Carnic High Trail Hiking Tour

Carnic High Trail Hiking Tour Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Villach

Once you’ve arrived in Villach, you can check in to your hotel and explore the town or kick back and relax before your hiking tour begins tomorrow.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Dobbiaco
Distance: None
Meals: None

Day 2 Transfer to Tröpolach and hike to Straniger Alm

In the morning you’ll take public transport from Villach to Tröpolach (included.). From there, take the cable car to the starting point of the stage (included).. Along the Carnic High Trail, you will hike up to the Nassfeld Pass with views over various larger and smaller lakes. Fields of alpine roses, wet meadows with cottongrass and numerous orchid species, as well as many streams characterize this stunning landscape. Enjoy the excellent cheese specialities crafted by the alpine cheese dairies that this region is famous for. At the end of the stage, a transfer takes you from the Straniger Alm to Kötschach Mauthen.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Kötschach Mauthen
Distance: 4.5 hours, 460m of ascent, 860m of descent
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 Hike to Rifugio Marinelli or Valentin Törl

Public transport will take you to the starting point at the Plöckenpass or Kreuztratte this morning (ticket not included). There are two different hiking options you can choose from today: the first variant takes you to the Rifugio Marinelli, with a view of the Monte Crostis and Monte Pezzacul and then to Collina. With the second option, you climb via the Carinthian border trail to the Valentin Törl. Then, continue to the deep blue Wolayer See and Woyaler Pass before descending to Collina. At the end of the stage a public bus will take you to Forni Avoltri (not included).
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Forni Avoltri
Distance: Option 1: 5.5 hours, 850m of ascent, 850m of descent
Option 2: 5.5 hours, 1075m of ascent, 775m of descent
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 Hike to Sappada via Rifugio Monte Siera

Starting from Forni Avoltri, you walk through forests past Colle degli Scoiattoli and Monte Geu. The view over the valley down to the surrounding mountains is breathtaking. Continue hiking to the Rifugio Monte Siera, which invites you to a well-deserved stop for refreshments, and then to Sappada. On the easier option for today, you hike past the Casera Tuglia below the Colle degli Scoiattoli to Cima Sappada and then to Sappada.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Sappada
Distance: Option 1: 6.5 hours, 950m of ascent, 850m of descent
Option 2: 5 hours, 750m of ascent, 450m of descent
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 Hike the High Trails

It is possible to shorten the first 400 metres of the ascent today with the chairlift from Sappada (ticket not included). You hike along the magnificent Laghi d`Olbe. The surroundings of the lakes belong to the most charming mountain areas of the Carnic Alps. From the Passo del Mulo you will enjoy the magnificent view of the mighty rock castles of Hochweißstein, Monte Chiadenis, and M. Avanza. Via the Forcella del Franza you will hike through the beautiful high valley of Val Popera and then continue leisurely along forest paths to Val Visdende, the ending point of this stage. As an alternative, you can hike over the Sorgenti del Piave. This is the source of the Piave River.
Overnight Location: Mountain Guesthouse in Val Visende
Distance: Option 1: 6 hours, 750-1150m of ascent, 1190m of descent
Option 2: 5.5-6.5 hours, 820m of ascent, 720m of descent
Meals: Breakfast

Day 6 Walk to Passo Palombino via Val Digon

Hike through woods and flower meadows from Val Visdende slightly below the actual high trail to the Passo Palombino and then on to Sega Digon. This untouched valley in the Dolomites is a natural oasis, which has been spared from mass tourism. At the end of the stage you take the public bus to Padola (ticket not included).
Overnight Location: Hotel in Padola
Distance: 6 hours, 920m of ascent, 980m of descent
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 Hike to Helm via Klammbachalm and the Sillianer Hütte

In the morning, you will take the public bus from Padola to the Kreuzberg Pass (ticket not included). You will pass the Klammbachalm and the Sillianer Hütte. Without noticing it, you cross the border to Austria and hike back to Italy. With a view of the famous Sesto sundial, the Dolomite peaks towering high above Sexten peaks Neuner, Zehner (Sextner Rotwand), Elfer, Zwölfer and Einser, you hike along the Carnic ridge. Take the cable car from Helm to Vierschach (ticket incl.). There you will take the train to Sillian (ticket not included.).
Overnight Location: Hotel in Sillian
Distance: 5-5.5 hours, 890m of ascent, 470m of descent
Meals: Breakfast

Day 8 Departure

Your tour finishes this morning after breakfast. You may choose to add additional nights if you wish to spend more time in Sillian.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast