Sarntal Alps - To the Ritten

Hochgurgl, Alpenhotel Laurin - St. Leonhard i. Passeier - Meran - Hafling - Jenesien - Sarntal SS 508 - junction SP 135 towards Ritten - Oberinn - Klobenstein - Lengmoos - Bad Siess (Gasthaus Bad Siess) Break.... - return via Oberinn - Sarntal - Sterzing - Jaufenpass - St. Leonhard - Timmelsjoch - Hochgurgl

Start......... Alpenhotel Laurin, this time our tour takes us to all three parts of Tyrol. Immediately after the hotel driveway we turn right onto the Timmelsjoch road, after approx. 2 km we reach the TopMountainMotorcycleMuseum (the highest motorbike museum in Europe, with a unique motorbike collection of over 200 exhibits - but we will visit this another time) ...the distance from the hotel is so close that today, due to the slightly longer tour, we immediately set off towards the top of the TImmelsjoch pass. (Timmelsjoch pass road

- (Timmelsjoch pass road, toll road) The first-class road, which almost rhythmically hugs the natural terrain, may tempt you to drive fast, but keep an eye out for cows or sheep/goats along the entire route, as they graze here throughout the summer. Once we reach the top of the pass (after about 15 minutes), we first enjoy the phenomenal view of the Stubai Alps and the Texel Group. Our onward journey takes us over the south ramp of the Timmelsjoch to St. Leonhard in the Passeier Valley. On the south side of the Timmelsjoch, please be aware of parked cars on the roadside or cyclists, so keep your speed up and enjoy the scenery. The road has been greatly improved in recent years, and the bends and hairpin bends here are sensational fun.

From St. Leonhard, take the road towards Merano through one or two small villages and past countless orchards. We reach the spa town of Merano after about 20 minutes. Immediately after entering the town, we keep left and drive through Obermais to the roundabout (Rametz) where we take the third exit in the direction of Schenna. After another 300 metres or so, we turn right onto the road to Hafling. The SP 98 leads us on to Vöran, where a small, inconspicuous farmer and quality fanatic makes sensational sausage products. It's well worth stopping here for a bacon tasting or to buy some sausages for your lunch. Our insider tip: Obertimpfler-Hof, Vöranerstraße 90/1. Continue on the SP 98 to Jenesien. We cycle down the Jenesienweg towards Bozen, at the main road we turn left onto the Sarntaler-Straße. We follow the road northwards to the roundabout (Wangen junction), where we turn right and follow the road uphill to Oberinn, Ritten and Klobenstein. At the roundabout, take the third exit and follow the road northwards. After a short time, the Tannstraße leads into the municipal road Klobenstein-Tann-Straße. Behind the Gasthaus/Hotel Tann, we turn right and follow the road for another 5 minutes to reach our destination, the Gasthaus Bad Siess. (Take a break/enjoy the view).

Destination: Kohl Thomas, Apfelsäfte vom Berg, Unterinn Hauptstraße 35! (well worth it ...!)

Our way home then takes us back via Ritten and Oberinn into the Sarntal valley. Once we reach the Sarntaler and Pfitscherjoch roads, we head north to the Joch, down the north side we reach Sterzing, ...here it is also worth making a short detour to the old town centre of Sterzing. Our journey home then takes us over the Jaufenpass at just over 2000 metres, and then down to St. Leonhard we need to concentrate fully again to master the sometimes very tight hairpin bends into the Passeiertal valley. At the roundabout at the bottom, we take the exit towards TImmelsjoch. From here we drive to the end of the village to the roundabout (over the bridge is the Brückenwirt, a real super tip for all hungry people), take the first exit on the right onto the Timmelsjoch road towards Moos/Moso, always in the direction of Timmelsjoch. The approx. 35 kilometres from here to the pass are pure enjoyment. The road winds its way up the mountain in wonderfully rhythmic curves. Once you reach the Joch, a short detour to the "Joch Museum" is definitely worthwhile. The road on the Austrian side is much smoother, and after another 5 kilometres we reach the toll station with the highest motorbike museum in Europe. The Top Moutain Motorcycle Museum is one of the most fascinating motorbike collections and is definitely worth a visit. From here to our hotel, the Alpenhotel Laurin, the journey takes another 5 minutes.