Carnic Peace Trail Via Alpina

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The Via Alpina is a network of trails traversing the Alps all the way from Trieste on the Adriatic to Monaco on the Mediterranean. It was established in 2005 to create a single cohesive route out of the countless existing trans-Alpine paths. The main artery, known as the Red Trail, is some 2400 km (1500 mi) long, broken down into 161 manageable stages as itt weaves its way back and forth across the borders of all the Alpine countries. 

 

The summit trail along ridge of the Carnic Alps in eastern Austria has been integrated into the Red Trail. It was the front-line between the Austrians and Italians in World War I and, in the 1970s the supply paths used by the troops were linked up and given the symbolic name of the "Carnic Peace Trail" in remembrance of the devastating loss of life here - as many soldiers died from freezing weather conditions as were killed by the enemy. Easily as beautiful as anywhere else in the Alps, the Carnic Peace Trail is one of the less touristy sections of the Via Alpina. 

 

You enter a timeless country of traditional villages and flower-strewn pastures, make hair-raising 750m (2500 ft) ascents and scramble across the valleys, wash in sparkling mountain water and wake each morning in a different mountain hut but to the same inevitable tinkling of cowbells and chorus of moos. A hike through the Austrian Alps really is the perfect way of getting away from it all - walking through some of the world's most beautiful scenery, spending the night in the shelter of spartan but adequate mountain huts, and living on th staple alpine diet of cured ham and un-pasteurised cheese, you cannot fail to be satisfied.

 

HOW

On foot

WHEN TO GO

June to September

TIME IT TAKES

A week (four months for the whole Via Alpina)

HIGHLIGHTS

Lienz - beautiful historic town.

Traces of trenches, battery positions and bivouacs rom World War I.

Medieval villages.

Outstanding natural scenery.

YOU SHOULD KNOW

The Carnic Peace Path is not technically difficult and requires no climbing equipment, merely sure-footedness and a good level of fitness. In July and August you will be hard to put to find yourself walking completely alone. Hordes of trekkers flock to the Alps at this time of year.

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Bangkok Sky Train

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The Skytrain has changed the face of travel in Bangkok. It used to be a nightmare of a city where one could easily spend two hours travelling a distance of about 5 km (3 mi) because the weight of traffic was bringing the whole place to a grinding halt. All this changed on 5 December 1999, King Bhumibol's birthday, when the Skytrain opened. Approached by stairs and escalators, the ultra-modern elevated stations are airy, spacious, clean and safe. The platforms are marked to show where the carriage doors will open and, at rush hour, passengers queue up behind one another at these entry points, rather than filling the whole space. Inside there is plenty of sitting and standing room, and air-conditioning ensures a pleasant temperatures even when it is sweltering outside.

 

After a slow start, the Skytrain has really taken off, carrying passengers throughout the day, from 6.00 am to midnight. Apart from the miracle of being able to get around speedly, the train is fun to be on. Passengers get a fascinating, bird's eye view of the city. Not only is one amazed by the vast quantity of skyscrappers, a symphony of chrome, steel, glass and concrete but, in amongst the hyper-modernity are glimpses of ancient temples, their sweeping roofs glittering red and gold in the sunlight, housing stock that varies from villas with flower-decked gardens to slums whose grimy windows are cheek by jowl with the track, advertising hoardings, monuments, traffic circulating and Thais going about their business.

 

Several of the stations are linked to "skywalks", elevated walkways leading to nearby shopping malls and other amenities such as the National Stadium, the Chao Phraya River and the wonderful Chatuchak Weekend Market. The Skytrain, due to be extended, will eventually cross the river to Thonburi, and run out to Bangkok's new airport.

 

HOW

By train

WHEN TO GO

All year round, but best between October and April.

TIME IT TAKES

About one hour from end to end.

HIGHLIGHTS

The views over Bangkok from the elevated trains.

The welcome respite of the heat.

Nipping up to Mo Chit station on the Sukhumvit line to visit Chatuchak Weekend Market.

Saphan Taksin Station where you can join an express boat and take a trip on the river.

Siam station, where you can change lines or jump out and walk to one of the many shopping malls for some retails therapy.

YOU SHOULD KNOW

Bangkok now has a super modern metro that covers different areas to the Skytrain. There are currently three interchanges with Skytrain, and the metro does go to Hua Lamphong, the metro does go to Hua Lamphong, the main train station.

Hotels in Bangkok