A popular, rolling trail through scenic meadows and scree fields around the Plattkofel and Langkofel mountains.
The Langkofel and Plattkofel tower above you from Plattkofel hut. There are quite a few trails around and through the mountains, but our favorite trail makes a scenic clockwise circuit of the group, bringing you to the Ciampinoi gondola to Selva. The optional continuing trail to Sella pass is also very nice, with a bus to Selva.
This is a very popular trail, and after the first couple hours you’ll likely encounter plenty of people coming the other way. Our recommended hike is to Ciampinoi, but there are a few different options outlined. The hike to Ciampinoi is only 4-5 hiking hours, not counting gondola to Selva or stops for lunch or refreshments, so there is plenty of time if an early start is not in the plans.
There are a couple of huts along the way, but especially if the day is hot, be sure to bring enough water, and the timing might make Comici or Sella pass good lunch spots. You can buy a picnic lunch from Plattkofel if you would rather stop along the trail.
- signal_cellular_alt Difficoltà Media
- straighten lunghezza 10.59 Km
- schedule durata 4:30 h
- arrow_drop_up dislivello 619 m
- arrow_drop_down discesa 680 m
- skip_next punto più alto 2303 m
- skip_next punto più in basso 1951 m
Periodo consigliato:
Partenza
Plattkofel hut
Coordinate
Arrivo
Selva
Direzione da seguire
Start left from Plattkofel toward Zallinger hut, making a quick right turn on trail 527 to start your circuit. You’ll start a moderate descent with nice views across the Seiser Alm meadows and Plattkofel rising to your right.
After perhaps an hour, the trail starts to climb through rocky scree into the center of the mountains.
You’ll reach a fork with trail 525. Rifugio Vicenza sits right in the middle of these towering peaks. It’s a steep 200 meter climb from your trail junction, so it’s not a small detour, but if you’re feeling energetic, it’s a very dramatic location and a nice place to stop for a break. Unless you’re exhausted or the weather is bad and you’re in a hurry, this is a very nice detour that puts you right in the heart of some very rugged scenery. We recommend heading up to the hut for a drink and maybe an early lunch.
Optional Demetz hut: If you like being in the middle of these rugged cliffs and don’t mind steep climbs, you’ll love hiking right through the center of Langkofel and Plattkofel. Trail 525 leads straight up from Vicenza hut, 430 meters (1400 ft) up a steep trail that often holds snow late into the summer. For most people this is about 1½ hours uphill. There is a hut perched right at the saddle, the Toni Demetz hut, and a fun, funky, 2-person gondola that can whisk you down to the pass. That could be your day... steep but short, hiking to the Toni Demetz hut, taking the gondola down to Passo Sella and bus to Selva. If you are feeling strong, Demetz hut could be visited on an out-and-back detour, but this becomes a pretty big day.
To Ciampinoi: To continue your circuit from Vicenza hut, descend from the hut back to trail 527 and 526 and keep going clockwise. You rise briefly to the Ciaulong saddle then descend into a wide valley on the north side of Langkofel, winding through delightful forest of pine, alpenrose and huge boulders. Cross the valley and a short uphill brings you to the modern Comici hut. Comici can be very busy, but they have a very nice restaurant.
The easiest route to Selva is via Ciampinoi, a gondola that runs continuously (14 € one-way). You’ll go slightly downhill on trail 21A and then uphill to the lift on trail 21. Trail 27 leading down from the lift is steep and not all that interesting, but there’s no problem with it if you want to walk.
To Passo Sella: The only hesitation with hiking to Passo Sella is that sometimes the buses can be crowded and frustrating. But if you don’t mind, it’s usually not a problem, and the hike is easy and very pretty. From Comici hut the broad, easy trail 526 leads south, eventually winding through an area of large boulders called Citta dei Sassi “city of stones”. You’ll enjoy constant views of the stunning Sella mountain to the east. You’ll actually reach the road just below the pass, at the 4-star Hotel Passo Sella Dolomiti Resort. If you did not visit Demetz hut on foot, you can take the gondola up and back from here.
To get to Selva, bus 471 tends to leave about every 30 minutes (check the current schedule) from right out in front of the hotel.
[Non è prevista una guida per questo percorso.]
