The Via Alpina is perhaps the most famous thru-hike in Europe. This path is a network of five trails through the Alpine countries. In total, the trails are more than 5000 kilometers long and you can walk 342 stages. Because there are so many options, there is always a perfect long-distance hike for you, depending on your preference and experience. On the Via Alpina, you cross eight countries, but you mostly walk through Slovenia, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, and France. You cross a border in 58 stages. You will continue to Liechtenstein, Germany, and even Monaco. Each one of the five trails has its own color. The red trail leads through all eight countries and is the best-known and longest Via Alpina.
The Via Alpina trails by length:
Red Trail: 2400 kilometers | 161 stages. From Trieste to Monaco through all eight countries.
Purple Trail: 1070 kilometers | 66 stages. Slovenia, Austria, and Germany.
Blue Trail: 830 kilometers| 61 stages. Switzerland, Italy, and France.
Yellow Trail: 800 kilometers | 40 stages. Italy, Austria, and Germany.
Green Trail: 307 kilometers | 14 stages. Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.
The red Via Alpina
Cross the Alps on the red Via Alpina. In 161 stages, you walk from Trieste on the Adriatic coast to Monaco on the Mediterranean Sea. Along the way, you will pass through all eight Alpine countries. You reach the highest point on the Niederjoch at 3019 meters. If you take the red trail, you will walk along the highest mountain massifs in the Alps. The areas are almost too numerous to mention. Walk along Triglav, Drei Zinnen, Zugspitze, Silvretta, Mont Blanc and the Ecrins. Wander among the four-thousanders in Valais and be amazed by the different cultures along the route. You cross national borders no less than 44 times. The trail is approximately 2400 kilometers long and can be completed in around 100 days.
The purple Via Alpina
The purple Via Alpina is much shorter than the red one. This one will take you through Slovenia, Austria, and Germany. From Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia, along the Eastern Limestone Alps, over the Karawanken towards Allgäu where the trail ends in Oberstdorf. In Bavaria, the trail follows part of the historic Maximiliansweg. You pass through the Gesäuse, where the largest monastery library is located in Admont and further on, in the Berchtesgaden National Park, you pass the Köningssee with castles on the trail. After 66 stages and almost 1070 kilometers, you complete the trail in the Allgäu mountains.
The blue Via Alpina
The blue Via Alpina starts in the Valais Alps in Riale and takes you along the glaciers of Monte Rosa to remote villages in the Maritime Alps. You largely follow the Grande Traversata delle Alpi through the Piedmontese Alps to arrive after 61 stages in Sospel near the Ligurian Sea. You pass the Gran Paradiso National Park and continue towards the Queyras and the Mercantour. In about 830 kilometers and 61 stages, you walk to the end of the trail and you can already smell the sea.
The yellow Via Alpina
The yellow Via Alpina starts in Trieste and ends, like the purple trail, in Oberstdorf. You walk a large part of the trail in Italy through the Dolomites. After enjoying the lake of Meran, turn right towards Austria. You walk along one of the highest mountains in the country, the Wildspitze. The trail takes you further towards Allgäu where you reach the end point after 40 stages and just over 800 kilometers.
The green Via Alpina
If you have less time, the green Via Alpina offers a solution. This trail is only 14 stages long and takes you from the principality of Liechtenstein through the heart of Switzerland to Lenk; the endpoint. The green trail partly coincides with Via Alpina 1 Switzerland where you cross Switzerland. You walk in the inhospitable Rätikon and the Bernese Alps with a view of the icons Jungfrau, Eiger and Monch. You sleep in the well-equipped Swiss mountain huts and are surrounded by the high peaks. If you are beginning thru-hiking, this can be a great first trail.
Do not forget
For thru-hiking we have put together a large packing list. A additional extra items that you should remember for the Via Alpina:
– Sleeping bag liner -> for the overnight stay in mountain huts
– Hiking poles -> to save your knees during the descents
– Sunglasses and sunscreen -> to protect yourself against the sun
The weather in the mountains can change quickly, therefore you need to be prepared for all types of weather conditions. The difficulty of the Via Alpina differs per trail. If you want to make the entire trip, you must have enough experience with mountain hiking. Know what you are doing and be prepared.
Best time to visit
If you want to hike one of the trails in one go, it’s best to do this in the summer or fall. Watch for possible snowfields in early summer and early snowfall in late fall. Depending on the weather conditions, you can also walk the lower parts of the trail in the spring and autumn. Take a good look if the accommodations are open. Some are only open on weekends in low season or even closed completely. Do not forget to book the mountain huts in advance.
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