La Dolce Vita Wine Tours

The Italian Alps

Hiking the wine roads and alpine trails of Alto Adige

Trip Notes:

Hiking Level of Difficulty

Though “the Alps” sounds difficult, have no fear. The lower Alps in the wine country of Aldo Adige is not so fierce. This is not an area of rocky peaks, and no technical hiking or climbing skills are needed. Our hikes alternate between types: Half are in the Adige valley, up on a ridge that parallels the valley floor. Here we’ll be walking through woods, on quiet lanes, and on marked paths that cut through the vineyards and apple groves. These are relatively easy walks. The other hikes are at higher altitudes on the mountains. Fortunately, the heavy lifting is done by cable car, which take us up to our trailheads. From here, we’ll be hiking on trails through pine forests and open meadows. There is some climbing, but it’s in small pieces and nothing too extreme. We do recommend hiking boots, or at least good walking shoes with deep treads. If you have walking sticks, this is a good time to use them!

Airport

Venice, Milan, or Innsbruck (Austria)

Pre-tour

Plan to land in Italy or Austria a day before the tour begins; that’s necessary to be at our starting point on time. Most people spend the preceding night in either Verona (1 hour by train from Venice) or Trento (2 hours from Venice). If you land in Innsbruck, it is advisable to arrive in Trento the day before our tour begins. Contact us for details. For hotel suggestions, email us or consult a good hotel search engine, such as TripAdvisor.com or Venere.com.

Meeting point

Our meeting point is the Trento train station, a charming historic city midway between Verona and Bolzano. If you’re coming from Verona that morning, you‘ll take a 9 A.M. train, arriving in Trento at 10 A.M. (Precise train details will be in your information packet.)

Departure day

On our final day, we’ll shuttle you to the train station of Bolzano by 11:30 A.M. During the tour, we can help you buy your return train tickets.

Italian train schedule

Click here for the Trenitalia schedule in English. Be aware that the schedule is posted only several months in advance, so if you’re looking for long-range dates, try something sooner, just to get an idea of departure frequency and trip length.

Trip extensions

Venice is an obvious choice for pre- or post-tour travel. But if you’ve already been there, done that, we’d recommend Verona. Founded by Romans on the banks of the Adige River, the city has layers upon layers of history. It boasts one of the largest Roman coliseums, dozens of churches laden with art, the home of Shakespeare’s Juliet Capulet, lively outdoor markets, and streets lined with elegant shops. One could easily spend several days here.

Italian train schedule

Click here for the Trenitalia schedule in English. Be aware that the schedule is posted just a few months in advance, so if you’re looking for long-range dates, try something sooner, if only to get an idea of departure frequency and trip length.

Weather

When packing, check check www.weather.com. Go to “Caldaro, Italy” and “Merano, Italy” to get a general idea of temperatures and forecast.

Reading

Articles by La Dolce Vita Wine Tours cofounder Patricia Thomson:
Pinot Grigio: An American Infatuation