Alpe di Siusi, walking across the highest Alpine meadow – The Delightful Dolomites, Part 9

This post is the continuation of a series documenting our time in the Val Gardena region in the Dolomite mountains in Northern Italy. We were based in the pretty village of Laion and had done two extremely memorable hikes in our first two days here. We had hiked up in the Rasciesa plateau on a misty first day ( An unplanned hike on a misty day up in Resciesa – The Delightful Dolomites, Part 6 ) & done my favourite hike till date from Seceda to Col raiser on the second day on a beautiful sunny day with intermittent clouds ( Seceda to Col Raiser, – A memorable morning trek – The Delightful Dolomites, Part 7 ). We had also managed to find time and utilise the Val Gardena cable card passes that we had bought to the fullest by taking the chair lifts up to Mont Seura and had our date with the majestic Sassolungo ( Riding the chairlifts to Mont Seura & an evening walk around Laion – The Delightful Dolomites, Part 8 ).

On our last full day we had planned to hike across the highest Alpine Meadow in Europe – The Alpe di Siusi. There are various cable cars up to the Alpe di Siusi from all sides. We were based in Val Gardena so the most convenient way to get up the Alpe di Siusi for us was taking the cable car up to Mont Seuc in the meadow from Ortisei using our Cable car pass yet again. We had used it more than the equivalent cost of individual tickets and would go on to extract more value out of it before the day was done!

We got up on the day to find clear blue skies overhead and that was just what we need for the long hike across the meadow. We got ready, had a scrumptious breakfast at our Hotel Andechserhof and took the first bus out to Ortisei.

Off to the Alpe di Siusi on a beautiful morning in Laion

We reached Ortisei and walked to the cable car station and took the first series of cable cars up to Mont Seuc. The cable car ride was a smooth one and soon we were on the highest Alpine meadow in Europe!

Taking the Cable car up to Mont Seuc from Ortisei

We got out from the cable car and exited the station to find a vast green space extending in front of us till it reached the typical craggy peaks of the Dolomites in the distance. It was a clear sunny morning, I knew there and then that it would be a great time walking across this vast alpine meadow that day. We sat on the conveniently located bench in front of the cable car station and took in the views before starting our walk towards Monte Pana and the base of the Sassolungo mountain seen in the distance.

The Alpe di Siusi stretches out in front of us – The Sassolungo on the left , where we were headed

The highest Alpine meadow stretches right upto the mountains in the distance

Sitting in front of the cable car station at Mont Seuc and taking in the views

As we started our walk down from the cable car station I noticed the sheer number of wild flowers in bloom here. So I took a few photos of the flowers with the mountains and meadows in the background with my ultra wide lens before switching to my 300mm (which I always carry everywhere just for such occasions!) and concentrating on the flowers with my SLR leaving the landscape to the better half and her trusty Pixel mobile phone.

Wildflowers in bloom on the Alpe di Siusi with the meadows and peaks in the background

We start our downhill hike and marvel at the more seasoned hikers going the other way

A beautiful morning hike across the Alpe di Siusi

I’m not an expert on flowers but the sheer number and variety of flowers kept me busy as we walked down the path to the centre of the green expanse. To add to the fun were the bees and butterflies flitting from flower to flower and the odd bird here and there & horses in the stables dotting the meadow. I’m just going to bombard you with the flower & insect photos instead of going on about it.

The variety of wild alpine flowers in bloom at the Alpe di Siusi

The butterflies and bees enjoying the plentiful nectar on offer

The bed of wildflowers was quite a sight to see !

Horses look on at the hikers moving across the meadows

With both of us stopping every few minutes to take photos of the sheer beauty on display we were moving at a snails pace & were overtaken by scores of hikers and their canine companions. We were in no hurry as we wanted to spend as much time as possible on the Alpe di Siusi rather than rush across it.

A family pet graciously poses for the 300mm

Mushrooms grow in the shade of the trees

We soon reached out of the tree line and into the open meadow. We turned around and it was beautiful & green everywhere we looked. The weather gods had been kind on us and given us our dream morning hike that we had been looking forward to for years.

Reaching the open meadows on a perfect sunny morning

There was an Instagrammers point in the middle of the meadow and it was a perfect place to take a photo of the better half with the Sassolungo in the background.

The perfectly placed photo point on the Alpe di Siusi

I had read about the trails getting crowded on the Alpe di Siusi in summer. Even though we had plenty of company on the trails it was certainly not crowded. The vast meadows were dotted with hikers here and there but there certainly wasn’t a traffic jam on the trails and I was happy about that.

Fellow Hikers ahead on the path towards Monte Pana

The Better half poses on the Alpe di Siusi with the Seceda Ridgeline in the background

From the centre of this meadow it was a great 360 degrees view all around. You could see the Seceda Ridgeline behind us, the Sciliar peaks in front  and the Sassolungo group of mountains towards the left where we were headed. There were cottages dotting the meadows where locals were going about their daily business. We walked on across the meadow till we came to a descent that would lead us to Saltria.

The Sciliar peaks from the centre of the Alpe di Siusi

The tip of the Sassolungo backlit with the 300mm

The Seceda peaks with the 300mm from the Alpe di Siusi

The better half takes a photo of me photographing mountains all around

More wildflowers !

A Chaffinch flock in the trees

The dog that had overtaken us earlier runs across the meadows

The descent toward Saltria starts

We walked down the gently downward sloping path and we were soon in sight of Saltria which was slightly more than the half point of our hike that morning. We walked on beyond the couple of luxury resorts on the Alpe di Siusi stopping only for a few selfies at a pond outside the resort.

Saltria – the beyond midpoint mark of our hike

The pond outside the Saltria resort

At the midpoint of our hike without breaking a sweat

At the beginning of the trail towards Monte Pana

We then checked the signs at the main T junction and started towards Monte Pana where we had been the previous day too. Almost immediately we came to what I would call our sort of a restaurant. This was the Radauer Schwaige (I had to find that out later, the place had no signboard!), it was perfectly placed little place that offered drinks and snacks to hikers and had a great view across the meadows that we had just hiked through. We decided to stop and have a drink and enjoy the view some more before we started our mild uphill hike towards Monte Pana.

Enjoying our drinks at the Radauer Schwaige

The beautiful views across the Alpe di Siusi – The Radauer Schwaige on the left, perfectly located

We enjoyed our drinks and well deserved break for a few minutes before starting the trail upwards. We were wondering how long this upward hike would be but it wasn’t a long one at all. Soon we reached the crest of the hill that the trail had led us up &  we saw the Sassolungo make its reappearance and realised that it was all an easy downhill from here on. Cows were lazing on the meadows here and enjoying the sunshine. The Seceda cable car station that we had gone up to the previous day was visible from this part of the trail and it gave us a sense of perspective of how high we actually were.

About to reach the crest of the hill marking the end of our uphill hike

Cows enjoy the plentiful grass on offer

Cows resting on the meadows enjoying the sunshine

Even the numerous flies don’t seem to bother this cow !

A bee poses on top of yet another wild flower

The Seceda cable car station with the 300mm on the trail to Monte Pana

The Sciliar peaks and the huts we had crossed in the distance

A grasshopper enjoys the sunny morning

A fellow hiker and her canine companion overtake us

The peaks on the opposite side of the valley brought closer by the 300mm

The better half poses for the 300mm on the trail to Monte Pana

Our last view of the Sciliar peaks as we descend down the valley

The 300mm enjoying itself on the Alpe di Siusi

We soon reached a point where there was a huge stack of tree trunks that had been stacked on either side of the trail and it provided a perfect frame with the majestic Sassolungo beyond it.

The stacked tree trunks provide an interesting pattern for photography

The trail lined by cut trunks and the mountain in the distance

Happy me and the start of the descent toward Monte Pana

Another one of the numerous canine companions on the trails

Cyclists on the trail down

My favourite mountain of the region – The Sassolungo

We join the other couple in taking a selfie at the descent towards Monte Pana

The Seceda Ridgeline across the valley

Soon we were at the last part of the trail and we said goodbye to the Alpe di Siusi and walked down the hill amidst the conifers. We were at Monte Pana and it was just lunch time. Despite our leisurely pace we had completed the hike well in time. Despite the mid hike drinks stop our tummies were demanding something more substantial and this time we decided to have a meal at a different restaurant at the Hotel Cendevaves. This had more variety than the cafe we had been to the day before and a view of the Sassolungo as a bonus. The better half had a great bowl of pasta while I enjoyed a huge Schnitzel & fries. It was a great end to yet another memorable hike in the Dolomites.

The last part of the trail – Monte Pana is just beyond the conifers

Getting a great table on the patio of the Restaurant Cendevaves

Enjoying our delicious food after the hike across the Alpe di Siusi

The beautiful view from our table at the restaurant

With our tummies full we headed towards the chairlifts that would take us down to Santa Cristina . We used our cable car pass yet again and boarded the chairlifts (this time without any apprehension!). We enjoyed the chairlift ride down and took photos of the town below as it got closer and closer.

At the chairlift station in Monte Pana

The chairlifts start their way down to Santa Cristina

We are more confident of riding chairlifts now

Photos of Santa Cristina and the valley as we descend down from Monte Pana

We walked from the chairlift station to the bus stop and luckily were just in time for the hourly bus to Ortisei.  A short bus ride later we were in Ortisei and that’s when I had a spur of the moment idea brought on by the beautiful weather.

Happy us on the bus ride back to Ortisei

I asked the better half if she was tired and wanted to go back to the hotel or take the funicular up to Resciesa again and this time not get lost and do the shorter hike to the Resciesa hut. We still had time and more importantly valid cable car passes. Being the sport that she is she readily agreed!

We would go up the funicular again and enjoy a great time at the plateau above. But that is the topic for another post, some other time, some other day.

Till then,

Ciao!