8-Day Private Tour for Hikers and Wine Enthusiasts
Northern Italy is home to scenic sights and distinguished history. You will get to enjoy a plethora of exhilarating views, from the Verona of Romeo and Juliet to South Tyrol, the Italian Alps. South Tyrol is famous for some of the oldest practices in the region, such as farming, and offers in-depth revelations of its lush valleys and mountains.
The Breathtaking scenery of The Dolomites
Ever lacked the words to describe natural beauty? That’s what you will experience with the Dolomites; you need to visit it firsthand to comprehend it.
This 8-day tour is designed to present you with an experience of a lifetime. You will get to visit the spectacular sceneries such as the High Alpine hike trails along the E5, termed the European long-distance trail. If you have never seen breathtaking sights with splendid silence, this UNESCO World Heritage site is a must-visit.
The region’s lower altitudes are crisscrossed by the old Merano irrigation channels, which cruise through hillside vine estates and the extensive orchards famous for producing the Südtirol apples. During our tour we will visit a winery, learn the winemaking process, and taste wines made from the Vernatch and Largrein local grape varieties.
Interestingly, we have featured the Mediterranean landscapes to be part of this sparkling experience. We’ll explore the magnificent Botanical gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, tracing their origin in 1850. Trauttmansdorff prides itself in over 80 gardens and features the world’s most colorful plants.
We have included a 4-star hospitality experience offered by our specially chosen family-operated hotel Salten in the village of Hafling up the mountain to make your stay most enjoyable. You will get to enjoy the delicious local cuisines and international delicacies specially prepared by the hotel’s hosts. During afternoon hours, you will get the chance to relax in the hotel’s beautiful spa facilities, including steam baths, a swimming pool, and saunas.
Join our tour expedition for a lifetime exploration, discovery, and enjoy South Tyrol’s hospitality.
Day 1 – Enjoy the South Tyrol Scenic Views
Our tour kicks off with the exploration of the scenic South Tyrol. We will pick you up from the airport, then drive while exploring the beautiful sceneries, villages, and vineyards along the Adige river, as well as the vast Italian landscape famous for some Shakespearean history.
Day 2 – Meran 2000 Hiking Trail
If you can’t wait to go on a hiking expedition, our second tour day will unveil the magnificent hiking trail lying close to the Meran 2000, on the sunny side of the Alps. During your visit, you will be spoiled for choice by the many hiking options. You can choose to either hike at your own pace or go hardcore in the adventurous routes.
Day 3 – Tappeinerweg Trail Exploration
While still in Merano, we will grab the opportunity to explore the historic city on a walking tour. At sunrise, we will get physical by climbing the Tappeinerweg Trail, where you will get to view the exotic and native vegetation. During harvesting season, you will taste the freshly squeezed grape juice from the vineyards during our hike. The road from Tappeinerweg Trail will then lead us through the apple orchards into Tyrol village. Then chill out and relax in the hotel’s spa on our return before sunset.
Day 4 – The Dolomites spectacular scenery
The fourth tour day marks the opportunety to build remarkable memories. We will explore the prominent Dolomites on a hike to view the beautiful sceneries of the Alps. This whole day hiking expedition will be full of route options to select from; Kuhleitenhütte famous for snowboarding, the pastoral Maiser Alm, or the expansive trail leading to Meraner Hütte.
Day 5 – Marlengo Trail
We will catch the train for a short but beautiful ride to Marlengo, where we will kick off another hiking escapade. Our trail follows the ancient water systems with the almond and apple orchards through vineyards.
Enjoy the lovely rustic views and dense forests dominated by the antique stone buildings. We will visit the Merano Winery and enjoy some fine local wines in the afternoon.
Day 6 – The Alps
Ever taken a ride on a cable car? Especially in the Alps? This tour is your chance to experience the breathtaking scenic views from a cable car. Starting at Falzeben, we will cruise to the Dolomites, the starting point of our trail. This day will comprise hiking activities and explore the mountainous landscapes along the E5 European long-distance trail.
Day 7 – Merano and botanical gardens
We will return to Merano to visit the city’s open-air farmer's market, and if you like quality shopping, the Medieval arcades in town are the place to be. Next, we will explore the colorful terrestrial plants in 80 gardens at the Botanical Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle. These gardens have received numerous praises from around the world, having been ranked Italy’s most beautiful botanical gardens in 2005 and considered the most outstanding gardens in the entire continent. The Botanical Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle rose to global fame when it was awarded the International Garden of the Year Award during the 2013 Garden Tourism Conference in Toronto, Canada. This trip will be a one of a kind for nature lovers. Get your camera ready to capture the most fascinating and memorable pictures!
We will then conclude the day with a rejuvenating spa relaxation at the hotel.
Day 8 – The Return Journey
By this day, you’ll be full of memories to last a lifetime. We will escort you to the airport and bid you farewell on your home trip.
- Luxurious hospitality at Salten hotel
- Daily 5-course gourmet dinner
- 5 spectacular hiking and walking experiences
- Visit botanical gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle
- Wine tasting in Meran
- All transfers and items listed or explained in the tour schedule above
- Private airport pick up and return, and all needed transportation by your dedicated Tour Manager
- Bed and breakfast at the Deluxe Adults Only Hotel Salten for a 7-night stay. Rooms are double and shared, accompanied by a delicious and extensive breakfast comprised of South Tyrolean quality products.
- Daily 5-course gourmet dinner with a choice menu and a South Tyrolean Farm cheese buffet
- Afternoon pastries and snacks in the hotel, depending on our schedule
- Daily usage of the swimming pool and spa facilities at the hotel
- Bathrobe and slippers use in the hotel room
- A winery visit coupled by wine tasting
- 5 hiking trails
- 1 cable car ride
- Visit to the botanical gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, including a local guided tour
- Tipping
- Tourist tax
- Tree planting certificate on your name - a contribution to a green and healthy earth
- Calamiteitenfonds fee (Emergency fund)
- This offer is covered by the STO Garant guarantee. You can find the conditions for this guarantee scheme on STO Garant’s website (www.sto-garant.nl/downloads)
- Flights
- Meals, apart from the listed ones
- Drinks, apart from the scheduled wine tasting
- Personal expenses and all other expenses not mentioned above
- Travel and cancellation insurances
Seasonal fees may vary according to your chosen date of travel. The availability of hotel rooms will also be dependent on the prevailing seasons.
Our itinerary may have some slight differences depending on the holiday calendars of the local areas visited. Once your departure date is known, we’ll share the final tour program with you.
Special requests for unshared room bookings will be accepted, and fees may vary.
Due to high demand, we highly advise our guests to always book their tour with us early in advance.
Would you like us to send you a quote for a customized trip or perhaps need some clarifications? Feel free to send your requests or fill out the Contact form.
The following are the pickup points from where we can pick you up:
- Innsbruck Airport
- Verona Airport
- Bolzano train station
- Merano train station
Other options are possible on request.
Transportation by luxury private minibus (if 1 or 2 persons only; luxury private car).
We will use public transportation to and from starting points of our walking trails.
This 8-days private tour to the Dolomites will be a fulfilling one as we have designed it to feature unique destinations and attractions to give you lifetime memories. Below is the price breakdown for the tour: