The southern wind, makes Caldaro lake to a wonderful Surf- and Sail paradise.
Thanks to it's position, windsurfers amongst you will daily enjoy the right wind... especially in spring. Also the water temperature, if compared to other lakes, is very pleasant (wetsuit still necessary).
Surfing and sailing at the Caldaro lake dates back to the 30s, and in 1947 there also a local sail association has been founded.
The surf school - managed by former windsurf world-champion Klaus Maran - offers different courses for beginners and advanced surfers.
 

Breitenberg is the name of Laives’ home mountain which is crossed by innumerable hiking trails. You should really begin your hiking fun here, before starting to explore the Trudner Horn Nature Park and countless hiking paths in the Dolomites.

The Leiferer Höhenweg (Laives Mountain Path) which leads along the mountain slope as far as Bolzano is especially recommended. Also the hike to the lovely mountain village of Deutschnofen is very popular. The trail leads through shady woods to the Steinerhöfe, where the hiker is offered a stunning view of the South Tyrolean “lowlands”.

Leifers is also the starting point of the pilgrimage trail to the church of Maria Weißenstein, the most visited pilgrimage site in Tyrol. Nowadays, over a hundred thousand people visit Maria Weißenstein every year.

To the little church of Peterköfele

Path: Nr.1 - Difference in altitude: about 180 m - Walking time: 25 min. (starting from Hotel Zur Pfleg)

Path nr.1 begins at the Emmaus House (Former "Gasthof Moser"), at the beginning of the Vallarsa. It is a marked path which leads to Maria Weißenstein. In a few minutes you will reach the small church "Peterköfele". Here, at this wonderful panoramic point, once stood the castle of Liechtensteiner.

Pilgrimage trail to Madonna di Pietralba - Maria Weissenstein

Path: Nr.1 - Difference in altitude: about 1260 m - Walking time: 4 hours.

Path nr.1 begins at the Emmaus House (Former "Gasthof Moser"), at the beginning of the Vallarsa. It is a marked path which leads to Maria Weißenstein, South Tyrol's most popular place of pilgrimage (the pope visited it in 1988). After about 700m you need to turn towards Vallarsa, while an unmarked path will take you to the "Gschlößlerhof" and "Buchnerhof" right back to the pilgrimage path. Starting from Laives, and after about two hours of walk, you reach "Gasthof Halbweg", an alpine hut which is open during summer months only. You will reach the place of pilgrimage Madonna di Pietralba (1521 m) after about 4 hours of walk.

Through Vallarsa to the the "Wölfhof" and Nova Ponente

Path: Nr.11 and 12 - Difference in altitude: about 1100 m - Walking time: 3,5 hours.

The path nr. 11 starts right in front of the Hotel "Grüner Baum". It's a narrow path, which, after about 1.25 hours of walk you will get to the "Steinerhöfen" (710 m). The wonderful panoramic view on the South Tyrolean "Bassa Atesina" will reward you for the exertion. After further 1,5 hours of walk, you will reach path nr. 12, which will take you to the nice mountain village of Nova Ponente, on 1.355 m a.s.l.

Through Vallarsa to Nova Ponente

Path: Nr.5 - Difference in altitude: about 1.100 m - Walking time: 3,5 hours.

Starting from the "Emmaus House", you will reach the beginning of the path nr. 5 after about 1 hour of walk. The path will take you alongside the stream, to the high plateau of Nova Ponente. Once you reach it, you will be rewarded with an overwhelming panoramic view on surrounding mountains.

Horse riding possibilities at the small village of "Seit", right above Pineta, and the high plateau of Renon, where couples can also experience a romantic carriage-ride.

As said before, our Hotel is located in South Tyrol's Bassa Atesina, not far from the town of Caldaro, the famous "Wine-road" and Bolzano's mountainsides site of St. Magdalena: all these places are famous for their high quality wines.

Here you have the chance to visit the wine-museum, different wine-cellars and ancient farms.

At Hotel Steinmannwald we will offer a wide selection of local and Italian quality wines.

Bolzano's historic centre is the right place for those looking for some night-time entertainment. In the so-called "Bermuda Triangle" you can choose between the Irish Pub, exclusive wine-bars, typical Tyrolean places and nice beer-pubs. There are also some excellent restaurants serving food till late at night.

Since medieval times Bolzano's porticos are known as a famous shopping and business-centre. Here, you'll see nice fashion-boutiques as well as traditional Tyrolean and international fashion-shops.

Weekly marts: Saturday: Bolzano, Friday: Merano, Thursday: Laives

We share the same passion with you and would like to underline the fact that we're particulary happy to have also some riders amongst our guests. Our Hotel Steinmannwald is equipped with a large garage as well as a drying room and a small mechanic's corner.

Moreover, we would be glad to give you some advices regarding wonderful Dolomite-tours, excursions to lake Garda or one of our charming valleys.

Our Hotel is situated in the southern part of Alto Adige, also called, Bassa Atesina and is the ideal starting point for relaxing excursions and hiking through fruit orchards and vine yards, which you can cover by foot or by bike.

From the Adige river to the lake Garda. Guests can take our bikes and reach lake Caldaro or Monticolo in about 45 minutes. The most trained amongst you can also take the challenge and try a more demanding tour, like that to Nova Ponente: 1500 m of difference in altitude and a duration of about 4 hours.

You have also the possibility to take your own bike with you. There's enough space in our garage.

Bolzano's fair is just 5 km from our Hotel and represents one of the most famous european exhibition centres. Different kind of local and international faires are take place throughout the year.

The closeness to the city of Bolzano gives you the opportunity to visit this beautiful medieval city and admire its porticos, alleys as well as its characteristic central-european architecture. While you're walking through Via Museo, have a look at the new archaeological museum, where you can see "Ötzi, the Iceman" or maybe visit the natural scientific museum of Via Binder, the "Messner Mountain Museum" at Sigmundskron Castle, Roncolo castle with its nice frescos.. all of them are worth a visit.
In Bolzano you'll also find the historic fruit and vegetables market, where, in autumn you can try delicious roasted chestnuts and excellent fresh South Tyrolean apples.
 

Different lakes such as those of Monticolo but also lake Garda and Caldonazzo are located nearby and are perfect for day excursions. Enjoy the sun or just have a refreshing bath.
For very hot summer days you can also choose Laives', Egna's or Termeno's swimming pools.