South Tyrol Hiking Adventure – Bolzano and Merano Discovery

Arrive in Bolzano / Bozen on your own (private transfer available on request) and check into your hotel. Bolzano (240m / 787') is the capital city of the province of South Tyrol (Südtirol in German and Ladin, Sudtirolo in Italian, and also known by its Italian name Alto Adige). The city sits in a valley, surrounded by green vistas. It’s quite something to gaze up from the main square of pretty Piazza Walther, at the forest-clad slopes and ridges of jagged limestone that surround it! The city center is traffic-free, so as you meander away from the piazza, you hear sparrows cheeping, coffee machines whirring, old women gossiping, cups and saucers clinking.

In the afternoon (time to be confirmed), meet a Dolomite Mountains representative who will provide a trip briefing and orientation, route maps and everything necessary for your self guided adventure.
Dinner at leisure in Bolzano.

In the morning, meet your local English-speaking guide for a trip briefing and orientation to discuss the activities available and to check the equipment necessary for your exciting days in Bolzano and its surroundings.
Today you'll discover the beauty of Renon and Bolzano. The area of Renon / Ritten, towering above Bolzano to the north, offers an impressive variety of landscapes, people, fauna, and flora.
This circular hike will take you to the famous Earth Pyramids, among the most celebrated natural features on the Renon / Ritten Plateau and the most photographed landscape in South Tyrol. The earth pyramids were formed naturally by the moraine clays deposited by the main Eisack valley glacier in the late ice age. The so-called 'pinnacles' are capped by large boulders creating unique structures and mushroom-like towers standing as high as 15m / 50'.
Overall, this hike includes some of the best spots on the Renon /Ritten plateau, with its flowery meadows and airy forests, opening up to wonderful views of the nearby Dolomites.
(~ 5 hours hiking 17,9 km / 11 miles, 475m / 1,558’ ascent and descent.)
Dinner at leisure in Bolzano.

In the morning, enjoy a visit to Bolzano town center with your guide.
Despite all of the outdoor opportunities this city offers, Bolzano's biggest attraction may be Ötzi: a mummy discovered in 1991. After spending 5,300 years frozen in mountain ice, he was found entirely by chance. Most intriguingly, he was murdered. You can see Ötzi at the Museum of Archaeology, where they keep him frozen at 21-degrees Fahrenheit (-6˚C). The chance to come face to face with a man who lived some 500 years before the building of the Pyramids makes the journey to Bolzano worthwhile alone! Depending on what time you arrive, spend the afternoon exploring the life of this mysterious mummy at the Museum of Archaeology.

In the afternoon, take a private transfer and enjoy a visit to one of the local wineries with a delicious wine tasting, followed by a transfer to your next destination, a luxurious mountain resort located at 1,500 meters (4,920') reachable by road and cablecar from Lana, the town below. The resort was entirely designed and built using solely renewable resources and offers a pleasant symbiosis of modern design and comfort.

After a hearty breakfast, take a spectacular hike to Monte San Vigilio/Vigiljoch 1,700m/5,576'. Monte San Vigilio is an untouched hikers paradise that offers peace, tranquillity, and a dramatic view of the Dolomites.
You should not miss a visit to San Vigilio's church, a magnificent reminder of medieval life in Sudtirol. Hike past a lake and to continue along the trail to one of the typical Tyrolean huts for a delicious hearty meal, with stunning views of Val Venosta and the Merano basin below. Return to your hotel and enjoy the superb facilities on offer.
(~3 hours hiking 8,2 km / 5 miles, 305m / 1,000' ascent and descent. Shorter option available.)

Another hiking adventure awaits you today. Hike along the wooded Naturno ridge that separates the Vinschgau/Venosta valley from Ultental/Ultimo valley. This hike is gorgeous in the fall when the larches have turned yellow and the bilberry shrubs glow red around the pasture. Enjoy a mouth-watering lunch at a typical alm; its panoramic terrace will not disappoint, and neither will the sumptuous traditional cooking. After lunch, begin your descent to Rio Lagundo cable car and take a private transfer to your hotel in Merano. Depending on the time of the day, you may have time to stroll through the charming, pedestrian town center.
(~3 hours hiking 8,8 km / 5,4 miles, 209m / 685' ascent, 680m / 2,230' descent.)

Located between the Ötztal Mountains in the Gruppo di Tessa and the vineyards of Val d'Adige, the city of Merano (324m / 1,063') is surrounded by mountains standing up to 3,335 meters (10,942 feet) above sea level, at the entrance to the Passeier/Passiria and the Vinschgau/Venosta valleys. 
A long tradition as a spa town has left its mark on Merano. The historical and contemporary styles of architecture are in perfect harmony along the Passer River: modern design hotels stand alongside traditional buildings from the Belle Epoque. The highlights of this feel-good holiday include the new Merano Thermal Baths spa complex and the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle botanical gardens.

The Salto High Plateau had once been a volcanic area and today reaches an altitude ranging between 1,100 and 1,500 meters (3,608-4,920'). Together with the Renon High Plateau, the Salto High Plateau is among the most important mountain ranges around Bolzano and Merano. It boasts rich mountain flora and several hiking and biking trails with panoramic views across to the Dolomites and nearby ranges.
A visit to "Stoanernen Mandln," or Little Stone Men is a must! Located almost at the top of the plateau, Stoaneren Mandln is so-called for the abundance of handmade rock towers with stunning 360-degree views over the neighboring mountain ranges.

Today's hike is long, though not particularly challenging, and extremely panoramic. Plus, at the end of your hike, you'll meet your driver and visit Europe's highest sparkling wine producer, located at an altitude of 1,200 meters (3,940') – certainly something to look forward to!
Discover the Italian Metodo Classico sparkling wine and unearth the century-old tradition. The family produces fruity, elegant sparkling wines from Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Noir grapes, using only the classical method of bottle fermentation. Take a private transfer to your hotel and enjoy some relaxation in Merano.
(~5-6 hours hiking 17 km / 10,5 miles, 428m / 1,404' ascent, 878m / 2,879' descent.)

Breakfast and departure on your own (private transfer available on request).