This post is the continuation of a series documenting our time in a small part of the beautiful Dolomites in Northern Italy in the European summer of 2023. We were now based in the small village of Laion / Lajen in the Val Gardena region of the Dolomites. We had done an unplanned hike in Resciesa on our first day there which was cloudy and overcast ( An unplanned hike on a misty day up in Resciesa – The Delightful Dolomites, Part 6 ).
Our second day in Laion coincided with the better half’s birthday and we wanted to spend it doing the hike which we were looking forward to the most. Seceda Ridgeline is an iconic place which you will instantly recognise once you see the photos of – even if you don’t know the name ( This is before the so called celebrities made a travel booking portal ad in front of it in the recent past!).
The hike we had planned was to take the cable car from Ortisei up to Seceda via Furnes and then hike downhill to a place called Col Raiser from where we would take the cable car down to the nearby town of Santa Cristina. We were hoping that the weather would improve a bit so that we could do this 6 kilometre hike without any problems and also have uninterrupted views across the valley.
We woke up bright and early and I wished the better half a happy birthday. We opened the drapes to find out that the weather gods had provided the perfect gift for her. Even though there were some clouds in the sky there was plenty of blue sky overhead to put a spring in our step. We got ready and went to the breakfast room to eat and got our first surprise. The hotel staff had noticed the better half’s birthday on her passport during check in and reserved the best table with a view for us for breakfast. They had also placed a colourful bouquet on our table to mark the special occasion! (I’m allergic to aromatic flowers, luckily none of the flowers on the table made me start sneezing!).
The staff at the Hotel Andechserhof gets the better half’s birthday off to a great start
We finished our breakfast with a view & came out to take the next bus to Ortisei and saw that the skies were showing even more blue now. We waited for the first bus to Ortisei at the bus stop where we were joined by an elderly lady and her canine companion. The lady asked her what language we were fluent in – German or Italian & was disappointed on hearing our answer – English! Even though she spoke very little English she made the effort to communicate with us and exchange pleasantries. She & her dog would be our company on the bus to Ortisei every day for the next 3 mornings.
Blue skies overhead brings a smile on our faces at Laion
We got off at Ortisei and took the long series of stairs / escalators & moving walkways/ travelators up to the cable car station. The usually busy town was yet to wake up early in the morning and I stopped to take a photo of the small St Antonio’s Chapel which stands at the edge of the main square of Ortisei that bears it’s name – the piazza St Antonio.
The Chapel of St Antonio on an early morning in Ortisei
Travelators up to the cable car station in Ortisei
We reached the cable car station just in time for the first cable cars to start from Ortisei to Furnes. We saved time by already having our three day Val Gardena cable car pass that we had bought the previous day. We scanned our cards and soon we were going up the hill from Ortisei!
On the cable car up to Furnes from Ortisei
We reached Furnes where we had to change cable cars, from a small cable car to a huge one that went from Furnes up to Seceda. That cable car was a standing only one which started when a certain number of people reached Furnes – within a few minutes we were on the first cable car up to Seceda. The cable cars here start relatively late around 8 am otherwise we would have loved to see the sun rise up at Seceda.
The standing only cable car from Furnes to Seceda
We got out at the Seceda Cable car station to bright sunshine and fabulous views of the famous peaks and Ridgeline. It was prettier than any photos can do justice to – I still tried! While the snow covered Alps are beautiful and breathtaking in their own right, the jagged cliffs and peaks of the Dolomites are unique and more photogenic to my eye.
The spectacular Seceda peak and Ridgeline to the left
The Sassolungo peaks to the right from the Seceda Cable car station
The better half gets her glares ready for a sunny hike at Seceda
I made the better half hurry up the path to the Ridgeline view as I wanted to do it before a few more load of tourists alighted from the cable cars. Most tourists come up the cable car , take the short hike to the Ridgeline view, click photos and take the cable car back down to Ortisei. We had a much longer hike planned so I wanted to get the classic photos from the Ridgeline walk before it got inundated with tourists.
Some grey clouds on the way up to the Ridgeline view at Seceda
So we huffed and puffed our way up to get up there as fast as we could and the effort was fully worth it. The views on both sides made us whistle in appreciation. We have been to a lot of panoramic view points all over the Alps and even the Himalayas back home and each one has its own beauty – the stark difference between the meadows and the sudden rocky peaks jutting out from them makes this one of the best viewpoints we have been to.
View back down to the cable car station and the peaks beyond
The iconic Seceda peaks and the Ridgeline
It was windy and the clouds overhead were changing formation every few seconds making me take more photos as the peaks kept looking different as the cloud formations overhead changed. We reached the highest point which had a convenient bench and a platform with markings of the peaks and their names for identification. We went to the platform and enjoyed the views before proceeding on along the path.
The clouds move rapidly overhead giving different lighting every few seconds
A boy and his dog wait for the rest of the family at the top of the Ridgeline view
The cable car station on the right looks tiny as we reach the top
A perfect place for a selfie with the Sassolungo group
The platform with peak identifying markers
A view that rivals any other view in the Alps for its sheer beauty
We then started our walk down to the view point that has a U shaped bend in the path that is the perfect point to see and take photos of the Seceda peak itself. We walked down there slowly stopping every few steps to marvel at the natural beauty all around. We had lucked out and got to Seceda on a perfect day!
Starting our walk down the Ridgeline view path
The Seceda peaks and the U turn that provides the perfect photo op
On the final stretch down to the view point
Viewing the Seceda peaks – Ticked off the bucket list !
A kind tourist takes our photo at the Seceda peak & Ridgeline viewpoint
The view across the valley on the other side at the view point
After getting our fill at the view point we left the paved trail and moved to the mountain trail that went on the Ridgeline itself. Flowers were abloom in the meadows all around, the sun was bright in the sky and a cool breeze was blowing across the valley – It couldn’t have been more perfect!
Flowers in the high meadows at Seceda
On the trail to get close to the Seceda peak itself
Getting clicked on the path to the peak – courtesy the better half
We finally reached a point on the trail where there was a short path that ended in a steep cliff. I clicked a photo of a fellow hiker standing at the end of the path looking up at the peak – One of my favourite photos from the hike.
A hiker looks up at the Seceda peak from a narrow path with a steep fall on 3 sides
Then we mustered the courage to walk that narrow path and stand at the end of the path and look down at the steep valley below. With hearts fluttering I managed to get a few selfies of myself with peak & the valley below after stepping away from the edge of the path, lest I end up at the bottom. Then the better half did the same and got her adrenaline rush for the day.
Selfies at the narrow path overlooking the valley
The better half clicks a photo as I walk back from the narrow path heart pounding in my chest
The better half enjoys her time on the narrow path with a view
We then went to the end of the path which was the closest we would get to the 2519 metre Seceda peak. There was a path beyond leading to the peak itself, but it had a warning sign and meant only for experienced climbers. We were happy to get so close to the top and took a few photos before starting the hike down to Col Raiser.
The end of the path – closest we got to the Seceda peak
Happy us at the end of the Seceda Ridgeline walk
We then descended a steep paved path down that then joined a trail that led to Pieralongia – A 60 metre high Menhir ( Asterix readers will be familiar with the term!). We intended to stop at a mountain hut there and have refreshments before we completed the hike. The hike was a steady slow downhill one with meadows and peaks on either side. The blue in the sky was now almost fully replaced by clouds and we were glad we had started the day early and had a sunny morning at Seceda.
The paved path down from the Ridgeline walk
A wooden mountain hut on the path to Pieralongia
The path to Pieralongia winds across the meadows – The Seceda peak we came down from on the left
Wildflowers abloom with the Sassolungo beyond
A small pond in the meadows on the way to Pieralongia
The 60 metre tall menhir – comes into view
The Pieralongia hut and the Menhir itself in the background
The Pieralongia Menhir stands tall dwarfing the boulders around
The Seceda peaks are unrecognisable from this angle
We then reached the Pieralongia hut where we had a small birthday celebration for the better half with a strawberry panna cotta and drinks (beer and lemonade). It was the perfect place for a short break and we rested our legs and enjoyed the refreshments.
Celebrating with a delicious Strawberry Panna Cotta at Pieralongia hut
Enjoying a cold beer after a good morning hike – The life!
Enjoying a break at the Pieralongia hut
The better half enjoys a well located swing with a view at Pieralongia hut
The swing with a view at Pieralongia hut
After enjoying our drinks and the refreshing dessert we started our hike down to Col Raiser which was again a gentle downhill hike amidst beautiful scenery. We walked at a leisurely pace and stopped every now and then to turn around 360 degrees and enjoy the beauty all around.
The Pieralongia on the left as the path leads down to Col Raiser
A gentle downhill path amidst some beautiful scenery from Pieralongia to Colraiser
The Dolomites characteristically emerging out of nowhere from the meadows
Continuing our hike down – saying goodbye to Seceda
Watching the Sassolungo – We would get close to it soon !
More conifers as we descend down the mountain
Just before we reached Col Raiser there was another part which led to another view point across the valley. We decided against going on that path and continued down to Col Raiser.
The path that leads to another view point
We finally reached the cable car station at Col Raiser. We had completed the hike in a leisurely 3 and a half hours and enjoyed every minute of it.
The Seceda Ridgeline on the left as seen from Col Raiser
Reaching the Col Raiser cable car station after a memorable hike
We then took the cable car down from Col Raiser using our Val Gardena card again. It had been a time saver till now and by the time we were done with it we had saved a lot of money too. The cable car ride was a long one down the valley to a town called Santa Cristina Valgardena.
The Cable car descends down the valley to Santa Cristina Valgardena
We reached the town and just on impulse decided to try the chair lifts in that town that led up the hill first to Monte Pana and then another chair lift to Mont Seura. We had never been on chair lifts before and it was included in the Val Gardena card. It would be the closest we would get to the famous Sassolungo peaks.
But that is the story for another post, some other time, some other day as I have rambled on far too long about what was my favourite hike of the trip.
Till next time.
Ciao!
yogictravel 
What a fabulous hike! The dolomites are gorgeous. Thank you for taking us along with you.
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It is just spectacular ma’am…glad you liked it… thanks
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