Autumn in Upper Valtellina between nature, sport and relaxation

What to do between Bormio and Livigno while waiting for the snow

Summer is now a distant memory, the ski season is still far away: however, one should not think that the mountains in autumn do not offer experiences and opportunities for fun. For example, in the upper Valtellina there are plenty of activities to do in October and November, while waiting for the first snowflakes to fall (usually in mid- to late November).

The best autumn activities in Valtellina

Mountain walks in Valdidentro

The climate is no longer that of summer, and at higher altitudes the first cold weather is beginning to set in, but there is no better season than autumn for walking in the mountains. Of course, for the long, high-altitude trekking excursions typical of the warm season this is not the most suitable period, but the autumn itineraries in the upper Valtellina are numerous and all worth trying. Valdidentro in particular offers various opportunities for autumn excursions suitable for all hikers, including families. A very popular destination, as in any other season of the year, is Val Viola: starting from Arnoga and a dirt road with no great difficulty or difference in altitude that leads with a beautiful panoramic walk to Lake Viola and the refuge of the same name, with the possibility of also going as far as the Val Viola pass that marks the border between Italy and Switzerland. Other beautiful autumn walks in the upper Valtellina are those to the Cancano lakes in the Fraele and Gallo valleys, in the Zebrù valley and in the Rezzalo valley.

Thermal relaxation in Bormio

A visit to Bormio is a must in any season, but in autumn – as the ski lifts in the Bormio ski area are not yet open – there is more time to appreciate the old-world charm of the old town centre, steeped in tradition, the local cuisine with typical Valtellina dishes and, above all, one of Bormio’s most famous attractions: the thermal baths. In the refined thermal spas just outside the town, the Bagni Vecchi and Bagni Nuovi at the beginning of the climb towards the Stelvio, and in the more central Bormio Terme thermal pool, it is possible to experience all the benefits of the wellness and spa courses, including saunas, Turkish baths, whirlpools and outdoor pools, from where to admire the superb panorama of whitewashed peaks and autumn colours immersed in the warm thermal waters that flow from the bowels of the Alps.

Discover what to do in Bormio in a weekend

Autumn in Livigno: foliage and mountains

Livigno does not lose its charm even between summer, when it is frequented by thousands of bikers, athletes and mountain lovers, and winter, when the snow transforms it into one of the most beautiful ski areas in the Alps. The autumn season is the best time to enjoy the calm and tranquillity of the mountains, admiring nature’s transformation. Livigno in October and November is a kaleidoscope of colours tinging the entire valley with yellow, orange and brown, while the green of the meadows fades into the white of the first snow-capped peaks. This spectacle is the backdrop to a truly wide range of autumn activities in the mountains: easy family outings, children’s fun at Larix Park and Aquagranda, bike and e-bike excursions with many itineraries, and Livigno’s unparalleled range of shops, boutiques and restaurants, with shopping enjoying the duty-free zone.

Sleddog excursions with huskies in Valtellina in Autumn

Foliage, hiking in the woods, fun in the company of the whole family: there is one autumn activity in Valtellina that can offer all this in one place, and that is sleddog. In Valdidentro, at Arnoga on the road between Bormio and Livigno, the Husky Village is a facility that is home to over 70 Alaskan Husky sled dogs, descendants of the Nordic breed dogs that in past centuries pulled sleds driven by mushers (find out who they are) across the Alaskan ice. Today, wonderful sleddog excursions are organised here on karts pulled by teams of sled dogs, waiting for the first snowfalls so that the sleds can be used (discover dryland mushing), following a 5 km route through the forest in autumn that allows you to observe nature in transformation from an unusual point of view, a truly exciting and unique experience in contact with wonderful animals.

The winter season at the Husky Village has already started on 1 October: book your sleddog excursion on the karts or on the sleds as soon as the snow arrives. Choose your date and book