Selected guided tours in the Schlern region and the Dolomites
Tierser Alpl
Demanding ride with a long and diverse ascent to the Tierser Alpl mountain cabin followed a by technically challenging descent. Test your fitness with S2 difficulty and be rewarded with an impressive panorama of the Dolomites. The tour starts off at a nice easy pace in Seis and then climbs steeply up to the Schafstall cabin. It really gets fun further up as it heads smoothly towards Gstatsch via Marinzen. The next 250 m along the Seiser Alm road until the Spitzbühl car park get eaten up quickly, then the asphalt path ascends dramatically once more to the chairlift mountain station. It pays off with Santer Spitze and Schlern within touching distance. From this point, the tour not only shows off the Seiser Alm with amazing mountain panoramas, but also with a series of recommended rest points. The route leads past the Laurinhütte with its tempting South Tyrolean specialities, via the Almrosenhütte and then the Mahlknechthütte (there is also an e-Bike charging station here). Once you are past the quaint Dialer Kirchlein, the view of the Dolomites is simply breathtaking. The profile of the Langkofel, Plattkofel, Marmolada, Sellagruppe, Sas Rigais, Geislerspitzen, Rosszähne, Schlern and Santner Spitze peaks draw a striking frame around the Seiser Alm. The route to the Tierser Alpl now heads sharply upwards: There are still 300 metres left to conquer, with an incline of up to 20 percent. The cabin is beautifully located at the foot of the Rosszähne. The Rosengarten sits enthroned directly opposite. What’s more, the landlord offers an outstanding Tyrolean menu with Mediterranean flair. Somewhere you can just sit and while away the time. The descent from the Tierser Alpl first heads over the road and then across some exciting trails towards Mahlknechtjoch and over a fun panorama trail past the Zallinger mountain cabin. This is the perfect spot to catch your breath again, with a new dining room and beautiful panoramic terrace, before the ride heads leisurely down to the Saltria Hotel, where you can find another e-Bike charging station. This is the start of the final ascent of this tour up to Compatsch. A hiking trail forks off towards the Spitzbühl car park at the Zorzi guesthouse. Technical riders can get their money's worth again on the narrow, technically challenging trail towards Gstatsch on a tight cart path. But watch out: This can be extremely slippery when wet! This magnificent tour then heads past Bad Ratzes and onto a smooth downhill trail back to the starting point.
Route: 46.8 km
Duration: 7 hours
Climb: 2069 m
Descent: 2069 m
Difficulty S2
Combi MTB tour beneath Schlern and Hammerwand
This MTB tour at the foot of Schlern and Hammerwand combines the ‘Tuff Alm and Hofer Alpl’ and ‘Tschafon’ tours in one elongated panorama route for technically skilled and super fit bikers. Difficulty S1. The tour starts in Völs am Schlern. Off the side of the main road, it is a steady uphill until Völser Weiher, where you can take a refreshing dip in the cool water of this popular South Tyrolean bathing lake. You can find another forest lake a little further up; the Huber Weiher, which you skirt alongside on the way to Tuff Alm. The air from the sweet apple strudel might tempt you in for a short break here, where you have a nice view of the animals in the petting zoo. This is followed by a short, smooth descent over the alpine meadow before the gravel road — very steep in parts — to the highest point of the tour, which requires full effort from your calves once again. The first part of this ascent up to the Schlernhaus goods cable lift can only be fully traversed by the fittest cyclists. This is also a good place to take a breather, with a beautiful 360-degree view of the massifs of the Dolomites. After a few more turns down the hill, the forest road branches off towards the Hofer Alpl. In clear weather, this secluded spot offers a great view right up to the Texel Group and the Ortler, and also gives you the chance to recharge the e-Bike and your own energy reserves. The elevation drops dramatically on the rapid descent towards Ums, but the fun doesn’t last long, as it is soon followed by a long but shaded climb up to Tschafonleger. The next descent down to the Tierser Tal does not pose any technical problems and provides a lot of fun in the saddle. It leads to the Schönblick guesthouse which, located on a panoramic road, offers a magnificent view of the Tieser Tal valley in the Rosengarten region. You will already have some of the peaks of the Rosengarten group behind you as you continue to descend the narrow street towards Tschötscher. On the other hand, the slight incline to the Schnaggerkreuz pays off with a wonderful view of the entire cliff ensemble, from Schlern to Tschafon. Just another short climb and then it’s time for the grand finale of the tour: the idyllic old gravel road from Ums to Völs am Schlern. The landscape is a treat for the eyes and fittingly rounds off this diverse day ride in the golden light of the afternoon sun.
Route: 31.3 km
Duration: 05:08 hours
Climb: 1352 m
Descent: 1352 m
Difficulty: S1
Tschafon
Rewarding MTB tour, up close and personal with the Schlern district giants, Tschafon and Hammerwand, with a wonderful view of the Dolomite mountains in the Seiser Alm region. Difficulty S1.
The tour gets off to a nice relaxed start on the road from Völs am Schlern to Ums as it meanders past beautiful old farmyards. The mighty cliff walls of Hammerwand and Tschafon are never out of view. This is followed by two kilometres of light incline towards Moarmühle on a gravel road before rolling nicely on towards Ums with a view of the Tiesertal valley. Now comes the long ascent to the foot of Hammerwand until you reach the Tschafonleger. Here you will find welcome refreshment in the shape of a fountain. You can take a break in the cosy cabin. The descent that follows does not pose any technical challenges and offers both beautiful landscapes and fun in the saddle. The route continues through aromatic forest roads towards Tieser Tal, the gate to the Rosengarten in the Dolomites - UNESCO world heritage site - and onto the Schönblick guesthouse. As the name suggests, you can also expect a marvellous view of the valley. The onwards route continues at a slight incline to Schnaggenkreuz. This is another spot where it is nice to have a break and enjoy the 360 view of the entire cliff ensemble, from Schlern to Tschafon. You then ride uphill through the forest for a little while until reaching the Ums sawmill, before reaching the grand finale of the tour, the romantic old road from Ums to Völs: The mostly gravelled, idyllic road leads over rugged terrain past manicured old farmyards. This dream route looks incredible in the late afternoon sun.
The tour gets off to a nice relaxed start on the road from Völs am Schlern to Ums as it meanders past beautiful old farmyards. The mighty cliff walls of Hammerwand and Tschafon are never out of view. This is followed by two kilometres of light incline towards Moarmühle on a gravel road before rolling nicely on towards Ums with a view of the Tiesertal valley. Now comes the long ascent to the foot of Hammerwand until you reach the Tschafonleger. Here you will find welcome refreshment in the shape of a fountain. You can take a break in the cosy cabin. The descent that follows does not pose any technical challenges and offers both beautiful landscapes and fun in the saddle. The route continues through aromatic forest roads towards Tieser Tal, the gate to the Rosengarten in the Dolomites - UNESCO world heritage site - and onto the Schönblick guesthouse. As the name suggests, you can also expect a marvellous view of the valley. The onwards route continues at a slight incline to Schnaggenkreuz. This is another spot where it is nice to have a break and enjoy the 360 view of the entire cliff ensemble, from Schlern to Tschafon. You then ride uphill through the forest for a little while until reaching the Ums sawmill, before reaching the grand finale of the tour, the romantic old road from Ums to Völs: The mostly gravelled, idyllic road leads over rugged terrain past manicured old farmyards. This dream route looks incredible in the late afternoon sun.
Route: 19.1 km
Duration: 03:18 hours
Climb: 857 m
Descent: 857 m
Difficulty: S1
Milky Way
The day-ride for leisurely riders along the old milk route against the unique backdrop of the Seiser Alm. Difficulty S1. The tour starts out at Gasko Bike and the sets off leisurely in the cable car from the Seiser Alm valley station up to the mountain station. From up there, you can look down on the entire expanse of the breathtaking high alps. The first stage of this diverse pleasure tour is the Alphotel Panorama, an insider tip for home-made regional dishes such as South Tyrolean schlutzkrapfen or scheiterhaufen. The subsequent climb pays off once you reach the sun terrace of the Goldknopf hotel with its magnificent mountain panorama. From here, you take the gravelled road onwards to the Almrosenhütte, where home-made juice is waiting to quench your thirst and South Tyrolean specialities such as goulash with dumplings, strudel, and kaiserschmarrn will tempt you in for a break. Then you have almost reached the highest point of the tour. The path leads you up to the family-friendly Mahlknechthütte refuge, which not only invites you in to stay a while with its e-Bike charging station, but also offers a playground, biotope and kids’ menu. Then it’s on past the Dialer Kirchlein before a rapid descent towards Saltria and the Tirler Alpine guesthouse. Children can enjoy the barefoot and adventure path, while the grown-ups pamper their skin at the sulphur springs. A little further, the Hotel Saltria offers another e-Bike charging station and then it’s already time for the second ascent, to the Ritsch Restaurant and across the unique alpine landscape of the Seiser Alm, heading up to the Joch mountain. What an amazing mountain view! Cheese-lovers can tantalise their taste-buds at the Gostner Schwaige, which has its own cheese dairy, before the pleasure tour heads past the Steger Dellai hotel, coming to an end in Compatsch. Depending on your mood and your condition, you can choose to descend into the valley via the Seiser Alm road or be transported back with the cable car.
Route: 16.4 km
Duration: 2:13 hours
Climb: 2:13 hours
Descent: 603 m
Difficulty: S1
Seiser Alm Valley Tour
Varied and demanding tour from village to village in the Seiser Alm region. The valley tour combines the localities of Kastelruth, Seis and Völs in one seriously demanding but rewarding round trip at the base of the Schlern. Difficulty S1. The tour starts in the centre of Kastelruth and leads from church tower to church tower over gentle hillsides alongside hamlets and forest lakes. The first stage starts off gently and then heads along the Seiser Alm road towards St. Valentin. You are treated with a continuous unimpeded view over the valley as you roll back down the hill and cut through the village of Seis. It then runs parallel to the main road on diverse downhill bike paths past the characteristic onion-shaped tower of little St. Konstantin church and onwards through the small village of St. Anton up to Völs am Schlern. It is always worth stopping for a break in the picturesque centre of Völs, before taking the same route back towards St. Anton. Here, the path branches off towards Völser Ried and heads through peaceful Weiler until just before St. Konstantin. Here, it is worth making a quick detour to see the Konstantiner Weiher natural pond. You will need a good sense of orientation if you want to take the lonely tour around the lake until Fallhof. Cheese-enthusiasts would then be well advised to follow their noses and make a pit stop at the cheese dairy and shop, before carrying on to St. Vigil. Now, experienced technical riders can really test their mettle along the narrow trail and, in parts, very steep descent. Then it continues uphill and the tour leads on to the Malenger Mühle and across the Furscher Hof towards Seis. Here, you start by following the main road to Kastelruth, but soon branch off towards the Laranz Forest. Then you head past the Telfen sports centre and across the Misaltweg over the steps of a narrow hiking path back to Kastelruth. The last section includes a short part where you have to push, before having completed the impressive valley tour — with a total distance of 26.6 km — behind you.
Route: 26.6 km
Duration: 03:30 hours
Climb: 826 m
Descent: 826 m
Difficulty: S1
Tuffalm and Hofer Alpl
Dream tour to the two perfectly located Völser Almen; the Tuff Alm and the Hofer Alpl, past the romantic Völser Weiher bathing lake, at the foot of the rocky backdrop of the Schern in the Seiser Alm region. Difficulty S1. St. Konstantin is beautifully presented on the way up towards the forest, while you are gently warming up. Alongside the main road, the route proceeds uphill on a car-free asphalt road followed by a forest path to the beautifully nestled Völser Weiher. On warm summer days, a refreshing dip here is hard to resist: the Völser Weiher with swimming cabin and generous bathing jetty is one of the most popular swimming lakes in South Tirol. But the route continues even higher, up to the Huber Weiher and steeply uphill through the forest to Tuff Alm. This is a good reason to stop for a breather and enjoy a traditional South Tyrolean apple strudel on the panorama terrace. The Almhütte looks out on the petting zoo and the gentle alpine meadows. From here, the route follows a steep gravel road to the highest point of the tour before it reaches the Schlernhaus goods cable lift. This is a section where you might have to get off and push, but it shouldn’t pose a problem for riders in good shape. After a few more turns down the hill, the path branches off from the forest road towards the Hofer Alpl. Here you have is another chance for a break with an e-Bike charging station and kid’s play area, before a 500-metre long trail snakes downhill. But there is one more highlight: the magnificent old country road from Völs to Ums! The predominantly gravelled, idyllic route leads though rugged landscapes alongside old farmyards and offers an enjoyable countryside experience, especially in the evening sun.
Route: 19.7 km
Duration: 03:00 hours
Climb: 781 m
Descent: 781 m
Difficulty: S1
Marinzen
Varied half-day panorama tour to the Marinzenhütte in the Seiser Alm region. A fun, high-altitude technical ride for a select few fit riders. Difficulty S1. Set off on the e-Bike from Gasko Bike to the Seiser Alm cable car and relax in the cabin up to Compatsch, which is both the start and highest point of this tour. Just below Compatsch, the hiking trail forks off towards Spitzbühl. After the Jaggl-Schwaige, which offers a lawn for sunbathing on deckchairs and is a delight for the kids with its petting zoo, the route turns into an enjoyable trail, which flows really nicely down to the car park for the Spitzbühl chairlift. After a few metres heading downhill on the Seiser Alm road, head to the right down the parallel gravel road towards Gstatsch. This part of the trail is a real pleasure for technically-minded bikers. All other bikers are best staying on the Seiser Alm road. The varied ridgeway to Marinzenhütte then starts at Hotel Gstatsch. An alpine meadow opens up following a short section through the forest: Here, the view of the impressive Schlern mountains with the striking Sante Spitze is a real treat. Things continue with a constant up and down to the magnificently located Marinzenhütte. Sun terrace, sunbathing lawn, petting zoo, a small lake and a kids’ play area make this snack station a popular tourist spot. Just one kilometre further on, you will find the isolated Schafstall cabin, which draws you in with home-made cake and kaiserschmarrn, before a steep gravel road heads back downhill to the Wasserebene restaurant. On the final stretch to the St. Valentin checkpoint, this tour treats you to one more magnificent view of Kastelruth, before it heads back to the starting point in Seis.
Route 15 km
Duration: 01:26 hours
Climb: 197 m
Descent: 1040 m
Difficulty: S1