The fascinating transhumance

At the Wanderhotel Tonzhaus in South Tyrol's Schnalstal Valley, transhumance is not just a historical term, but a living reality. This is where a hiking vacation in South Tyrol begins, immersing you in a centuries-old culture—among sheep bells, high alpine pastures, and people who continue to uphold this tradition to this day. It is a story of movement, connection, and genuine travel.

Lambs' happiness on their journey

"Transhumance" – it may sound awkward and strange at first, but it comes from Latin: trans = across, humus = soil, pasture. Transhumance is the centuries-old tradition of driving sheep up into the high alpine pastures in spring and back down into the valley in autumn. Since 2011, this cultural practice has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and it is still alive and well in South Tyrol's Schnalstal Valley. Patrizia Götsch from the Tonzhaus talks about it with shining eyes. Her hiking hotel has always been closely linked to the custom and is the starting point for many guests to experience this archaic spectacle up close as part of a hiking vacation in South Tyrol.

counting sheep — © TVB Schnalstal/Gudrun Muschalla

Everyone is familiar with expressions such as "putting the fox in charge of the henhouse" or "the black sheep of the family." But sheep are much more than just figures of speech. They feel joy, fear, or boredom—and they have an amazing memory: They can remember the faces of humans and other sheep for up to two years. This sensitivity makes the close connection between humans and animals tangible. During transhumance, people go to great lengths to provide the animals with good pastures and shelter – and the sheep repay them with affectionate bleating, meat, milk, and wool.

Transhumance in spring with 1,500 sheep across the border

When the mountain meadows turn green at the beginning of June, an impressive spectacle begins: Around 1,500 sheep, accompanied by shepherds and dogs, leave the South Tyrolean village of Kurzras and climb up ancient paths to the high altitudes. Guests who register can accompany them part of the way – a three-hour hike through glacier landscapes to the Schöne Aussicht refuge at 2,842 meters. There, a hearty barley soup awaits before the paths separate: while the hikers return to the valley, the herd continues across the Italian-Austrian border to the high-altitude Vent. It stays there for the summer, as the barren pastures provide sufficient food.

Transhumance in autumn – back to the Schnalstal valley

When the days grow shorter and the feed on the alpine pastures becomes scarce, the caravan returns home: hundreds of sheep again, the same archaic rhythm again. The herd makes its way back to the Schnals Valley along narrow paths, past rocks and lonely alpine huts. In Vernagt and Kurzras, their arrival is celebrated with music, warm food, and an atmosphere that is otherwise only found in mountain villages. On the plates: dishes made from Schnals sheep, prepared according to old recipes. In the air: the sound of bells, accordions, and children's laughter. Anyone who is here becomes part of a living heritage.

Thousands of sheep move during the transhumance through the snow from the Schnalstal up to the high alpine pastures.

During a Wanderurlaub at Wanderhotel Tonzhaus in the Schnalstal, you can witness the sheep being driven up to the high alpine pastures during the transhumance.

Hundreds of sheep graze on the alpine pastures that you pass while hiking in South Tyrol.

In autumn, the sheep return to the Schnalstal during the transhumance, some adorned with bouquets of flowers.

Turquoise-green lies Lake Vernagt Reservoir in the fir-green forest during a Wanderurlaub at Wanderhotel Tonzhaus.

The Tonzhaus – base camp for a pleasant journey

Right in the heart of the action is the Tonzhaus hiking hotel, run by Patrizia and Andreas Götsch with a keen sense of tradition and nature. From here, guests can set off on forest bathing trips and hikes, accompany the sheep herds for a while, and simply let themselves be carried away by the special atmosphere of this unspoiled landscape and culture. The Tonzhaus is therefore not only a wonderful retreat, but also an ideal starting point for an eventful hiking vacation in South Tyrol. At the Tonzhaus, transhumance becomes a journey that you can experience up close: a natural spectacle steeped in history, carried by animals, people, and a valley that keeps its traditions alive to this day.