Hiking for the whole family - this tour is dedicated to adventures for big and small shoes. The exciting South Tyrol is ideal for a tour with children. Well rested and strengthened with a regional breakfast, you start a new adventure day after day between the Reschensee and the Mediterranean garden city of Merano.
Details about hiking in South Tyrol for families
The Reschensee is worth seeing and experiencing. It is widely known and a popular photo opportunity because of the church that protrudes from it in the middle. It is popular for sailing and windsurfing because of its first-class thermals. There are opportunities for swimming along the route in addition to the Reschensee, for example, in the Naturno adventure pool or the thermal baths in Merano.
South Tyrol also includes the numerous palaces and castles, several of which can be seen along the tour. In the famous Juval Castle, which is owned by Reinhold Messner, the “Messner Mountain Museum” can be visited. Panorama and adventure trails, wooden paths and a suspension bridge round off the hikes, which perfectly combine the historical and scenic treasures of the region.
Highlights of the hiking tour in South Tyrol for families
The hikes mostly lead along so-called Waalwege. The former irrigation pipes were used to irrigate the agricultural areas. They are particularly suitable for families, as cooling water for splashing around is always in the immediate vicinity.
Fragrant apple orchards and fertile grapevines along the way: Thanks to the more than 2,000 hours of sunshine per year, grapes and, above all, apples thrive in South Tyrol. While the parents can try a glass of the excellent wines at the stop, the kids can enjoy apple pie and strudel. A “win-win situation” - right?
Glittering lakes and massive mountains: From the Ortler Alps to the Texel Group and from the Reschensee to Lake Haider - the views are truly good here and the unique landscape invites you to go on many adventures.
Adventure hiking trails with lots of information about the legendary world of South Tyrol: the ‘Hexenhöhle’ (Witches' Cave), ‘Teufelsplatte’ (Devil's Plate), ‘Schalensteine’ (Shell Stones) - you can find out the history of the region in a particularly exciting way on so-called legend trails. These are available, for example, on the stage from Partschins or on the Sonnensteig. The sculptures and shapes make hiking an exciting experience not only for children.
Useful information about hiking in South Tyrol for families
Due to the different lengths of the tours (seven to 16 km), the leisure hike is suitable for all age and fitness levels. A trip on the Vinschgau Railway from Schluderns to Kastelbell lessens the route. Further shortcuts using public transport are possible.
Welcome to Vinschgau! The steel-blue Lake Reschen and its famous tower that pokes out of the water will make you feel welcome. Not only kitesurfers and other water sport fanatics splash around in this very welcoming lake. Enjoy your first hours in this border triangle region in the sun and take in the view of the mountains before you start your walk through the lush green South Tyrol tomorrow.
You leisurely walk along the magnificently glistening Lake Reschen and you can admire the former church tower poking out the dammed lake. Continue through St. Valentin, where you can take a detour on the Talai forest exploratory path with a treasure hunt. Afterwards you keep on walking along Lake Haider. In doing so, you can observe lots of ducks swimming in the lake from secluded places. From the South side, you walk further along the rippling Adige river until you get to Burgeis.
Let’s go along the ‘Sonnensteig’, an exciting irrigation channel path where you can find out a lot about the VInschgau mythological world. You keep getting fantastic views of the snowy mountain tops. You walk high up above Mals along the ‘Malser Oberwaal’ and you will go via the Tartscher Bichl to “Ganglegg”. Have a look through the most researched cave settlements from the Bronze and Iron Ages in the entire Alps. At the end of the day you cross impressive bridges and wooden steps over the gorge, which will bring you to today’s destination, Schluderns. Once there, it’s worth checking out the archeological finds from Ganglegg in the Vinschgau museum.
You start today with a journey on the Vinschgaubahn, which will take you through the colourful scenery in South Tyrol to Kastelbell. From there you walk on the Schnalser Waalweg in the shade thanks to the trees. You will go via Kastelbell towards Juval palace, which is owned by the one of the most famous mountaineers, Reinhold Messner. Of course you have time to go on a tour through the palace. Afterwards you walk uphill to Naturns via the windy path.
Jump into Naturns water park with giant slides. It is a great way to cool down before continuing with your walk. You will go along the ‘Schlossweg’ (palace path) from where you can enjoy another magnificent view, this time of Naturns. After this, you walk along the ‘Sonnenberger’ panoramic path. As the name suggests, you get breathtaking views over extensive orchards in the valley whilst the sun beats down on your face. Today finishes in a pleasantly adventurous manner via a suspension bridge to Partschins. This is the gateway to the Texelgruppe, which is South Tyrol’s largest nature park.
You start today in an amused manner going along the ‘Bergbach’ up to the ‘Sagenweg’ (legend path), which is an exciting exploratory path where you can once again learn lots about Vinschgau’s mystical mythological world. After this, you walk through sweet-smelling apple orchards and vineyards along one of the diverse forest paths to the Algunder Waalweg. You follow the calming bubbling Waalweg past more vineyards and you can enjoy the view across the Adige valley. Above the town you walk along the world famous Tappeiner promenade where palm trees and cacti grow before arriving at today’s destination and the end of your walk - the centre of Merano.
Today it is time to go home - or do you want to stay for longer and explore Merano, a cultured city with a mediterranean flair?
Tour character
Well built footpaths, which often go along the ‘Waalwege’, the old irrigation channels. Some parts are on tarmac. Individual stages can be shortened by public transport.
1 Train ride on the Vinschgaubahn from Schluderns to Kastelbell
Carefully elaborated route description
Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English)
App for Navigation and GPS-data available
Service hotline
Optional extras
Return transfer by minibus from Meran to Reschen every Saturday, Sunday and Monday, costs EUR 69 per person, EUR 29 per dog, reservation is necessary, to be paid for in advance.
Infos
Arrival/Parking/Departure
By train to Landeck (North Tyrol) and by bus approx. 1.5 hours to Reschen. Or by train via Bolzano and Meran to Mals (South Tyrol) and by bus to Reschen in approx. 30 minutes.
Innsbruck or Munich airport.
Parking: parking spaces available, approx. EUR 5 per day, no reservation. Parking spaces near the hotel are free of charge and unguarded.
Return journey from Meran to Mals with the Vinschgaubahn (approx. 1.5 hours) and from there in approx. 30 minutes to Reschen.
Things to note
Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price
Special dates on request
Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!
Unsere Familie liebte diesen Wanderurlaub. Am Anfang hatten wir zwar unsere Bedenken, da wir zum ersten Mal mit unseren Kindern einen Wanderurlaub machten. Doch bereits nach der ersten Wanderungen war klar, dass dieser Urlaub die richtige Entscheidung war. Ein tolles Abenteuer für die gesamte Familie. Wir werden auf jeden Fall bald wieder eine Familienreise buchen.