Hiking in the Garden of Eden from the eternal snows of the Grossglockner Glacier to the sparkling blue waters of the Adriatic Sea – Welcome to the Alpe Adria Trail!
Austrian walking holidays are in a class of their own, and the Alpe Adria Trail is no exception. With outstanding support infrastructure, a wide range of accommodation, and well-maintained and marked trails, planning your European hiking holiday is a breeze here in Carinthia.
There is no doubt there are many phyiscal and mental benefits to walking holidays. Europe has a plethora of wonderful options to enjoy nature on your own two feet. The 750-kilometre Alpe Adria Trail in Carinthia stands out as a long distance hike especially designed with pleasure hikers in mind. The well-defined and well-marked trail runs mainly through non-alpine areas and the majority of the 43 stages have no significant differences in altitude. Most of the stages are graded easy to moderately difficult.
Of course, there is no obligation to cover the whole 750 kilometres on your Austrian walking holidays. One of the best things about the Alpe Adria Trail is the flexibility to walk one day or fifty days, in either direction on well-signposted routes. Choose easier or more challenging sections depending on your experience and ability.
Another huge appeal is the diversity of the Alpe Adria Trail. Travelling through three countries – Austria, Slovenia and Italy – there is no chance to get bored with the view on European hiking holidays. From the base of the highest mountain in Austria, the Grossglockner, through the most beautiful mountain and lake regions in Carinthia and Slovenia, the path continues on across the Prosecco-producing vineyards of Italy’s Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, all the way to the Adriatic Sea at Muggia. The route leads past a wide variety of natural and cultural monuments, include ancient ruins and castles, churches and shrines, monuments and museums, mountain villages and charming towns.
Thanks to the cross-border cooperation and the Alpe Adria Trail booking center, planning European hiking holidays on the Alpe Adria Trail is simple. There are detailed directions and maps available free of charge, information points along the route to enrich your experience, a range of accommodations to reserve at each stage destination, and official luggage transport and shuttle services available. Spend the night in a simple hut, a charming guesthouse or a luxury wellness hotel, knowing that you can hike carefree with a daypack while your luggage is taken to the next accommodation.
The Alps-Adriatic region stretches across three countries that are inseparably linked by a common history. Each individual region has its own character, creating an attractive cultural patchwork as you hike along the trail. You will get to observe unique customs and traditions along the hiking trail, as well as cultural highlights such as the artist town of Gmünd and the Cividale del Friuli World Heritage Site. Swim in Lake Millstatt with its historic bathhouse, or visit the world-famous Lipica stud farm in Slovenia.
Hikers march on their stomachs
The Alpe Adria region is a unique combination of three countries, where traditions and recipes have evolved in mutual collaboration and community over centuries. High quality, regional products are the basis of this delicious culinary journey. Not only is there a delicious meal at your comfortable accommodation at the end of the day on the Alpe Adria Trail, each stage is designed to have a culinary highlight stopping point, from rustic mountain huts to gourmet restaurants. Make sure to taste the specialities of each area, from Mölltal-Glockner lamb to Slovenian Potica, on European hiking holidays.
Unique nature and scenic beauty
From the highest mountain in Austria in the Hohe Tauern National Park in Carinthia's idyllic landscape of mountains and lakes, through the imposing Triglav National Park in Slovenia, and on through the Mediterranean wine-growing regions and karst landscapes of Italy to the azure blue Adriatic Sea. Such scenic beauty is why the Alpe Adria Trail represents one of the best hiking holidays in Europe. Be inspired by the eternal snows of the Grossglockner mountain and the limpid blue waters of Carinthia’s bathing lakes.
Hiking on the sunny side of the Alps
The southern side of the Alps is known for high sunshine hours and mild temperatures, a factor that should not be ignored when choosing a walking holiday. Europe has a wide range of climates and micro-climates and good weather can make all the difference to your adventure. It also opens up opportunities for hiking during more months of the year. Some stages of the Alpe Adria Trail can even be hiked all year round.
