Via Alpina
Description
- Name Via Alpina (VA)
- 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).
Map
Links
Facts
Reports
Guides and maps
Lodging
Organisations
Tour operators
GPS
Other
Books

Netherlands
2019
- WF5966 Julische Alpen mit Karte Kompass
- De Kompass wandelgids + kaart geeft een overzicht van alle wandelroutes in het gebied met nauwkeurige routeaanwijzingen en hoogteaanduidingen, De extra grote kaart, schaal 1:35 000, is ideaal om van te voren uw route uit te stippelen en om onderweg te gebruiken; naast de bekende bestemmingen, worden ook de minder bekende vermeld; openbaar... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
2019
- WF5966 Julische Alpen mit Karte Kompass
- De Kompass wandelgids + kaart geeft een overzicht van alle wandelroutes in het gebied met nauwkeurige routeaanwijzingen en hoogteaanduidingen, De extra grote kaart, schaal 1:35 000, is ideaal om van te voren uw route uit te stippelen en om onderweg te gebruiken; naast de bekende bestemmingen, worden ook de minder bekende vermeld; openbaar... Read more

Netherlands
- Hiking in Switzerland
- This is the official guidebook to the Swiss section of the Via Alpina (National Route 1), published by the Swiss Hiking Federation. The Via Alpina is a network of five long-distance hiking routes which cross eight Alpine countries from Trieste to Monaco - over 5,000 kilometres of hiking trails in total. On Swiss soil, National Route 1 Via... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Hiking in Switzerland
- This is the official guidebook to the Swiss section of the Via Alpina (National Route 1), published by the Swiss Hiking Federation. The Via Alpina is a network of five long-distance hiking routes which cross eight Alpine countries from Trieste to Monaco - over 5,000 kilometres of hiking trails in total. On Swiss soil, National Route 1 Via... Read more

Netherlands
2014
- Walking in the Bavarian Alps
- Guidebook describing a both valley and mountain walks and treks in the Bavarian Alps. 85 walks are covered, including graded mountain routes, gentler valley walks, hut-to-hut routes and two multi-day tours, arranged by region with practical information on transport, accommodation and the like. Since the last edition of this guide many of the... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
2014
- Walking in the Bavarian Alps
- Guidebook describing a both valley and mountain walks and treks in the Bavarian Alps. 85 walks are covered, including graded mountain routes, gentler valley walks, hut-to-hut routes and two multi-day tours, arranged by region with practical information on transport, accommodation and the like. Since the last edition of this guide many of the... Read more

United Kingdom
2017
- The Swiss Alpine Pass Route - via Alpina Route 1: Trekking East to West Across Switzerland
- This guidebook presents the stunning Alpine Pass Route, now fully waymarked as Via Alpina 1. The 360km trail traverses Switzerland from east to west, from Sargans near the Liechtenstein border to Montreux on Lac Leman (Lake Geneva). Crossing sixteen Alpine passes, it showcases some of the country`s most breathtaking mountain landscapes,... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Netherlands
- Bol.com, Belgium
- De Zwerver, Netherlands

Netherlands
2017
- The Swiss alpine pass route - Via Alpina route 1
- This guidebook presents the stunning Alpine Pass Route, now fully waymarked as Via Alpina 1. The 360km trail traverses Switzerland from east to west, from Sargans near the Liechtenstein border to Montreux on Lac Léman (Lake Geneva). Crossing sixteen Alpine passes, it showcases some of the country's most breathtaking mountain landscapes,... Read more

Belgium
2017
- The Swiss alpine pass route - Via Alpina route 1
- This guidebook presents the stunning Alpine Pass Route, now fully waymarked as Via Alpina 1. The 360km trail traverses Switzerland from east to west, from Sargans near the Liechtenstein border to Montreux on Lac Léman (Lake Geneva). Crossing sixteen Alpine passes, it showcases some of the country's most breathtaking mountain landscapes,... Read more

Netherlands
2017
- Wandelgids Swiss Alpine Pass Route - Via Alpina 1 | Cicerone
- Guidebook to the Alpine Pass Route following the Swiss Via Alpina 1, a 360km trek east-west across Switzerland, from Sargans, on the border of Liechtenstein, to Montreux, including prologue from Liechtenstein. A demanding 3-week trek described in 18 stages, crossing 16 passes including the 2778m Hohtürli. Requires good fitness and experience. Read more

Netherlands
- Wanderland Schweiz 02. Trans Swiss Trail
- 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
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Wanderland Schweiz 02. Trans Swiss Trail
- 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

Netherlands
- Un Jubilado En Los Alpes
- Se aproximaba el verano y era necesario decidirse. Entre unos pocos proyectos previstos hasta esos dias, que habian ido surgiendo en mi imaginacion durante el invierno, se fueron concretando a mitad de la primavera la posibilidad de caminar por el Himalaya, en Cachemira, recorrer algunos valles del Caucaso al norte de Georgia o atravesar los... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Un Jubilado En Los Alpes
- Se aproximaba el verano y era necesario decidirse. Entre unos pocos proyectos previstos hasta esos dias, que habian ido surgiendo en mi imaginacion durante el invierno, se fueron concretando a mitad de la primavera la posibilidad de caminar por el Himalaya, en Cachemira, recorrer algunos valles del Caucaso al norte de Georgia o atravesar los... Read more

Netherlands
- Over the Top & Back Again
- Book of the Year Bronze Award 2010 (travel essays category), ForeWord Magazine After hiking some of the world's great trails, Brandon Wilson was excited to hear about the Via Alpina, paths running across eight countries on the backbone of the Alps. Besides promising immersion into Alpine life and wilderness, it was the ultimate adventure. It... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium

Belgium
- Over the Top & Back Again
- Book of the Year Bronze Award 2010 (travel essays category), ForeWord Magazine After hiking some of the world's great trails, Brandon Wilson was excited to hear about the Via Alpina, paths running across eight countries on the backbone of the Alps. Besides promising immersion into Alpine life and wilderness, it was the ultimate adventure. It... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Netherlands
- Bol.com, Belgium

Netherlands
- Over the Top & Back Again
- Book of the Year Bronze Award 2010 (travel essays category), ForeWord Magazine After hiking some of the world's great trails, Brandon Wilson was excited to hear about the Via Alpina, paths running across eight countries on the backbone of the Alps. Besides promising immersion into Alpine life and wilderness, it was the ultimate adventure. It... Read more

Belgium
- Over the Top & Back Again
- Book of the Year Bronze Award 2010 (travel essays category), ForeWord Magazine After hiking some of the world's great trails, Brandon Wilson was excited to hear about the Via Alpina, paths running across eight countries on the backbone of the Alps. Besides promising immersion into Alpine life and wilderness, it was the ultimate adventure. It... Read more
Maps
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom

United Kingdom
- Ötztal - Pitztal - Kaunertal - Wildspitze F&B WK251
- Ötztal - Pitztal - Kaunertal - Wildspitze area of the Austrian Alps presented at 1:50,000 in a series of contoured and GPS compatible outdoor leisure map from Freytag & Berndt with hiking and cycling routes, mountain huts, campsites and youth hostels, local bus stops, plus other tourist information.To see the list of currently available titles... Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom

United Kingdom
- Lechtal Alps - Allgau Alps F&B WK351
- Lechtaler - Allgäuer Alpen - Oberstdorf - Landeck area of the Austrian and Bavarian Alps presented at 1:50,000 in a series of contoured and GPS compatible outdoor leisure map from Freytag & Berndt with hiking and cycling routes, mountain huts, campsites and youth hostels, local bus stops, plus other tourist information. To see the list of... Read more

United Kingdom
- Dachstein - Ausseerland - Filzmoos - Ramsau Hiking + Leisure Map 1:50 000
- Dachstein - Ausseer Land - Filzmoos - Ramsau - Bad Ischl - Schladming area of the Austrian Alps presented at 1:50,000 in a series of contoured and GPS compatible outdoor leisure map from Freytag & Berndt with hiking and cycling routes, mountain huts, campsites and youth hostels, local bus stops, plus other tourist information. To see the list... Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom

United Kingdom
- Dachstein - Ausseerland - Filzmoos - Ramsau F&B WK281
- Dachstein - Ausseer Land - Filzmoos - Ramsau - Bad Ischl - Schladming area of the Austrian Alps presented at 1:50,000 in a series of contoured and GPS compatible outdoor leisure map from Freytag & Berndt with hiking and cycling routes, mountain huts, campsites and youth hostels, local bus stops, plus other tourist information. To see the list... Read more

United Kingdom
- Tennengebirge - Lammertal - Osterhorngruppe Hiking + Leisure Map 1:50 000
- Tennengebirge - Lammertal - Osternhorngruppe area of the Austrian Alps presented at 1:50,000 in a series of contoured and GPS compatible outdoor leisure map from Freytag & Berndt with hiking and cycling routes, mountain huts, campsites and youth hostels, local bus stops, plus other tourist information. To see the list of currently available... Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom

United Kingdom
- Tennengebirge - Lammertal - Osternhorngruppe F&B WK392
- Tennengebirge - Lammertal - Osternhorngruppe area of the Austrian Alps presented at 1:50,000 in a series of contoured and GPS compatible outdoor leisure map from Freytag & Berndt with hiking and cycling routes, mountain huts, campsites and youth hostels, local bus stops, plus other tourist information. To see the list of currently available... Read more

United Kingdom
- Matrei - Defereggen - Virgental Hiking + Leisure Map 1:50 000
- Matrei - Deferggen - Virgental area of the Austrian Alps presented at 1:50,000 in a series of contoured and GPS compatible outdoor leisure map from Freytag & Berndt with hiking and cycling routes, mountain huts, campsites and youth hostels, local bus stops, plus other tourist information.To see the list of currently available titles in this... Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom

United Kingdom
- Matrei - Deferggen - Virgental F&B WK123
- Matrei - Deferggen - Virgental area of the Austrian Alps presented at 1:50,000 in a series of contoured and GPS compatible outdoor leisure map from Freytag & Berndt with hiking and cycling routes, mountain huts, campsites and youth hostels, local bus stops, plus other tourist information.To see the list of currently available titles in this... Read more
- Also available from:
- Stanfords, United Kingdom

United Kingdom
- Kufstein - Kaisergebirge - Kitzbühel F&B WK301
- Kufstein - Kaisergebirge - Kitzbühel - Wörgl - St Johann in Tirol area of the Austrian Alps presented at 1:50,000 in a series of contoured and GPS compatible outdoor leisure map from Freytag & Berndt with hiking and cycling routes, mountain huts, campsites and youth hostels, local bus stops, plus other tourist information. To see the list of... Read more

United Kingdom
- Goms - Aletsch
- Goms - Aletsch area of the Bernese Oberland at 1:50,000 in a series from Hallwag covering Switzerland’s popular hiking regions on light, waterproof and tear-resistant maps highlighting long-distance paths: the nine national routes plus special regional routes, as well as other local hiking trails.Cartography is similar to that used both in... Read more

United Kingdom
- Gesäuse - Ennstaler Alpen - Schoberpass F&B WK062
- Gesäuse - Ennstaler Alpen - Schoberpass area of eastern Austria presented at 1:50,000 in a series of contoured and GPS compatible outdoor leisure map from Freytag & Berndt with hiking and cycling routes, mountain huts, campsites and youth hostels, local bus stops, plus other tourist information.To see the list of currently available titles in... Read more

United Kingdom
- Lienz Dolomites - Lesachtal - Villgratner Berge F&B WK182
- Lienz Dolomites - Lesachtal area of Carinthia presente