Of course, we all know the Tour du Mont Blanc, but there are so many more incredible long-distance trails in Europe to discover. Long-distance hiking is perfect if you’re looking to be out on the trail for longer than just a weekender. These trails usually last anywhere from 2-3 days to months at a time. Some of the most famous long-distance hikes even cross full countries or continents! The great thing about hiking in Europe is the astonishing variety of hikes you can choose from.
If you prefer to stay high in the alpine and hop onto technical via ferrata routes, then the Via Alpina and Haute Route Pyrenees are great trails for you. However, if you feel more comfortable in a more tropical setting while still getting to finish a serious climb every day, then maybe you’ll enjoy the Madeira Crossing. And if you want a more relaxing trip in the mountains to enjoy seeing the peaks above you, then the Alta Via 1 may be more your speed. Finally, if you’re looking for a trail where you can wild camp every night next to the fjords, you’ll want to try the Lofoten Crossing. Read more about each of them below!
1. Alta Via 1
Photo Credit: Jochem de Jong
The Alta Via 1 stands out among the 11 high routes in the Dolomites for its fame and popularity. It was the first route designed and takes you through some of the most iconic landscapes in the Dolomites. One of the reasons it's so well-loved is its accessibility. Apart from the final stage, which includes via ferrata, the trail follows straightforward, well-marked paths with abundant signposts and numerous rifugios.
Photo Credit: Jochem de Jong
You can extend, shorten, or modify the stages depending on your wishes. Some people complete the Alta Via from Braies to Cortina in five days, while others hike further into Val Zoldana or Muda in Agordino, with few tackling the final stages since they require more experience. Some even combine portions of Alta Via 1 with Alta Via 2 for a more challenging hike.
Photo Credit: Jochem de Jong
Because this is a hut-to-hut tour, the accommodations along the way are typical Alpine rifugios, with the final night in a basic bivouac shelter. Camping is prohibited throughout the Dolomites, so you’ll need to book the huts far in advance. Most people book in March/April for their summer trek.
The optimal time to hike the Alta Via is during the summer months and early September. However, be mindful of early summer snowfields and potential early autumn snowfalls when trekking in the Dolomites.
2. Madeira Crossing
Photo Credit: Jochem de Jong
The Madeira Crossing is a perfect long-distance trail, 101 kilometres across the entirety of Madeira Island. Starting at the coast, this trek leads you through subtropical forests, along ancient levadas, up to stunning viewpoints, beside ocean cliffs, and back down to the coast in an action-packed week.
Photo Credit: Jochem de Jong
Adapted from the popular Madeira Island Ultra Trail (MIUT), the Madeira Crossing avoids many of the steep descents that characterize the ultramarathon. However, this isn’t to say the trek is easy! This route hits all the highlights of the MIUT and does still include a fair amount of descending.
Photo Credit: Jochem de Jong
Madeira is a great choice for a winter or spring hike when other trails might be snowbound. The island has temperate weather all year round, rarely dropping below 10 degrees Celsius, and is just a 1.5-hour flight from Lisbon.
You can hike this trail all year round. While there are wetter months (late spring) and drier ones, the island's climate means that it's never too cold, and the trails are accessible throughout the year.
3. Via Alpina 1
Photo Credit: Jochem de Jong
The Via Alpina 1 is nearly 400 kilometres from east to west through the Swiss Alps. The trail gains over 1000 meters in altitude each day and is a serious physical and mental challenge. Accept this challenge, and you'll find yourself walking alongside the mighty four-thousanders of the Bernese Oberland, passing alpine lakes, crossing meadows filled with flowers, and staying in high mountain huts with Swiss panoramas.
The Via Alpina 1 is a well-marked trail, leading you from one mountain village to the next, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the Swiss alpine environment. This route takes you across the entire country, making it a true thru-hike of Switzerland.
The best time to hike the Via Alpina 1 is from late spring (June) to early autumn (September). These months typically have better weather, longer daylight hours, and a lower chance of crossing dangerous snowfields.
4. Haute Route Pyrenees
Photo Credit: Jochem de Jong
The Pyrenees High Route, known as the Haute Randonnée Pyrénéenne (HRP), runs along the length of the Pyrenees, as it joins the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. It roughly traces the French-Spanish border with a pass through Andorra. Key features of the HRP include the karst landscapes of Pic d’Anie, the Ossoue glacier, Lac de Mar in the scenic Val d’Aran, and the dramatic Cirque de Gavarnie with its towering waterfall.
This trail's challenges aren’t just in its elevation changes every day: expect rapidly changing weather, from heat to thunderstorms and freezing nights, as well. The route is unmarked, which means you’ll need to have strong navigation skills. Resupply points can be as far as 5 days apart, which means you’ll also need to carry a heavy pack.
Photo Credit: Jochem de Jong
Hiking the entire trail hut-to-hut using guesthouses in towns is possible. And along the route, you'll find numerous small, basic unmanned huts (cabanas or refugis). Wild camping is illegal in Spain, France, and Andorra, but it is often tolerated, and you'll likely encounter other hikers doing so.
The best time to tackle the HRP is between June and September when the skies are clear. Summer months mean high temperatures, even at altitude, so starting early in the morning is the best way to avoid intense heat during mid-day.
5. Lofoten Crossing
Photo Credit: Chris König
The Lofoten Crossing across the islands in Lofoten is a traverse and thru-hike that has garnered some popularity among dedicated hikers in recent years. This trail forms an east-to-west thru-hike by linking premier trails across the archipelago. You'll explore the largest islands of Austvågøy, Vestvågøy, Flakstadøy, and Moskenesøy, navigating rugged terrains and occasionally hopping on ferries to cross the fjords to the next island.
Located over 180 kilometers within the Arctic Circle in the Norwegian Sea, the Lofoten archipelago is known for its mountains rising from the ocean, sparkling fjords, white sand beaches, green valleys, and traditional fishing villages.
Thanks to Allemansretten, or the right of public access, camping along the Long Crossing of Lofoten Island is mainly unrestricted. This Norwegian principle grants individuals the freedom to roam and enjoy nature.
Photo Credit: Chris König
If you plan to hike the Long Crossing of Lofoten Island, it's best done during the summer months, particularly July and August. Be prepared for unpredictable weather, including potential rain and strong winds, even during these months.
Note that the Long Crossing of Lofoten is an unofficial route, comprising interconnected hiking paths. It's a highly demanding journey over steep mountain ridges and rocky terrain, suitable only for experienced mountain hikers with alpine experience.
Long-distance hiking is the perfect way to escape into nature for a while to recharge and fall in love with a new part of the world. Find your next trail on hiking-trails.com. There, you’ll discover new hut-to-hut hiking, long-distance trails, pilgrimages, and everything in between.
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