Rätikon - 3 countries crossing
Hiking 6 days, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Vorarlberg.
Difficulty:
Fitness Level:
On the way in the border triangle on quiet paths - 6 days of crossing Rätikon.
A varied and panoramic hike through a contrasting and one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the Eastern Alps, formed by an imposing, mostly rocky and rugged mountain backdrop. The tour winds its way through three countries along rugged ridges, bizarre karst landscapes, beautiful mountain lakes and green alpine meadows. Hiking in the Rätikon region also has a long tradition. In the past, the old hollow paths and mountain trails were used by the local population as the only means of access in the mountains, primarily by farmers, alpine farmers and, in view of the nearby national border, also by smugglers. Anyone who wanted to move around in the steep terrain had to walk. Today's hiking routes often coincide with the old connecting paths.
This tour has some highlights in store, such as the ascent of the highest peak in the Rätikon, the Schesaplana (2,965 m) or the Sulzfluh (2,818 m).
On request
840 €
- Tour planning and organization
- 6 guided hiking days by an Internationl Mountain Leader
- 5 nights in a mountain hut with half board
- One transfer from Vandans to Malbun
- One ascent with the Sareis cable car (1st day)
- One-way descent with the Golmer cable car (day 6)
- Travel insurance certificate
- Arrival and departure
- Drinks
- Lunch stop
- Tips, personal expenses
- Possible parking fees
- Optional overnight stays before and after the tour
- Payment options at the huts: usually only possible in cash
- We meet at 9:00 am at the Golmerbahn permanent parking lot in Vandans, Vorarlberg
- From Vandans we take a shuttle or the train to Malbun to the starting point of our tour
- The tour starts and ends at the Golmerbahn permanent parking lot
- Public transportation by train and bus is recommended and can be easily planned on bahn.de (Germany) or oebb.at (Austria)
- The nearest train station is directly in Vandans
- The nearest airport is in Memmingen or Zurich
Medium difficulty:
We hike on predominantly medium-difficulty mountain trails. The nature of the paths can be rocky and also blocked. Occasionally there are exposed passages that are secured with wire ropes. Hiking experience, surefootedness and a head for heights are required here.
Easy fitness level:
You have an average basic level of fitness and stamina for tours with a walking time (real walking time without breaks) of up to 6 hours and up to a maximum of 1000 meters in ascent and descent.
Day 1: Malbun (1.600 m) - Pfälzerhütte (2.108 m)
We start at the Sareis cable car and take it to the Sareis mountain restaurant. We follow the Fürstin-Gina-Steig trail, which is rich in views and flowers and runs at around 2,000 m as a border trail between Malbun and the Nenzinger Himmel (Vorarlberg). We follow this to the Augstenberg (2,359 m), our first summit on this tour. From here, we descend to the Bettlerjoch, where the hut (2,108 m) is located, partly secured by ropes.
↑ 410 m, ↓ 290 m, walking time: approx. 3:00 h, catering: D
Day 2: Pfälzerhütte (2.108 m) - Schesaplanahütte (1.909 m)
Today, the second summit is already on the agenda, the Naafkopf (2,571 m). From the hut, we make a short ascent along the Liechtenstein and Austrian border. At the summit we have a great view of the Prättigau in Graubünden. From the summit, we take the same route back to the Liechtensteiner Höhenweg, which we follow to the Hochjoch (2,353 m), where we enter Swiss territory and switch from the north to the south side. We follow the high trail further down to the Schesaplana hut (1,908 m).
↑ 790 m, ↓ 1,000 m, walking time: approx. 5:30 h, meal: B, D
Day 3: Schesaplanahütte (1.908 m) - Totalphütte (2.381 m)
We follow yesterday's route further east and climb below the Totalpköpfe on an alpine path, which is partly secured by ropes, up to the Gamsluggen (2,383 m). Once we reach the pass, we have a wonderful view of the Lünersee and enter Austrian territory. From here, we take the direct route up to the Schesaplana (2,965 m), the highest peak in the Rätikon. We enjoy the view, which extends as far as the Weisshorn in the Valais Alps to the west. As we descend through the rough scree, Lake Lünersee shimmers turquoise above the Brandnertal valley.
The Totalphütte was largely destroyed by an avalanche in 2019 and then rebuilt.
↑ 1,110 m, ↓ 630 m, walking time: approx. 5:00 h, meal: B, D
Day 4: Totalphütte (2.381 m) - Carschinahütte (2.221 m)
The day begins with a hike along the southern shore of Lake Lünersee up to the Swiss Gate (2,137 m), where we cross over into Switzerland once again. Impressive views await us of the steep, smooth rock faces that form the Swiss Gate, where legendary routes can be found and alpine history has been written. Now we follow the Prättigauer Höhenweg past the Drusator to the Carschina hut.
↑ 650 m, ↓ 800 m, walking time: approx. 5:30 h, meal: B, D
Tag 5: Carschinahütte (2.221 m) - Lindauer Hütte (1.744 m)
Today, the next Rätikon classic is already on the agenda, the Sulzfluh (2,817 m). We hike past the Brunnenegg with its beautiful views of the idyllic Partnunsee lake to the start of the Gemschtobel at around 2,158m. Here we need to be sure-footed and the first steep ascent is very well secured with chains. We hike on a path over gravel and rocks through the huge cirque up to the broad rocky ridge. Once we have reached the summit, we can once again enjoy the fascinating panoramic view of the surrounding mountains. Now we descend to the Tilisuna hut (2,208 m) where we stop for a nice snack. Afterwards, the rest of the descent is via the Bilkengrat ridge to the beautiful Lindauer Hütte.
↑ 890 m, ↓ 1,380 m, walking time: approx. 6:00 h, meal: B, D
Tag 6: Lindauer Hütte (1.744 m) - Gleiwitzer Hütte (2.176 m)
To finish off, another wonderful panoramic trail awaits us from the Lindauer Hütte via the Geißspitze (2,334 m), the Hätabergerjoch to the Golmerjoch and finally to Grüneck. Here we stop off at the Berghof Golm for a final lunch snack. Our breathtaking tour then ends with the descent to Vandans.
↑ 710 m, ↓ 560 m, walking time: approx. 3:30 h, catering: B
Gut zu wissen.
After your binding registration you will receive a detailed PDF with all important and detailed information. Please read the information carefully!
Cancellation:
We advise you to take out travel cancellation insurance and insurance that covers your repatriation costs in the event of an accident or illness. Please check your insurance cover.
International health insurance:
Make sure that you have international health insurance for your trip abroad to cover any costs incurred in the event of illness or accident.
Trip interruption insurance:
We also recommend travel interruption insurance in case you have to interrupt your trip for unexpected reasons on site.
Alpine Club:
We recommend that you become a member of one of the Alpine clubs (German Alpine Club, Austrian Alpine Club, Swiss Alpine Club). Membership usually covers the costs of a helicopter rescue.
Please book directly via the website by filling out the contact form (see below).
Once we have received your booking, you will promptly receive a booking confirmation (can take up to 4 weeks depending on the circumstances) and an invoice for a deposit of 20% with a payment term of 14 days. The remaining amount is due at the latest 4 weeks before the start of the trip without further request. You can pay the invoices conveniently by bank transfer.
Changes and/or deviations from the advertised program schedule during the trip are possible at any time. In particular, changes in local conditions and weather-related influences mean that the specified itinerary cannot be guaranteed. In this respect, the description only represents the planned itinerary without guaranteeing the exact itinerary in detail. Changes are always possible due to safety aspects and are reserved for the guide.
Please make sure your equipment is in good working order and up to date. If your equipment does not meet the requirements of the tour, you are not entitled to participate and the guide may exclude you from participation!