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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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.

What You'll Learn

  • 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.
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While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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14 days
13 nights
33 meals
12 B 11 L 10 D
DAY
1
In Transit
In Flight
DAY
2
Arrive, Transfer to Seefeld, Check-in, Welcome Dinner
Seefeld
D
Hotel Seelos

Activity note: Driving transfer to Seefeld is about 100 miles, with an approximate driving time of up to 3 hours. Hotel check-in available at 2:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).

Lunch: Explore local fare on your own in Seefeld.

Afternoon: Hotel check-in is available at 2:00 p.m. We may store our luggage at the front desk while we explore the area on our own while we wait for our rooms to become available. After checking into the hotel and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax. For those that arrive in time, we will meet our Group Leader at 3:00 p.m. for a short orientation walk around this delightful village. Orientation: 5:00 PM The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Our knowledgeable Group Leader and local experts will conduct the educational program including hikes and walking field trips. Program related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach, public bus, and other methods of public transportation where noted. Meals will be provided at the hotel and local restaurants unless otherwise noted. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: Welcome dinner at the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
3
Wildmoosalm & Lake Mösern, Austria
Seefeld
B,L,D
Hotel Seelos

Activity note: Getting on/off public bus, riding approx. 5 minutes, over 3 miles. Hiking up to 7 miles, approx. 4 hours; Natural trails with tree roots and rocks; Total ascent of 900 feet, descent of 1100 feet.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will set out from the hotel on foot to begin our hike to Wildmoos. The trail continues to a splendid viewpoint on Brunschkopf (4500ft) overlooking Karwendel Nature Park and Ziller Valley Glacier Peaks. From there, the trail leads us down to Lake Mösern (4300 feet).

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: After lunch, we will enjoy looks into the Inn Valley and get a glance of its peace bell, the largest freestanding bell in the Alps and is rung every day at 5:00 p.m. to celebrate good relations and peace in the region. At the end of our field hike, we will take a public bus back to Seefeld. After taking some time to freshen up, we will gather for a lecture by a local expert about current affairs in Austria.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
4
Bavarian Lakes, Gorge of the Spirits, & Mittenwald, Germany
Seefeld
B,L,D
Hotel Seelos

Activity note: Getting on/off public bus, Getting on/off train, ride up to 1 hour. Hiking up to 6 miles, approx. 4 hours; Natural trails, including tree roots and rocks, and on iron bridges; Total ascent 950 feet.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After breakfast, we will meet in the hotel lobby and set out on foot to the local train station and depart by train to Mittenwald. Upon arrival, we’ll stroll through this picturesque Bavarian town before taking a short ride on a local bus to Lake Ferchensee. There, at the foot of the Wetterstein Mountains, we will begin our hike to a local hut. Along our hike, we’ll have views into the Leutasch Valley, Karwendel Nature Park, and the Bavarian Alpine forelands.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: After lunch, we will continue our hike down a steep descent to the entrance of the Gorge of the Spirits. From here we will follow the trail built into the walls of the Gorge. This path leads over spectacular bridges and overlooks the Leutascher Ache water course. At the conclusion of this hike, we will return to Seefeld via train.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
5
Circular Hike Gaistal Valley
Seefeld
B,L
Hotel Seelos

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; riding about 30 miles, approx. 1.5 hours; Hiking up to 5 miles, approx. 4 hours; Natural trails through forests with tree roots and rocks; Total ascent and descent 800 feet.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will set off by private coach to the Almparadies Gaistal Nature Reserve Area for today’s hike. We’ll hike on well-maintained trails, 300 feet above the mountain stream Leutascher Ache, to reach the Gaistalalm. From here, weather permitting, we can enjoy fantastic views of the mountain ranges Mieminger Kette and Wettersteingebirge, which includes Zugspitze (Germany’s highest peak).

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: After lunch, we will start our descent via the “Ludwig-Ganghoferweg” circular trail back to the bus station, Leutasch Gaistal Salzbach, where we will transfer via private coach to Seefeld.

Dinner: On your own.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
6
Seefelder Peak
Seefeld
B,L,D
Hotel Seelos

Activity note: Getting on/off a cog-wheel train; Hiking up to 5 miles, approximately 3.5 hours; Natural trails, including tree roots and rocks; Total ascent/descent 800 feet.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will depart the hotel on foot and walk to the Valley Station where we will take the cog-wheel train to Rosshütte, (4600 ft.) and from there a cable car to Saddle of Seefeld (6800 ft.) Upon arrival to Saddle of Seefeld, we will begin our hike to Seefelder Peak along the ridge.

Lunch: Picnic lunch at the Peak.

Afternoon: Enjoy fantastic views as we hike back along the same trail and return to the top station to take the cable car and cog-wheel train back to the Valley Station.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
7
Transfer from Seefeld to St. Ulrich, Italy, in the Dolomites
St. Ulrich
B,L,D
Hotel Sureghes

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach, riding approx. 87 miles, about 2.5 hours; Walking up to 2 miles, approx. 1.5 hours; Urban streets, sidewalks, and cobblestones.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After breakfast, we will check out of the hotel and depart by private coach to St. Ulrich (4060 feet) in the Dolomites; entering Italy through the Brennero pass. We will stop in the medieval town of Bressanone/Brixen and visit the historic town center and the 12th-century Duomo with its 14th-century frescoes guided by a local art historian. Learn about the history of this ancient transit route over the Alps from Germany to Italy.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: We will continue on our journey and arrive in St. Ulrich. After checking in to the hotel, we will enjoy an expert-led lecture at the Museum de Gherdeina about Ladin culture and language, Art and Geology.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
8
Col Raiser, Dolomites, Italy
St. Ulrich
B,L,D
Hotel Sureghes

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; Hiking up to 9.5 miles, approx. 5.5 hours; Natural trails, mostly gentle descending. Ascending 430 feet, descending 2230 feet.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After breakfast, we will board our motorcoach and transfer to the valley station of the Col Raiser Cable Car where we will head up to the mountain station (6900 feet). Today, enjoy a lovely hike with views into the heart of the Dolomites. Hike along the valley trail through alpine pine forests to a lake in the Cisles Valley. Through the pine forests, the trail leads to the Regensburger Hut and to Juac Hut, which is situated on a picturesque plateau.

Lunch: At a local inn.

Afternoon: Continue the hike to the hamlet Daunei, a small mountain village, and continue further down to Wolkenstein. From there, the circular hike leads us back to the valley station of the Col Raiser railway in the St. Christina municipality. We will board our motorcoach and return to St. Ulrich.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
9
Sella and Langkofel, Dolomites, Italy
St. Ulrich
B,L,D
Hotel Sureghes

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach, riding about 1.5 hours, over 22 miles; Hiking up to 10 miles, approx. 6 hours; Narrow, stony, and sometimes gentle mountain trails; Ascending 820 feet, descending 1640 feet.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After breakfast, we will board our motorcoach and ride to the Sellajoch where we reach the Dolomite Pass (7350 feet) from where we start the hike ascending the trail along Langkofel on to Sandro Pertini hut. The mountain trail leads us to the Alm of Sasso Plato, where we enjoy a delicious local meal prepared by organic farmers.

Lunch: At a local Alm.

Afternoon: After lunch we go on an uphill walk before we start our descent to Monte Pana from where we take a private motorcoach back to St. Ulrich.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
10
Bolzano, Italy
St. Ulrich
B,L
Hotel Sureghes

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; Riding about 23 miles, approx. 1 hour; Up to 2 miles of walking through town and in the museum.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Enjoy a free morning in St. Ulrich. In the late morning, we take our motorcoach (approx. 1.2 hours) to Bolzano (859 feet), the capital of South Tyrol. Visit the Archaeological Museum, known for its 5000-year-old mummy Ötzi, who was found in the glaciers on the Austrian - Italian border. Enjoy the museum at your own pace.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: After the museum visit we will take a short stroll through the old town. After that we take a private motorcoach back to St. Ulrich.

Dinner: On your own.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
11
Alpe di Suisi, Nature Park Schlern-Rosengarten
St. Ulrich
B,L,D
Hotel Sureghes

Activity note: Getting on/off a cable car; circular hike about 6 miles, approximately 4.5 hours; natural trails; Approx. ascent 800 feet.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will start with a short walk from our hotel to the Seceda cable car valley station. We will take the cable car from St. Ulrich to Mont Seuc (6600 ft) where we will enjoy a magnificent view and then descend to the Contrini hut, where we can overlook the largest high Alm in the Alps, and enjoy views of our high alpine route Sella Langkofel. From there we continue to the Alpine lodge Ritsch and hike down grassy mountainsides to Saltria (5600 ft) From there, we will hike up through hills and meadows to Sanon Alpine Hut (5900 ft), where we enjoy a delicious lunch with splendid views.

Lunch: At a local restaurant

Afternoon: After lunch, we will hike back up to the top station of Mont Seuc and take the cable car back to St. Ulrich. Upon return to the hotel, take some time to freshen up and relax before we meet for dinner.

Dinner: At the hotel, we will enjoy dinner along with some entertainment from local performers.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
12
Nature Park Puez, Flitzer Scharte
St. Ulrich
B,L,D
Hotel Sureghes

Activity note: Getting on/off a cog-wheel train, approximately 1 hours riding time; Hiking up to 10 miles, approximately 5.5 hours; natural trails; Ascending 469 feet, decending 2017 feet.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will set out on foot and walk to the Valley Station where we will board the cog-wheel train to Rascoesa/Raschötz (6300 ft). From here we will start our hike through the Nature Park Puez/Geisler gently uphill to the Paso di Brogles (Brogles Sattel). From there, enjoy spectacular views of Seceda (top geological viewpoint) and the Geisler/Puez climbing towers. A short downhill walk takes us to Brogles Alm (Malga).

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: We will continue our hike along a circular trail that takes us to Flitzer Scharte/Forc di Valluza, with views into the neigboring Vilnöss Valley. From there, we will hike back to the top station of the Rasciesa cog-wheel train where we will take the train back to the Valley Station and walk back to the hotel. Take some time to freshen up and relax before we gather for dinner.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
13
Innsbruck, Austria
Innsbruck
B,L,D
Hotel Grauer Bar

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 87 miles, approx. 2.5 hours riding time; Walking up to 2 miles, approx. 2 hours; urban streets and sidewalks, cobblestones.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After breakfast, we will check-out of hotel and board a motorcoach for our transfer to Innsbruck. Upon arrival, we will enjoy an expert-led city excursion through the capital of Tyrol.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: After lunch, we will go to our hotel for check-in. The rest of the afternoon is free until dinner.

Dinner: Farewell dinner in a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for departures in the morning.

DAY
14
Departures
In Flight
B

Activity note: Breakfast is served from 6:30-10:30 a.m. Hotel check-out 12:00 p.m., See your program's "Getting There" information regarding transfers.

Breakfast: At the hotel. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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