Holidays in Selva

On an Inghams walking holiday, you have the freedom to explore the area at your own pace. Make each day a new adventure, with as much or as little walking as you like.

Why we love walking in Selva

Selva is perfectly set up for walking and exploring the outdoors. There are some great opportunities to join guided walks and activities with the Val Gardena Active Programme, just book these at the tourist office the day before you want to go. Lots of our hotels are really outdoors focused and some offer their own guided walks. These are fantastic to go on as the hoteliers often take you out personally and show you what they love about the area. There are so many different landscapes to discover in the Val Gardena, from meadows and farms, to lakes and rocky mountain routes. It's also a great place for spotting local wildlife such as, horses, cows and even marmots!

Inghams Guided Walks

Don't forget, you have the option to join two included Inghams guided walks per week, with a local, professional guide. Get to know our favourite walking trails with insider knowledge and the company of Inghams guests. Pre-booking is essential - check out the Guided Walks section below for more information.

Lifts

There are 18 lifts open in Val Gardena during the summer, normally from the beginning of June until early October. If you're planning to make good use of the lifts in the Val Gardena the Gardena Card is really useful and may even save you some money or if you want to explore further afield then the Dolomiti Supersummer pass gives you access to 120 lifts in 15 regions.

For more information on the cards mentioned above check out the 'Cards & Passes' section of this page.

Public transport

For Inghams guests the public buses in the Val Gardena are free. All you have to do is take you Val Gardena Mobil Card with you and you'll easily be able to hop from town to town within the area. This opens up even more areas for you to explore!

Inghams guided walks are included on your holiday to Selva

We’ve included two full-day walks per week in Selva, just for Inghams guests. Join a small group and be led by a professional mountain guide on some of their favourite trails. It’s a great way to get to know the area.

The walks will run every Monday and Friday and you can add them onto your holiday at the time of booking, through My Booking or by calling us.

Routes may vary from week to week but as a guide you can see some of our planned routes below:

Mont Sëura – at the foot of the majestic Sassolungo

This circular walk takes you from the meeting point at the church square in Selva all the way to Monte Pana. On the walk you can hike up Mont Sëura to make the walk challenging but you'll have the option to take a chairlift up if you prefer. If you choose to walk up, it's a bit of a climb, but you'll be rewarded with fantastic views at the top. On the way back you'll pass a small lake with an iconic Dolomite backdrop and will be surrounded by mountains. To end the walk you'll head over to Pozzamanigoni and then back to Selva.

• Grade: Moderate-Challenging (a decent fitness level and sure-footedness is required)
• Distance: 13.5km
• Duration: Full day (walking time approx. 4-5 hours)
• Ascent/descent: 543m
• Terrain: A variety including gravelly paths and grassy terrain with some ascents and descents
• Useful information: You'll stop at one of the mountain refugi where you can pay for lunch locally and there will be a few more huts along the walk if you need a break. There's a chairlift from Selva to Monte Pana (optional and payable locally, approx. €15 per person).

This walk will run on Fridays: 14th, 28th Jun, 12th, 26th Jul, 9th, 23rd Aug, 6th, 20th September

Stone City Walk

Starting at the church square you'll head up on the famous Ciampinoi cable car (payable locally) and begin the walk through the Cittá dei Sassi (rock city). The walk will pass along the Passo Sella to Plan de Gralba and is part of the very popular Sassolungo route. You'll have the chance to hop on the unique Sassolungo gondola to the Sassolungo-Forcella and visit the popular Toni Demetz Hut. This is an amazing place surrounded by a rocky landscape. On the way back you can either take the bus back to Selva from the Passo Sella or Plan de Gralba or you can walk back to Selva.

• Grade: Easy-Moderate (a decent fitness level and sure-footedness is required)
• Distance: 7.4km-11.9km
• Duration: Full day (walking time approx. 4 hours)
• Ascent/descent: 170m (ascent) & 875m (descent)
• Terrain: A variety including well-kept mountain paths, hilly terrain and rocky paths with some ascents and descents (there may be some loose terrain)
• Useful information: You'll stop at one of the mountain huts along the way where you can pay for lunch locally. There are a few huts on the route where you can stop for breaks if needed. During the walk you'll take the Ciampinoi cable car (payable locally, approx. €18 one way, per person). You'll also have the option to take the Sassolungo cable car (payable locally, approx. €28 per person return). There will be the opportunity to shorten or lengthen the walk, depending on the group.

This walk will run on Mondays: 17th Jun, 1st, 15th, 29th Jul, 12th, 26th Aug, 9th, 23rd Sep

In the Heart of the UNESCO Puez Odle Natural Park

This walk takes you through the stunning Puez Odle Natural Park which is a protected area. You'll walk up to the Santa Cristina Panoramic Balcony which is part of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site and has breath-taking views of the surrounding Dolomite peaks. You'll continue on to the the Piera Longia - a famous natural rock needle jutting out of the ground. There's a great rifugio nearby which you can stop at for a bite of local mountain food or a refreshing drink.

• Grade: Easy-Moderate (a good fitness level and sure-footedness is required)
• Distance: 8km
• Duration: Full day (walking time approx. 5 hours 30 minutes)
• Ascent/descent: 400m
• Terrain: A variety including loose gravel paths, rocky paths, meadows and curated mountain paths with some ascents and descents (there may be some loose terrain)
• Useful information: You'll stop at one of the mountain huts along the way where you can pay for lunch locally. There are a few huts on the route where you can stop for breaks if needed. During the walk you'll take the Col Raiser cable car (payable locally, approx. €19 one way and €28 per person, return). You'll take a public bus back to Selva at the end of the walk (free with the Val Gardena Mobil Card).

This walk will run on Mondays: 10th, 24th Jun, 8th, 22nd Jul, 5th, 19th Aug, 2nd, 16th Sep

Discovering the Alpe di Siusi

This circular walk is a chance to explore the largest and highest Alpine pasture in Europe, the Seiser Alm. You'll start in Ortisei and take the cable car up to the Alpe di Siusi. You'll then walk towards the hamlet of Kompatsch and the Tirler hut where you can have a drink and some delicious local food (payable locally), before heading back to finish the walk.

• Grade: Moderate-Challenging (a good fitness level and sure-footedness is required)
• Distance: 17km
• Duration: Full day (walking time approx. 5-6 hours)
• Ascent/Descent: 590m (descent)
• Terrain: Rocky paths, loose gravel, meadows, curated mountain paths, walking paths, ascents and descents
• Useful information: During the walk you'll take the Seiser Alm gondola (payable locally, approx. €28 per person, return. You'll stop at the Tirler hut for some lunch along the way (payable locally) or you'll have the option to have a packed lunch outside in the open air. There will be the opportunity to shorten or lengthen the walk, depending on the group.

This walk will run on Fridays: 7th, 21st Jun, 5th, 19th Jul, 2nd, 16th, 30th Aug, 13th, 27th Sep

For every walk you will need: suitable walking shoes with good grip, appropriate clothing, sun cream, sun glasses, rain jacket, a warmer layer, rucksack, at least a litre of water, a snack and cash for mountain huts/transport. You may find walking poles useful.

Early booking is strongly recommended as spaces are limited. All walks are subject to availability of local guides, weather conditions and maximum numbers. Planned routes are subject to change. Any distances and ascents/descents stated are approximate. Full details of the walks with the meeting points and routes will be provided to you on arrival. In some instances there may be a small charge for local transport that is payable locally. In resorts where the walks run over more than two days, the day of the walk will be allocated to you by your Rep in your welcome meeting. Where we cannot confirm your preferred option in resort, we will endeavour to offer an alternative subject to the above conditions.

Please ensure you are comfortable with the grade of walk, planned distance covered and terrain before booking. The decision of the guide on the suitability of the walk for you is final and no compensation will be paid where the guide believes, in their professional opinion, that it is not suitable. Please ensure you are well-equipped for the walk have suitable clothing and footwear. Walks are not recommended for guests under 12 years. Any guests under 18 years will need to be accompanied by an adult.

Panascharte to the Seceda

• Easy to moderate hike
• 8 kilometres
• One of the most popular hikes in Val Gardena with views of the Odle peaks

This walk begins with the cable car in Ortisei and takes you to one of the most popular spots in Val Gardens. The stunning Seceda is a 2,519 metre high mountain and part of the Puez Nature Park. It's the best place to go for views of the Odle Group. That means in can get busy in summer so plan to set off early.

Pic Mountain

• Moderate hike
• 7 kilometres
• 360 degree views of Val Gardena

You'll feel on top of the world at the summit of Pic Mountain. Take the cable car from San Cristina and hike along to Sëurasas, one of the most scenic look outs in Val Gardena, and the summit of Mount Pic for uninterrupted, 360 degree views of the the Dolomite mountain ranges.

Round the Sassolongo group

• Challenging hike
• 17 kilometres
• Stunning landscapes

Start on the Ciampinoi lift and hike towards the well-known rock formations of the stone city and to the Passo Sella. Follow the Friedrich August path and take in the stunning views over Seiser Alm, the biggest high alpine pasture in Europe.

You can view lots more recommended routes with interactive maps on the Val Gardena Tourist Office website. You can also see the opening status of the routes here.

Recommended equipment

Comfy walking boots, waterproofs, rucksacks and walking poles are useful for hiking around Val Gardena. You can rent walking poles in resort from around €8 per day.

Walking maps

Val Gardena Outdoor is available for free on Google Play or the App Store and has quite a few walks on there to get you started. For paper maps, we recommend Kompass 59 or Kompass 76.

Hiking guidelines

The mountains are a natural paradise, with lots to explore and discover. To help it stay that way, and remain an enjoyable and safe place for everyone, we recommend following our little list of do's and don'ts:

• Plan your route well and don't over-estimate yourself
• Check the weather forecast
• Tell someone where you're planning to walk and what time you're expecting to be back
• Take all the recommended equipment
• Make a note of emergency numbers:
  • Italian Emergency Services: 112
• Don't leave the marked trails or go onto a glacier without a guide
• Let nature stay wild by not picking flowers (it's illegal in some places) or getting close to/making contact with wild animals
• Always leave gates as you found them
• Leave no trace

Free Val Gardena Mobil Card

You'll get a free Val Gardena Mobil Card when you stay at any of our hotels. It gives you unlimited travel on all public transport in South Tyrol. Including the historic Ritten Railway.

Gardena Card

The Gardena Card is very useful if you're planning to use the lifts in the Val Gardena a lot. Round trips start from about €24 so it may be worth buying the card, which will give you unlimited access for:

• €103 per adult for three consecutive days
• €135 per adult for six consecutive days

The Dolomiti Supersummer pass is really useful if you want to explore the mountains to the max! It gives you access to 120 lifts in 15 Dolomite regions. This is a great deal if you know you're going to be spending a lot of time riding around in lifts. For more information on the card and prices visit the Dolomiti Supersummer website.

Enjoy activities with the Val Gardena active programme

Get involved with as many activities as you want with the Val Gardena active programme. They include guided walks, Nordic walking tasters, food & wine experiences, climbing, biking and lots more. Activities are either free or discounted when you stay at affiliated hotels.

Affiliated hotels include: Hotel Oswald, Hotel Rodella, Hotel Aaritz, Hotel Mignon, Hotel Somont, Hotel Stella

Test out your climbing skills on a via ferrata

Our favourite is the via ferrata Mesules. You'll need to be in good shape for this one but it's great if you want a challenge and you'll see almost the entire Sella Group on the descent.

Thrilling mountain biking trails

Mountain biking in the area is second to none. Head for the freeride trails or stick with the gentle winding routes on the family line - both are fun. Best of all the lifts take you to the top of the runs, so all you need to do is enjoy the ride down.

Incredible local food

The food won’t disappoint here. Typical mountain fare has more Austro-Hungarian influences than it does Italian but don't worry it’s easy to stumble upon fresh, stone-baked pizzas. Plan your hikes around the mountain huts where you can have lunch - there's more than 60 to choose from.

Visit Val Gardena's villages

Head along the road to the pretty villages of San Cristina and Ortisei, they're linked by the fascinating Val Gardena railway trail. Both villages are soaked in tradition with local markets, pretty churches and boutique shops. There's even craft breweries. Not to mention the spectacular mountain panoramas.

Walking trails for all the family

There are plenty of family friendly walks in Selva. These walks will have easier and mild gradients available, with wide trails where children will have plenty of space to play and explore. Many walks will also have refreshment stops to sit back and relax at one of the mountain huts or to enjoy a picnic in the fresh mountain air. Some of the resort favourite family friendly walks are The Ledgent Trail, Walk through the Val D’Anna and Hike to Brogles Hut.

Val Gardena Kids Active & Junior Active

Each summer from June to September, Val Gardena offers an action packed programme of activities for children aged 6 to 12 years old. There is so much fun to be had for all young explorers, ready for their next adventure. Kids Active & Junior Active runs for five days per week and offers a vast range of activities. Spend the week hiking through the forest with the nature park guide learning all about the inhabitants that live there. Fancy something creative, learn how natural materials can be used to create surprising things or turn your hands to clay. There is so much more fun on offer too!

Mountain Adventures

There is no shortage of mountain fun in Selva. With over five adventure playgrounds to choose from with an endless amount of fun equipment for children to play on. Take to the 10 metre long slide at the Pranives Children’s Playground, or take a pit stop at the Val D’Anna Playground set amongst a walking path where children can burn their energy on the playhouse and climbing equipment whilst taking in those glorious mountain views.  

Fancy an adventure with a height? Head to the Col de Flam Adventure Park with a roof top rope adventures for children of all ages.

The Mar Dolomit is an activity not to be missed, offering an outdoor pool, and 4 indoors pools which include a children’s and baby pool too – plus there is a children’s slide too!