Trip Details at-a-Glance
The Great Alpine Traverse was the best trip I've ever experienced! Everything was perfect—choice of hikes, food, hotels, sightseeing—you name it—it was great!!!T. Lee—Mc Minnville OR
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Hike the spectacular emerald-green rice terraces of mountainous Banaue (the famed “stepping stones to the sky”), then don your snorkeling gear and slip into the warm waters of the Coral Triangle to swim amid a staggering abundance of vibrant reef life.
Great Alpine Traverse
Incredible Mountain Hikes Through Five Countries
*Early Signup Discount for 2010 Departures
Special Early Signup Discount of $250 per person to the first 6 signups on each 2010 departure when you sign up by March 15, 2010! *New sign-ups only.
Ready for the ultimate Alps odyssey? This wonderful hiking adventure linking the best trails of France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria offers us the chance to be surrounded by some of the most breathtaking peaks in the world, including Mont Blanc and the world-famous Matterhorn. Along the way, we make great use of the Alps’ cog rails, cable cars, and even Switzerland’s famed Glacier Express to connect one glorious alpine realm to another. Ours is a journey of cultural discovery, too, as we encounter a range of Europe’s alpine enclaves and traditional cuisines. Our team of Wilderness Travel Trip Leaders brings camaraderie, knowledge, and fun to this unique mountain adventure—an incredible experience of the Alps!
Highlights
- The ultimate Alps trip, with great hikes, five different cultures, and Europe’s best mountain scenery
- Hike spectacular trails below Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn
- Grand Hotel des Alpes (Chamonix), Hotel Walther (Pontresina)
- Three special overnights at hike-in lodges in magnificent settings
Details
- 16-day trip begins in Chamonix, France, and ends in Salzburg, Austria
- 7 nights in hotels, 5 nights in charming inns, 3 nights in alpine lodges with semi-private rooms, shared baths, and hot showers
- All meals included except most lunches and 1 dinner
- 14 hiking days on moderate to steep trails, 5-8 hours a day, altitudes between 6,000-11,500 feet, van support (for luggage or tired feet)
- All transport during the trip (Glacier Express train, cable cars, etc.) included except for optional hikes on rest days
Tour Costs
$6595 (11-15 members)
$7095 (6-10 members)
Single supplement: $840
Prices are for 2010 dates
Departures & Leaders
Jul 2-17, 2010 Annie Hawkins
Tony Farina
Aug 6-21, 2010 James Fuss
Mike Browder, Mark Black
Aug 27-Sep 11, 2010 Santiago Bejarano
*There may be up to 3 leaders on any departure. Please call for details.
Suggested Reading
Reading list, click here.
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-3
Chamonix, France / Aosta, Italy
A hike from Chamonix, the mountaineering capital of Europe, treats us to spectacular views of the Mont Blanc massif and its mighty glaciers. We enter Italy by way of a breathtaking gondola ride across the three-mile-wide Vallée Blanche Glacier, enjoying a close look at its icy panoramas at Point Heilbronner, the border between France and Italy, before descending by cable car and walking to Aosta.
Days 4-5
Matterhorn / Zermatt, Switzerland
A stunning amphitheater of mountains envelops us as we hike along the remarkable Grand Balconeta trail into Cervinia on the Italian side of the Matterhorn (14,688'). From the Theodul Pass at 11,500 feet on the Italian-Swiss border, we hike down the Theodul Glacier, with amazing views of the pyramid-shaped Matterhorn, icon of Swiss mountains, to Zermatt, Switzerland’s premier mountain resort.
Days 6-8
St. Moritz / Pontresina / Diavolezza
A spectacular rail journey on the Glacier Express train carries us through the heart of the Swiss Alps to stylish St. Moritz, with a free day to hike and explore. The following day we hike along the mighty Morteratsch Glacier, then take a cable car to the spectacular Diavolezza Lodge for an overnight among the high peaks.
Days 9-14
Guarda / Jamtal Hutte, Austria / Maria Alm / Karlingerhaus, Germany
We enjoy a beautiful hike to Ardez, with its lovely traditional Engadine houses, then cross the remote Futschol Pass (9,100') into Austria for an overnight at a Tyrolean-style hike-in lodge. From Maria Alm, a charming village on the mountainous Austria-Germany border, we hike into Germany to a fantastic lakeside lodge high on a limestone plateau.
Days 15-16
Salzburg, Austria
Descending through glacier-carved limestone scenery, we head to lovely Konigsee, the historic “lake of kings,” and take a boat ride to Berchtesgaden. We continue to baroque Salzburg for a gala farewell dinner. Depart on Day 16.
This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure