Monitoring Desk
LONDON: When we think of a Europe tour, the primary things that come to one’s mind is beautiful cities, historical towns, heritage monuments, art and culture, and of course shopping. But in fact, there is a lot more that Europe has to offer.
From stunning mountain ranges to breathtaking snow-capped mountains, Europe is blessed with some fantastic hiking trails which are hard to find in India or other Asian countries. This makes it an ideal opportunity for adventure junkies to plan a hiking trip amid some of the world’s most alluring mountain ranges. Here is our pick of four, out of the many remarkable hiking trails of Europe.
Laugavegur Hiking Trail, Iceland
In the land of the Vikings, Laugavegur hiking trail that stretches 55km long, is considered to be one of the world’s best hiking trails. It provides one of the most incredible experiences a person can have while being away from the crowds and routine life. The Laugavegur hike takes around 4 days to complete depending on your capacity and time, you can extend it for a further two days. Hikers can find provision for overnight stays at the various mountain huts and campsites along the way.
This hike begins from the colourful Landmannalaugar Valley which is home to steaming hot thermal springs where people take hot baths for a short break. On the way to the top, explore the beautiful green moss and snow patches and admire the beauty of nature. This hike ends at the ice valley of Pórsmörk that displays spell-bounding views.
Best time to do the Laugavegur hiking trail: June end to August end
Eagles Walk, Austria
Nestled in Central Europe is the beautiful German-speaking country, Austria which is one of the most picturesque European countries. Amid Austria’s Alps in the west is a lovely state Tirol where you will fall in love with the Eagles Walk hiking trail. Eagles Walk offers the most beautiful alpine scenery in the Tirol area and has some breath-taking routes.
Eagles Walk is a 413 km long hiking trail covering the East of Austria to the West. It is built in the form of eagles wings and offers an opportunity for all the people willing to have a gentle walk across the quaint landscape as well as for the people planning an arduous hike to the highest point. This trail is broken down to 33-stages with never-ending opportunities for hikers with different skill levels. One can plan a day hike or a multi-week adventure in these alps, exploring the 24 stages from Kaiser Mountains to the Arlberg in North Tirol or the further nine stages from the Venediger to Großglockner peaks in East Tirol. No matter how long you choose to hike in these mountains, one thing is for sure that it will turn out to be an incomparable experience.
Best time to do the Eagles Walk trail: July to October
Westweg Trail, Germany
Westweg Trail is a 270 km long hiking trail in the Black Forest of Germany and is one of the oldest and most popular trails in the region. The hike begins from Pforzheim and ends in Basel. This hike takes around two weeks to complete with an average 15 km to 28 km per day. The difficulty level of this trail is moderate as the peaks are not high.
On the Westweg trail, you will get to witness the old wooden bridges, lush greenery and will get to explore green forests highest mountain, Feldberg Belchen, Lake Titisee, the vineyards & orchards of the Markgräflerland, Burg Rötteln castle, Black Forest National Park and much more.
Best time to do the Westweg Trail: April to end of October
Haute Route, Switzerland
Switzerland is known for its alps, glaciers and incomparable visual beauty. We highly recommend you to take on the Haute Route if you are on a Switzerland tour and are looking for a good hiking experience that offers you the best of nature.
Haute Route is considered to be one of the favourite Swiss trails which is 200km long and has a scenic route. The hike begins from Chamonix, France and ends at Zermatt, Switzerland. Witness the panoramic views of the breath-taking 10 out of 12 of the highest peaks in the Swiss Alps, including the beautiful Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn. It takes around 10-12 days to complete this trail as you cross several passes. On this route, you’ll not only come across the snow-capped Alps but also the green mountains decorated with flower-covered meadows. What’s better than being able to explore two distinct cultures, regions, cuisines, and languages?
Best time to do the haute route: June to October
Courtesy: (yatrablog.com)
