A Farm Holiday in Hafling and Vöran: a quiet hiking paradise

Whether it's at 'Knottnkino', in Meran 2000 skiing and hiking area or on the back of a Haflinger pony, on a Farm Holiday in Hafling or Vöran, nature will be calling the shots.

The Tschögglberg mountain ridge runs just a few kilometres away from the spa town of Meran. Here, on a sunny high plateau, lie the villages of Vöran and Hafling and Meran 2000 skiing and hiking country. Wealthy citizens of Bozen and Meran would spend their summer holidays on farms on the Tschögglberg plateau as far back as 1870, and a precocious form of tourism started to develop in this area, which covers altitudes of between 1,000 to 2,000 metres above sea level.

A Farm Holiday in Hafling and Vöran: the call of the mountains
Whether it's on long hike or on the back of a Haflinger pony, the farms and pastures of the surrounding area are never far from a holiday flat in Hafling or Vöran. A tour of the mountain pastures leading to Vöraner Joch, which may also be done by mountain bike, is a particularly popular one. At Kreuzjoch, the highest point of the tour at over 2,000 metres above sea level, a fabulous panorama will reward you. The 'Hufeisentour', or 'Horseshoe Tour', and the E5 European Long Distance Path also lead over Tschögglberg high plateau. Anyone looking for a challenge will appreciate the demanding hikes around the mountains and to their peaks, such as the 2,581-metre-high Ifinger mountain, the local mountain of Meran. Other free time options include mountain biking, Nordic Walking, paragliding and climbing. The summer sledge run at Meran 2000, featuring 40 kilometres of easy to medium difficulty ski pistes suitable for both beginners and more advanced skiers, is another highlight. Daring snowboarders and freestylers will love it here, too: new Snowpark Meran 2000 may be found in the further reaches of the ski resort.

A cinematic landscape
A trip to 'Knottenkino' viewing platform is a must on a holiday in Hafling or Vöran. When South Tyroleans speak of a 'Knottn', they mean a rock. A visit to this rocky cinema on Rotsteinkogel mountain above Vöran is an impressive experience where nature skillfully sets the scene. Sitting down on one of the 30 chairs made of steel and chestnut wood and reminiscent of cinema seats, you will be able to enjoy views of the Etsch river valley, the Penegal mountain, the Dolomites, the Weißhorn mountain, Ultental valley, the Texelgruppe mountains, the Meran valley basin and Passeiertal valley. The church of St. Kathrein, St. Johann parish church in Hafling and St. Nikolaus parish church in Vöran in the area around Vöran and Hafling are also worth a look.

A horse race and 'KornArt'
The traditional Haflinger pony race on Easter Monday on the race track in Meran has to be a highlight of a Farm Holiday in Hafling or Vöran. Lots of farmers from Tschögglberg and their horses first form part of the traditional procession with decorated horse-drawn carriages and traditional music bands through the centre of Meran before taking part in the race. 'KornArt' series of events in Hafling and Vöran, on the other hand, focusses on the cultivation of grain. In May and June, local types of grain such as oats, rye, barley or buckwheat may be tasted. Attention is drawn to the variety of the local cultural landscape during tours of mills, visits to farms and culinary walks.

Why take a holiday in Hafling-Vöran?