South Tyrol for Families

Caro shares her story

We're setting off on our very first active vacation as a family. To make it as fun and engaging as possible for our daughter, we’ve chosen the hiking region of South Tyrol. I’ll admit—there’s a bit of nervous excitement on my part. What will it be like to hike every day, especially with a little one in tow? My husband and I are really looking forward to the adventure. As for our daughter... well, she’s not quite as enthusiastic—yet. But we’re curious to see how the journey unfolds!

A Smooth Start

Since we’re traveling during the school holidays, we’re especially glad that Eurohike offers flexible arrival dates. We choose to start on a Monday to avoid the peak weekend traffic. Our first stop is right by the lake in Resia, where we’re warmly welcomed at Villa Claudia Augusta. We receive our detailed travel documents as soon as we check in - everything is so well organized and that evening, we meet Peter, the local Eurohike representative, for a relaxed welcome briefing. With the rest of the day free, we stroll around Resia and check out the famous submerged church tower. The hotel owner also shares a few local secrets - like the best spots to enjoy a good dinner.

Father and daughter bounce stones in the lake

Girl splashing in the water with her hand

Mom and daughter look at the church tower in the lake

Pure Adventure: Cable Cars, Wild Horses, and Panoramic Views

The next morning begins with a hearty breakfast at our cozy accommodation, lovingly prepared by our host—just what we need to fuel up for our first stage! We choose the high trail from Resia to San Valentino, and the adventure starts right away with a ride on the cable car - already a major highlight for our daughter. At the top, we’re greeted by a herd of horses and a flurry of grasshoppers (not so easy to catch, as it turns out!). The high trail treats us to breathtaking views of the Ötztal Alps, with Lake Resia glimmering in the distance. The path gently rolls through meadows, past bubbling streams and picture-perfect picnic spots. There’s always something new for our daughter to discover and explore.

At the end of the trail, we take the cable car down to San Valentino, and to celebrate our first day on the trail, we reward ourselves with big scoops of ice cream! For the final stretch, we hop on the bus - thanks to the Vinschgau Card, available at every hotel, public transport is free. A huge bonus when traveling with kids! We round off the day with a relaxed dinner at Pizzeria Lampl in Malles - tired, happy, and already looking forward to tomorrow.

Two hikers on a bridge with thistles in the foreground

Father with his daughter on a hiking trail

Through the Enchanted Forest with Little Explorers

This morning greets us with a lovely surprise—a farmers' market in Malles! We wander through the old town’s charming streets, admiring the colorful stalls and soaking in the lively atmosphere before setting off toward Schluderns, our next destination. This time, we start by climbing up to the Sonnensteig, passing a lovely forest playground along the way. Not long after, we reach our first Waalweg! and just like that, the magic begins. Kids and water: the perfect combination. We race little pieces of bark or pinecones down the water, seeing whose can float the fastest. It’s playful, it’s simple—and suddenly, hiking becomes effortless. The shaded forest path running alongside the Waal is a gift on this warm day, and the trail itself is so varied and full of surprises that we decide to take the longer route. Honestly? It turns out to be the absolute highlight of our entire hiking tour. Small wooden bridges, babbling streams, mossy caves, secret corners—it’s like stepping into an enchanted forest. There’s so much to see and explore, we barely notice the time passing. By evening, we arrive in Schluderns, where we treat our tired feet to a refreshing soak in the Kneipp pool before settling in at our hotel, Saldur Small Active. The pool there is just the cherry on top after such a magical day.

Father and daughter with travel documents

Hikers on a meadow hiking trail with panoramic views

Two More Hiking Days with Plenty of New Discoveries

After a wonderful breakfast, we start today’s hike with a train ride from Schluderns to Kastelbell. The train station is just a short walk away. In Kastelbell, we pick up some snacks, because you never know when hunger will strike—and this way, we’re independent of any places to eat. Today, you can really feel the Mediterranean side of South Tyrol getting closer. The trail starts among vineyards and apple orchards. Once again, we follow Waalwege, this time with a bit of a fairy-tale twist, featuring gnomes and legends. Chestnut trees become more common, and when we look down into the valley, we see more and more fruit-growing fields. As today’s highlight, we’ve chosen Juval Castle, which awaits us at the end of the tour. Of course, we visit the mountain legend Reinhold Messner’s residence and are deeply impressed by his collection of Nepalese art. To wrap up, we stop for coffee and cake at the nearby Hofschank Schlossbauer, before beginning our descent. For those who find the descent too long, there’s also a bus that takes you down to the valley, with a stop at the Vinschger Bauernladen. From there, you can take a bus or train to the next destination if your tired legs need a break. We choose the train and make our way to Naturns in comfort.

The next day, the hiking path changes quite a bit as we walk along the Sonnenberger Panorama Trail. It’s rockier in parts, but it’s lined with beautiful apple orchards, open chestnut forests, and picturesque farmhouses. We also spot more lizards, who seem to really enjoy the sun-warmed rocks. For us, who are also feeling the heat, the sprinklers watering the apple orchards are a welcome relief. Our daughter especially has a blast with them! Today, we arrive a bit earlier at our hotel, Botango, and take full advantage of the pool. Thanks to Peter’s tip to pack our swimwear in our backpacks so we’re not dependent on the luggage transfer, we have no trouble jumping right in. But honestly, we didn’t need to worry about our luggage—it arrived shortly after us at the hotel. I have to say, the transfer worked flawlessly every time. We really enjoyed our afternoon and evening at Hotel Botango. The hotel features a wonderful African-inspired décor, and the in-house pizzeria is definitely worth a visit. In the evening, a small combo plays live music in the beer garden. Could it get any more idyllic?

Signpost and rest area in the dwarf forest

A child at a water sprinkler between apple orchards

From Vineyards to Palms

Today, we set off on our final stage, leaving the hotel and heading straight toward Merano. The landscape becomes more Mediterranean and gentle with every step. Our path starts on the Algund Waalweg, winding through vineyards. The views over the Etschtal Valley are stunning, and more and more olive trees line our route - Bella Italia!

The last stretch of the Algund Waalweg leads us across a suspension bridge, and soon we’re on the world-famous Tappeiner Promenade above Merano. Here, the plant life is completely different from the rest of the tour. Cacti and palm trees now line our path. We leave the Tappeiner Promenade behind and dive into the lively town of Merano. After a quick snack, we head to our hotel, Hotel Flora, which is conveniently located in the heart of Merano. Having a pool there is a great bonus. We savor the last day of our vacation and are all surprised by how quickly the six days have passed.

Conclusion

I’m amazed at how enjoyable and exciting our hiking vacation was. Even our daughter wanted to discover new paths every day. It’s also fun to follow the trail on the Eurohike on Tour app with kids, letting them explore the routes themselves. The tips in the app are very helpful, especially with children, as you quickly need places to stop for a break, and the app allows them to navigate themselves to those spots.

This tour is highly recommended for families whose children enjoy being in nature and take pleasure in the little things. The option to descend into the valley at almost any point and shorten the hike with public transportation speaks volumes about the well-planned route of the tour.

Our Favorite place

For my husband and me, it’s an entire path! The Leitenwaal in Schluderns. The Waalweg is so enchanting with its streams, bridges, walkways, and forests that you almost expect to find a forest gnome or a little elf behind every corner.

For our daughter, it was the pool at Hotel Botango. With temperatures over 30°C, the refreshing swim was simply unbeatable.

Mother and daughter on the Berkwaal hiking trail

Salzburger Pinzgau for Families

Claudia shares her experience

It’s finally time! My first Team Member on Tour assignment is kicking off! I’m bringing my husband and daughter along, both of whom are just as excited. We’re heading to the picturesque Pinzgau region in Salzburg, specifically to Saalbach Hinterglemm, Zell am See, Maishofen, and Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer. Since our little one is only four years old, we chose this family-friendly tour. Even though I live in Salzburg, I’m still in awe of the mountain scenery as we make our way there. The landscape is stunning, and the mountain panorama is absolutely breathtaking.

The excitement starts right with the packing: This is our first active tour! Did we remember everything? After arriving by car at the first very welcoming hotel at Reiterkogel in Hinterglemm, I realize that we forgot to pack hats. And that, despite the drizzly weather! But the thoughtfully prepared travel package includes three practical multifunctional scarves. Hallelujah! Now we’re truly equipped for anything.

A Warm Welcome!

Throughout this hiking week, we’re staying in four different hotels, and at each one, we’re welcomed with open arms. The rooms are cozy and spacious, offering the perfect retreat after a day of hiking. In the evenings, we can unwind in the inviting wellness areas, soothing our tired muscles. Two hotels greet us with a glass of Prosecco to toast our arrival, while our daughter Tamara enjoys a refreshing orange juice to join in the moment.

A special highlight is the traditional Jause lunch snack at the Kammereggalm in Maishofen. After a roughly three-kilometer ascent, we reach this rustic, cozy hut, where the warm-hearted host greets us with great charm. Surrounded by the idyllic scenery and the pretty flowers planted in front of the hut, the beer and radler taste especially refreshing, and we enjoy some bread, speck, and cheese. Tamara isn't as hungry anymore since she filled up on wild strawberries she picked along the way. There's one more delightful surprise at the final, very welcoming hotel in Maria Alm. The waitress immediately strikes me as friendly, and we soon realize we know each other from early childhood, though we haven’t seen each other in at least 25 years. What a joyful reunion!

Action and Adventure

Hiking with a small child who isn’t fond of walking on their own is already an adventure in itself. But on this tour, the experience factor is truly high. Surprisingly, the highlight for me is the suspension bridge on the Baumzipfelweg in Hinterglemm. Why surprisingly? I’ll share that at the end of the travel report. On Monday and Tuesday, we set off on adventure trails specially designed for children:

On Monday, we take the Montelino Adventure Trail in Saalbach Hinterglemm. We ride the Kohlmaisbahn up to the Kohlmais summit. Since this is Tamara’s very first cable car ride, the journey itself is already full of excitement. Then, we leisurely hike to the middle station, where we solve puzzles, balance, slide, climb, swing, and simply have a blast at the various play stations along the way. Tamara is so excited that she jumps into a puddle and ends up with wet feet. So, we stop at the Panorama Alm at 1,650 meters above sea level to warm up our feet. To our great surprise, there’s a sweet, tame kitten on the wooden bench in the guest room, which lets Tamara pet it and snuggles closer and closer to her.

On Tuesday, the adventure gets a bit more challenging at Schmidolin’s Fire Trial in Zell am See. This experience trail is recommended for children aged six and up, and the play stations are even a challenge for me. But since we all help each other, it doesn’t take away from the fun at all. We even extend our cheerful hike and make our way to the Plettsaukopf Reservoir. The extension is well worth it, as the mountain scenery here is absolutely breathtaking! We dip our feet in, and Tamara has a blast trying to catch tadpoles.

Father and daughter watch cows by the stream

Lakes and Mountains, the Perfect Pairing

On Wednesday, after a hearty breakfast, we set off from Zell am See to Schloss Kammer in Maishofen, where we’ll spend the night. To get there, we cross Lake Zell—a journey made even more pleasant as all boat rides are included in our guest card. The cool breeze on the boat is a welcome relief, especially since it’s a particularly hot day. The sight of the lake with the mountains in the background, like the Schmittenhöhe, is absolutely breathtaking.

On Thursday, we extend our hike from Saalbach to Maria Alm with a delightful detour to the enchanting Ritzensee. A quick dip in the refreshing water makes Tamara squeal with delight, and we take a relaxing break, enjoying some ice cream while soaking in the serene surroundings.

On Friday, we head to Prinzensee, where a few hikers are admiring the view from the cozy benches around the lake. Two visitors are brave enough to jump into the refreshing, cold water: our daughter and a Labrador! This is met with applause from the other guests! We skip the water slide park and the longer hike today and instead stop by the stylish TOM-Almhütte at Hochkönig, where we enjoy a cold glass of Aperol Spritz, beer, and fruit juice.

On our departure day, we spend a few enjoyable hours at the outdoor pool in Maria Alm. The entrance is included in our guest card, and this small pool with the long slide is just perfect for a family with a child on this sunny day. After splashing around, playing, and enjoying some ice cream, we head home, feeling relaxed and happy.

Girls at the water playground during the adventure trail

Child sees itself in the mirror at the adventure trail

Family splashing around in the reservoir

Mother enjoys a hiking break at Prinzensee

Aperol Spritz and beer with Eurohike backpack in the background

Conclusion

This wonderful and varied tour has gifted us with so much precious family time and countless shared memories. Even though my daughter isn’t the biggest fan of hiking, she absolutely loved the variety, the fun adventure trails made just for kids, and above all, the time spent with Mom and Dad. From the very first day, I could feel myself becoming more grounded breathing in the fresh mountain air, surrounded by stunning landscapes, the stress of the past few months slowly began to lift. And now, as a Salzburgerin, I finally see with new eyes just how breathtakingly beautiful it is - right here in our own backyard.

Our Favorite place

My favorite spot might come as a surprise - it wasn’t particularly cozy or relaxing. But I’ll let you in on a little secret: I’m afraid of heights. So you can probably guess that the suspension bridge on the Baumzipfelweg was a real challenge for me. But I did it - I gathered all my courage and walked across. And even now, when I think back to that moment, I can still feel the adrenaline rushing through my body and the incredible joy of having faced and conquered my fear. That’s why this bridge has become my very own favorite place.

Tamara’s daughter’s favorite spot is warm, fluffy, and purrs. After a full morning of hiking, spirits were running high - which, of course, meant someone ended up in a muddy puddle with soaked feet. Luckily, our trail led us to a rustic, cozy alpine hut where we took shelter and warmed up.

Hiker on the suspension bridge on the Baumzipfelweg