My husband and I are planning a trip in September. We loved hiking in the Berner Oberland and would like to do it again in a different area. Which is better - Austrian alps or the Dolomites. We are in our 60's and in excellent health.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17439 posts
It isn't a question of "better"---both offer fantastic hiking. I found it easier to plan a trip to the Dolomites, so that is where we went, and I can't wait to return. The landscape is very different from the Berner Oberland, but every bit as beautiful. And you may find yourself hiking with Haflinger horses instead of cows.
Val Badia and Val Gardena both have villages that make good bases for a hiking vacation. You can also sty up on Alpe di Siusi, which is one of my favorite places in the world. There isn't really a village up there--Compatsch is more of a cluster of hotels and a few shops. So if you stay up there, it is best to take half-board at your hotel.
Posted by
NYC area
2981 posts
Hi Jan,
Which is better? Simply a matter of preference, as both are beautiful areas. The mountains (and scenery) are totally different though. While we love both, the Dolomites offer more "dramatic" scenery (IMO).
For Austria, we love the Zillertal.
For the Dolomites, we love Alta Badia and the Val Gardena.
Since you've been to the Swiss Alps, I'd go with the Dolomites. The Dolomites are totally different (from the Swiss, Austrian, Bavarian Alps) and there's just nothing else like them.
The Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm is defintely worth seeing.
These websites may be of interest:
www.alpedisiusi-seiseralm.com/index.html
www.dolomiti.org/dengl/Cortina/laga5torri/ospitalita/RifLagazuoi/index.html
We have recent photo's of both the Dolomites and the Zillertal (and Austria) at:
www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/index.html
www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/travel15.html
Paul