Meran to Lake Garda

Your adventure begins in the renowned spa town of MeranMerano, where you'll embark on a captivating journey through vineyards and orchards, passing by historic castles and glistening lakes, all while visiting charming spots offering some of the most breathtaking vistas. The South Tyrol and Trentino mountain ranges are truly captivating, showcasing turquoise lakes, expansive plateaus, deep river valleys, and awe-inspiring canyons. The imposing peaks of the Dolomites accompany you, providing a profound sense of the rugged, isolated, and steep alpine world of these majestic giants.

As you journey through Trentino, you'll encounter mountain villages with winding narrow streets and picturesque stone houses, setting the scene before your final destination, Lake Garda. Nestled amidst towering cliffs and surrounded by olive groves, cypresses, and fig trees, you'll be immersed in a Mediterranean ambience. Sipping cappuccino and indulging in gelato along the shores of the deep blue lake, you'll relish in the sentiment, 'La vita é bella!'

The hike from Merano to Lake Garda offers an ideal experience for hikers torn between the allure of the mountains and a Mediterranean lifestyle. Day by day, step by step, the landscape transforms during this 8-day hiking tour from South Tyrol to Trentino. Initially, rugged Dolomite rocks and lush meadows dominate the scenery, but soon, pine trees yield to cypress and olive trees. By the time you reach Lake Garda, you'll look back on a week filled with diverse and rewarding experiences.

Details about the hiking tour in South Tyrol and Trentino

This luggage-free hiking tour between Merano and Lake Garda offers you all kinds of surprises, which will make you remember this week for a long time. Have you ever eaten a Vinschgau apple? Or have you already strolled through the narrow streets of Trentino?

The highlights of this walking holiday at a glance:

• Impressive Dolomites: The rugged rock formations of the Dolomites are a real contrast to the lush greenery of the meadows.

• South Tyrolean Wine Route: One winery after another can be found on the South Tyrolean Wine Route between Nals and Salurn. Stop where you would like to taste original grape varieties such as Gewürztraminer, Vernatsch and Lagrein.

• Mediterranean lifestyle on Lake Garda: Cappuccino, gelato and a pinch of "dolce far niente" welcome you to Riva del Garda, your final destination of this trip.

Worth knowing about the walking tour to Riva del Garda

The walking holiday begins in the historic spa town of Merano, where you can still feel the traces of Empress Sissi. On the following days, you will walk south in short and long stages. The daily tours are between 10 and 18 kilometres long and require good basic condition, especially on longer climbs. 

The Trentino card is included in the comprehensive travel papers, with which you receive numerous discounts and free access to various facilities in the local area.

Route summary

You walk along well-maintained hiking paths, on ‚Waalwege’-paths and in some sections on forest roads and hiking trails. A good basic fitness level is required for daily walking between 3 and 6 hours and in parts longer ascents. Options for shortcuts to daily tours are possible by bus. A diverse hiking holiday for people who love hiking paths with a view.

This tour has been graded as Challenging. Find out more about our walking holiday difficulty levels.

Read a detailed day-by-day tour report of the Meran to Lake Garda hiking holiday on our Active on Holiday blog.