It is an unassuming small valley with a rather dull name – Vallunga, which translates to the long valley. Yet once you step onto the trail that runs across it, you will quickly realise nothing is dull about it. The valley’s perfect U-shape and the sheer, almost 90-degree walls surrounding it will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression.
Total round-trip distance
9 kilometres / 5.6 miles
Elevation gain
240 meters / 787 feet
Time required
2-3 hours
Overview of the Vallunga hike
Vallunga (German: Langental) is a small valley that branches off the famous Val Gardena. It lies in the southern part of the Puez Odle Nature Park (German: Puez Geisler), home to a famous Dolomiti landmark – the Seceda Ridgeline.
Vallunga is a walk through the park. The ascent is so gentle that you will hardly notice it. Walking through Langental is an excellent choice for a rest day. I included this hike on my autumn hiking trip itinerary across the Italian Dolomites.
The map & elevation profile of the Vallunga hike
Important info about the hike
You can hike through Vallunga at any time of the year, even in the Winter! The busiest period is between July and September.
My favourite month for it is, hands down, October. That’s when the valley comes to life, with larch trees turning all shades of yellow and orange. All photos in this post were taken on October 29th, at the peak of autumn.
READ MORE: Best Autumn Day Hikes In The Italian Dolomites
When to go: year-round
Trail difficulty: easy
Trail number: 14
Type of hike: out and back
Highest point: 1855 m / 6086 ft
Parking/trailhead: Parkplatz Langental – Wolkenstein
Map required: Tabacco map no. 05 (Val Gardena)
Nearest towns: Selva, Santa Cristina, Ortisei
Getting to the Vallunga trailhead
The easiest way to reach the Vallunga hike trailhead is by car, but public transport is also available.
By bus
The nearest bus stop to the trailhead is called Vallunga, and it is 1 kilometre away from the trailhead.
Bus no. 357 operates along this route. I recommend the Süd Tirol Mobil website for checking bus connections.
Remember that buses operate seasonally (June-September), and many routes shut down during the shoulder season. Travelling by public transport in October, for instance, is very difficult.
By car
The Vallunga parking lot is a 7-minute (2.7 km) drive from Selva di Val Gardena, a 10-minute (5.2 km) drive from Santa Cristina, and a 15-minute (9.2 km) drive from Ortisei.
The parking lot near Vallunga is paid, and cards are accepted.
During peak season, I recommend arriving early, as spaces are limited and the parking lot can fill up quickly. However, during October, there were plenty of spaces throughout the day.
Valunga trail description
There is not much to say about the trail through Vallunga. It is as straightforward as they come. From the moment you leave the parking lot until the end of the valley, you will be following a wide gravel path. That’s it! It’s impossible to get lost.
The route is approximately 4.5 kilometres (2.8 miles) and gains 250 meters of elevation. The incline is very gentle, though, and hardly noticeable.
Be mindful of bikes and many dog owners along the trail. About 3/4 of the way along the trail, there is a vast field where I let my dog run leash-free for some time.
Overnight stay & dining possibilities
There is a small outdoor restaurant at the start of the trail that operates seasonally, typically from June to September. There are no backcountry huts along the trail unless you decide to extend the hike into the higher alpine areas.
You also won’t find any toilets, so practice the Leave No Trace policy and always carry out what you brought in, including toilet paper. Unfortunately, toilet paper in the bushes and forests is far too common sight in the Dolomites.
Where to stay nearby
The nearest towns to the Vallunga hike are Selva Di Val Gardena, Santa Cristina di Val Gardena, and Ortisei. As their names suggest, they all lie in the Gardena Valley. Below are some of my hotel recommendations for your stay in the area.
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If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below!
Hello Marta,
Thanks a lot for your insightful information. Regarding the parking charges, they are still the same as of Jul 2025, 0.50 Eur every 30min and they apply from 9am to 17pm only. It means a maximum charge of 8 Eur per day. If you depart early in the morning let’s say 7am and return by 12pm, you will only pay for 3hours = 3 Eur.
Fantastic! Thanks for your input
Hi Marta,
Any idea how much additional time you need for extension n° 2, approx.?
Is it possible to complete this hike incl. extension n° 2, in 8hrs for average hikers, you think?
And do you happen to know if you can easily reach the Vallunga parking lot from the Jimmi Hut, via de Val Chedul? (so: leaving the car at the parking lot in Vallunga, doing the Vallunga hike as you described above, going for the extension 2, go a little further down to the Rifugio Jimmy and then go to the parking lot in Vallunga via the Val Chedul)
Hope you can answers all of these questions 🙂
Thanks.
PS: I really like your way of describing the hikes in a detailed way. Very nice site. Love it!
Hi Guy. I reckon I could do it all in 8 hours, but I cannot tell you if you will. You can hike to Rifugio Jimmmy over Forcella Cir then back again to rejoin the trail and hike to Vallunga through Val Chedul. I reckon it would be circa +2 extra hours. I hiked over Forcella Cir when I did the Alta Via 2.
Thank you so much for this guide! We were looking for something to break up multiple days of really tough hikes and had an amazing morning and picnic lunch at Vallunga. Wanted to note that we were there last week and there is indeed a parking fee now: 0,50€ per half-hour. The credit card reader wasn’t working and it doesn’t give change, so it’s good to bring exact change in coins.
Hi Tegan! Thanks so much for your amazing feedback. I am glad to hear you had an awesome time in the Dolomites and that you liked Vallunga. It is a great trail than gives a lot and requires a little effort in return 🙂 Thanks for the info about the parking. I added it to my post. It will be helpful to my other readers.