2020 Wilderness Travel Catalog of Adventures

DAVID FRANKLIN

MARY K SHAW

Experience five beautiful alpine countries and great hikes with views of the most famous peaks in the Alps.

Great Alpine Traverse FIVE COUNTRIES—ON FOOT!

The ultimate Alps odyssey is WT’s unique mountain adventure on the best trails of France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria—and we cross all borders on foot! Take the epic cable car ride up the slopes of Mont Blanc and hike from France into

slopes of Mont Blanc, with a descent into Courmayeur, Italy, and an overnight in mountain- ringed Aosta. We hike the remarkable Grand Balconeta trail, one of the finest hikes in the Alps, with incredible Matterhorn views all the way, and cross the magnificent Theodul Glacier—right below the Matterhorn—to arrive in Zermatt on foot. Days 5-8 Upper Engadine, Switzerland / Pontresina / Guarda A spectacular rail journey on the Glacier Express is a great way to relax as the scenery unfolds and we wind our way through the mountains of the Bernese Oberland into the splendid Upper Engadine valley, with overnights in stylish Pontresina. Heading to Guarda, we hike among the classic hamlets along the Inn River in the Lower Engadine, with a picnic at the medieval castle of Tarasp. Days 9-13 Maria Alm, Austria / Kärlingerhaus, Germany / Salzburg, Austria We cross remote Fütschol Pass to descend into Austria and the traditional Tyrolean village of Maria Alm. A challenging hike brings us to Kärlingerhaus, Germany, surrounded by limestone peaks, and our last trail brings us through glacier-carved scenery to the Königsee, the historic “Lake of Kings,” enclosed within almost-vertical rock walls that give it the look of an inland fjord. We celebrate the finish of our five-country odyssey in beautiful Salzburg. Depart on Day 13.

HIGHLIGHTS • Great hikes, seamless logistics, the perfect team of Trip Leaders—only WT can offer a journey like this! • Cross international borders on foot, hike on the Theodul Glacier, ride the Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz • Hand-picked hotels include the Grand Hotel des Alpes (Chamonix) and Hotel Walther (Pontresina) DETAILS • 13-day trip begins in Chamonix, France, and ends in Salzburg, Austria • 5 nights hotels, 5 nights charming inns, 2 nights alpine lodges with semi-private rooms, shared baths, and hot showers • All meals included except 1 lunch and 2 dinners • All transport during the trip included (train, cable cars, etc.)

Italy, savor spine-tingling Matterhorn views on Italy’s Grand Balconeta trail, cross the Theodul Glacier to arrive in Switzerland on foot, take a hidden trail over Fütschol Pass into Austria, and discover the Ramseider Trail leading over the Steinernes Meer (“Sea of Stone”) into

“The best trip I’ve ever experienced! Everything was perfect—choice of hikes, food, hotels— you name it—it was great!!!” Theresa L., Denver CO

DATES Jun 22-Jul 4, 2020 Aug 22-Sep 3

Germany. This is a brilliant way to discover the cuisine, traditions, and architecture of five alpine nations while enjoying the hikes of a lifetime. We stay in hotels of character en route, and our grand finish is in Salzburg, with a dinner concert of the music of Mozart. Days 1-4 Chamonix, France / Aosta, Italy / Zermatt, Switzerland From Chamonix, a breathtaking gondola ride carries us up the

TRIP COST $7495 (11-14 members) $7995 (5-10 members) Single supplement: $720

TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 4 + 5 6 12 hiking days on moderate to steep trails, 5-8 hours a day, altitudes between 6,000-11,500 feet, van support, team of up to 3 Trip Leaders

COMBINE ANY TWO EUROPE TRIPS FOR A $400 PER PERSON DISCOUNT! 46