Day 1

Sulden sits at a altitude of 1,900 m, making it one of the highest permanent settlements in South Tyrol. It lies in the heart of the Ortler Alps, within Stelvio National Park — Italy’s largest protected alpine park. The village is surrounded by a crown of “Ortler’s Trio”: Ortler (3,905 m), Königsspitze (3,851 m), and Monte Zebrù (3,735 m).

The first part of the stroll is a leisurely ascent through dappled larch groves.

The route after the Rifugio is less than 4 km in length and gains just around 370 m in elevation, making it a relatively easy and comfortable mountain walk.

After the gentle start, the path descends into the valley floor, following alongside an old icefall and a charming mountain stream.

You’ll cross a picturesque bridge over the stream—ideal for a snack break, heroic photos, or both.

Near that bridge, there’s also a fork leading down directly to Sulden. Many hikers opt to take the chairlift up, hike to the hut, then descend through the forest back to Sulden—skipping the return climb.

The hut perches at 2,721 m in the Zay Valley (Zaytal), surrounded by dramatic 3,000 m peaks. At the Düsseldorfer Hütte, there’s a small playground, bridge over a mountain lake, and even a wooden raft—all crafted with local wood for visitors of all ages to enjoy.

From the hut, mountaineers can launch into more demanding tours: climbs or via ferrata routes to peaks like Hoher Angelus (3,521 m), Vertainspitze (3,545 m), and the Tschengelser Hochwand.

After the hut, the route was shortly prolonged for about 1,0 km until the plateau at around 2800 m heading north east.

During World War I, Sulden found itself near the highest battleground in history, where Austro-Hungarian and Italian forces fought bitterly amidst glaciers. Trench lines and relics of this mountain war still linger in the surrounding peaks. More about this in Extras.

For centuries, Sulden was reachable only by a narrow mule path. Local farmers in 1825 complained the path was impassable even for horses. Only in 1892 was the first motorable road completed, along with a post connection. Prior to that, livestock and goods were carried manually or by pack animals. That road dramatically shifted Sulden’s fate—from an isolated hamlet (“Siberia of Tyrol”) to a thriving alpine resort, opening the door for tourism in the late 19th century. By the late of 20th century Sulden had transformed from a remote farming village into a bustling tourist hub.

The accomodation was in the village Morter in Laces–Val Martello area.

Val Venosta (Vinschgau), where Morter lies, is celebrated as Europe’s highest large-scale apple-growing region, renowned for its ideal climate—long sunny days, cool nighttime breezes, and low rainfall. This combination produces apples that are exceptionally crisp, aromatic, and flavorful.

The apple fields around Morter thrive in a microclimate tailor-made for cultivating flavorful fruit. Rooted in a centuries-old tradition, these orchards are both a vital economic asset and a living cultural treasure. Whether you stroll through blooming trees, sample fresh jam, or learn about orchard management firsthand, the apple legacy here is vibrant and deeply intertwined with village life.