The passes of the Via Alpina
Diversity, adventure and idyllic surroundings: a classic long-distance hiking trail in Switzerland – this is what the Via Alpina stands for. The outstanding diversity of the Swiss Alps along the trail from Liechtenstein to Lake Geneva makes this route a classic.
Long-distance hikers discover breathtaking, picturesque mountain worlds here, with encounters that make the hike an unforgettable experience. The route leads through six cantons and carries you off into a world far away from street noise and daily stress. Traverse 14 of the most beautiful Alpine passes in Switzerland over 20 stages from Vaduz to Montreux.
You will encounter the first highlight of the route by the third stage: the ascent of the Foo Pass. On a small knoll surrounded by rocks, you can see a seemingly endless Alpine landscape on both sides of the pass.
Through the Appenzell, Glarus and Urn Alps, you cross countless other mountain crests, narrow ridges and passes. The Klausen Pass, for instance, is famous because of its classic car race. You gain a completely new perspective when you experience it on foot and, in addition to the well-known turns, it also offers a very unusual hotel steeped in as much tradition as Klausen race.
Moreover, the Richetli Pass offers one of the most beautiful ascents of the route; the descent leads through an idyllic moor landscape. Time and again, hikers walk from one mountain landscape to another, diving into completely new geological areas.
The final part leads over the Bernese Alps. Here, the Sefinenfurgge and Hohtürli passes are among the most arduous and most scenic highlights of the route. Once you cross the Hahnenmoos Pass, you’ll be in another language region. The last pass, the Col de Chaude, is the highest point of the tour before you reach Montreux on the banks of Lake Geneva.