Burgeis (elevation 1,216 m./3,990 ft., approximately. 835 inhabitants, 2.5 km./4 miles away from Mals, first historical record, 1160 A.D.) is especially rich in fresco-covered facades on homes, old portals, stone staircases, and bay windows. In the village center, inns rich in tradition invite the visitor to sit and pass the time away. The nearby Fürstenburg was built in the 13th century as the seat of the lords who at one time were the most powerful in the Upper Vinschgau Valley, the prince-bishops of Chur. Marienberg, the highest of all Benedictine monasteries (1,335 m./4,380 ft.), is reached by an old footpath. Its impressive Baroque church and especially the Romanesque crypt (12th Century) are among the most beautiful artistic monuments in the Vinschgau Valley. Attractive goals for hikers are the romantic Pfaffensee lakes above the monastery (2,222 m./7,290 ft.), named after the Benedictines. Another hiking trail leads from Marienberg back to the nearby St. Stefan chapel, which, as a result of archeological excavations, can be dated to the early days of Christianity in the 5th Century. The Watles mountain above Burgeis (2,557 m./8,389 ft.) offers the winter visitor ideal conditions for skiing and sledding, as well as giving the summer visitor ample opportunity for mountain climbing, hiking, and paragliding.

The small, high-lying mountain village of Schlinig (elevation 1,726 m./5,663 ft., approximately 185 inhabitants, first historical record, 1159 A.D.) lies 8 km./5 miles away from Mals and is an ideal starting point for summertime excursions in the border area to Switzerland. A broad palette of possibilities is offered to the casual hiker as well as to the experienced Alpine climber. From the Sesvenna Refuge, marked climbing routes lead up to the surrounding mountains of the Sesvenna Group. Several peaks over three thousand meters (Piz Sesvenna, 3,205 m./10,515 ft. Muntpitschen, 3,162 m./10,374 ft.) lure the seasoned hiker - of particular interest is the path through the wildly romantic Uina Gorge, which leads all the way to Ramosch in the Lower Engadine Valley. In the winter, Schlinig offers many possibilities, especially for ski touring, downhill skiing, and cross country skiing.

Schleis (elevation 1,064 m./3,491 ft. approximately 358 inhabitants, 1 km./0.6 miles west of Mals at the entrance to the Schlinig Valley, first historical record, 1159 A.D.) welcomes the visitor with an abundance of architectural jewels from earlier days: fresco-bedecked houses, walls with towers, round arch gates, and stone steps strikingly characterize the image of the village. Schleis is an ideal starting point for hikers and mountain bikers, for example, along the Adige River toward Burgeis or down the valley toward Laatsch. Marked paths and trails also lead to the Schlinig and Arunda Valleys and to surrounding Alpine meadows.

Laatsch (elevation 985 m./3,232 ft., approximately 585 inhabitants, first historical record, 1160 A.D.) lies about 1 km./0.6 miles southwest of Mals on the road to the Münster Valley near the Swiss border. Old houses with crenellated walls and arched gates testify to the significance of the village in medieval times. Also worth seeing are the churches of Laatsch, especially the uniquely constructed, two story St. Leonhard with its rich fresco paintings and the precious winged altar. Not far from the village, between Laatsch and Taufers, the Tyroleans suffered in the bloody battle of Calven in 1499 against the Swiss, up until then the greatest defeat in their history. Today, a monument at the spot where it occurred stands as a memorial to this momentous event (there is a permanent exhibition on Calven in the Tauferer Gate Museum in neighboring Glurns!) Well-marked hiking and bicycle trails invite the visitor to make excursions in the vicinity.

From Mals a street leads to the small mountain village of Planeil (elevation 1,596 m./5,236 ft., 7 km./4 miles away from Mals, approximately 184 inhabitants, first historical record, 1258 A.D.). The road runs along the Puni Creek in the Planeil Valley, past the ancient Stone Bridge which many researchers believe made up a part of the former Roman road. The village is impressive because of the steepness of the slopes. The houses, built very close to each other, form a medieval architectural totality of stone stairs and passageways, maintaining the Rhaetien past of the Upper Vinschgau Valley. At the end of the valley, the hiker is already lured by the three thousand meter peaks of the Ötztal Alps (Valvelspitze, 3,359 m./11,020 ft., Danzebell, 3,145 m./10,318 ft., Portlesspitze, 3,071 m./10,075 ft.; Falbanairspitz, 3,200 m./10,499 ft.; Rabenkopf, 3,391 m./11,125 ft.), but easier hikes to the Alpine pastures of the vicinity are also available.

In Plawenn (elevation 1,720 m./5,643 ft., approximately 49 inhabitants, 9 km./6 miles away from Mals, first historical record, 1140/90 A.D.) is to be found the highest noble estate in Tyrol. The red painted building with crenellated gables and corner towers is surrounded by a few farm houses. The tower area dates back to the early 12th Century and today is partly used as a restaurant. From Plawenn, the visitor is offered a beautiful view of the gigantic cone of earth of the Malser Haide (the Mals Heath), which also offers a variety of hiking possibilities.

South of Plawenn, on the northernmost edge of the Malser Haide (the Mals Heath), two small groups of farm houses cling to the valley walls: Ulten and Alsack (elevation 1424 and 1529 m./4,672 and 5,016 ft., respectively, approximately 56 inhabitants between them, first historical record, 1270 and 1320 A.D., respectively). In the Maria Chapel of Alsack, the art lover will find one of the most precious works of the Mals painter Karl Plattner (The Mourning of Christ).

Tartsch (elevation 1,029 m./3,376 ft., approximately. 450 inhabitants, about 1.5 km./1 mile east of Mals; first historical record, 1159 A.D.) lies on the legend-rich Tartscher Bichl, a striking group of hills (1,077 m./3,533 ft.) which has a dramatic effect on the appearance of the settlements. Archeological excavations have revealed traces of settlements here dating back to prehistoric and Roman times. (Early finds from the nearby vicinity are displayed in the Vinschgau Museum in neighboring Schluderns.) The enigmatic "bowl stones" are found strewn over the entire Tartscher Bichl. The most noticeable eye-catcher, though, is the St. Veit am Bichl church with its old surrounding wall. It dates back to the 11th Century and thus is one of the oldest structures in the area.

About 20 km. (12 miles) in length, the Matscher Valley changes dramatically in elevation by nearly three thousand meters: from the glacial area of the Weißkugel (3,739 m./12,267 ft.) to the fruit orchards at the mouth of the Saldur Creek near Schluderns (921 m./3,022 ft.), thus giving an example of the variety of the Vinschgau natural landscape. The history of Matsch (elevation 1,564 m./5,131 ft., 8 km./5 miles away from Mals, approximately 474 inhabitants, first historical record, 1160 A.D.) is closely connected to that of the governors of the same name, and the ruins in Upper and Lower Matsch testify to the power at the time of this famous-infamous noble family. The houses of the slope settlement, located very close to each other, the terraced fields with their high protective walls of up to 15 m. (50 ft.), and the field-names are remnants of the Rhaetian history. In the valley floor, the visitor can hike from farmhouse to farmhouse (Thanai, Glieshöfe, Matscher Alm), and a complete palette of challenging three thousand meter peaks lures the mountain and ski-tour fans to the world of glaciers in the Ötztal Valley around the Weißkugel (such as Litzner, 3,205 m./10,515 ft.; Hochalt, 3,284 m./10,774 ft.; Rappenspitz, 3,187 m./10,456 ft.; Ramudelspitz 3,292 m./10,801 ft.; Saldurspitz 3,433 m./11,263 ft.; Lagaunspitz 3,438 m./11,280 ft.). Especially attractive is the pass from the Oberetteshütte refuge (open from June to October, 2,670 m./8,760 ft.) over the Bildstöckljoch pass (3,092 m./10,144 ft.) into the Schnals Valley.