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Austria/Italy

Alpine Hiking in Austria and Italy

Program No. 3331RJ
Traverse scenic paths through the magnificent Alps, discovering rich history, traditional villages and stunning alpine flora and fauna in some of Europe’s most pristine natural beauty.

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Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
May 21 - Jun 3, 2024
Starting at
4,499
Jun 4 - Jun 17, 2024
Starting at
4,499
Jun 11 - Jun 24, 2024
Starting at
4,499
Jun 18 - Jul 1, 2024
Starting at
4,499
Sep 10 - Sep 23, 2024
Starting at
4,499
Sep 17 - Sep 30, 2024
Starting at
4,499
Filling Fast!
Sep 24 - Oct 7, 2024
Starting at
4,499
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
May 21 - Jun 3, 2024
Starting at
4,839
Jun 4 - Jun 17, 2024
Starting at
4,839
Filling Fast!
Jun 11 - Jun 24, 2024
Starting at
4,839
Jun 18 - Jul 1, 2024
Starting at
4,839
Sep 10 - Sep 23, 2024
Starting at
4,839
Sep 17 - Sep 30, 2024
Starting at
4,839
Sep 24 - Oct 7, 2024
Starting at
4,839

At a Glance

Explore the unparalleled beauty of two regions on opposite sides of the Alps: the Tyrol in Austria and the South Tyrol in Italy. Unearth similarities and contrasts in their culture, history, environment and architecture as you immerse yourself in the splendid beauty of the Dolomite mountain valley and gain appreciation for these two varied and unique cultures.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Spirited
Hiking 4-10 miles daily on varied terrain; mountains, small trails that are mainly gravel and dirt, fields and meadows that have small stones. Sturdy walking/hiking shoes are required. Elevations up to 7,286 feet.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Explore the magnificent Tyrol regions of Austria and Italy to discover their cultural similarities and differences.
  • Discover the Europa's oldest known natural human mummy, "Otzi," (the Iceman).
  • Go on walking lectures that highlight the botany of the Dolomites -- including herbs and their healing powers.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
La Nouvelle Heloise
by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Rousseau may be best known for his political philosophy, but in this novel we see his softer side. This is the passionate story told through the letters of two lovers in a small town at the foot of the Alps.
Schlepping Through the Alps, My Search for Austria's Jewish Past with Its Last Wandering Shepherd
by Sam Apple
A hilarious and touching exploration of history, tradition and sheep. This account of travels in Austria with Hans Breuer, a shepherd who sings Yiddish folk songs to his sheep, is admittedly a comic quest, but it also delves into some of the darker corners of Austria's history in World War II.
Medusa, An Aurelio Zen Mystery
by Michael Dibdin
In this ninth book in the thoroughly enjoyable Aurelio Zen series, our worldly detective investigates a mysterious corpse in a long-abandoned military tunnel in the Dolomites.
Killing Dragons, The Conquest of the Alps
by Fergus Fleming
Fleming spins lively tales of man against nature in this entertaining history of the eccentrics, adventurers and publicity-hounds who sought to conquer the Alps, including Whymper and his first ascent of the Matterhorn 150 years ago.
The Habsburg Empire, A New History
by Pieter M. Judson
With a fresh approach to the Habsburgs' legacy, this panoramic history revises commonly held perspectives on the empire's effectiveness and its echoes in Europe today.
Walking in the Dolomites
by Gillian Price
A comprehensive walker's guide to the Dolomites geared to a wide variety of difficulty levels. Illustrated with photographs and maps.
The White War: Life and Death on the Italian Front
by Mark Thompson
Thompson's history captures the drama, nationalist frenzy and pathos of WWI. The historian also traces the nearly forgotten, brutal three-year struggle to capture the Isonzo River sector in the rugged Alps and Dolomites from the Austro-Hungarian Empire in this epic history.
Alps Map
by Freytag & Berndt
This regional map (1:500,000), centered on the Alps, includes portions of Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and France.
Cuisines of the Alps
by Kay Shaw Nelson
Subtitled "Recipes, Drinks, and Lore from France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Italy, Germany, Austria, and Slovenia," this colorful tour of the region's rustic cuisine offers more than 140 recipes, a section on regional wines and historical information.
Scrambles Amongst the Alps: In the Years 1860-69
by Edward Whymper
Edward Whymper's classic account of Victorian-era mountaineering captures the geography, beauty and allure of the Alps.
Iceman: Uncovering the Life and Times of a Prehistoric Man Found in an Alpine Glacier
by Brenda Fowler
The complete story of the discovery of and controversy surrounding the frozen corpse of a prehistoric man found in the Tyrolian Alps.
Eiger Dreams, Ventures Among Men and Mountains
by Jon Krakauer
A collection of some of Krakauer's (Into Thin Air) best journalism, these stories and essays focus on the mindset and determination of world-class mountaineers, including Alpine and Himalayan climbers.
Homestead
by Rosini Lippi
Set firmly in a small village in the Austrian Alps, these 12 interlinking stories are almost ethnographic in their rich detail of small town life. The stories range from the turn-of-the-century to the present, accurately charting change in the remote village.
The Austrians, A Thousand-Year Odyssey
by Gordon Brook-Shepherd
Detailed, impressively researched and readable, this book is a wide-ranging narrative history of the last 1,000 years of Austria and the Austrian character.
The Alps, A Cultural History
by Andrew Beattie
Beattie explores the turbulent past and vibrant present of the Alps, where early pioneers of tourism, mountaineering and scientific research have each left their mark.





Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.