Skip to Main Content
Road Scholar logo
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.
WishlistShare
Start
  • 3331-alpine-walking-austria-italy1-lghoz.jpg
  • 3331-alpine-walking-austria-italy-2c.jpg
  • 3331-alpine-walking-austria-italy-1c.jpg
  • 3331-alpine-walking-austria-italy-tyrol-c.jpg
  • 3331-alpine-walking-austria-italy-c.jpg
  • 3331-alpine-walking-austria-italy-alps-lgHoz.jpg
Walking/HikingOutdoor AdventuresSmall Group
Length
14 days
Rating (4.76)
Activity Level
Starts at
4,949
Flights start at
1,050

Enroll with Confidence

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more

Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

Itinerary
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. Read More.
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.
Duration
14 days
13 nights
What's Included
33 meals ( 12B, 11L, 10D )
4 expert-led lectures
17 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
12 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Expand All
Activity Note
Getting on/off motorcoach, riding up to 3 hours. Hotel check-in available at 2:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
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 3:15 p.m. for a short orientation walk around this delightful village. Orientation: 5:30 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. Weather conditions can change rapidly and be very unpredictable in alpine areas, so the route or itinerary may need to be adjusted at any time. All changes are made with the safety and well-being of the group in mind. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
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 940 feet, descent of 630 feet.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will set out from the hotel (3900 ft) on foot to begin our hike to Wildmoos. The trail continues to a splendid viewpoint on Brunschkopf (4840 ft) overlooking Karwendel Nature Park and Ziller Valley Glacier Peaks. From there, the trail leads us down to Lake Mösern (4210 ft).
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.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
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 bus stop to take the bus to the entrance of the Gorge of the Spirits (3028 ft). 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. We will continue with a descent and stroll through the picturesque Bavarian town of Mittenwald.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will take a circular hike up to Lake Ferchensee (3480 ft) at the foot of the Wetterstein Mountains. Along our hike, we’ll have views into the Bavarian Alpine forelands. At the conclusion of our hike, we will take the train and return to Seefeld. After taking some time to freshen up, we will gather for a lecture by a local expert about the Geography and History of Tyrol.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off public bus; riding approx. 1 hour; Hiking up to 5 miles, approx. 3.5 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 public transportation to the Almparadies Gaistal Nature Reserve Area (3940 ft) for today’s hike. We’ll hike on well-maintained trails, 300 feet above the mountain stream Leutascher Ache, to reach the Gaistalalm (4482 ft). 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 public bus to Seefeld.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach, riding about 20 miles, approx. 30 minutes driving time; Hiking up to 4.5 miles, approximately 3 hours; Natural trails, including tree roots and rocks; Total ascent/descent 1000 feet.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After breakfast, we will transfer by private motorcoach to the Patscherkofel Cable Car station in Igls. From there, we will take the cable car to the summit where we will hike along well-maintained trails at an elevation of 2,00 meters (6,500 ft). As we walk, we’ll be surrounded by Swiss stone pine forests, which give the trail its name. Along the way, we’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the Alps, the Innsbruck Valley, and the majestic Tyrolean Mountains.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will continue hiking before taking a chairlift and cable car back down to the valley. If weather permits, we’ll hike from the cable car’s middle station to the valley. We will return to the hotel via private motorcoach.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
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 (4040 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.
Activity Note
Getting on/off motorcoach; Hiking up to 7 miles, approx. 4 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 (6657 ft) and to Juac Hut (6224 ft), which is situated on a picturesque plateau.
Lunch:
At a local inn.
Afternoon:
Continue the hike to the hamlet Daunei (5480 ft), a small mountain village, and continue further down to Wolkenstein. We will board our motorcoach and return to St. Ulrich.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach, riding about 1.5 hours, over 22 miles; Hiking up to 8 miles, approx. 4.5 hours; Narrow, stony, and sometimes gentle mountain trails; Ascending 850 feet, descending 1950 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). Here, we start our hike ascending along the trail to Comici hut with splendid views of the Sassolongo Group. 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 will go on easy loop hike in the forest before we take a private motorcoach back to St. Ulrich.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off motorcoach; Riding about 46 miles, approx. 2 hours total; Up to 2 miles of walking through town and in the museum.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After breakfast, we will board our motorcoach and go to Bolzano (859 feet), the capital of South Tyrol. Upon arrival, we will be joined by a local expert for a guided walk through the town. We will then 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:
Free time. Take this time to see and do what interests you most in Bolzano. Please refer to the Free Time activities, or the Group Leader would be happy to offer suggestions. We will meet at a predetermined time and location to board our motorcoach back to St. Ulrich.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
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 (5700 ft), where we can overlook the largest high Alm in the Alps, and enjoy views of our high alpine route Sella Langkofel. From there, we will hike through hills and meadows to Sanon Alpine Hut (6000 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.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a cog-wheel train, approximately 1 hours riding time; Hiking up to 5.5 miles, approximately 3 hours; natural trails; Ascending/decending approx. 750 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 Rasciesa/Raschötz (6700 ft). From here we will start our hike through the Nature Park Puez/Geisler gently uphill, enjoying spectacular views of Seceda (top geological viewpoint) and the Geisler/Puez climbing towers. The trail will take us to Rasciesa Cross and a short downhill to Rasciesa Alm.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will hike back to the top station of the Rasciesa cog-wheel train and take the train back to the Valley station. From here, we will 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.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 190 miles, approx. 4.5 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 begin our transfer to Munich with a stop in Innsbruck. Upon arrival to Innsbruck, we will be joined by a local expert for a guided walk through the capital of Tyrol.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, take a little time to explore Innsbruck on your own before we meet at a predetermined time and place to board the motorcoach and complete our transfer to Munich. After checking in, take some time to freshen up and relax before we meet for dinner.
Dinner:
At the hotel. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for departures in the morning.
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!
Please select a day to update the map
Map details are not available for this location.





Recommended For You