Are you dreaming of taking a break? Of pausing the rat race for a while and instead creating some space to reconnect with yourself? Do you fancy just grabbing your backpack and setting out? Then this post is for you! Because I did exactly that last year. I quit my job and set out on a 5-week thru-hike. And I want to share all my learnings from planning for and hiking the Alpe Adria Trail in June 2022. Discover all the secrets of what it means to hike one of the most scenic long-distance trails in Europe and explore the most beautiful stages of the Alpe Adria Trail with me.
Why should you hike a long-distance trail?
Hiking a long-distance trail is a beautiful way of traveling. It isn’t only incredibly calming but also immensely rewarding. It allows you to be immersed in nature all day while experiencing the landscape around you slowly change with every day you progress. On the road, you won’t only find stunning views. You will also get a chance to find calmness in the midst of your busy mind. To appreciate the simplicity and beauty of nature. So, in short, hiking a long-distance trail is one of the best ways to create more space in your life and (re-)connect with yourself.
And I think the Alpe Adria Trail is one of the best trails in Europe to experience exactly this.
If you’re not convinced that you should set out on a trail, check out these reasons why hiking a long-distance trail in Europe should be on your bucket list.
So, what is the Alpe Adria Trail?
The Alpe-Adria Trail is a long-distance hiking trail in Europe. It consists of a total of 37 stages (plus 6 additional circular routes) and starts in Austria, right at the foot of Großglockner mountain. It moves through Austria’s beautiful mountains and valleys with ever-new views of lakes, meadows, and forest landscapes. It then passes into Slovenia and leads along the emerald-green Soca river over mountain passes to Italy’s border where, for the first time, you’ll be able to see the Adrian sea. The official homepage claims that the trail was designed mostly with “pleasure hikers” in mind. And while it definitely is filled with pleasure along the entire trail, there are also a few challenging stages that will make you incredibly proud of yourself, once you’ve mastered them. There is already plenty of information on the Alpe Adria Trail, its stages, and history. You can find some of the most important information and lots of further reading here:
Alpe Adria Trail - Official Homepage
Bradt Travel Guide to the Alpe Adria Trail
But how can you find out if the Alpe Adria Trail is the right trail for you?
Is the Alpe Adria Trail The Right Trail For You?
If you’re new(er) to thru-hiking, it’s important to know that different long-distance hiking trails vary greatly in many factors, such as difficulty, landscape, duration, distance, etc. This makes it very important to go get a better understanding of the track you’re planning to hike beforehand.
The Alpe Adria Trail is the right trail for you, if
- …you are looking for a trail that is also suitable for people who have never done a long-distance trail before or people who don’t have experience in hiking alpine routes
- …experiencing vastly different, mesmerizing scenery is a priority for you. From deep green forests, over alp meadows, along rivers, through vineyards, to the coastal cliffs along the sea
- …you’re looking for a well-structured trail that offers a great infrastructure of accommodation and transfer options in between the stages
- …you want a lot of flexibility along the way to tailor your route to your individual preferences, fitness level, and timing
- …you are looking for peace, calmness, and connection rather than mass tourism, you are respectful of nature and want to experience its flora & fauna in surroundings that are still relatively remote and undisturbed
When is The Best Time to Hike the Alpe Adria Trail?
The best time to hike the Alpe Adria Trail is June. At least, that’s my point of view. But this obviously depends on what you want to get out of your hike as well as your personal preferences.
Summer Season (end of June - end of September)
Generally, during the summer months (July - September), the trail is busiest. This is because the weather is the warmest and most stable. It’s also the summer holiday season and all accommodations, restaurants, and activities are open and buzzing. This is a great time if you like the heat and want to get as much sun as possible. It’s also a good time if you want to connect with lots of fellow hikers and other people you meet along the way.
Off-Season (March - June & September - November)
If, however, you’re looking for a bit more tranquility the off-season is probably more suitable for you. April to June as well as September to October still offer gorgeous weather with lots of sun and warm days. Especially in Italy it already gets very, very hot in June. However, in Austria and Slovenia it cools down significantly during the night and there might still be the occasional rainy day or thunderstorm. During this time, there are quite a few hikers on the trail, but most days you will still meet very few people while walking - I had entire stages where I literally met no one all day. It’s important to note, though, that some of the mountain huts or accommodations might not be open during off-season. So, make sure to check on that beforehand. Also, if there’s still (or already) too much snow on the stages higher up in the mountains, mostly in Austria, they might be closed.
Wandering what to pack? Check out my full packing list for hiking the Alpe Adria Trail in spring.
How Much Time do You Need to Hike the Alpe Adria Trail?
The duration of the Alpe Adria Trail technically is 37 days, as the trail has 37 stages (plus 6 additional circular routes if you want to go there). And you might also want to take a break in between. It is also possible to split some of the longer stages into two days. Or you could combine or skip a few stages. So, in reality, the duration of the Alpe Adria Trail is very flexible. You can choose. You might not have 5-6 weeks of free time to hike the entire trail. But maybe you still want to experience the changing landscape, the three different countries, and the most scenic stages along the entire route. If that’s you, don’t worry, I got you! I put together an itinerary with the most scenic stages of the Alpe Adria Trail that gets you from Austria‘s glaciers to the Slovenian Soca valley in only two weeks. And this includes a rest day in between allowing you to recharge and enjoy the beautiful scenery and mouthwatering food of the Alexanderhütte at Millstätter Alm. You can find the detailed route here.
How Can You Prepare for Hiking the Alpe-Adria-Trail?
I decided to hike the Alpe Adria Trail on quite short notice. Overall, I had 3 weeks to prepare, which worked out well for me. But some people I met on the road had planned everything months and even years in advance. While again others hadn’t planned much at all beforehand and just made it up as they went. That of course depends on your personal preferences. But I do like a solid bit of planning beforehand (I am German after all 🙃) while still leaving some room for flexibility and adjustments along the way. There are two key areas I prepared beforehand: Route & accommodation as well as equipment. In the three pages linked below, I go into detail on both of them.
- 2-Week Itinerary for the Alpe Adria Trail - Stages & Accommodation (week 1)
- 2-Week Itinerary for the Alpe Adria Trail - Stages & Accommodation (week 2)
- Packing List for Hiking the Alpe Adria Trail in Spring
I hope that gives you a rough overview of the trail and you find all the resources useful. I really hope, you can make your very own dream of hiking a long-distance trail come true. 🙂
And if there’s anything I can do to support you, any questions or concerns, just hit me up! I always love to connect with new people on the quest for a bit more spacefulness in their lives.
