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Highlights
Hike an ancient Roman Road through South Tyrol, the Via Claudia Augusta
Hike the historic paths of the Northern Italy that were created centuries ago.
Visit scenic lakes and valleys along your route in the Italian Alps.
South Tyrolean cuisine: Apples from the Vinschgau and wine from Kaltern are just two examples of the aromatic products from South Tyrol. Taste your way through the culinary offerings!
Travel at your own pace with your group only, with all the logistics being taken care for you.
During your hiking week along the old Roman road "Via Claudia Augusta", you will discover one of South Tyrol‘s most beautiful sections located between the Vinschgau region and the southern wine route, causing hikers hearts to leap for joy.
The tour starts at the well-known Lake Reschensee, surrounded by marvellous mountain panorama and with a view onto the snow-covered Ortler-massif. The route leads you along fabulous high-altitude paths high above the fertile Vinschgau-valley towards Merano. Enjoy the view onto splendid vineyards and orchards, numerous castles and palaces along the way and amongst others Reinhold Messners Mountain Museum. The Mediterranean spa town of Merano with its thermal springs offers tremendous opportunities for relaxation before you proceed into the wine region around Lake Kalterer-See as a crowning finale.
In South Tyrol, Italian attitude to life meets Austrian cordiality. You spend nine days in the midst of mountains, meadows and forests, explore old castles on your hikes and taste the culinary delights. That sounds exactly to your liking!
Looking for a shorter trip? Check out this 7-day option of the same route!
During your hiking week along the old Roman road "Via Claudia Augusta", you will discover one of South Tyrol‘s most beautiful sections located between the Vinschgau region and the southern wine route, causing hikers hearts to leap for joy.
The tour starts at the well-known Lake Reschensee, surrounded by marvellous mountain panorama and with a view onto the snow-covered Ortler-massif. The route leads you along fabulous high-altitude paths high above the fertile Vinschgau-valley towards Merano. Enjoy the view onto splendid vineyards and orchards, numerous castles and palaces along the way and amongst others Reinhold Messners Mountain Museum. The Mediterranean spa town of Merano with its thermal springs offers tremendous opportunities for relaxation before you proceed into the wine region around Lake Kalterer-See as a crowning finale.
In South Tyrol, Italian attitude to life meets Austrian cordiality. You spend nine days in the midst of mountains, meadows and forests, explore old castles on your hikes and taste the culinary delights. That sounds exactly to your liking!
Looking for a shorter trip? Check out this 7-day option of the same route!
Read more
Highlights of Via Claudia Augusta Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Reschen
Arrive to Reschen from where you trip will begin.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Reschen
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Hike to Burgeis/Mals
First along Reschensee reservoir, where you will find the best-known camera motive of the Vinschau, the flooded spire of Gaun. The route runs past lake Haidersee and along the largest alluvial fan of the Alps and leads up to the idyllic mountain village Planeil. Downhill you walk through forest and later through flowering meadows to Burgeis, with view to the impressive monastery of Marienberg.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Burgeis or Mals
Distance: 5 hours, 20km, 750m of ascent, 550m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Hike to Schluderns
Walk along the Sonnensteig path, a newly created theme path with fantastic views of the snowy mountain peaks. High above the town Mals, with its many towers, onwards and over the Tartscher Bichl past ‘Ganglegg’, a historic archaeological site from the Bronze and Iron Age on to Schluderns, with the most impressive and best-preserved castles in South Tyrol.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Schluderns
Distance: 4 hours, 14km, 200m of ascent, no descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 Hike to Schlanders
From the foot of Sonnberg your walk starts and continues crossing through dense forests. Above Laas, well known for the white marble, you later reach the orchards of Vinschgau – apple trees as far as the eyes can see.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Schlanders
Distance: 4.5hours, 14km, 150m of ascent, 650m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Walk through wine region to Naturns
This stage takes you along sunny mountain slopes above the fertile Vinschgau Valley. Along the Latschander Waalweg you hike through the growing areas of the best South Tyrolean wines. Continue up to Messner’s Juval Castle or take a leisurely stroll along the Vinschgau Wine Trail down into the valley to Naturns.
Overnight Location: Hotel around Naturns
Distance: 6 hours, 22km, 350m of ascent, 550m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Enjoy views of the Vinschgau Valley walking to Meran
High up you continue following the panoramic trail through forests, past Alpine mountain farms forever accompanied by stunning views of the Vinschgau valley. Follow Partschinser and Algunder Waal path down into the Meraner basin. Tired muscles get a chance to relax in the thermal spa.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Meran
Distance: 4.5 hours, 17km, 100m of ascent, 600m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Take the Marlinger Waal Path to Nals
On Marlinger Waal path, the longest Waal of South Tyrol you walk into the apple centre Lana. On your way enjoy lovely views on Meran and the Adige valley to Bolzano. Pass through light forests up to Tisens, well known for the sweet chestnuts. During the second half of this path many ancient fortresses are passed: Nals with Stachelburg, Schwanburg and Payrsberg castle.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Nals
Distance: 5 hours, 19km, 400m of ascent, 600m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Walk to Lake Kalterer See
Walk past castles, raised stands and fortresses with great views of the Etschtal Valley and the surrounding mountain ranges. A section of the path takes you along the ‘Three-Fortress-Route’ and continue via St. Michael through extensive vineyards until you reach the beautiful lake Kalterer See. In this beautiful valley you should taste a glass of “Kalterer See”.
Overnight Location: Hotel near Lake Kalterer See
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 Departure or extension
Departure your accommodation after the breakfast.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Highlights of Via Claudia Augusta Tour and Dates
This self-guided tour is always run as a private tour for your group only, where the pricing depends on your travelling dates, as well as the types of the rooms that you need. This tour is offered between April 27th and October 5th and departures are available on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.2025 Departures: The departures are available every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from April 26th to October 4th, 2025.
- Single room: from EUR1248*
- Sharing a double room: from EUR1039*
Accommodation on Highlights of Via Claudia Augusta Tour
This tour is based in hotels. Hotels on this trip are 3-star and offer modern conveniences that can make this trip more pleasant.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel where possible. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.
What’s Included in the Highlights of Via Claudia Augusta Tour?
Meals
8 breakfasts are included. You can also upgrade to Half Board (add dinners) with an extra charge.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 8 nights are included.
Transportation during the Tour
This tour includes luggage transfers; however, you will be walking from town to town yourself.
Also Included
- Luggage transfer
- Welcome briefing (German, English)
- Transfers according to program
- Carefully elaborated route description
- Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English)
- App for Navigation and GPS-data available
- Service hotline
Not included
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Visas if required
- Meals, drinks, or snacks not previously mentioned
- Guide services
- Tourist tax
- Transfers not mentioned as ‘included’.
Optional Extras
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Single occupancy upgrades
- Return transfer
- Upgrade to Half Board.
- How hard is the Highlights of Via Claudia Augusta Tour?
- I’ve never been on a self-guided trip! How does it work?
- Is this tour run in English?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Italy?
- Are meals included on the Highlights of Via Claudia Augusta Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Reschen start this tour?
- Where does the Highlights of Via Claudia Augusta Tour end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Italy?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Italy?
We rate this tour as a 3 / 5. You walk mainly on good walking paths, often on the so called ‘Waal paths’, ancient water systems as well as on paved sections. The paths are easy to walk, the route is undulating through lovely countryside, dotted with orchards and vineyards. Longer ascents only occur on two of the days. We recommend a good basic fitness level for walking days of up to 6.5 hours. Shortcuts of daily sections are possible by train or coach.
Self-guided travelling is not difficult! For many, it is a preferred type of travel, since you are in charge of your own time and pace. You are provided with all the information you’ll need to follow the route each day and often have access to phone support or other kinds of assistance. However, self-guided travelling requires good navigation skills and those who don’t feel confident in unknown places should consider booking guided tours.
All tour information will be provided in English. German tour package is available as well.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
9 breakfasts are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover trekking. Get your travel insurance.
You can get to Reschen by train to Landeck (North Tyrol) and by bus approx. 1,5 hours to Reschen. Or by train via Bolzano and Meran to Mals (South Tyrol) and by bus to Reschen in approx. 30 minutes. The closest airports are Innsbruck or Munich.
The tour ends at Lake Kalterer See.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
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