Via Alpina
Description
- Length of trail 5,000 km, 3,107 miles
- Length in days 333 days
- Start of trail Monaco
- End of trail Trieste
- Traildino grading DW, Difficult walk, bushwalk
- Hut tour grading T3, Demanding mountain walk
The Via Alpina is a pan European trail from Monaco to Trieste, covering the entire Alps region. No less than eight Alpine countries are involved: Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, France and Monaco.
All together the Via Alpina trails cover 5000km in 342 stages. There are five separate trails, of which the red trail is the longest, forming a full arc connecting Trieste to Monaco, 2500km. This can be done in about four months. The yellow trail also starts from Trieste, takes an alternative route to Oberstdorf in Germany, where it ends to meet the red trail again. The purple trail splits off from the red trail in Tržaška koča na Doliču and turns east to make a detour through Slovenia and Austria, only to meet up with the red trail again also in Oberstdorf. Further west in Liechtenstein the green trail splits off from the red trail to take a shorter route across Switzerland to Adelboden where it ends to meet the red trail. Finally, the blue trail splits from the red trail in Riale, Italy, only to be rejoined with the red trail in Sospel, southern France, near the final destination Monaco.
The Via Alpina is a stiff hike, for hardened walkers. It crosses many of the main Alpine mountain ranges. However, it is not a mountaineering expedition, and there are no glacier crossings involved nor any exposed passages.
Season for hiking the Alps is from early July until halfway September. In the lower parts, june is a fine month, full of flowers. And oktober can be very pleasant in the Dolomites and southern Alps.
To prepare, start by visiting the excellent website of the Via Alpina organisation (see under Facts).
Opinions
- Henk Nouws July 2007
- Rate 9
- Positive The Via Alpina is a great project, comparable to the Pacific Crest Trail or Appalachian trail in the United States. It crosses the well known parts of the Alps, but also lesser known regions which are not less interesting.
- Negative The trail is a cooperation between many countries and national organisations, and sometimes one gets the impression that not everyone is convinced of the importance of this project. I walked parts of the Via Alpina in Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Monaco and France.
Map
Hike Reports
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Via Alpina in Southern France and Italy
- Henk Nouws August 2012
- This is an account of my walk on the Via Alpina Red Trail, starting in Monaco and ending in Ormea, Italy. I hiked 10 stages in eight days, R161 - R152. It was a great walk, not only because of the vibrant mediterranean nature and landscape, but al...
Photo Albums
More photos albums…
Links
Facts
- Via Alpina - Wikipedia (Italian)
- Via Alpina - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Via Alpina – Wikipedia (German)
- Via Alpina Organisation
Excellent website, good introduction to Via Alpina, including great maps etc. in five languages!
- (I): Auf der Via Alpina durch Seealpen und Ligurische Alpen wandern - Teil 1: von Monaco nach Garessio (German)
The growing popularity of the Via Alpina - a real long distance challenge comparable to the trails in the United States - is proven by the edition of German guides. This webpage gives some introduction to the trail.
- Hiking the Via Alpina (dead link?) (German)
Swiss website by Patrick Mayer, with detailed info on the Via Alpina. Although the general pages are multi-lingual (English, French, Italian), you need to understand German to read the detailed trail descriptions.
- Via Alpina – Red Trail - Idrija Turizem
Introduction to the Red Trail of the Via Alpina, running through Slovenia.
- Via Alpina - Weitwanderwege - Wandern im Naturpark (German)
This page focusses on the part running through the Zilltertal in Austria.
- Via Alpina in Trentino
Multilingual website dedicated to the Via Alpina in the Italian region of Trentino.
- Via Alpina Brochure
Brochure with general info on the Via Alpina.
Reports
- Trail Journals : Backpacking and Hiking Journals
Quasimodo hiked all of the Via Alpina in one go. This is quite exceptional in Europe. If you ever plan to go on this trail, you can read Quasimodo's detailed trail diary.
- www.alpenfernwandern.de - Mehrtagestouren in den Alpen (German)
Day to day report and pictures of the Alpine part of the E5, partly the same as the Via Alpina, by A. Bartsch.
- 2009 Alpine Pass Route trip report (english)
Trip report, great photos and video about the green trail.
- Rocky & Swamp Fox's 2007 Via Alpina Trail Journal
Two hikers from America ventured out on the Via Alpina, and walked a stretch in Austria and Slovenia. Here is their day to day account.
Guides and maps
- Over the Top & Back Again: Hiking X the Alps
Brandon and Cheryl Wilson traversed the Via Alpina–1900 kilometers across 8 countries. His exciting book tells all, with photos, maps, gear list and illustrations.
Lodging
- Club Arc Alpin Huts Database (German)
Club Arc Alpin multilingual website (but not in English), a joint effort by all Alpine countries mountaineering clubs, with links to all members hut-databases. Very handy.
Organisations
Tour operators
GPS
Other
Books
- Also available from:
- Bol.ch, Switzerland
Switzerland
- Wanderland Schweiz 01. Via Alpina
- Das Wanderland Schweiz besteht aus 6 nationalen Routen und 51 mehrtägigenHighlights. Die Routen basieren auf dem bestehenden Wanderwegnetz und integrierenteilweise bereits bestehende Angebote wie beispielsweise Via Alpina, Jura Höhenweg,Via Jacobi oder Rheintaler Höhenweg.Alle 9 Führer sind mit Farbfotos, Karten und Höhenprofilen farbig reich... Read more
Maps
United Kingdom
- Albenga - Alassio - Savona
- Albenga - Alassio - Savona, map no. 15, in a series contoured hiking maps at 1:50,000 with local trails, long-distance footpaths, mountain accommodation, etc. from the Turin based Istituto Geografico Centrale covering the Italian Alps and Piedmont, the lakes and northern Lombardy, and the Italian Riviera.The maps have contours at 50m intervals,... Read more
United Kingdom
- Gran Paradiso National Park
- Gran Paradiso National Park, map no. 3, in a series contoured hiking maps at 1:50,000 with local trails, long-distance footpaths, mountain accommodation, etc. from the Turin based Istituto Geografico Centrale covering the Italian Alps and Piedmont, the lakes and northern Lombardy, and the Italian Riviera.The maps have contours at 50m intervals,... Read more
United Kingdom
- Via Alpina Long-distance Hiking Trail
- Via Alpina across Slovenia at 1:50,000 from Kartografija in Ljubljana, covering the route northwards from the Slovenian Istria to the Julian Alps and then eastwards from Triglav to Jezerski Peak. Accommodation for hikers is included.The route from Krvavi Potok to the Austrian border just north of Kranjska Gora in the Julian Alps is 220km long... Read more
United Kingdom
- Domodossola - Val Formazza
- Domodossola - Val Formazza, map no. 11, in a series contoured hiking maps at 1:50,000 with local trails, long-distance footpaths, mountain accommodation, etc. from the Turin based Istituto Geografico Centrale covering the Italian Alps and Piedmont, the lakes and northern Lombardy, and the Italian Riviera.The maps have contours at 50m intervals,... Read more
United Kingdom
- Mont Blanc Massif
- Mont Blanc Massif, map no. 4, in a series contoured hiking maps at 1:50,000 with local trails, long-distance footpaths, mountain accommodation, etc. from the Turin based Istituto Geografico Centrale covering the Italian Alps and Piedmont, the lakes and northern Lombardy, and the Italian Riviera.The maps have contours at 50m intervals, enhanced... Read more
United Kingdom
- Genoa - Varazze - Ovada
- Genoa - Varazze - Ovada, map no. 16, in a series contoured hiking maps at 1:50,000 with local trails, long-distance footpaths, mountain accommodation, etc. from the Turin based Istituto Geografico Centrale covering the Italian Alps and Piedmont, the lakes and northern Lombardy, and the Italian Riviera.The maps have contours at 50m intervals,... Read more
Walking holidays
United Kingdom
- Mountains & Lakes of the Julian Alps Self Guided Walking Holiday
- Explore the mountains and lakes of Slovenia’s Julian Alps as you follow the Via Alpina from Jezersko to Lake Bohinj. Explore the mountains and lakes of Slovenia’s Julian Alps as you follow the Via Alpina from the tranquil village of Jezersko to Lake Bohinj at the heart of the Triglav National Park. Following well marked trails you will walk... Read more