Via Alpina

Photo: CIPRA International, Community

Welcome to the Via Alpina! 

This international hiking trail through eight countries – in 116 stages, over 2,500 km and between 0 and 3,000 metres above sea level – invites you to discover the natural and cultural heritage of the Alps on foot. 

Via Alpina connects people with the same passion across borders, promotes the European idea and successfully contributes to the sustainable development of the Alps as a natural and cultural area.

We enable people to hike through eight European countries, cross borders, share experiences and discover their love for Alpine cultures, natural spaces and their preservation.

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CIPRA International

Hiking route · Italy

Via Alpina Stage 1: Muggia - Refugio Premuda

Difficulty easy

Distance 15.7 km

Duration 5:05 h

Ascent 669 m

Descent 583 m

The trail starts from Piazza Marconi in Muggia, uphill through the village of Santa Barbara and along path 1 towards Rabuiese and the Vignano ...

from CIPRA International, Community

Hiking route · Slovenia

Via Alpina Stage 2: Refugio Premuda - Matavun (Divaca)

Difficulty moderate

Distance 24.9 km

Duration 7:15 h

Ascent 671 m

Descent 323 m

From the Premuda hut you cross the Rosandra valley to Draga S. Elia and Pese, on the border between Italy and Slovenia. You go along the border on ...

from CIPRA International, Community

Hiking route · Inner Carniola

Via Alpina Stage 3: Matavun (Divača) - Razdrto

Difficulty easy

Distance 16.8 km

Duration 4:50 h

Ascent 524 m

Descent 347 m

In the immediate vicinity are the world-famous Škocjan Caves, which are among the most beautiful in the world and have been declared a World ...

from CIPRA International, Community

Hiking route · Inner Carniola

Via Alpina Stage 4: Razdrto - Predjama

Difficulty moderate

Distance 15.6 km

Duration 5:20 h

Ascent 765 m

Descent 828 m

This is the first ascent over 1000m altitude to the mountain Nanos. You walk on a pleasant forest path and in the upper part over beautiful meadows ...

from CIPRA International, Community

Hiking route · Inner Carniola

Via Alpina Stage 5: Predjama - Črni vrh

Difficulty moderate

Distance 20.5 km

Duration 6:20 h

Ascent 727 m

Descent 519 m

The stage leads through a forest-covered karst world with numerous karst phenomena. There are karst cave, karst shafts, and barely pronounced ...

from CIPRA International, Community

Hiking route · Inner Carniola

Via Alpina Stage 6: Črni vrh - Idrija

Difficulty easy

Distance 12 km

Duration 3:35 h

Ascent 163 m

Descent 528 m

This short and flat stage leads across the mountains area of Idrija, where towards the west one can observe the vast Trnovski forest and enjoy the ...

from CIPRA International, Community

Hiking route · Inner Carniola

Via Alpina Stage 7: Idrija - Planinska koča na Ermanovcu

Difficulty difficult

Distance 23.6 km

Duration 8:25 h

Ascent 1,453 m

Descent 794 m

On this stage you get acquainted with the Idrijsko region and head for the Cerkljansko mountain area. After a steep ascent, there is a pleasant ...

from CIPRA International, Community

Hiking route · Upper Carniola

Via Alpina Stage 8: Planinska koča na Ermanovcu - Porezen

Difficulty moderate

Distance 16.7 km

Duration 6:40 h

Ascent 1,367 m

Descent 729 m

The trail leads through the hilly landscape of the Cerkljansko Mountains, first along a road, over hillsides rich in forests and meadows.

from CIPRA International, Community

Hiking route · Littoral

Via Alpina Stage 9: Porezen - Črna Prst

Difficulty moderate

Distance 15.6 km

Duration 6:25 h

Ascent 1,264 m

Descent 1,029 m

The stage leads to the high mountains of the Julian Alps, to the Sp. Bohinjske mountains, whose crest you can see in front of you. After a steep ...

from CIPRA International, Community

Hiking route · Alps

Via Alpina Stage 10: Črna prst - Dom na Komni

recommended route Difficulty difficult

Distance 19.2 km

Duration 7:30 h

Ascent 1,000 m

Descent 1,318 m

This stage offers beautiful views over the Julian Alps and Bohinj Lake.

from CIPRA International, Community

Hiking route · Upper Carniola

Via Alpina Stage 11: Dom na Komni - Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih

Difficulty easy

Distance 7.2 km

Duration 2:35 h

Ascent 347 m

Descent 172 m

This stage leads through the stunning world of the highland lakes. Officially, there are only seven lakes, but several smaller tarns and pools can ...

from CIPRA International, Community

Hiking route · Upper Carniola

Via Alpina Stage 12: Koča pri Triglavskih jezerih - Tržaška koča na Doliču

Difficulty moderate

Distance 7.7 km

Duration 2:55 h

Ascent 675 m

Descent 196 m

On this stage you walk through the valley of the Triglav lakes to the end. Although the trail leaves out the two highest lakes at the end of the ...

from CIPRA International, Community

Hiking route · Littoral

Via Alpina Stage 13: Tržaška koča na Doliču - Trenta

Difficulty moderate

Distance 11.2 km

Duration 4:40 h

Ascent 351 m

Descent 1,874 m

On this stage you temporarily leave the limestone high mountains of the Julian Alps. On a former mule track of the Italian military you descend ...

from CIPRA International, Community

Hiking route · Littoral

Via Alpina Stage 14: Trenta - Dom v Tamarju

Difficulty moderate

Distance 14.4 km

Duration 6:00 h

Ascent 1,355 m

Descent 887 m

On this stage you first walk through the Trenta valley to the source of the Soča river. This is followed by an ascent to the highest mountain pass ...

from CIPRA International, Community

Hiking route · Upper Carniola

Via Alpina Stage 15: Dom v Tamarju - Thörl Maglern

Difficulty moderate

Distance 24.7 km

Duration 7:45 h

Ascent 825 m

Descent 1,289 m

You start in the glacier valley Planica and walk through forests and under magnificent rocky peaks to the ski jumps in Planica. You cross the ski ...

from CIPRA International, Community