Hiking in the Schlern-Rosengarten Nature Park in South Tyrol is a journey that takes you through different worlds. You hike over gentle alpine pastures, through dark green spruce and pine forests up to the unique craggy rocks of the Dolomites and wonderful huts.

If you've never been to the giants of Italy before, like me before this Tour, this Collection offers an exciting four-day round trip with three great huts, challenging Tours and plenty of insights into the Italian Alps and the magnificent Dolomites.

The Schlern-Rosengarten Nature Park extends over an area of 7,291 hectares (18,016 acres) just 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) east of Bolzano. The Schlern massif within the park is one of South Tyrol's landmarks with the Santnerspitze (2,413 metres/ 7,916 feet) and the Euringerspitze (2,395 metres/7,857 feet).

On your discovery journey, you climb steeply up into the Italian Schlern-Rosengarten Nature Park via the well-marked paths of the official Val d’Ega trek, including challenging ascents to several passes. The following applies: If you want to discover the Dolomites, you have to earn them. From my own experience, I can tell you that it's worth it. Surefootedness, hiking poles and well-considered, light luggage will ensure that you can really enjoy this four-day round Tour. You should also bring a light climbing helmet. On two passages, you have to carry your rucksack along paths secured with wire ropes and ladders. A real highlight of the Tour that needs to be mastered safely.

Depending on your mood and fitness level, you can also divide the Tour into five days. This is possible, for example, by dividing the last stage into two days instead of one. If you are a climbing fan, this trek also offers various extension options for which it is worth staying a little longer in the Dolomites. Via ferratas like the Maximilian via ferrata can be easily reached from the Tierser Alp Hütte.

Arrival and departure: If you arrive by car, you can leave it at the car park of the Carezza cable car in Nova Levante – your starting point – for the next few days. The ‘Welschnofen, Zentrum’ bus stop is near the cable car which is served by the 180 bus from nearby Bolzano. The capital of South Tyrol is the ideal starting point for this trek and has a railway station. You can also reach Nova Levante by train and bus from the direction of Bressanone or Trento.

Accommodation/huts: The Tours in this Collection are planned in such a way that you always arrive at a suitable hut with overnight accommodation. You will always find overnight accommodation in the respective stage description. It is advisable to call all the huts before the Tour to check the availability of beds. This worked well for me and my hiking companion on this trek.

On this Tour, you pass some of the most impressive places in the Dolomites. Besides magical sunrises and the warm welcome in the refugios, you will get to know the Dolomites in a physically intense way on this adventure. I was bitten by the Dolomites bug on this trek and hope I can infect you with it too.