Alpine crossing Merano - Lake Garda

8 days, 8 participants, the continuation of the well-known E5
Level
    Online training: Preparation for multi-day hikes and Alpine crossings. Be inspired by an expert and benefit from his valuable tips.

The completion of the crossing of the Alps and the extension of the E5 from Merano to Lake Garda.

Schedule overview:
27.06.-04.07.26 (fully booked), 11.-18.07.26 (fully booked), 25.07.-01.08.26, 01.-08.08.26 (fully booked), 15.-22.08.26, 05.-12.09.26

Fancy a dreamlike crossing of the Alps?

The well-known E5 does not end in Merano/Meran, but rather builds up to a brilliant finale from here to the finish at Lake Garda. The landscape appears more southerly, the mountains are partly lovely, partly rugged and unexpectedly high alpine. The very first stage takes you into the dream landscape of the Vintschgau. Before reaching the highest peak in Tyrol, the 3,905 m Ortler, you hike into the Martell and Ulten valleys and, after crossing the language and national border, on into the Val di Sole. The name says it all and the view south to the Brenta and Adamello is spectacular. 

The peaks of the Brenta Dolomites form a rugged contrast to the glaciated Adamello, from the well-known Grafferhütte we have the best view and, almost needless to say, another hospitable top base on our route. At Lake Garda, you have actually reached the southern edge of the Alps and (assuming you have completed the E5 from Oberstdorf to Merano) you can report on a complete crossing of the Alps. 

Want to find out more about crossing the Alps?

You can find lots more information and tips in our vivalpin.blogbut also in our online training courses including mountain pros.

Here you will find our most beautiful Alpine crossings!

Are you missing equipment?
You can hire many items of equipment from us, for everything else you will receive a discount of 10% at bergfreunde.de

Program and schedule

  • Mountain guide:in with the appropriate necessary qualifications
  • 5 x nights in cabins
  • 2 x overnight stay in hotel/ inn
  • 7 x half board
  • 4 – 5 x Transfers mit Taxi und Bus
  • Return from Riva del Garda to Merano
  • Mountain railroads & lifts according to program
  • Free participation in the Online Training: Alpine Crossing - Preparation (1 h)
  • 10% discount code for your purchases at bergfreunde.de

Additional costs

  • Snacks, drinks
  • Arrival, possibly parking fee

Day 1: Meeting point is at 10:00 am at the Texelbergbahn valley station. From there, the Texelbahn cable car takes us up to the Giggelberg (1,565 m). Here starts one of the most beautiful sections of the Merano High Altitude Trail through the wild landscape of the Texel Group. Numerous vantage points offer us magnificent views of the Adige Valley deep below and across to the glaciers of the Ortler region. A highlight is the suspension bridge over the 1000-step gorge before the cable car takes us from Unterstell back down into the valley to Naturno. Overnight stay at the hotel. Ascent 450 hm / descent 700 hm, time 3 h

Day 2: With public transport we go in the morning from Naturns to Latsch. From there we reach comfortably with a small chair lift to the Tarscher Alm (1.940 m). There we start our ascent up to the Tarscher Pass (2,530 m). We continue to enjoy the view of the Ortler group and can already see the steep rocky peaks of the Dolomites in the distance. We hike down to the Kuppelwieser Alm, where we can enjoy an excellent apple or poppy seed strudel! After a short hike a bus takes us via St. Nikolaus to St. Gertraud. Overnight stay in St. Gertraud. Ascent 600 hm / descent 600 hm/ walking time 5 h

Day 3: Nach dem Frühstück starten wir mit unserer Wanderung zum Rabbi Joch auf 2.449 m und über die Haselgruber Hütte und den Haselgrubersee. Bei einer Pause genießen wir die tolle Aussicht. Anschließend steigen wir in Richtung Piazzolo hinab. Von dort bringt uns ein Taxi weiter ins Val di Sole, bis wir die urige Albergo Lago Rosso (1.178 m) erreichen. Das urige Gasthaus liegt inmitten des Adamello-Brenta-Nationalparks am einzigartigen Tovelsee. Übernachtung in der Albergo Lago Rosso. Ascent 1,000 m / descent 1,100 m / walking time 6 h

Day 4: Unsere Brenta-Durchquerung startet mit dem Aufstieg durch das Val die San Maria della Flavone zum Groste Pass (2.442 m). Zuerst geht es auf einem schattigen Weg durch den Wald. Später erreichen wir die Alm Malga Flavona, an der unser Weg jetzt schmal und steil bergauf führt. Ein einsames und grünes Hochtal belohnt uns für die Mühen. Oberhalb der Baumgrenze führt ein steiler Bergpfad zum Pass. Nur noch wenige Minuten im Abstieg trennen uns von der Rifugio Graffer (2.261 m) mitten im Skigebiet „Madonna di Campiglio“. Grandiose Ausblicke zum Latemar, Mendelkamm und die Sarntaler Alpen erfreuen uns den ganzen Tag. Aufstieg 1.265 Hm / Abstieg 250 Hm / Gehzeit 6 h

Day 5: Traumwandertag: Vorbei an wilden Felstürmen, der Felswand „Crozzon di Brenta“ und der „Cima Brenta“ wandern wir durch das Herz der Brenta-Dolomiten. Nach einer kurzen Rast auf der Tuckett Hütte starten wir auf spektakulären Weg über die Brentei Hütte zur „Bocca di Brenta“. Am Ende eines riesigen Felsenkessels steigen wir über kurze stahlseilgesicherte Passagen zur Passhöhe der „Bocca di Brenta“ auf 2.552 m Höhe. Unser Tagesziel, das Rifugio Pedrotti lies in the middle of the impressive rocky backdrop of Cima Brenta Bassa 2,812 m, Cima Brenta Alta and Croz del Rifuguo 2,568 m. A breathtaking view! Ascent 850 m / descent 650 m / walking time 6 h

Day 6: Zeitig am nächsten Morgen wandern wir vorbei an den südseitigen Felswänden der Brenta. Auf dem Gegenhang sehen wir die Pedrotti Hütte nur noch als kleinen Punkt zwischen den gewaltigen Brenta-Felsen. Leicht ansteigend erreichen wir die Forcolotta di Noghera (2.423 m), wo wir vielleicht eine Herde klettersicherer Gämsen beobachten können. Zuerst steil hinab, dann quer geht es von dort weiter zur Agostini-Hütte, wo wir uns für den Abstieg zur Cacciatore Hütte stärken. Übernachtung auf der Cacciatore Hütte. Ascent 840 m / descent 190 m / walking time 5 h

Day 7: We drive to the beautiful Tenno Lake. The last and very varied stage leads us up to the San Pietro hut (963 m). From here we have a breathtaking view of the destination of our great mountain hiking week: Lake Garda. We take a short rest at the hut and enjoy the view of our destination. We slowly descend past the waterfalls of Varone. Through olive groves we hike the last kilometers to the shore of Lake Garda at Riva del Garda. A great long distance hike comes to an end! Overnight stay in a hotel on Lake Garda. Ascent 410 m / Descent 830 m / Walking time 5 h

Day 8: Joint return journey to the Texelberg cable car.

 

Note on program changes: 

Alles Kurse und Führungen werden gewissenhaft organisiert und entsprechend der Sicherheitsstandards der Berg- und Skischule Vivalpin mit qualifizierten Fachkräften (z. B. Berg- und Skiführer, Bergwanderführer, o.ä.) durchgeführt. Eine Anpassung des vorläufigen Tourenprogramms ist aus sicherheitsrelevanten Gründen, z. B. schlechtem Wetter, gefährlichen Verhältnissen, unvorhergesehenen Naturereignissen oder ungenügenden Voraussetzungen der Teilnehmer:Innen möglich. Die Entscheidung für das endgültige Programm trifft der/die Guide:In vor Ort. 

 

Good physical condition, sure-footedness, head for heights and endurance for daily stages with approx. 8 kg luggage of approx. 7 hours walking time, ascents up to 1.300 Hm and 5 hours in the ascent, descents up to 1.250 Hm. Good preparation is half the battle for multi-day hikes: Get used to your mountain boots and to carrying a backpack. The best way to practice this is on hikes with comparable altitude differences. For your specific preparation we recommend our Intensive training in surefootedness and head for heights

Informationen zur Einschätzung von Höhenmetern und Schwierigkeitsangaben findest du here. If in doubt, please call our office or send us an e-mail.

“Die Wanderung von Meran zum Gardasee ist meine persönliche Empfehlung. Die Etappen sind fantastisch, teilweise wild, teilweise beinahe mediterran und es herrscht im Unterschied zum klassischen E5 von Oberstdorf nach Meran weniger Betrieb. Allein in den Brenta-Dolomiten (einem UNESCO Weltkulturerbe) könnten man Wochen verbringen.”

Thomas Storck
UIMLA Mountain Guide
Member of the VIVALPIN Competence Team

8 TN

Meeting point at 10:00 am at the Texelbergbahn valley station

AV huts and inn

8 days

Public transport conditionally recommendable

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