Hiking Europe | Exploring world-class hiking trails in 3 countries
Hiking trails in Portugal, Switzerland, and Luxembourg
There’s nothing like getting out and getting some fresh air on a gorgeous hike. No matter if your idea of a hike is a leisurely stroll along the shores of a picturesque lake or climbing the highest mountain in Switzerland, we’ve got you covered. Below are some of our favorite hikes around three countries in Europe.
Portugal – Peneda-Geres National Park
Peneda-Gerês National Park can be found in Northern Portugal 100km away from Porto. It is Portugal’s only National Park and just so happens to run through Spain. It covers a total area of 72 290 hectares.
Nature
The region experiences rainfall for 130 days a year, attributed to its lush vegetation in all shades of green and rich flora and fauna. Similarly, water characterizes the region, so you can appreciate its many cascading waterfalls, rivers, small lakes, and natural swimming pools.
The landscapes are breathtaking, flaunting rolling hills, oak woodlands, and deep valleys. The wildlife epidemic in the region is Roebuck, the Park’s symbolic animal, the Iberian wolf, deer, golden eagles, bears, and otters. Wild horses can also be found roaming the region’s mountainscapes.
Ancient Villages
Hiking in this region is unique in that a few of the trails intercept with some of the country’s oldest villages built on deep granite blocks. Villages where the life of traditional Portuguese inhabitants has been frozen in time. Most of which, have preserved their ancient values and agricultural practices.
One such village that will dazzle you with its authenticity and beauty is Soajo. Here you can see an impressive group of twenty-four stone espigueiros (granaries) dotting its rugged landscapes. These date back to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and were traditionally used to store maize and corn which is abundant in the region.
Trails
You can get an “Adventure Map” of the park at the Parque de Cerdeira campsite or at the tourist office Geres. Many of the trails are also listed on the Wikiloc app.
Many of these trails boast impressive sceneries, from Roman trails to multilayered waterfalls to Stonehenge-like formations. As a matter of fact, Lonely Planet devotes ten whole pages to this.
Here are a few of our favorites.
Megalithic Tombs
The Megalithic Tombs trail is a must! It starts at the village of Rodeiro a few kilometers from Castro Laboreiro and is approximately 15km long. These group of tombs were constructed 5000 years BC and are impressive. They are situated on a range of high rolling hills and some even boast cave paintings.
Geira Roman Road
Following the Geira Roman Road is a beautiful way to see the Peneda Geres National Park. This ancient road ran for 300km between the Roman cities of Braga in Portugal, and Astorga in Spain.
Most of the trail is marked by glass boards reflecting memorial sites every Roman mile and takes you through beautiful oak woods along the paving slabs left by the Romans. The signposted infrastructure only runs as far as the Spanish border so be careful not to get lost after this point.
If you would like to do only a section of the Geira Roman road, the circular hike – Pequena Rota 9 caters to this. You can access more information in English here.
The PR 14
The PR 14 route is a 13-kilometer circular route that starts and ends in Ermida. Highlights of this trail include one of Portugal’s most impressive waterfalls; the Cascata do Arado and the impressive Stone Age rock formations. You can also experience striking mountain views and natural pools along the way.
Portela do Homem
This trail is relatively difficult to walk as you will be crossing over boulders for the most part of the journey. It is impossible to get lost: the trail follows the river Homem and does not have any side trails.
Highlights of this hike are the ruins of the old abandoned mines of Carris and the lake of Carris.
Switzerland
Switzerland, as you can imagine, is a hiker’s paradise!
Granted, most of the hikes have some serious inclines that require more effort and physical fitness, but they are some of the most beautiful in the world.
What’s more, is that you are not spoilt for choice. There are tons of signposted trails to choose from spanning over 65 000km.
Here, we’ve brought together the best places for immediate-level hikes, most of which cover a wide range of themes; from picturesque lakes to the famed mountain peaks of Zermatt.
Iseltwald to Giessbach – Lakes and Waterfalls
This 9km odd hiking trail takes you from Iseltwald to Giessbach and is suitable for all skill levels. You will love this one, not only because it is considered Switzerland’s most beautiful riverside path, but also because it has no great differences in altitude, and follows a path along the shores of Lake Brienz.
You will pass by mighty rock formations and have splendid vantage points and shady forests before arriving at the impressive Giessbach waterfall.
Just like most trails in Switzerland, getting to the starting point requires a little bit of effort and a few means of transport. It is best to start at the Iseltwald ferry terminal where you will take a Ferry to Seeblick. From here you will walk for about 5,7km through Grillplatz, before arriving at Bootsanleger Giessbach where you will catch a funicular to the Grand Hotel.
Insiders Tip: Once you arrive at the waterfall, follow the signboards for route 9. This spectacular route passes behind the waterfall which you can’t afford to miss.
Alpbach MIB loop to Reichenbachfallbahn
The Aareschlucht Loop is a 10km trail and will take you through the Haslital Valley in the central Alps. The flat valley floor of the lower Haslital is separated from the upper valley by an impressive transverse rock formation that has been eroded away through the course of the millennia.
It is simply breathtaking and the size of the gorge will amaze you. It is 1400 meters long and up to 200 meters deep.
The paths, bridges, and tunnels in the gorge have made it accessible for over 100 years and can be effortlessly hiked on foot.
Zermatt – Mountain Peaks and Lakes
The resort town of Zermatt has been dubbed the ski capital of the world, but its hiking trails are something to be desired as well. It’s a world on its own, and a haven for mountain lovers. There are 400 km worth of trails that you can choose from that spans the 38 4000meter high mountain peaks.
The local tourism board has a few resources available that will allow you to customize your own hiking experience. Firstly, you mark out your starting point on the map, secondly, the point you would like to end. The route planner then automatically works out the route for you along the path network. What’s more is that they have an “On the way “ mobile app, that will help you with your navigation.
Here are a few hikes worth considering:
Naturweg
This 6,2km trail is a really special one for rejuvenating your mind and soul and will take you one hour and forty minutes to complete. You will love this for its forest filled with ancient Swiss stone pine trees, and sweeping landscape views that extend all the way to Matterhorn as well as many other views of 4,000-metre peaks.
5-Seenweg
The varied trail called the 5-Seenweg takes you to 5 mountain lakes whereby Matterhorn is perfectly reflected in three of them. The trail is 9,3km and should take you two and a half hours to complete. You will love this one because each of the covered lakes (Stellisee, Grindjisee, Grünsee, Moosjisee, and Leisee) are distinctly different in terms of shape, color, character, and size.
Breithorn Ascent
The Breithorn trail covers a distance of 5,4km and will take you, depending on your fitness level, three and a half hours to complete. Climbing any mountain is difficult, but the local tourism board refers to this one as one of the easiest climbing routes for a four-thousand-meter glacier mountain crest.
Despite it being “easier” they do still recommend that only experienced mountain hikers do it, along with a mountain guide.
Insiders Tip: Get your hands on the Peak Pass. This will give you unlimited travel on all of the mountain lifts that will take you to the highest points in the Alps up to 3,883m, as well as all the buses in Zermatt.
Information about the hiking area can be found here on the Zermatt Tourism website. For hours of operation and information about the mountain lifts, you can click here.
Luxembourg – Mullerthal Trail
If you love hiking through forests that have hidden gems like unique rock formations once buried under the sea, then hiking Luxembourg’s Mullerthal Region will be an unforgettable experience for you.
These lesser-known European long-distance range of hiking trails lie on the border of both Luxembourg and Germany.
Locals like to refer to this region as the “Little Switzerland” for its impressive canyon and gorges, primeval forests, bizarre rock formations, and picturesque streams.
At the beginning of 2014, the Mullerthal Trail received the label “Leading Quality Trails – Best of Europe” which has since captured the hearts of hiking enthusiasts.
There are three main trails spanning over 112km and are divided into three main routes. (Route 1, Route 2, Route 3). What’s nice about hiking here, is that you can pick up the trail just about anywhere in the region, and can walk smaller sections of it at any given time.
Route 1 & 2 shows the typical landscape of the area covering the spectacular rock formations (our favorites), as well as forests and pastures. Route 3 is all about romantic castles and many stream-filled valleys.
In addition, all three of these trails cover the cultural highlights of the region.
You can get your hands on the walking maps, available for purchase at the main tourist centers and at your accommodation.
Let’s explore a few of the highlights of the region.
Echternach – Berdorf
This E1 trail is dubbed as an expert hiker trail, however, our “not so fit” insiders hiked this effortlessly. The trail is 11,7km in length and will take you 4 hours to complete.
You will love this trail for its many hidden gems that are waiting for you to experience.
The Wolves Canyon called the “Gorge Du Loup” will definitely not disappoint you. It was formed by a split in a huge rock which you can walk through. Wolves were known once to be hiding beneath the rocks, giving way to their name.
The “Hohllay” and the amphitheater is something special too. From the Middle Ages until the 19th century, the millstones for the numerous mills in the region were cut from these impressive caves, leaving traces and bizarre patterns on the rocks.
Beaufort – B1
The Beaufort B1 10km trail starts at the idyllic Beaufort Castle and takes you through some romantic brooks and other rock formations. The views are spectacular.
The castle, now a ruin, is spectacular to see. Similarly, the Saueruecht Forest offers incredible viewpoints of the Sûre Valley.
Schiessentumpel Trail
The Schiessentumpel Trail is what everyone coming here is talking about.
Whilst, it is not a very grand waterfall, the scene is very picturesque and makes for a popular excursion. A lovely stone bridge crosses over the Black Ernz River and is surrounded by impressive rock formations.
Insider’s tip: When exploring the region, it is a good idea to base yourself in Echternach as Routes 1 & 2 pass through this town. What’s more, is that The Youth Hostel in the area has its own set of hiking trails you can follow that is well marked with signboards featuring its international logo.
Article commissioned by Travel Start South Africa.
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