Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm in German) is in the heart of the Dolomites in Italy, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Needless to say the scenery is SPECTACULAR! If that wasn’t enough, Alpe di Siusi is also home to Europe’s largest alpine meadow. AND there’s still more! Sitting at approximately 1850m, it is also the training ground for many Olympic athletics from around the world. I ran into the women’s Norwegian cross-country ski team. My dreams of being BFFs with an Olympic athlete were quickly dashed though – they were in the middle of a training run and flew past us. 
The breathtaking Dolomites
The view from Dibaita Mountain Hut where we were staying.
So many hiking/running and biking options in Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm)
The Dolomites right before it rained.
Alpe di Siusi offers a variety of activities ranging from hiking, running, biking, climbing and even paragliding (more on that in an upcoming post). There’s even a race held every year where you can race alongside (OK behind) Kenyan Olympians! You might want to start off with a cup of coffee first from Valentin Hofer, Italy’s first coffee sommelier. You’re going to need your energy if you’re going to try to keep up! On the other hand, I might just stick with hiking, the Dolomites are a hikers ultimate playground!
Know Before You Go to Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm):
- German and Italian are widely spoken in Alpe di Siusi. Despite being in Italy, German is many resident’s native language in this region.
- Alpe di Siusi is at a high elevation (approximately 1850m) so give yourself time to acclimatize and don’t plan anything to ambitious activity wise until you have done so.
- Bolzano is the largest city in the area with lots of train/bus connections.
- Alpe di Siusi is ~120km south of Innsbruck and ~300km north of Venice.
- Be sure to check out Spikes in the Dolomites, a gorgeous photo from Simon at Wild About Travel for another perspective of Alpe di Siusi. And also Touring the Dolomites in Northern Italy from Jeff at EuroTravelogue.
- For more information check out the official Alpe di Siusi Tourist Information Site
View Dibaita S.N.C. Di Christian Rier & Egon Mair in a larger map
Thank you to Alpe di Siusi Tourism for hosting me. As always all opinions are expressed are my own. They did not make me fall in love with the place nor promise that I would observe Olympians in training.
Check out Budget Travelers Sandbox for Travel Photo Thursday for more great travel photos.
Hiking in the Dolomites is WAY up there on my wish list. Lucky you having so much at your fingertips these days. Awesome photos too.
Leigh recently posted..Driving Alberta’s Cowboy Highway
Your stunning photos show an absolutely beautiful part of the world Laurel. It looks so peaceful too…hiking must have been fantastic here.
jenny@atasteoftravel recently posted..Wildflowers of the West
Wow, I love the pictures you included! The Dolomites are a place I long to visit and can’t wait until I actually get there. Love the mountains and these look fantastic.
Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista recently posted..Erfurt’s Krämerbrücke
Love, love, love the Dolomites. Did you get time to spend in Bolzano? The Ice Man, a cave man discovered perfectly preserved in ice, is on display there.
Jennifer recently posted..Über Exclusive Sveti Stefan
Breathtaking, Laurel! I can’t even imagine what it must be like to live and train here.
InsideJourneys recently posted..St. Andrew Parish Courthouse Jamaica
What a view! I really miss the Dolomites…. we used to go skiing there every year when I grew up. This kind of reminds me of that – minus the snow
Sabrina recently posted..Brittany Holidays: Delicious Food in Lesconil
Just wow!
Love the shots of the Dolomites! I have to consider this place/area this fall, but simply put: so many places, so little time (to have a go at just two photographic projects in Germany)!
Thanks for your (tempting) post, Laurel!
fotoeins | Henry recently posted..Tips to 5 UNESCO Heritage Sites in Germany
I wouldn’t have guessed on German being the main language there!
Other than that, the scenery is absolutely wonderful. Lucky you, you get to see breathtaking places!
Zhu recently posted..Nantes’ Tourist Spots
What a breathtakingly beautiful setting. Your photos are equally stunning. A most interesting post.
Jackie Smith @travelnwrite recently posted..TPThursday Capturing The Four Seasons
I’m totally in for racing against the Kenyan Olympic team! I wonder if I could beat them off the line…just for the first 10 meters or so….before faking a hamstring injury. Of course, in the kind of shape I’m in, I probably won’t have to fake it.
Steve recently posted..Stay Away From Seattle Day
That scenery is absolutely divine. I can see why it’s so popular.
Michele @ Malaysian Meanders recently posted..Pangkor Laut: An Island Spa Paradise
@Michele – Agreed, I want to go back already.
Great shots Laurel. I miss it there and want to go back for more dumplings and paragliding! =)
cheryl recently posted..Video: Instagram Postcards of Munich.
I really like the third picture with the hills that fade into the fog. It reminds me of the Blue Ridge mountains that I spent a lot of time in as a kid. I keep hearing a lot about the dolomites and not even in the travel circles, from others as well. They look spectacular.
Andrew recently posted..Doors of Barcelona and Valencia
I pass these mountains several times a year, and I still find them utterly fascinating.
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