La Via Francigena - in the Swiss and Italian Alps
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La Via Francigena in the Swiss & Italian Alps 16 - 25 June 2027 10-day accompanied walk on reduced stages from La Douay to Pont St Martin €1 995 sharing - €520 single supplement ITINERARY Day Place KM 1 Meet in La Douay 2 Walk to Liddes 11 3. Bourg St Pierre 7 4 Gr St Bernard Pass 13 5 Etroubles 13.5 6 Aosta 16 7 Nus 15 8 St Vincent 17 9 Verres 14 10 Pont St Martin 14.8 PLEASE NOTE: We have specifically reduced the stages to suit people who are fit walkers but who prefer to take their time and walk at a slower pace. Walking shorter stages might not suit ultra-fit mountain hikers or race walkers. There is no technical hiking or mountaineering involved on this walk although hiking poles are recommended. You will need to be reasonably fit and able to walk an average 13 km per day, which includes two days of steep ascents to the Gr St Bernard Pass and undulating trails into the Aosta Valley. The Saint Bernard dogs still live at the hospice at the Gr Saint Bernard Pass, a shelter founded in the Middle Ages, led by Augustinian monks. The Saint Bernard dogs have been bred on this Alpine pass by the monks, first with the attribute of being able to carry loads, later also as an avalanche search dog. You can visit the dogs in ther kennels behind the hospice. The walk down into the Aosta Valley includes undulating descents to Pont St Martin. The trails shadow the road so if you have any difficulty on the paths you can walk on the roads to each town and village. Sunrise is around 05h50 and sunset at 21h30 so you have lots of time to reach your destination without rushing. The trail is on often on mountain tracks, stones, gravel, riverine trails and asphalt paths which, although not technically difficult but require a moderate level of fitness. With this in mind, we have had many groups with an average age of 70-something walking this route. Its not an age thing - its up to you to do the training! You need to train on hills! If there are no hills near to you to train on, use the stairs in your local shopping mall, public buildings or underground, or at the gym on a treadmill or StairMaster. Cost: from €1995 sharing.
It includes 10 nights accommodation in private, en suite rooms some are B&B: If you want a single room [where they are available] a single supplement will be charged. Luggage transfers: One item is included and extra items will be charged at ± €11 per day Not included: Flights to Europe: Your flights to France or Spain. Getting to the start, travel insurance (essential), food and drinks. Daily spending: You can budget on €40 - €60 per day for food, drinks, snacks, entrance to museums etc. Allow ± €25 per day for food: €5 for breakfast, €10 for lunch and ± €30 for dinner and a drink (wine, water and bread is generally provided with a meal). If you choose the A La Carte menu, your meals could cost more. Allow ± €15 per day for incidentals such as entrance fees to museums or cathedrals, alcoholic beverages and snacks. Taxis usually charge €1 to €1.5 per km. If you prefer half board (dinner bed and breakfast - where available) we can arrange this for you for an extra charge of €30 per day. |
Getting there: From European countries and Britain, you can fly to Lausanne. There are International flights to Geneva. From there you can take a train or lake cruise to Lausanne. www.sncf-connect.com www.lake-geneva-switzerland.com/ You can get a train from Geneva, Lausanne, Vevey or Montreux to La Douay. Marizanne, your group leader will be in Lausanne for two days before the walk. If you would like to travel with her to La Douay, she will book tickets for the group to travel on the train. In the Middle Ages multitudes of pilgrims, soldiers, merchants and travellers used a system of roads known as the “Via Francigena” – or roads of the Franks - to travel from England and other northern countries to Rome. The bishops of Canterbury used the road to travel to Rome to receive their pallium or stole of office from the Pope when they became Archbishops. In 994 AD Archbishop Sigeric’s clerks kept a diary of his return journey to Enlgland titled 'From Rome to the Channel'. In the 1990s the diary was discovered by Italian researchers and is now in the British Museum. The Archbishop's descriptions of places along the route proved to be very accurate and generated academic research, tourism promotion and restoration of the actual route for modern walkers. In 1994 the Council of Europe designated the Via Francigena as a 'European Cultural Itinerary.' Quotes from ‘La Via Francigena, Five Pilgrims to Rome RESOURCES Pilgrim passport and guide book www.sloways.shop/en/product/guida-piu-credenziale-en/ English Guidebooks Lightfoot Guides – Paul Chinn and Babette Gallard http://pilgrimagepublications.com/pp_2014/via-francigena/ Via Francigena Pilgrim Trail - Sandy Brown www.amazon.com/Via-Francigena-Canterbury-Rome-Cicerone/dp/1852846070 Italian (and English edition) La Via Francigena 1000km a Piedi dal Gran San Bernardo a Roma : 2020 http://libri.terre.it/libri/collana/21/libro/543/La-Via-Francigena.-1000-km-a-piedi-dal-Gran-San-Bernardo-a-Roma. Useful Websites: www.pilgrimstorome.org.uk/ http://www.viefrancigene.org/en Download APP https://www.facebook.com/groups/19899007360/ 
LUGGAGE TRANSFERS
Bags are transported from hotel lobby to hotel lobby, mainly by retired people, many of them women. Most historic buildings do not have elevators or porters so the 18kg - 20kg (44 lb) limit per bag is important for both you and the people who transfer your bag each day. If you have more than 20 kg (44 lbs) extra luggage you will need to transfer more than one item of luggage and will be charged €11 per item. |
