Across the Eastern Alps: E5

From Lake Constance in Germany, this guidebook describes walking the E5 trek that runs 600km in 30 days through a remarkable kaleidoscope of landscapes and culture in Switzerland, Austria and Italy, to its destination at Verona. It traverses the Allgauer, Lechtaler and Ötztaler Alps. Passes as high as 2900m above sea level are crossed en route to the northern Italian city of Bolzano. Gentler gradients follow as the E5 bears south parallel to the mighty Adige river through the Lagorai, Pasubio and Lessini groups finally arriving at Verona, romantic city par excellence. A well-organised network of alpine refuges and cosy guesthouses welcome walkers along the route, and convenient transport links make it possible to join or leave the trek at virtually every stage to fit in with individual holiday needs. The route, which can easily be split into smaller stages, also visits spectacular geological sites and First World War remains.