3
moderate

Traveller Rating

 

Activities
  • self guided walk
Accommodation
  • hotel
  • b&b
Meals
  • 7 Breakfasts

8 Days£1140GBP

View Inclusions

Overview

Trip Code: JCD

South Tirol - The Chestnut Trail Trip highlights

  • Captivating views, wild open spaces, mountain lakes, jagged peaks
  • Be surrounded by the Dolomites & Italian Alps
  • Delicious Italian cuisine, including cheeses, (chestnut) mushrooms & speck
  • Walk in Trentino Alto Adige; an area with ancient Italian-Germanic culture
  • Novacello Abbey (also known as Neustifft Abbey) and its renowned white wines
  • Hiking through woods, alpine meadows & vineyards

Wander in the beautiful South Tirol, the heart of the Trentino Alto Adige region, where German and Italian culture combine in harmony. This perfectly put together itinerary follows the "Chestnut Trail", a route highlighting the Dolomites Mountains, offering spectacular views of the landscape dotted with castles, farms and ancient abbeys. It will take you through orchards and vineyards where some of the best wines in Italy are produced. Pass through charming villages like Chiusa, home to artists and poets, as well as vibrant cities like Bolzano; the gate to the Dolomites.

Countries:

Italy

Starting Point:

Bressanone

Finishing Point:

Bolzano

Itinerary

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Your trip starts with an arrival in Bressanone (via Innsbruck or Bolzano airports plus a train journey). It's a vibrant, lively city and the oldest of the whole Tyrol. If you arrive early, take the chance to stroll through its colourful alleys and visit the frescoed rooms of the bishop's palace.

Meals:  Nil

Take a short bus ride to the Augustinian monastery of Novacella, which is well known for its locally produced white wine. You will then follow dirt tracks and countryside paths among woods and vineyards to eventually arrive in Velturno, rich in chestnut trees.

Meals:  B

Today's walk entails a variety of charming sights such as the Sabiona Monastery; the spiritual heart of the Tyrol area, perched on the top of a steep cliff; Chiusa, home to artists and poets, among the most beautiful Italian hamlets; and lastly, Barbiano, a nice village located on the banks of River Isarco.

Meals:  B

You will walk through woods and orchards taking you to the picturesque village of Collalbo. This is a hikers' paradise located on the Renon plateau , well-known ski centre. Opt for the detour walk to see a rock with prehistoric signs.

Meals:  B

A panoramic walk will take you along the Renon plateau which runs through forests and typical Alpine meadows. On your way you skirt the nice Kematen Lake and the typical earth pyramids; cone-shaped formations created by moraine silt that was brought here by melting Ice Age glaciers. You will end your walk with a scenic train ride from Renon back to Collalbo.

Meals:  B

Your walk today will take you through orchards, forests and cultivated fields, in a countryside filled with castles, manor houses and farms. You'll finish your walk at Castel Roncolo (Runkelstein Castle) from where you'll take a bus to Bolzano. The town showcases both Italian and Austrian cultures as well as many artistic beauties. (Please check the last bus to Bolzano so you don't miss this, but you can also walk the whole way into Bolzano)

Meals:  B

Start your day with a bus ride from Bolzano to Siusi, you then take a a cable car to the Compatsch: your walk starts here. This is a circular walk along the biggest Alpine plateau in Europe, passing through mountain huts and small hamlets, offering magnificent views of the jagged peaks of the Dolomites. The walk leads you back to Compatsch, from where a ride in cable car and bus takes you back to Bolzano.

Meals:  B

Your trip ends after breakfast.

Meals:  B

Map

Elevation

The map and elevation chart are for illustrative purposes only and meant to provide general guidelines.
On self guided trips, actual route information provided before departure will be more detailed.

Inclusions

What's included

  • 7 breakfasts
  • 7 nights accommodation in 3-4* hotels on twin share basis with ensuite facilities
  • Luggage transfer
  • Digital information kit & navigational app
  • Emergency hotline
  • Ritten Card (valid for 3 days)

  • Dinners, lunches & beverages
  • Bus and train journeys at the beginning and end of the tour
  • During the tour, transfers by bus or cable car
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal expenses such as laundry and phone calls
  • Unscheduled transfers required during the trip
  • City tax - locally payable to the accommodations
  • A supplement will apply if you are travelling solo or book a single room
  • Guide - this is a self guided holiday

Accommodation

Hotels

Stay in a selection 3* and 4* hotels and B&B’s. Some hotels also have swimming pool. All rooms have en-suite facilities. Throughout the trip, there are plenty of opportunities to taste both the great local food and a wide array of prestigious wines of the Alto Adige region in Italy.

Suitability

moderate

3

Moderate (Grade 3) - The whole itinerary is mostly on surfaced and unsurfaced roads, countryside tracks and paths. Several walks have shorter options.

Departure dates

Daily from 1 May to 25 October

Notes

M
Mid Season
H
High Season
P
Peak Season Supplement
Note:
Mid Season is 25 Jun-6 Jul & 11-25 Oct. High Season is 7-29 Jul & 1 Sep - 10 Oct. Peak Season is from 30 Jul - 31 Aug. A supplement applies for a departure in these seasons.

Priceper person from

£1140GBP

Options & Supplements*
  • Single SupplementGBP£160
  • Mid, High & Peak Season Single SupplementGBP£190
  • Solo Traveller SupplementGBP£320
  • Mid, High & Peak Season Solo Traveller SupplementGBP£350
*Prices listed are per person

Frequently Asked Questions

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There is no Via Ferrata climbing on iron ways involved in our trip. Trails however can be loose in places after snow with gravel washouts and care needs to be taken at certain times.

The weather in the Dolomites is often stable and clear during the period that we run this walking tour. Normally it is drier than the Italian Alps further north and west, however humid Mediterranean air from the Gulf of Venice can bring instability and afternoon thunderstorms are quite common.

Yes, we will provide GPX files of the walks in the Dolomites that we have set out for you. These files need to be interpreted with care and the performance of GPS can be affected by cliffs and rain etc.

Hiking poles are very useful on the steep descents and for loose scree sections when you're walking in the Dolomites.

Travelling to Bressanone involves a train journey from either Bolzano Airport or Innsbruck Airport. From Campitello at the end of your tour, there is a limited bus service to Trento (allow 3 hours), then train to Venice. We would recommend an extra stay in Venice.

South Tirol - The Chestnut Trail Trip reviews

Why travel with us

Personal Experience

We've been walking and cycling the planet for over four decades and are passionate about delivering exceptional service. Combined, we’ve travelled to virtually every corner of Europe, and are eager to share the many benefits of travelling on foot or by bike.

Great Value & Quality

Our well priced trips offer great value for money. Included in your package are comprehensive route notes, maps & guide books along with bag transfers and locally run accommodation. We take the stress out of organising your holiday.

Self-Guided Specialists

We have been operating active self guided holidays since 1973. We handle all the necessary logistics so that you can relax and explore your destination at your own pace. Many of our tours depart daily, giving you even greater flexibility.