Alps
Walking Tours, where to go:
The Alps are around 600 miles long and 150 miles wide rising from
six countries and one independent state so there is a lot of choice
for both natural and cultural exploration.
Countries:
If the mountains are just one aspect of a bigger tour of Europe
you will probably find yourself hiking in from one particular country,
otherwise pick an area based on language ability, food preferences
and budget, remembering that there is a lot of cultural overlap
in the region.
France
[Provence-Alpes, Rhone-Alpes, Franche-Comte, Alsace], the west
part of the Western Alps, running along the border with Italy from
Mediterranean warmth in the south and climbing to some of the most
dramatic and highest parts of the range around Mont Blanc in the
north.
The French Riviera is a few hours drive away. Get there via Nice or Lyons in France or Geneva, Switzerland.
Language: French. Food: Excellent, varied. Costs: Middling.
Also see: France
Travel Guide | France
Travel Hiking
The Lower Italian Alps...too many trees!
Italy
[Valle d' Aosta, Piemonte, Lombardia, Trentino Alto Adige, Veneto,
Friuli Venezia Giulla] - the eastern side of the Western range running
along with France but claiming the tallest peak at Mont Blanc, then
continuing to the borders with Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia,
with the Dolomites being of particular unique interest in this area.
The Italian mountains generally get the best weather of the range
as they border the Mediterranean climate.
Get there via Venice or Milan in Italy.
Language: Italian, German. Food: Good, lotsa pasta. Costs: Low.
Also see: Italy
Travel Guide | Italy Pictures
Germany
[Baden-Wurttemberg, Bavaria] - the country runs only a little into
the Alps so before you know it you could be walking in Austria or
Switzerland.
Get there via Munich in Germany.
Language: German, but many speak good English. Food: Heavily into meat and potatoes. Costs: High.
Also see: Germany
Travel Guide
Austria,
[Vorarlberg, Tirol, Salzburger Land, Osttirol, Karnten, Steiermark,
Oberosterreich] - renowned for their splendid beauty with the Alps
here lower and broader with more greenery in general than other
sections, which is more to some hikers tastes.
Get there via Innsbruck, Salzburg, Graz, Linz, Klagenfurt or Vienna
in Austria or Ljubljana in Slovenia.
Language: German, but many speak good English. Food: Heavily into meat and potatoes. Costs: High.
Also see: Austria
Travel Guide | Austria Pictures
Countries :
Switzerland, [West,
Valais, Berne, Ticino, Central, Grison, North East] - much of the
country lies within the Alps and all of the other countries that make
up the range bar Slovenia have borders with it. The cultural overlap
here is therefore the greatest, offering a variety of choices for
the language enthusiast and culture vulture in addition to walking
tours.
It has a reputation for being the most exclusive region in this range
and as a result is infamous for its high prices.
Get there via Geneva.
Language: Multilingual. Food: Depends on heritage of the cook. Costs: Very high.
Slovenia - not usually the first country to be associated with the Alps,
and a politically problematic past, nevertheless it has some of
the best scenery in the range, meeting Italy in the west and Austria
in the north.
Get there via Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia.
Language: Sign language [for you!]. Food: Mediocre. Costs: Low
Geographical
Regions:
Other than political divisions, the range itself has three distinct
geographical divisions.
- Western, running from the Mediterranean Sea northwards to the Great St.
Bernard Pass in Switzerland and following the border between Italy
and France the region includes the Maritime, Dauphine, Savoy, Cottian,
Ligurian and Graian sections.
The most mountainous part of the whole range is the Mont Blanc massif.
- Central, almost entirely within Switzerland including the Bernese, Pennine,
Lepontine, and Rhaetian sections.
Generally high, steep and with narrow valleys.
- Eastern, east of Switzerland and popping out of Germany and Austria as
well as Slovenia.
It includes the Bavarian, Noric, Carnic, Hohe Taurn, Niedere Tauern,
Radstadter Tauern, Salzburg, Zillertal, Northern Tyrol, Dolomite,
Julian, Kamnik-Savinja and Karawanken sections.
These mountains are generally lower and broader than the western
and central regions.
Alps
1- introduction | Alps 3 - best walks
More
European Walking Tours:
Iceland | Spain | Greece | European
Walking | Pyrenees
Also see UK walking | Links | Europe Cycling Tours | Walking Tours |
