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Highlights
Spend quality time with your family while hiking in South Tyrol
Marvel at the stunning peaks of the Ötztal and Ortler Alps as you walk on alpine trails.
Explore the gentle Waalwege trails along picturesque streams, originally used for irrigation, now offering easy hikes for all ages.
Visit Reinhold Messner's private Juval Castle in Val Venosta, set amidst an impressive blend of historic and modern architecture.
Experience the thrill of a cable car ride in the Texelgruppe Natural Park, providing breathtaking views and a memorable walk for the whole family.
Spend quality time as a family, while you enjoy this family walking tour in South Tyrol.
Why South Tyrol? Well, there are more than 300 days of sunshine per year and wonderful views of the high peaks of the Ötztal and Ortler Alps. Everyone should put a hiking holiday in South Tyrol on their agenda! Above all, the popular Waalwege, as the trail is called, has a few steep climbs as the pathways follow small streams. Previously, they were used to irrigate the fields, and today they make a unique water feature!
Spend eight days on lively hiking trails through the beautiful South Tyrol. You start in Reschen and wander to Burgeis along the wonderfully sparkling Reschensee. On day three in Schulderns you can smell the mountain air. High above Mals and along the Malser Oberwaals the hiking route runs over the Tartscher Bichl to the ‘Ganglegg’. To make the route less strenuous for tiny feet, day four is spent on the Vinschgaubahn (a train) to Kastelbell. In Naturns, and Partschnis to Meran there are plenty opportunities to take a dip in the cool water.
The family hiking holiday in South Tyrol not only promises impressive natural scenery and beautiful villages, but also time well spent with your loved ones! The route requires good basic fitness and a bit of hiking experience from young and old. Children should be used to walking for a few hours at a time. The trails lead along the Waalwege, the old irrigation systems and paved sections. Each day you and your family can enjoy a three to five-hour hike that provides ample opportunities for a number of breaks.
Spend quality time as a family, while you enjoy this family walking tour in South Tyrol.
Why South Tyrol? Well, there are more than 300 days of sunshine per year and wonderful views of the high peaks of the Ötztal and Ortler Alps. Everyone should put a hiking holiday in South Tyrol on their agenda! Above all, the popular Waalwege, as the trail is called, has a few steep climbs as the pathways follow small streams. Previously, they were used to irrigate the fields, and today they make a unique water feature!
Spend eight days on lively hiking trails through the beautiful South Tyrol. You start in Reschen and wander to Burgeis along the wonderfully sparkling Reschensee. On day three in Schulderns you can smell the mountain air. High above Mals and along the Malser Oberwaals the hiking route runs over the Tartscher Bichl to the ‘Ganglegg’. To make the route less strenuous for tiny feet, day four is spent on the Vinschgaubahn (a train) to Kastelbell. In Naturns, and Partschnis to Meran there are plenty opportunities to take a dip in the cool water.
The family hiking holiday in South Tyrol not only promises impressive natural scenery and beautiful villages, but also time well spent with your loved ones! The route requires good basic fitness and a bit of hiking experience from young and old. Children should be used to walking for a few hours at a time. The trails lead along the Waalwege, the old irrigation systems and paved sections. Each day you and your family can enjoy a three to five-hour hike that provides ample opportunities for a number of breaks.
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South Tyrol Family Walking Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Reschen
Welcome to Vinschgau! The steel-blue Lake Reschen and its famous tower that pokes out of the water will make you feel welcome. Not only kitesurfers and other water sport fanatics splash around in this very welcoming lake. Enjoy your first hours in this border triangle region in the sun and take in the view of the mountains before you start your walk through the lush green South Tyrol tomorrow.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Lake Wolfgangsee
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Walk along Lake Reschen
You leisurely walk along the magnificently glistening Lake Reschen and you can admire the former church tower poking out the dammed lake. Continue through St. Valentin, where you can take a detour on the Talai forest exploratory path with a treasure hunt. Afterwards you keep on walking along Lake Haider. In doing so, you can observe lots of ducks swimming in the lake from secluded places. From the South side, you walk further along the rippling Adige river until you get to Burgeis.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Burgeis/Mals
Distance: 4 to 5 hours, 15 km distance, 230 m ascent, 500 m descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Explore Bronze Age cave settlements
Let’s go along the ‘Sonnensteig’, an exciting irrigation channel path where you can find out a lot about the VInschgau mythological world. You keep getting fantastic views of the snowy mountain tops. You walk high up above Mals along the ‘Malser Oberwaal’ and you will go via the Tartscher Bichl to “Ganglegg”. Have a look through the most researched cave settlements from the Bronze and Iron Ages in the entire Alps. At the end of the day you cross impressive bridges and wooden steps over the gorge, which will bring you to today’s destination, Schluderns. Once there, it’s worth checking out the archeological finds from Ganglegg in the Vinschgau museum.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Schluderns
Distance: 3 hours, 10 km distance, 150 m ascent, 420 m descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 Ride on the Vinschgaubahn
You start today with a journey on the Vinschgaubahn, which will take you through the colourful scenery in South Tyrol to Kastelbell. From there you walk on the Schnalser Waalweg in the shade thanks to the trees. You will go via Kastelbell towards Juval palace, which is owned by the one of the most famous mountaineers, Reinhold Messner. Of course you have time to go on a tour through the palace. Afterwards you walk uphill to Naturns via the windy path.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Naturns/surroundings
Distance: 4 hours, 13 km distance, 200 m ascent, 320 m descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Explore Texelgruppe Nature Park
Ascend by cable car into the mountains and explore the Texelgruppe nature park. Once you arrive up top, you can go on a circular tour, do the practice and family high-ropes course or just simply enjoy the view from the ‘Unterstell’ viewing platform. Would you prefer to have a break from walking? Then head to the fun park or visit one of the play areas or a certified Alpine spa holiday centre in South Tyrol.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Naturns/surroundings
Distance: 1.5 to 3 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Water Park Fun!
Jump into Naturns water park with giant slides. It is a great way to cool down before continuing with your walk. You will go along the ‘Schlossweg’ (palace path) from where you can enjoy another magnificent view, this time of Naturns. After this, you walk along the ‘Sonnenberger’ panoramic path. As the name suggests, you get breathtaking views over extensive orchards in the valley whilst the sun beats down on your face. Today finishes in a pleasantly adventurous manner via a suspension bridge to Partschins. This is the gateway to the Texelgruppe, which is South Tyrol’s largest nature park.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Partschins
Distance: 3 to 4 hours, 9 km distance, 190 m ascent, 130 m descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Partschins to Meran
You start today in going along the ‘Bergbach’ up to the ‘Sagenweg’ (legend path), which is an exciting exploratory path where you can once again learn lots about Vinschgau’s mystical mythological world. After this, you walk through sweet-smelling apple orchards and vineyards along one of the diverse forest paths to the Algunder Waalweg. You follow the calming bubbling Waalweg past more vineyards and you can enjoy the view across the Adige valley. Above the town you walk along the world famous Tappeiner promenade where palm trees and cacti grow before arriving at today’s destination and the end of your walk – the centre of Merano.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Meran
Distance: 3 hours, 10 km distance, 90 m ascent, 380 m descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Departure or extension
Today it is time to go home – or do you want to stay for longer and explore Merano, a cultured city with a mediterranean flair?
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
2024 Departures: The departures are available every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, from April 27th to October 5th, 2024.
- Price per person staying in a single room: from EUR1078*
- Price per person sharing a double room: from EUR899*
- Price per 12-14-year old sharing the room with two adults: from EUR679*
- Price per 8-11-year old sharing the room with two adults: from EUR479*
*-Pricing for this tour depends on the dates of your trip. Please click the Book Now button below to get the exact pricing for your trip dates. There may be child bed surcharges for children younger than 7 years old, to be paid locally. The prices listed are per person.
Accommodation on South Tyrol Family Walking Tour
This tour is based in hotels and lodges. Hotels on this trip are 3 and 4-star hotels and inns that offer modern conveniences that can make this trip more pleasant.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
Standard rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel where possible. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.
What’s Included in the South Tyrol Family Walking Tour?
Meals
7 breakfasts are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 7 nights are included.
Transportation during the Tour
This tour includes 1 Train ride on the Vinschgaubahn from Schluderns to Kastelbell and luggage transfers where necessary, however, you are in charge of any other transfer or cable car ride.
Also Included
- Luggage transfer
- Carefully elaborated route description
- Welcome briefing (German, English)
- Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English)
- App for Navigation and GPS-data available
- Service hotline
Not included
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Visas if required
- Meals, drinks, or snacks not previously mentioned
- Guide services
- Tourist tax
- Transfers not mentioned as ‘included’.
Optional Extras
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Single occupancy upgrades
- Return to Reschen from Meran
- How hard is the South Tyrol Family Walking Tour?
- I’ve never been on a self-guided trip! How does it work?
- Is this tour run in English?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Italy?
- Are meals included on the South Tyrol Family Walking Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Reschen to start this tour?
- Where does the South Tyrol Family Walking Tour end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Italy?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Italy?
We rate this tour as a 2 / 5. This tour is not recommended for those younger than 8 years old. Basic fitness is required, children should be used to walking for a few hours at a time and have a bit of walking experience. The trail leads through well built footpaths, which often go along the ‘Waalwege’, the old irrigation channels. Some parts are on tarmac. Individual stages can be shortened by public transport.
Self-guided travelling is not difficult! For many, it is a preferred type of travel, since you are in charge of your own time and pace. You are provided with all the information you’ll need to follow the route each day and often have access to phone support or other kinds of assistance. However, self-guided travelling requires good navigation skills and those who don’t feel confident in unknown places should consider booking guided tours.
All tour information will be provided in English. German tour package is available as well.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
7 breakfasts are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover trekking. Get your travel insurance.
The easiest route to get to Reschen is by train to Landeck (North Tyrol) and by bus approx. 1.5 hours to Reschen. Another option would be by train via Bolzano and Meran to Mals (South Tyrol) and by bus to Reschen in approx. 30 minutes. The closest airports are Innsbruck or Munich.
The tour ends in Meran. You can book optional transfer back to Reschen
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
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