut, so you will have to carry what you need for this overnight; your main luggage will wait for you in your room at the La Valle hotel. When travelling by public transport, you always take your luggage with you.
Inclusions
Included
- 6 nights in a 3-star hotel (private double or twin rooms, en-suite facilities, wellness centre)
- 1 night in a 3-star quality mountain hut (private twin rooms or dorm rooms depending on availability, shared facilities)
- 7 breakfasts
- 7 dinners
- 1 packed lunch when returning from the hut
- Private transfer La Valle – Passo Valparola on Day 4
- Holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route notes and maps (digital copy sent by email and a hard copy delivered at the first hotel)
- 24/7 telephone support by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, drinks and snacks
- Optional transfers
- Luggage transfers
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Local tourist tax and entry fees (payable on the spot)
- Personal expenses
- Any items not specifically mentioned as ‘Included’ in the programme
Options, extras and supplements
- Supplement applies to members of a group who require a single room / single use of a double room
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Extra nights
- Optional transfers on day 3, 4 (in the afternoon) and 7
- The tour can be arranged as a 5-day / 4-night programme
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