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This wonderful circular hike begins in Merano, the gateway to South Tyrol’s largest nature park – the impressive Texel Group. High above the valley, the Merano High Route winds through a spectacular mountain landscape, offering breathtaking views that will make you stop again and again. From here, you can gaze out over the Merano Basin, the Venosta Valley, and the Passiria Valley – a true fireworks display of panoramas.

One of the absolute highlights of the tour is the ascent from the idyllic mountain village of Plan to the Eisjöchl Pass, nearly 3,000 metres above sea level. Up here, you can truly feel the grandeur of the mountains. The route then descends through untouched alpine meadows and lush valleys towards the Senosta Valley, where the tranquillity of nature takes over.

Each day brings new views, new paths, and new small adventures. Along the way, you can look forward to resting in cosy South Tyrolean mountain huts, where the scent of freshly baked apple strudel and steaming knödel dishes fills the air. Here, it’s perfectly fine to indulge a little – you’ve earned it!

On the southern part of the route, airy cable car rides and spectacular mountain paths await, while the northern section impresses with its rugged, high-alpine landscapes. After a day full of experiences, you can relax down in the valley – and the next morning, effortlessly float back up into the mountains by cable car.

 

Highlights of the tour

  • The ascent to Stettiner Hut – an impressive hike through the high Alps with magnificent views

  • The pristine Senosta Valley – peaceful nature, green meadows, and genuine alpine idyll

  • The Thousand-Step Gorge – an adventurous route with bridges, stairways, and dramatic rock walls

  • Stunning panoramas and high-alpine trails – every day offers new views and great photo opportunities

  • Charming, rustic mountain huts – enjoy South Tyrolean specialties such as knödel and apple strudel in authentic surroundings

  • The Mediterranean charm of Merano – end the trip with a touch of city life, palm trees, and Italian atmosphere

The route

Scenic trails through alpine meadows alternate with narrower, sometimes rocky mountain paths. Good balance and sure footing are required, as well as the stamina for stages of up to 6.5 hours, including some longer climbs. Most stages can be shortened if preferred, or you can use public transportation to reach the next stop.

Itinerary

See the day-by-day itinerary below.

Begin your holiday in the beautiful spa town of Merano, the gateway to South Tyrol’s largest nature park. Stroll through the historic arcades, take a walk along the scenic Passer Promenade, and admire the town’s impressive cathedral.

Hotel (example): Flora Hotel & Suites

After a short bus ride, your hike begins at Hohen Kreuz. Descend along shaded forest paths, passing the Longfall Hut before joining the panoramic high trail with its sweeping mountain views. Continue past charming hamlets and small chapels to the lowest section of the Merano High Route. From here, the path climbs gently again through open meadows before the Feuersteinweg leads down to San Martino in Passiria. From there, you can either take a short bus ride or enjoy a pleasant valley walk to San Leonardo in Passiria.

Hotel (example): Tirolerhof

Follow the Norggensteig Trail through dense mountain forest up to the panoramic path above San Leonardo in Passiria. The route undulates gently across flower-filled meadows and past quiet mountain farms. Later, cross a rushing mountain stream and follow the riverbank for the final stretch to the rustic little village of Plan – a peaceful spot that feels like the edge of the world.

Hotel (example): Hotel Alpenblick

Today’s “queen stage” begins with a gentle climb into a dramatic high valley framed by 3,000-metre peaks. Pass the picturesque Lazinser Alm before starting the demanding ascent to the Eisjöchl Pass. Near the Stettiner Hut, almost 2,900 metres above sea level, the trail opens onto an incredible panorama of the Ötztal Alps. The descent into the Pfossen Valley winds through rocky terrain before giving way to sunny alpine meadows in full bloom, leading down to the tranquil Vorderkaser. After this spectacular stage, a transfer will take you comfortably back to your hotel.

Hotel (example): Hotel Schwarzer Adler

A short bus transfer takes you to the starting point of today’s hike. From the deeply carved Senales Valley, surrounded by towering peaks, follow narrow mountain paths to the village of Katharinaberg and its dramatic cliffside chapel. Continue through meadows and forested hillsides, past rustic farmhouses, until Reinhold Messner’s Juval Castle appears in the distance. Take the Unterstell cable car back down to the valley and finish the day with a leisurely riverside walk along the Adige River to Naturno, at the foot of the Texel Group.

Hotel (example): Kleinkunsthotel

Take the cable car back up to the high trail and enjoy breathtaking views of the Venosta Valley from a panoramic lookout. The path leads through quiet forest sections and past steeply perched farms before descending into the wild and spectacular Thousand-Step Gorge. Chains, bridges, stairways, and boardwalks guide you through this adventurous section, before the trail continues to the Giggelberg Alpine Inn. From here, the cable car carries you down to Parcines.

Hotel (example): Hotel Die Sonne

Start the day by taking the cable car back up to Giggelberg. Follow the spectacular high trail to the Nasereit Hut, crossing scenic alpine meadows and passing the Hochganghaus. After the rope bridge, continue towards Leiteralm, where the rocky trail rewards you with magnificent views across the Merano Basin. At Hochmuth, take a final break to enjoy the panorama before descending by cable car to Tirolo. A short bus ride then brings you back to Merano, where your hiking journey began.

Hotel (example): Flora Hotel & Suites

After breakfast, your hiking adventure comes to an end – unless you decide to stay a little longer and enjoy more of Merano’s South Tyrolean charm.

Price includes

ACCOMMODATION

  • 7 nights in 3-star and 4-star hotels

 

FOOD & DRINK

  • Breakfast every day

 

HIKING

  • 6 days of hiking (approx. 92km)
  • Carefully prepared route information (in English)
  • Access to the route in our GPS app, which also works offline (one access per person) 

TRANSPORT

  • Luggage transfer between accommodations
  • 1 Transfer Vorderkaser - Senales Valley
  • 1 Cabel car Unterstell Naturno (up and down)
  • 1 Cabel car Texelbahn Parcines (up and down)
  • 1 Cabel car Hochmuth Tirolo (down)

 

OTHER

GENERAL

  • Transport fra Danmark til Italien t/r
  • Administrationsgebyr kr. 145,-
  • Afbestillingsforsikring og Rejseforsikring

 

REQUIRED AND PAID LOCALLY

  • Possible tourist taxes in the hotels 

Use the button "Calculate price" on this page to see what the tour will cost with your wanted inclusions.

PARKING
It is possible to park at the first hotel or nearby. Parking cannot be reserved in advance and must be arranged directly with the hotel. Expect a price of approximately 10–20 euros per day.

Practical Information

Here you can find answers to various questions about the trip
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Hiking in mountainous terrain such as the Dolomites and the Alps requires good preparation and respect for nature.

  • Be in basic good physical shape before the trip
  • Wear proper hiking shoes or boots
  • Bring plenty of water and some food or snacks for the hike
  • Dress appropriately for the conditions
  • Use the provided map or GPS information (for example via the Bering Travel app) and stay on marked trails
  • Bring a fully charged phone and a power bank
  • Always check the weather forecast and the route before setting out as conditions can change quickly and your own safety should always come before reaching impressive viewpoints

The price is based upon two people sharing. It is also possible travel alone in a single room. Simply choose "1 person" in the booking form and it will automatically add the single room surcharge.

On this tour you will be on your own supplied with maps, route descriptions and luggage transfers. That means that your time is your own and you have plenty of time to enjoy the stages in your own pace.

 

Check the price quickly
You can quickly check the price of your desired trip without having to fill out any forms. Here’s how:

  1. Click on the "Calculate Price" button (you’ll find it in the "Dates and Prices" section) – this will take you to the first pages of the booking form
  2. Select your preferred date, number of people, room distribution, any extra nights, and any available add-ons you may want
  3. See the price


Get a quote
If you would like a flight included, or changes made to the trip, you can request a customized offer by clicking the "Get Quote" button at the top of the page. Remember to describe in detail what changes you would like.

The booking process
When you book the trip, we will begin booking hotels and arranging all the practical aspects of your tour. This process typically takes 5–8 working days, but in some cases it may take longer for certain bookings. If you arrange your own transportation, we recommend waiting until we have confirmed your booking before making any arrangements.

Dates
If you can select a date in the trip calendar (in the booking form), then this is a possible start date. We regularly update our trips with sold-out dates; these dates will then appear in red/grey and cannot be selected.

The flights to/from Milano, Verona or Venice are not included in the price. You can easily find a suitable flight via a flight booking engine such as Momondo or Skyscanner.

Notice: we recommend that you book with us and wait for the confirmation before you book your flights.

Get a quote
If you prefer that we handle your flight, then we would be happy to arrange this for you. You simply book a quote below the map on this page and we will return with a quote as soon as possible (usually within 2-5 working days). Please note that we add a handling fee of 45 euro to each flight and this means that the flight will be cheaper if you book it yourself.

Getting from the airport to Merano
It is relatively straight forward getting from the Airport to Merano. The closest airport is Verona.

We recommend that you use this tool to easily find your way to Merano: Rome2Rio

If you are driving
If you drive to Merano, it is possible to park at the first hotel. The first night you stay at the hotel is free and the rest of the week parking costs 10-12 euros per night. It is not possible to reserve a space in advance. If the parking lot is full, the hotel will help you find the nearest parking lot. 

You will stay in 3- and 4-star hotels. Breakfast is included every day.
In some places, a small tourist tax may apply – this is paid locally.

Extra nights
It is possible to book additional nights at the hotel in Merano before and after the tour. This can be selected on the booking form.

Breakfast is included every day. In the towns it is possible to buy supplies for lunches and choose between different restaurants.

Note: If you travel at the edge of the season, there may be several restaurants in the area that are closed. This applies to all tours.

Luggage transfer is included on this tour. Upon arrival at the first hotel you will be given luggage tags along with the rest of the welcome package. You fill out the luggage tags and put them on your bags where they will remain for the duration of the tour.

Your luggage is picked up from the hotel lobby around 9am every morning and will arrive at your next hotel at 6pm at the latest (often long before that). If there are any special exceptions to the luggage transfer you will be notified upon arrival.

Luggage transfer includes one bag per guest and the bags can weigh 20kg each.

This trip has difficulty level 2-3, which means that most hiking days are level 2, with a few at level 3.

Grade 2
Easier hikes on reasonably good trails. Daily hikes will last 4-6 hours in hilly terrain. Anyone in generally good physical condition can participate. Luggage is transported, and you only carry a light daypack. Requires well-fitting footwear such as trekking shoes or hiking boots.

Grade 3
Hiking in mountainous terrain with longer ascents and descents. You will hike 5-7 hours a day. Requires generally good fitness and health, but no special technical skills or prior experience. Requires good shoes, such as trekking or mountain boots.

Read more about our grading system here.

On this journey there is a discount for children and people sharing a room with "two fully paying adults". The amount of discount depends on age; thus:

Children under 5.99 years: free
Children between 6 and 11.99 years: 50% discount
Children between 12 - 14.99 years: 25% discount
People from 15 years and up: 10% discount

Example 1
You are 2 adults and 1 child. Here it's very simple because you're staying in the same room. The child gets a discount compared to the prices above.

Example 2
You are 2 adults and 2 children (aged 5 and 13). Here you have two options. If you want to stay in two double rooms, it will be full price for all participants. If you want to stay in the same room (e.g. a family room), then both children will get a discount (free and 25% discount respectively).

Example 3
You are 2 adults and 3 children (age: 7, 13 and 15). In this case, you will probably need two double rooms where the youngest child sleeps with the parents. Therefore, there will only be a discount for the youngest child aged 7, who will receive a 50% discount.

Example 4
You are 3 adults who want to sleep in the same double room. The extra adult will receive a 10% discount.

Please note
It is important that you understand that it is your own responsibility when you choose to bring children on the tours. You should check the descriptions of the difficulty levels and decide whether the specific tour is suitable for your child.

On this tour, you will receive the following documents:

Upon booking
Immediately after booking this trip, you'll recieve a pre-booking-email where you can get a complete overview of your booking. Once the tour is confirmed you get a confirmation email from us along with practical information about the tour.

One month before departure
You will receive a hotel list and final travel documents.

Upon arrival at the first hotel
You'll receive the welcome pack, which contains everything you need for the trip. There will be route descriptions, maps, luggage tags and specific local vouchers. The documents are in English.
Notice: On some tours it is necessary to either print the documents yourself or to bring them electronically.

We recommend taking out travel insurance that covers at least illness, accident, repatriation, lost holiday, luggage and liability. As a customer, you are responsible for taking out the necessary travel insurance to cover these costs.

Before taking out insurance, you should check whether you are already covered by travel or cancellation insurance through your home insurance company, credit card or similar - please note that there may be differences in insurance coverage.

After booking this trip, you get access to various discount schemes.

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until 35 days before arrival
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We have a lot of trips where we have particularly lenient conditions for cancellation.

This means that for a small fee (€50), you are free to cancel your trip up to 35 days before arrival.

Please note that this does not apply to all tours. Read more via the link below.
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Easy cancellation
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You now receive special conditions when you book a trip.