Welcome to Hooked on Walking Holidays and our walking holiday in the Dolomites. The Dolomites are probably Europe’s most impressive limestone mountains. Our walking holiday in the Dolomites is graded a level 2-3 walk and is self guided. On one night you carry some small items to a mountain hut for your overnight stay. Right in the heart of the German speaking South Tyrol region of the Dolomites lies the nature lovers ideal hiking area. The Parco Naturale Fanes-Sennes, one of Europe’s largest nature reserves and where you can still encounter marmots, chamois and ibex among others.  
The spectacular limestone mountains with its raged, often snow capped peaks set the backdrop for the walks that take you up to the, high mountain pastures, passes and ridges. Here nature is quite untouched and an incredible variety of plant species including orchids, monkshoods, gentians and lilies can be found. With the coming of summer the snow starts to melt giving way to an eruption of colour as thousands of flowers start to blossom. The woods that have been silent for months also come alive with bird songs and the sound of running water, fresh and crystal clear.  
You will spend 6 nights in the village of Wengen, (or La Valle as the Italians call it) in a comfortable hotel with a well equipped wellness centre. A two-day hike takes you to the high Fanes plateau, where you stay the night in the beautifully located and very comfortable Fanes Mountain hut. The scenery from here is really breath taking and absolutely worth the climb.

 Available daily June to end September
Level 2-3 self guided tour

Day 1       Arrive in La Valle-Wengen

Day 2       Circular route 6.5 miles 10.5 km
Your first introduction to this marvelous walking area is a walk on the southern slopes of the Wengental where you will come across many flowery meadows, woods and scattered old farmhouses.
Terrain up 500m, down 500m, 5 hours

Day 3       Circular route 9 miles 14.5 km
Today you take a cart track to the Gadertal, the return is over the ridge of the Gröpa, where you will have great view on either side. Some of the tracks to the Gropa are quite steep, but the walk on the ridge is not too strenuous and here you have a good chance of seeing wild deer.
Terrain up 750m, down 750m, 6.5 hours

Day 4 Paresberg 8-9 miles 13-14.5 km       
This day you can climb to the top of the Paresberg (2347m). On the slopes of this dolomite-stone mountain many fossils can be found. Once you’re on top, the view is superb. A short detour will take you to the Kreuzspitze. This does not take as much effort as climbing the Paresberg, but the view of the valley from up here is probably even better.
Climbing the Paresberg 14.5 km, up 1100, down 1100m, 8 hours
Not climbing the Paresberg 13 km, up 700m, down 700m, 6 hours

Day 5 Circular route 9 miles 14.5 km     
A long day walk through the flowery Almentarawiesen takes you to the impressive wall of the Kreuzkofelwand, where you can stop for lunch at the Heiligkreuz mountain hut and try some of the local specialities.
Terrain up 750m, down 750m, 7 hours

Day 6 Mountain hut at Fanes 7 miles 11.5 km      
Today you set off on a 2 day hike so you have to take your overnight things with you in your day pack. You climb up the Anthonius-joch (2466m), and then on to the magnificently located FanesMountain hut.
Terrain up 1100m, Down 400m, 6 hours

Day 7       La Valle-Wenden 13 miles 21 km
Walking across the gently undulating Fanes plateau, where there are many caves and cracks, you head towards the edge of the Kreuzkofel group. After going over a steep pass you start descend back to La Valle-Wengen. This walk can be shortened by 3 kilometres by taking a different route which takes you back to La Valle-Wengen passing the Heiligkreuz mountain hut.      
Terrain up 600m, down 1300m, 8 hours

Day 8       The trip ends after breakfast.

Accommodation
The accommodations we use in La Valle-Wengen are small comfortable 3 star hotels with a friendly family run atmosphere. All the rooms have accommodation, private bathrooms and the hotels are equipped with a wellness centre.
The Fanes Mountain hut is a good 3 star equivalent hotel and it is cosy and typical Tyrolean style, it is run by Mutschlechner family. It is ideally located and it has a great panoramic terrace. There are different types of rooms where linen and blankets are provided, quite a few of these rooms have private bathrooms: the twins have separate beds, (there are no double beds) while the triples and quads have bunk beds. The standard booking is for a twin room with private bathroom, but these fill up quickly, especially in high season so as an alternative we book a twin with external bathroom.

Level of walking    2 - 3
The walks will take between 5 and 8 hours (excluding lunch breaks). The paths are well passable, sometimes stony or steep. Most walks can be extended or shortened. Per day the altitude differences are between 500 and 1300 m. Some experience in mountain walking and a generally good condition is recommended.

2010 Prices

How to get there
The nearest airport is Innsbruck but you can also fly to Verona, Treviso with Ryanair and Venice. From these you take a train to Brunico and then a taxi to La Valle-Wengen.

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