Ratschings - Racines walks

This is a must-do circuit in the Ridanna Valley. This beautiful hike follows the Burkhard torrent at the bottom of the Ridanna Valley, near the old mines, climbing up towards the glacial cirque. The waterfall trail is well maintained, with wooden walkways, bridges and superb views along the way. The circuit passes by the Aglsbodenalm inn, where you can stop for a bite to eat during the summer. A pleasant and varied loop with magnificent scenery.

A "Waalweg" in South Tyrol is a path that runs alongside a small irrigation canal. These irrigation canals, often well hidden, were created on the hillsides to water the vineyards, orchards and fields; they operate thanks to a sophisticated system of slopes and sluice gates where each farmer can use the water for their crops.The Algund Waalweg is certainly the most iconic and offers a magnificent panorama of Algund, Meran and Dorf Tirol.

Walther von der Wogelweide was a renowned minstrel of the German Middle Ages. His statue stands in one of Bolzano's main squares. He is said to have been born in the village of Ried, in the municipality of Lajen/Laion, and the route traced there commemorates his life and work. The route is marked by signs bearing the words "Wogelweide runweg" and an orange logo decorated with a bust of a medieval woman, and is embellished with metal works, some of which are very beautiful.

Starting from Niederthai, on easy tracks, you will pass through a green valley between meadows and forests, perpendicular to the Ötzal Valley. This hike can easily be shortened: the steep section at the end (about 3 km) can be skipped, but it allows you to admire the landscape from higher up. Similarly, the hike can be extended if you wish to go as far as the Finstertaler Scharte pass. The cattle tracks are popular with cyclists in summer and skiers in winter.

Start and finish at the village cable cars with some lovely views around Casterotto. A beautiful, fairly steep climb alongside the cable cars through pastures, then into the woods for most of the ascent. Very pleasant on a hot, sunny day. No great difficulty until you reach the highest point of this circular. There are small inns to choose from in Marinzen or at the Schafstall hütte. There is a slight variation from the route shown on tourist maps when descending towards St Michael. The descent is quite steep. The rest of the route follows a tarmac road with no traffic, passing through a charming hamlet with beautiful views of the mountains and the village. 10 km in total and a variety of terrain that allows you to enjoy the whole route.

Val Di Funes/Villnösstal is a little paradise at the foot of the Odle mountains. This valley, home to the famous mountaineer Reinhold Messner, is off the beaten track. Passing by the foot of the vertiginous cliffs, you can understand how the vocation of one of the greatest conquerors of the peaks came about. And the bucolic setting of this valley also explains why he puts so much energy into defending a natural mountain. Some places have several names: Val di Funes/Villnösstal, Zannes/Zans, GampenAlm/Malga Gampen

To the west of the Dolomites, just above the Isarco Valley, there is a rather surreal place. Imagine a plateau covering several thousand hectares, with undulating terrain between 1,800 and 2,400 metres above sea level, almost completely devoid of trees, and dotted with hundreds of alpine barns. And all this is surrounded by several Dolomite massifs rising to over 3,000 metres. Here you can give free rein to your wanderlust, and the suggested route is the one we took to discover the area.

Compatsch is the gateway to the Alpe di Siusi. This mountain pasture, the largest in Europe, offers a breathtaking view of the Dolomites in South Tyrol, Italy. The panorama in the foreground stretches from the Schlern massif, including Punta Santern, to the Langkofel Group, featuring the Langkofel and the Plattkofel. In the distance lie the Sella massif with Piz Boé, and the Geisler massif with Seceda and Saas Rigais. This circular route offers magnificent views of these ‘bellissime montagne delle Dolomiti’.

This hike in the Puez Odle Nature Park is truly enchanting. The wave-shaped summit of Seceda is known throughout the world and its viewpoint will delight your eyes. The rest of the hike offers different views of Val Gardena and the famous pink colour of its mountains.

A superb hike in the Puez Geisler Odle Nature Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This route offers magnificent panoramic views at the foot of the Fermeda, Sass Rigais and Furchetta peaks. At Seceda, a promontory high above the void, you'll witness a spectacular alignment of these peaks, posing for you. At various other points on the loop, you'll enjoy marvellous panoramic views of the Langkofel, Schlern and Sella massifs.

A beautiful circular loop without any lifts, but for experienced mountaineers. The first descent is quite slippery with gravel. The first ascent is a winding path. Some areas may be snow-covered all year round. Follow paths 525 and then 526 carefully.