Val Senales can no longer really be described as an insider tip - the idyllic side valley of the Venosta Valley in the west of South Tyrol in northern Italy attracts countless visitors every summer. And yet it has retained its unmistakable flair: unspoilt nature, warm hospitality and a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere characterise one of the most beautiful areas for hiking in the Italian Alps. Hiking in Val Senales is particularly popular in the warmer months of the year. When the temperatures become mild even on the glacier and the meadows blossom at lower altitudes, we lace up our boots and set off on an adventure! An adventure that appeals to all the senses...

A feast for the eyes
The village of Maso Corto at the head of Val Senales is picturesquely framed by flowering meadows and centuries-old trees. But at just over 2,000 metres, you don't have to climb much higher to leave the trees behind you. Winding hiking trails take you uphill in every direction. Who would have thought it: even the barren scree slopes above the forest line have their charm. Here you can experience pure, untouched, and original nature. The higher you climb, the smaller the houses in Maso Corto become and the wider your view of the surrounding mountains. At the top of the Val Senales Glacier (which you can reach either on foot or comfortably with the Glacier Cable Car), the view is hard to beat: a total of 126 three-thousand-metre-peaks beckon from all 4 directions! When glacier hiking in the Alps in summer, you walk through meadows, forests, rocks, and eternal ice. What a feast for the eyes!

Just follow your nose
Country air is healthy - that's one of the reasons why wealthy people started spending their summer holidays in the countryside or in the mountains as early as the 19th century. And even today our guests appreciate the clear, fresh, and oxygen-rich mountain air in Val Senales; in summer, it’s a welcome change from the stifling heat in lower altitudes and urban centres. Thanks to its location at the head of the valley (the car park is outside the village), Maso Corto has no through traffic. All your nose will encounter here is the scent of meadow flowers and hay, resinous forest floor and yes, maybe even the odd cowpat.
But we understand if you're more looking forward to the scent wafting from the rustic mountain huts. Nothing beats a break in the mountain huts along the Val Senales hiking trails, where the hosts serve you typical fresh and savoury foods.

Easy as pie
Hiking makes for a good appetite! If the aroma of the huts infatuates you, there's only one thing to do: step inside and help yourself, so that your taste buds can also enjoy the Val Senales specialties. Here, regional ingredients are still prepared according to traditional recipes. Let a tasty cheese dumpling with golden butter melt in your mouth, taste our savoury Schöpsernes (lamb stew) with polenta or fortify yourself with traditional shepherd's macaroni, our favourite fusion of Alpine and Mediterranean flavours. If you still have room afterwards, top off the gourmet experience with a dessert, for example a fluffy Kaiserschmarrn pancake with cranberries, a juicy apple strudel with cream or vanilla sauce or even a homemade cake. No matter where your taste buds take you, your summer walking holiday in the Alps is going to be delicious!

Music to your ears
Trekking in the Italian Alps takes you to paradisiacally quiet places that are a blessing for body, mind, and soul. It's best to switch off your mobile phone right at the start of the hike. Then you will discover that birdsong, cowbells, the chirping of crickets, the crunching of stones under your shoes or the gentle whisper of the wind are music to your ears. Alternatively, you can simply chat to your companions. And when you reach the summit or destination of your hike, you might even feel like singing (or at least yodelling). Those who prefer to spare their voice will be entertained musically at the mountain huts in Val Senales. And everyone that likes to party at high altitudes should keep their eyes and ears open for the events in Val Senales, which take place regularly in the huts and down in the valley.

It gets under your skin
Anyone embarking on a glacier trekking tour in Val Senales must prepare to be utterly enchanted. When we say that hiking in the Italian Alps gets under your skin, we don't just mean the feeling of happiness you experience and the precious memories you take home with you, but also the unmediated way in which you can get in touch with nature here. Children do this instinctively when they pick up flowers, wood and stones, feel the bark of a tree or roll in the grass laughing. But have you ever consciously felt the touch of the wind on your skin, the warm rays of the sun on the tip of your nose or the texture of the ground beneath your feet while hiking? When glacier hiking in Val Senales, close your eyes and just feel - then you'll know what we're talking about!


As one of the most beautiful areas for hiking the Alps in summer, Alpin Arena Senales inspires young and old, leisurely and ambitious hikers. The next time you're out and about glacier trekking in Val Senales, open your senses to the wonders that our magical nature has to offer and get your adventure!