The Best of Trekking in the Alps of Europe

Trekking in the Alps of Europe is an adventure of a lifetime! If you are craving a hiking trip along winding alpine trails filled with wildflowers as far as the eye can see, if you love to explore different cultures and sampling delicious cuisine, all while carrying a day pack then trekking in Europe is for you! International Alpine Guides offers 4 of the best European Treks in Switzerland and the Dolomites of Italy, depending on your level of adventure and what part of Europe you want to explore. All are fully guided, and supported with luggage transfers and hand-picked nightly accommodations in our favorite mountain huts or charming B &B’s and even a few 4 star hotels.

Trekking in the Valais region of the Swiss Alps along the hikers hauter route

 European trekking is a step above and beyond the traditional American backpacking experience. Though the American backpacking experience definitely has its merit, and comes with many benefits and rewards of visiting the remote American wilderness, it does require the ability to carry a heavy overnight pack filled with supplies, sleeping on the ground under the stars, and preparing backcountry meals over a camp stove. And then you must of course obtain the often hard to get wilderness permits. All in all, a fantastic experience if you are able and find yourself out in the American Wilderness.

 The European trekking culture is quite a contrast to this experience, I often say “its quite civilized” to our groups. Travelling by foot in the imposing alps of Europe is made a bit tamer due to the amazing alpine huts. Each hut, (Rifugio as they are called in Italy and Cabane or Hutte as they are called in Switzerland)  are often run by a local family and are almost small mountain museums for that area or region. Some of the alpine huts are widely known as testaments to amazing mountain architecture. They are filled with home cooked delicacies, pastries, espresso and often a full bar with wine lists all in the high and wild Alps of Europe. Through they do require reservations, a wilderness permit to hike is not needed. Your lodging reservation comes with a half board meal plan which includes a 3 course homemade dinner, and basic breakfast in the morning. If you arrive early enough you can indulge in some post hiking dishes such as Kaisersharm, a traditional fluffy, sweet scrambled pancake, Swiss Rosti or perhaps a homemade barley soup while sitting on the huts deck overlooking your day’s walk while sipping a handcrafted cappuccino.  A memorable end to a memorable day in mountains.

relaxing on the deck of the Moiry hut in switzerland

 Mountain huts are filled with the sound of many different languages being spoken, like a sweet mountain melody, telling the stories of the day. Dorm style rooms or private group rooms come with bedding, often a down comforter, a pillow, and often shared bathrooms with hot showers. If you’re really lucky there may even be a sauna you can enjoy! Evenings are spent meeting fellow travelers, hearing and sharing stories, playing board games and simply appreciating the moment of where you are at.

The Mont Fort Hut along the Hiker’s Haute Route Trek, built in 1936, contains all the warm mountain charm one would expect from a European mountain hut. While possessing one of the best decks in the world to enjoy a happy hour, you van enjoy a homemade hand tossed pizza while overlooking the entire Mont Blanc Massif. The Moiry Hut, often called the most spectacular hut in Switzerland and also on the Haute Route Trek, overlooks the Moiry Glacier.  The hut’s recently remodeled dining area with large picture windows overlooks the breathtaking Moiry glacier. It is considered an architectural marvel in Switzerland. You will dine and enjoy your morning coffee so close to the glacier, you feel as you can reach out and touch it. While enjoying the glacial views at sunset you can sample their fantastic microbrew selection.

a gourmet mountain hut dinner in the dolomites

 Speaking of beer, on the Italian Alta Via one Trek in the spectacular Dolomites region, the Lavarella hut touts the highest microbrewery in Europe. It is located on day 2 of this spectacular Dolomites trek. This alpine hut is nestled in the Fannes- Sennes-Braies Nature Park, where one can only get there by foot. The hut serves the local Ladin cuisine known for its slow cooked pork, meat and veggie pastries and family farm style cuisine. The Ladin culture is small subculture within the Northern Dolomites and South Tyrol of Italy and have their own language, culture and dress. The Refugio Lagazuoi is one of the most famous huts in the Dolomites which we visit on Day 3 of our Alta Via Trek. Situated high on the top of impressive cliffs it overlooks the Passo Falzarego. On a clear day the 360 views of the Dolomites will take your breath away. A cable car allows day hikers to reach the Lagazuoi hut, while the Alta Via passes by it. We descend the historic WW1 tunnels bored through the mountain as we continue South along the Alta 1 trek. Staying up at Lagazuoi at night you are alone with the Dolomites, sharing the view with only those also lucky enough to stay the night with you. And many times the sauna will be open to enjoy watching the sunset in the cool summer air.

Our Berner Oberland Trek will make even the toughest hiker sing songs from the Sound of Music. Our variation also offers more creature comforts from the cozy Inns and 4 star Hotels along the way. Some of the best views on the trek look toward the famous Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. We descend through to the Lauterbrunnen Valley, known to the “Yosemite Valley” of Switzerland with its steep rock walls and towering waterfalls flowing seemingly out of nowhere. You will even get to enjoy a short cog wheel train up to the charming trekking village of Wengen.

locals

 Despite the hut infrastructure and trekking through charming hamlets, there is still much remote adventure to be had. You can sit in the quiet majesty of a towering glacier view of the Mont Blanc massif, or become refreshed next to a crystal clear Swiss waterfall, or marvel at a towering Dolomite formation dancing through the clouds. The high alpine trails are very well maintained, often having historical significance dating the early 1900’s. The Alta Via 1 was used to move Austrian and Italian troops around when this area was the front line of WWI. While the Hiker’s Haute Route was created to connect the high mountain huts which were created for visitors to come and enjoy the great European outdoors. Trekking allows you to see some of the most remote parks of Italy and Switzerland on foot!

the view on the first day of the haute route trek

For those wanting a bit more of adventure our Dolomite Via Ferrata Trek will provide the perfect balance between trekking and climbing.  Via Ferrata’s, or Iron Paths were originally created by mountain warfare troops to move people and supplies in WW1. Now they are restored and provide an opportunity to climb using iron pegs, suspension bridges, and ladders to ascend and move through a section of the Dolomites all while clipped into a cable, almost always ending at a Rifugio to enjoy your favorite desert or celebratory drink from the day’s adventure. On the Via Ferrata’s we travel on you will wear a climbing harness, helmet, and Y tails which will allow you to safely be clipped into a cable at all times as you move along the Via Ferrata.

via ferrata in the Dolomites

 I have seen numerous hikers over the years attempt a traditional American-style wilderness backpacking trip in the Alps and Dolomites, camping along the way and carrying a heavy full backpack. I have watched them zip themselves in their leaking tent from an almost nightly thunderstorm, as we enjoy the warmth of dinner served inside the cozy and dry huts. In the Dolomites and many other parts of the Alps traditional backpacking is looked down on, and in some areas is illegal. The hut experience and visiting local hamlets along is part of the experience, there is no better way to do and Alps trekking trips. You almost always will leave in the morning refreshed for another day of walking through the Alps. Self-guided tours, the latest of marketing guided treks, which can work for some, is not recommended. I have seen people using this option too many times go sideways with lost, wet, and tearful clients attempting to follow an app or directions that are simply wrong, dangerous or not translated correctly at all. This can leave folks in tears in a strange town where they don’t speak the language or know who to call.

The guided experience on a European trek with International Alpine Guides, allows you to put all the logistics into our hands before the trek and also while on the trail. International Alpine Guides is one of the leading American companies for Haute Route Ski Tours and trekking. All of our trips have been crafted with and tailored through our adventures in the Alps to give you the very best experience, and not a cookie cutter trip. We are a company who knows and loves European cultures, we understand the experience of adventure, the day to day details of these locations and can make changes to the itinerary flawlessly if needed due to weather or other circumstances.

Overall, a guided Alps trek is an experience not to be missed by any avid hiker.

Interested in joining us on our scheduled trip or setting up a private trip for you and your group? Contact us and we can help you plan the trip of a lifetime!