From Reschen to Merano - suitable for all shoe sizes
More than 300 days of sunshine per year and wonderful views of the high peaks of the Ötztal and Ortler Alps. Everyone should put a hiking holiday in South Tyrol on their agenda! Above all, the popular Waalwege, as the trail is called, has few steep climbs as the pathways follow small streams. Previously, they were used to irrigate the fields, and today they make a unique water feature!
Details about the hiking holiday for families in South Tyrol
Spend eight days on lively hiking trails through the beautiful South Tyrol. You start in Reschen and wander to Burgeis along the wonderfully sparkling Reschensee. On day three in Schulderns you can smell the mountain air. High above Mals and along the Malser Oberwaals the hiking route runs over the Tartscher Bichl to the ‘Ganglegg’. To make the route less strenuous for tiny feet, day four is spent on the Vinschgaubahn (a train) to Kastelbell. In Naturns, and Partschnis to Meran there are plenty opportunities to take a dip in the cool water.
Highlights of the family hiking holiday at a glance:
The majestic Juval Castle: The private castle of Reinhold Messner in Val Venosta shows an exhibition under the name ‘Mythos Berg’. The impressive exhibition about mountain life is not the only thing worth seeing. The lovingly restored castle with elements from bygone days, mixed with glass-steel constructions is impressive!
Sail with the cable car: A varied network of paths await you in the Texelgruppe Natural Park. An extensive circular walk with breathtaking views follows a trip with the cable car. Be sure to try it out! (The cable car is not included in the Eurohike package).
Useful information about the family hiking holiday in South Tyrol
The family hiking holiday in South Tyrol not only promises impressive natural scenery and beautiful villages, but also time well spent with your loved ones! The route requires good basic fitness and a bit of hiking experience from young and old. Children should be used to walking for a few hours at a time. The trails lead along the Waalwege, the old irrigation systems and paved sections. Each day you and your family can enjoy a three to five-hour hike that provides ample opportunities for a number of breaks.
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.
Ascend by cable car into the mountains and explore the Texelgruppe nature park. Once you arrive up top, you can go on a circular tour, do the practice and family high-ropes course or just simply enjoy the view from the ‘Unterstell’ viewing platform. Would you prefer to have a break from walking? Then head to the fun park or visit one of the play areas or a certified Alpine spa holiday centre in South Tyrol.
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
Cable car ride Unterstell, approx. EUR 13 per adult and EUR 6 per child
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.