Get active this summer in the Italian Alps

South Tyrol 5 May 2009

The awe-inspiring range of jagged peaks of the Dolomites and large alpine pastures make South Tyrol one of the world's best adventure playgrounds and a natural home for active summer pursuits as diverse as rock climbing, Nordic walking, hiking, mountain biking, paragliding and white water rafting. For those that like to be a little less active, horse riding on the indigenous Haflinger pony is a very enjoyable way in which to experience the beauty of the region.

Walkers and hikers are in their element in South Tyrol, with its exceptional scenery, eight nature reserves, one national park, and approximately 20,000km of tracks to explore. There is a wide variety of mountain walks to choose from, for instance the mountain Sciliar/Schlern near Bolzano (sciliar.info) has a distinctive shape and offers impressive views.

The Langkofelrunde path on the pasture Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm offers a walk around one of the highest peaks in the Dolomites. The footpaths along irrigation channels, known as Waalwege, in the Val Venosta near Merano take you through orchard slopes and chestnut woods and alongside rivers to Juval Castle, the summer home of extreme mountaineer Reinhold Messner.

Visitors can go it alone and organise their own activities, or they can enjoy their holiday with the aid of local guides that cover a wide range of activities. The region's Mediterranean climate makes a holiday in South Tyrol even more enjoyable and means walking and riding in the mountains is possible until as late as the end of October.

Originally used in WW1 to transport people and equipment along the sheer faces of the Dolomites, Via Ferrate are iron ropes which nowadays provide a secure means to climb safely along steep inclines. Via Ferrate are becoming increasingly popular with specially-built courses in destinations as varied as the Lake District and Oman, but only South Tyrol and the Dolomites have the original courses, providing a historical way to enjoy this stunning destination.
Pioneering active and wellness hotel group
Vitalpina Hotels (vitalpina.info) is a group of 33 quality establishments throughout the region dedicated to activity, soft adventure and well-being experiences for people who want that little bit extra from their holiday. Each hotel offers hiking and walking activities as well as local spa treatments and healthy alpine gastronomy to truly relax and invigorate visitors.

Each hotel in the group has one member of the management team who is a qualified mountain guide and there are three levels of fitness for guests to experience - everything from the ‘very challenging' for seasoned walkers to ‘easy' for beginners. Nutrition is a crucial part of the Vitalpina experience and ensures that the delicious combination of Alpine and Mediterranean flavours is totally balanced with nutritional and immune boosting ingredients to ensure that your body is operating at optimum levels. At a Vitalpina hotel, all spa treatments echo the Alpine experience and use local ingredients including hay, whey, apples, Mugo Pine extracts and Alpine herbs. Guests can also experience the special multi-bath system, which uses micro molecular steam jets, developed by South Tyrolean Dr Vitalis, who created the apple bath.

For more information, visit www.suedtirol.info
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