Liechtenstein Hiking Inn-to-Inn Adventure

DAY 1: MAIENFELD, AUSTRIA > BALZERS, LIECHTENSTEIN

We meet in the mid-morning in the small village of Maienfeld in Switzerland for introductions and an overview of our tour. Maienfeld is easily reachable via train from Zurich in just over an hour or you can stay in nearby Bad Ragaz the night before. Our walk begins from Maienfeld and the first highlight en route is only two kilometers in: Heididorf, the actual village where Johanna Spyri wrote the book Heidi. The walk continues on a long gradual uphill for another 2.5 kilometers and then is downhill to our destination of Balzers. Because our hotel in Balzers permanently closed, we will shuttle to the next town of Triesen and back the next morning, allowing us to spend two nights in one hotel.  Hiking Distance: 12 Kilometers (7.5 Miles)

DAY 2: BALZERS > TRIESEN

After breakfast we begin our hike, leaving Balzers for Triesen. We start out with a steep but short incline up to and down from the Gutenberg Castle. The castle is still intact and we can wander into the courtyard; it's first recorded mention is from the year 1296.The walk then continues along what is an old Roman road and stays mostly flat with a few ups and downs. Lunch is on your own in the town of Triesen, from where you can catch a bus to shorten the walk. After lunch the hike continues uphill to St Mamerten Chapel, an excellent place to stop and admire the view. After time for a shower and short rest, we'll have two treats for you. First we will have an optional guided tour of the Walser Museum, featuring local customs and traditional village life of the Walser people, from the Wallis (or Valais) region. Then we will do a private tasting of Wicca spirits made from local herbs. Dinner tonight is a short walk away at Restaurant Kainer.  Hiking Distance: 15.4 Kilometers (9.6 Miles)

DAY 3: TRIESEN > VADUZ

Today is a shorter hike because we end in the capital city of Vaduz, which is a great place to enjoy some free time. Our route starts by leading us past a glacial erratic - a large boulder deposited here in the last ice age - and uphill to the village of Prufatscheng, which has excellent views over the valley. We then head downhill, sharply at times, past the ruins of Schalun Castle, perched above the city of Vaduz. We'll then pass the still-inhabited Vaduz Castle and continue on into the town center. You can choose to add an extra three kilometers by walking down to the Rhine River and the pedestrian bridge Alte Rheinbrücke and back. We'll also take a walk to the Hofkellerei Liechtenstein, the winery owned by the royal family, for a tasting. Dinner tonight is at Altenbach. Hiking Distance: 8.5 or 11.5 Kilometers (5.3 or 7.1 miles)

DAY 4: VADUZ > NENDELN

Today we pass through two small towns. The first hiking stage takes us about five kilometers past the University of Liechtenstein and into the village of Schaan, which is known for its ruins of an old Roman fort. The town of Schaan, with its population of under 5,000 people, has half a dozen restaurants and is a good spot to stop for lunch. You can also shorten today's route by catching a bus to Schaan (cutting off cutting off 4.9 kilomters) or a bus from here to our hotel in Nendeln (cutting off 7.6 kilometers). After lunch we continue on our hike, mostly uphill to the St Elisabeth nunnery and then continuing uphill Planken, Liechtenstein's smallest municipality with a population of 473. Planken has a beautiful view of the valley below and the Three Sisters mountains above. We then drop sharply downhill on a mountain path into the town of Nendlen, which has both an ancient Roman estate and a ceramics factory you can visit. Our hotel tonight is called the Weinstube, translated as a "wine tavern", and so of course we'll eat dinner in the hotel's restaurant!  Hiking Distance: 12.5 Kilometers (7.8 Miles) with shorter options available

DAY 5: NENDELN > FELDKIRCH

Today we hike from Nendeln in Liechtenstein to Feldkirch in Austria. Our route starts out flat and then takes us sharply uphill to Schellenberg, which is famous for its Obere Berg, a ruined castle that is kept well preserved and which we can visit. We then head downhill and across a flat stretch into the city of Feldkirch, which is a fantastic small city on a river with a classic central historical core. The entire walk is 11 kilometers and we plan this day to start early so you can end up for lunch on your own in Feldkirch. In the afternoon you can visit the Schattenburg Castle & Museum or the SchokoMus chocolatier and patteserie. Those wishing to shorten the route can start with a bus to Schellenberg. Dinner tonight is at the nearby Wirtschaft zum Schutzenhaus, a delicious restaurant with an outdoor dining area serving Austrian cuisine.  Hiking Distance: 11 Kilometers or 6.8 Miles

DAY 6: FELDKIRCH LOOP

On our final morning, we'll enjoy an Austrian breakfast in the hotel and then depart on a short Stadtschrofen Feldkirchen loop hike. This takes us past the old town, across a river, through a forest and up to a viewpoint above town. We'll complete the loop via a different route back to our hotel. You'll have time to shower before checking out. It is then on to our separate ways. Feldkirch has excellent train connections, including a one hour and 40 minute trip back to Zurich if you are heading there.  Hiking Distance: 4 Kilometers (2.5 Miles)