Hiking Karnischer Höhenweg – in the footsteps of the Karnischen Höhenweg
Hiking week on the border between Italy and Austria
The Karnische Höhenweg, KHW 403 for short, is a unique experience for hikers, geologists and nature lovers. Already on the first stage you can enjoy incomparable views of the Sesto Dolomites and the UNESCO World Heritage. Again and again you pass smaller and larger lakes, whereby the Wolayersee with its crystal-clear water clearly stands out. Finally, the second largest city in Carinthia – Villach – awaits you.
You hike on through the realm of marmots and soon wide plateaus and lush flower meadows dominate the picture. Let the journey end in Villach with its cosy, mediterranean way of life. The more exposed part will be bypassed generously. The eastern part of the high-level trail is much easier.
The easy hike runs along well-marked mountain and hiking trails. The tour is suitable for everyone with a good basic condition. Climbing skills are not necessary.
TRAVEL ITINERARY
8 days / 7 nights
Day 1: Dobbiaco/Toblach
Individual arrival at the hotel in Toblach/Dobbiaco. Free, unguarded public car park near the hotel.
Day 2: Dobbiaco/Toblach - Helm - Padola
(ascent approx. 475 m, descent 875 m / approx. 4.5-5.5 hours)
Your hiking trip starts with a short transfer. With the cable car you join to the starting point of the tour on the Helm. With a view of the famous Sesto sundial, the Dolomite peaks of Neuner, Zehner (Sesto Rotwand), Elfer, Zwölfer and Einser towering high above Sesto, you hike along the Carnic ridge. Without noticing it you cross the border to Austria and hike back to Italy. Passing the Sillianer Hütte and the Klammbachalm you reach the Kreuzberg Pass and from forward to Padola.
Day 3: Padola - Val Visdende
(ascent approx. 920 m, descent approx. 790 m / approx. 5.5 hours)
In the morning you take the frequent bus to the starting point of today‘s stage. A little below the actual high-level trail, you hike through woods and flower meadows into the Val Visdende with a view of the steeply rising flanks of the great Kinigat.
Day 4: Val Visdende - Sappada
(ascent approx. 1.180 m, descent approx. 1.190 m / approx. 6 hours;
At first, the hike continues along the Val Visdende before climbing comfortably along forest paths higher and higher towards the Monte Rinaldo mountain group. Soon you reach the beautiful Val Popera, the Forcella del Franza and Passo del Mulo. Enjoy the magnificent view of the mighty rock castles of Hochweistein, Monte Chiadenis and M. Avanza and down to the magnificent lakes Laghi d‘Olbe. The surroundings of the lakes belong to the most charming mountain areas of the Carnic Alps.
Day 5: Sappada - Forni Avoltri
(ascent approx. 1.160 m, descent approx. 1.530 m / approx. 6.5 hours - Variant: ascent approx. 560 m, descent approx. 920 m / approx. 4 hours)
You start your hike to Monte Chiadin directly from Sappada. Through sparse forests you hike to the Rifugio Piani del Cristo. Then the ascent over the grassy southern slope of Monte Chiadin starts; enjoy the magnificent view oo the surrounding mountains. The shorter variant leads over the Sella di Keser directly to Forni Avoltri.
Day 6: Collina - Marinelli Hut - Kötschach Mauthen
(ascent approx. 1.010 m, descent approx. 900 m / approx. 5.5 hours - Variant: ascent approx. 930 m, descent approx. 1.100 m / approx. 5.5 hours)
The starting point for today is Collina. There are two variants to choose from: the first one leads along the the southern side of the Carnic Alps to the Rifugio Marinelli and, with a view of Monte Crostis and Monte Pezzacul, to the Plöcken Pass. With the second one you climb to the Woyaler Pass and the deep blue lake with the same name. Enjoy a well-deserved apple strudel at the hut. The descent is via the Carinthian border trail to the Valentinalm. Public transport will take you to Kötschach Mauthen (ticket not included).
Day 7: Kötschach Mauthen - Straniger Hut - Nassfeld
(ascent approx. 890 m, descent approx. 490 m / approx. 5.5 hours)
Transfer to Stranigeralm. Along the Carnic High Trail you will hike up to the Nassfeld Pass and past various larger and smaller lakes. Fields of alpine roses, wet meadows with cottongrass and numerous orchid species, as well as many streams characterise the landscape. Enjoy the excellent cheese cheese specialities for which the region is famous and which are produced in the many alpine cheese dairies. cheese dairies. At the end of the stage, take the cable car to Tröpolach and from there on to Villach.
Day 8: Villach
Individual departure from Villach or possibility to extend your stay.
Prices and dates
Standard | ||
---|---|---|
Package | view calendar | |
Half board supplement | 196 € |
It is recommended to purchase an optional travel cancellation policy. Prices valid subject to changes in the offer, omissions, printing errors or arithmetic.
Price per night in double room with breakfast | Villach | 79 € | |
Single room supplement per night | Villach | 25 € | |
Price per night in double room with breakfast | Toblach | From 17/06/2023 to 08/07/2023 | 79 € |
Single room supplement per night | Toblach | From 17/06/2023 to 08/07/2023 | 25 € |
Price per night in double room with breakfast | Toblach | From 09/07/2023 to 09/09/2023 | 89 € |
Single room supplement per night | Toblach | From 09/07/2023 to 09/09/2023 | 15 € |
Price per night in double room with breakfast | Toblach | From 10/09/2023 to 16/09/2023 | 79 € |
Single room supplement per night | Toblach | From 10/09/2023 to 16/09/2023 | 35 € |
It is recommended to purchase an optional travel cancellation policy. Prices valid subject to changes in the offer, omissions, printing errors or arithmetic.
Return transfer per person | 69 € |
It is recommended to purchase an optional travel cancellation policy. Prices valid subject to changes in the offer, omissions, printing errors or arithmetic.
Prices:
General information
Discover all the services we offer and book one of our tours now.
By car: on the motorway Brenner/Brennero (A22) to Brixen/Bressanone – take the exit “Brixen-Pustertal”, then along the valley Pustertal/Valle Pusteria (SS49) to Toblach/Dobbiaco, or drive along the Felbertauernstraße to Lienz in Eastern Tyrol (Austria) and then further into Italy through the valley Pustertal/Valle Pusteria to Toblach/Dobbiaco.
By train: take the train from Innsbruck over the Brenner/Brennero to Franzensfeste/Fortezza. Change trains for the Pustertal/Valle Pusteria - Lienz and get off at Toblach/Dobbiaco. Timetable available on: www.deutschebahn.de, www.oebb.at, www.trenitalia.com.
By plane: Low cost flights are available to Innsbruck airport, „Sant’ Angelo - Antonio Canova“ airport in Treviso and/or to the „Marco Polo“ airport in Venice. On request, we can organise transfers from the airport to the starting point of the cycle tour.
Inns and hotels 3*** category, 1 overnight in a mountain guesthouse (Val Visdende).
Attention: Tourist tax – if requested – has to be paid on the spot!
Free and unguarded parking facilities for the duration of the hiking tour at a nearby public parking area.
Every Sunday transfer from Villach to Dobbiaco/Toblach at a price of € 69.00 per person (reservation and payment upon booking).
We suggest travel insurance.
• Accommodation in inns and hotels 3*** category, 1 accomodation in a mountain guesthouse (Val Visdende)
• Breakfast buffet or full breakfast
• Personal tour information
• Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
• Tickets for transfers according to the program
• Well planned routes
cable-car and bus)• Detailed documents (maps, route description, places to visit, important telephone numbers)
• Navigation APP
• Telephone service hotline for the entire tour
• Arrival to the starting point of the tour
• Departure at the end of the tour
• Drinks, tourist tax and all extras
• Lunch, Dinner (if not booked)
• Bus ticket day 2 (Kreuzbergpass-Padola), day 3, day 6
• Not mentioned entries
• Travel insurance
• All not expressly mentioned under the item „Included services“
FAQ
Questions and answers
Light, comfortable clothing is advisable. In addition to the usual equipment (clothes, washing things) we recommend hiking or trekking trousers, gloves, hiking or trekking shoes (hard sole and high shaft protect feet), hiking sticks, rain jacket/protection/sunshield (cap, glasses), small rucksack for the day's provisions, water bottle, personal medication, small first-aid kit (plaster, elastic bandage, disinfection, ointment against strains).
Transfers to the starting points are organised directly by us using a shuttle bus or public transport. You can find more information in the travel documents.
The easy hike runs along well-marked mountain and hiking trails. The tour is suitable for everyone with a good basic condition. Climbing skills are not necessary.
Every Sunday we organise a return transfer by shuttle bus from Villach back to Alta Pusteria (reservation and payment required when booking).
Alternatively, there are good train connections. You can find the current timetables at www.oebb.at and www.trenitalia.com.