Hiking traverse among lakes and glaciers in the Ortler-Cevedale - in the heart of Stelvio National Park

Stelvio National Park is one of the largest natural protected areas in Europe and is also known as the land of lakes and glaciers.

During this tour, you have the oppotunity to hike immersed in pristine nature, crossing ever-changing alpine landscapes: from valley meadows and pastures to the reddish rocks surrounding mountain huts, from the foaming Saent waterfalls to snowy peaks and the crystal-clear lakes of Cevedale… until you reach the vast and solitary Careser Glacier. From here, the view opens onto the most iconic peaks of the Ortler-Cevedale mountain group and stretches as far as the summits of the Adamello and the Brenta Dolomites.

Expect intense hiking days through Val di Rabbi, Val di Peio, and Val Martello, with overnight stays in welcoming alpine huts where you’ll enjoy the warmth and hospitality typical of the mountains of Trentino.
Have you got less time? No problem! The itinerary has many different variants, from 3 to 6 hiking days.

With Campo Base, you have all the organization and assistance you need, before and during your trip, to experience this adventure in total freedom and safety. Get ready to discover one of Europe’s largest natural parks on an unforgettable journey.

Program details - 8 Day Tour:

• Day 1
  Arrival in Val di Sole and check-in in 3* hotel. 
   
• Day 2 - LAKES CORVO
  Ascent: +1020m. Descent: -0m. Distance: 5km. Hiking time: 4h. 
  In the morning transfer to Val di Rabbi. Across forests of larches and firs, the trail leads you to some alpine huts, where the farmers milk their cattles and produce Casolet, the local cheese. Above the tree-line, you keep walking across wide mountain grasslands and, through a steadily uphill trail, you reach the slopes of Quaira peak. Dinner and overnight stay in hut.
   
• Day 3 - COLLECCHIO PEAK 
  Ascent: +530m. Descent: -530m. Distance: 8km. Hiking time: 4h.
  By hiking besides a sequence of glacial lakes, you arrive at Collecchio peak. The peak is located on the border between Val Montechiesa (South Tyrol) and Val Saent (Trentino). After a scenic stretch on an easy ridge, the path runs downhill, following along the mountain’s slopes until it reaches the wide green basin, set in the heart of Val Saent. Dinner and overnight stay in hut.
   
• Day 4 - MARTELLTAL
  Ascent: +690m. Descent: -860m. Distance: 9km. Hiking time: 5h30.
  Surrounded by a barren and rocky environment, you reach Saent Pass, which separates Val di Rabbi from Val Martello. From the pass, the descent towards South Tyrol begins and allows you to reach the grazing lands of Paradiso al Cevedale, on the opposite side of Rio Plimbach. Dinner and overnight stay in hut.
   
• Day 5 - FORCOLA GLACIER
  Ascent: +775m. Descent: -430m. Distance: 8km. Hiking time: 4h.
  The itinerary leads to the crossing of the Forcola Glacier, where you will notice the signs of melting, especially over the steep final stretch just before Forcola Pass. Here you can admire the beautiful landscape with the best-known peaks of Ortler Cevedale. The descent on the opposite side of the mountains brings you back to the region of Trentino. The hike ends in today's hut, which is surrounded by a crown of peaks soaring over 3.500 meters: Cevedale, Zufall, Palon de la Mare and Vioz. Dinner and overnight stay in hut.
   
• Day 6 - CARESER GLACIER
  Ascent: +520m. Descent: -685m. Distance: 11km. Hiking time: 5h30, 1 hour walking over a small glacier.
  You hike across a plateau inlaid with numerous alpine lakes, until you arrive at Lake Careser. After some moderate slopes and rocky terrains, you reach the limit of Careser Glacier, which you'll cross in about 1h towards its eastern edge. After a gentle traverse, you descend once again to the green pastures of Val Saent. Dinner and overnight stay in hut.
   
• Day 7 - SAENT WATERFALLS
  Ascent: +0m. Descent: -1180m. Distance: 9km. Hiking time: 4h30
  Today you undertake a pleasant and panoramic descent, surrounded by agile marmots and rhododendron flowers. After the wide basin of Pra di Saent, the path leads you across the bridges and the splashing waters of Saent Waterfalls, the most important and scenographic waterfalls in Val di Sole. The alpine dairy, located almost at the end of the hike, is an excellent spot to taste local products. Last stretch on foot before going back to the hotel by public transport. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel.
   
• Day 8
  After breakfast, check-out and departure.

Program details - 5 Day Tour:

This is the shorter variant of the tour and follows the first two legs of the main itinerary. After spending the night in the mountain hut located in the upper Val Saent, instead of continuing towards Val Martello, you begin the descent back to the starting point hiking through the Val Saent, passing by the waterfalls of the same name.

Program details - 6 Day Tour:

This variant does not include the crossing into Val Martello or the ascent to Passo della Forcola. On the fourth day, the tour takes you directly to Bocca di Saent, where the traverse across the Careser Glacier begins. The final stage leads you along Val de la Mare until you reach the village of Peio Paese.

Program details - 7 Day Tour:

The 7-day tour includes 5 days of hiking and follows the main itinerary up to Passo della Forcola. It does not include crossing the Careser Glacier, but instead descends along Val de la Mare to the village of Peio Paese.

Additional clarifications

The program could be changed at discretion of the Campo Base Team based on weather conditions and forecasts, mantaining however inalterate the basic structure and the aims of the proposal.