Hiking in Val Badia with mesmerising views amid rugged mountains and serene pastoral valleys
Meadows carpeted with incredibly colourful wild flowers
A rich variety of wildlife, including the distinctive marmot and chamois
Stay in the picture postcard alpine village of La Valle-Wengen
Superb culinary specialties, including delicious cheeses and outstanding wines
Val Badia Hiking
Self-guided walking holiday in the Dolomites
The Dolomites are universally acknowledged as one of the finest walking regions in the world. These southern limestone Alps, known for their dramatic cliffs and serene pastoral valleys, are crisscrossed by a web of excellent trails. The Val Badia is situated in an idyllic sunny valley surrounded by imposing limestone peaks and is often called “the heart of the Dolomites”. The valley has been inhabited since pre-Roman times and is one of the Dolomite valleys in which the Ladin language is still spoken.
On this quintessential Dolomite hiking holiday you will explore one of the most evocative places of the South Tyrol region. You will breath in the fresh mountain air as you walk to the gentle sounds of singing birds and babbling brooks, all the while marvelling at the jagged snow-capped peaks against the intense blue skies, perfectly reflected in the clear mountain lakes.
Your accommodation will consist of six nights in a delightful 3* hotel in the alpine village of La Valle-Wengen in a private ensuite room, and one night in the 3* equivalent Rifugio Fanes mountain hut in a private room. Both have superb mountain views and you will have ample opportunity to sample the region’s superb local cuisine, delicious cheeses and outstanding wines.
8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS | From €799 per person sharing*
*Discounts available for triple rooms. Please enquire for prices. |
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AVAILABILITY | You can start on any day of the week, subject to availability, between May 28th and October 10th. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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DIFFICULTY / TERRAIN | This week-long hike consists of moderate to demanding mountain walks on well-marked paths. Basic experience in mountain walking is recommended as well as a good general level of fitness and stamina. The paths are well maintained though sometimes stony or steep. Most walks can be extended or shortened. The altitude changes per day are between 500 and 1,300 m. |
Day 1: Arrive in La Valle/Wengen
The small, idyllic village of La Valle (Wengen in German) is situated amongst gentle mountain pastures in the nature park Fanes-Senes-Braies. It is architecturally characterised by traditional Ladin hamlets called “les Viles”. Listen out for the unique Ladinic language that you will hear spoken by the village residents.
Once you have settled in to your hotel, you can take a stroll to soak in the fresh mountain air and marvel at the extraordinarily beautiful surroundings of the Alta Badia.
Overnight: La Valle/Wengen
Day 2: Circular route via Crusc de Rit
Option 1
Distance: 12.7 km | Ascent: 745 m | Descent: 745 m | 5 hrs approx.
Option 2
Distance: 17.3 km | Ascent: 921 m | Descent: 921 m | 7 hrs approx.
Your first day’s walk takes you on a circular route from La Valle via the Sas de Crosta (Pares) mountain. Make sure to stop at the Crusc de Rit, from where you will enjoy panoramic views of the Val Badia to the south and the Valpusteria and Austrian peaks to the north.
As you continue along forest tracks and across wide pastures, you will have more exceptional views including the majestic rock faces of the Sas Dalesc Desc, the Sas Dales Nu and the Ju de Sant Antone.
If you feel like more of a challenge there is an option to take a longer route with larger ascents and descents.
Overnight: La Valle/Wengen
Day 3: Circular Walk Pederoa to Spizan
Distance: 13 km | Ascent: 772 m | Descent: 772 m | 5 hrs approx.
Today’s walk starts and ends in the village of Pederoa, 2 km from La Valle. You can either walk or take a local bus to the village. From Pederoa, you will gradually climb until you reach wide glades with stunning views over La Valle, as well as the neighbouring village of Longiarù and the majestic peak of Monte Putia. You descend from the Spizan peak along a good dirt road that follows the Gran Ega stream (the largest in Val Badia) back down to Pederoa.
Take a local bus or continue walking for a further 2 km back to your hotel.
Overnight: La Valle/Wengen
Day 4: Passo Valparola to Corvara
Distance: 15 km | Ascent: 572 m | Descent: 1181 m | 6 hrs approx.
After breakfast, a short private transfer is arranged to bring you to the start of today’s walk at the high mountain pass of Passo Valparola (2,168 m). Here begins an outstanding panoramic trail along the Sett Sass, eventually reaching the wide upland meadow of Pralongià from where you have extraordinary views of the peaks and the valleys of the Val Badia, with the Marmolada glacier as a backdrop.
Overnight: La Valle/Wengen
Day 5: La Valle to Fanes
Distance: 13.8 km | Ascent: 1278 m | Descent: 563 m | 6 hrs approx.
Today you will walk to the Rifugio Fanes, a charming and welcoming mountain hut located above the town of San Vigilio di Marebbe. This will be your accommodation for the night, so you will need to prepare your overnight things to carry with you in your day pack. Rooms are well-furnished and comfortable, and the owners offer traditional Ladin cuisine, as well as international dishes.
The route to Fanes is a gradual climb and then descent on stony footpaths. Along the way you will admire the rock faces of the Sasso delle Nove and a wonderful panoramic view of the Pares ridge and the Austrian peaks. The last uphill section is quite steep as far as the Ju De Sant Antone, but you will be rewarded with ample views on the valley and the Fanes-Senes-Braines Natural Park. Crossing the high pastures you reach Rifugio Fanes.
If you have any energy remaining it is well worthwhile continuing for 1 km to reach the lakes Lé Vërt and Limo.
Overnight: Fanes
Day 6: Fanes to La Valle
Distance: 20 km | Ascent: 790 m | Descent: 1511 m | 8 hrs approx.
A slightly steeper walk today, although this is compensated for by the scenery, which is once again majestic. Beginning with a peaceful woodland walk through the larch forest, you then climb to the pristine alpine lake Lech Parom. The landscape then changes, as the vast and majestic Fanes upland and prairies gradually give way to more rugged mountain scenery characterised by sheer vertical rocks, as you are surrounded by the typical limestone peaks of the Dolomites.
It is possible to avoid the steep climb by taking a more gradual trail and there is also the possibility to descend to Val di Medesc through a narrow and stony channel bringing you to La Crusc. The last stretch of your walk takes you back to La Valle, across the characteristic wide meadows of the Armentara.
Overnight: La Valle/Wengen
Day 7: Circular walk Longiarù – Rifugio Genova
Option 1
Distance: 13.4 km | Ascent: 950 m | Descent: 950 m | 5 hrs approx.
Option 2
Distance: 17 km | Ascent: 1100 m | Descent: 1100 m | 6 hrs approx.
Beginning with a short bus ride to Longiarù, your final walk takes you first along the flank of Monte Putia, the magnificent peak of which stands out even above the other great peaks of Val Badia. You continue beneath Passo Poma to reach the charming Rifugio Genova, before crossing wide prairies while marvelling at the stunning vistas of the peaks of Puez-Odle National Park and the Fanes massif. Finally, you return to Longiarù via the Seres Valley, passing a succession of ancient windmills as you go. Take the direct bus from Longiarù back to La Valle.
It is possible to shorten today’s walk by around 3 km by taking an alternative route.
Overnight: La Valle/Wengen
Day 8: Arrivederci La Valle!
Your walking holiday comes to an end after breakfast this morning, unless you have booked any additional services. Please see the location section for details of onward travel from La Valle.
Getting to La Valle
Tour Reviews
Turene fungerede helt fint. Jeg ankom med én dag i reserve for at vende mig til bjergvandring (igen) og den tyndere luft ved 2.000-metres højde. Jeg ankom på Dag 0 og brugte altså Dag 1 på at vandre en håndfuld timer på de velafmærkede stiger omkring den hyggelige La Valle (Wengen). Testede hermed navigation (inkl. GPX filer – se nedenfor), rygsæk, staver, støvler, o.l.
Hotel Pider varmt anbefales. Venlig familie foretagende, udmærket mad og service. Daglig madpakke var også en succes. Og hjemkomsten til 90-graders sauna, boble- samt dampbadene var dagens milepæl. Massør Marie (bestilles ekstra) er ekspert i at få sind og musklerne tilbage i spænd.
Wild Rover Travel har fundet en god italiensk samarbejdspartner og gav god støtte omkring turplanlægningen fx anskaffelsen af GPX filerne med alle relevante ture. Sammen med gratis app’en GPX Viewer var dette værktøj uundværlig, hvis man midlertidigt kom ud af kurs. Det gave tillige frihed til at improvisere på de fastlagte ruter. Da kortet ligger (i downloadede GPX filer) på telefonen, kræver det ingen netværksforbindelse en route.
Staverne var også uundværlige, esp. hvis man er lidt oppe i årene, da nogle af stierne er stejle: på vejen op bruges fire sæt muskler i stedet for to; på vejen ned, ud over aflastning af knæ, gav staverne stabilitet, fodfæste samt sikkerhed fx ved en meget stejl, diffus stykke af stien over rullende småsten (på ruten fra Fanes tilbage til La Valle).
Plan B: hvis der kommer gang-hæmmende skavanker sidst på dagen, overvej at ringe til omegnens velfunderende taxasystem, som henter en på de smalleste veje (4-hjulstræk vogne). For ikke meget mere end 20 Euro, fragter de ens møre krop tilbage til hotellet. Jeg brugte den muntre Engelbert (0039-335 7113557).
Jeg valgte et direkte fly fra CPH til Milano og brugte tid på de velsmurte norditalienske togskinner (Milano->Verona->Fortezza->Brunico, derefter med bus) i stedet for at sidde i en europæisk lufthavn og vente mange timer på flyforbindelsen til fx den nærmere liggende Innsbruck. Når højhastighedstoget (vi kyssede de 300 km/t) har krydset Po-dalen, bliver man efter Verona belønnet med en flot bjergtur igennem smukke vinmarker 🙂
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