ALPE ADRIA TRAIL:
walking through wine country
5 days/4 nights 
73 km in 4 stages 
moderate/hard From Cividale to Gradisca d’Isonzo
Discover the Alpe Adria Trail, walking over the rolling hills of the Friulano and Slovenian Collio. This four-stage itinerary begins in Cividale del Friuli, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and takes you through two different countries. Along the way, you will explore a magical hilly landscape dotted with vineyards, cherry trees and ancient rural villages.
Alpe Adria Trail: hiking in the Garden of Eden
The Alpe Adria Trail is a long-distance, cross-border journey which passes through Austria, Slovenia and Italy. A spectacular trek which begins in the Alps and goes all the way to the sea, linking together three nations over a total of 43 successive walking stages and 750 km. Travellers walk from Carinzia (Austria) at the foot of the Grossglockner, pass through Slovenia and descend into the heart of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, through the Natisone Valleys and the Triestine Karst, all the way to Muggia on the Adriatic coast. It’s a journey that must be enjoyed at a slow pace, to allow us to get back to nature and lose ourselves in the pleasure of walking.
Route and details
Starting point
Cividale del Friuli
Finish location
Cividale del Friuli
Self-guided program
Day 1
Meals and accommodation
Highlights of the day
Arrival in Cividale del Friuli
Your adventure begins in Cividale del Friuli, where you will spend the first night. Founded in the Roman era by Julius Caesar, in 568 AD Cividale became the seat of Italy’s first Lombard duchy and then for a few centuries it was the residence of the Patriarchate of Aquileia. Today, it is regarded as one of most beautiful cities in the Friuli region, and its priceless historical and artistic treasures attained UNESCO World Heritage status in 2011. Take a stroll around the historic centre and discover the ancient Duomo, the museums, the medieval houses and the beautiful Lombard Temple – the most important expression of Lombard art in Italy. Finally, make sure that you enjoy a stroll over Diavolo bridge, the symbol of the city: suspended over the waters of the Natisone river and steeped in legend. Accommodation in Cividale del Friuli.
Day 2
Meals and accommodation
Daily hiking information
Highlights of the day
Cividale del Friuli – Golo Brdo
On the first stage of the trail, you will discover the “Western hills of Friuli”, a region well-known for its spectacular scenery, for its abundantly fertile soil and for its rich history and traditions. The route is unchallenging and very evocative, marked by a continuous series of rolling hills and sweeping terraces covered with grapevines of the highest quality. You can discover the local fruits of the earth by tasting a wide variety of both local and international wines, organised by one of the many local wine producers. After just over four hours of easy walking, you’ll reach Albana and Prepotto, two peaceful rural villages located on the Italian border with Slovenia. The trail then enters into Slovenian territory, namely the magical landscape of Brda. Accommodation in Golo Brdo or surrounding area.
Day 3
Meals and accommodation
Daily hiking information
Highlights of the day
Golo Brdo - Šmartno
Today’s stage winds its way through the Slovenian region of Goriška Brda, an idyllic wine region with a multitude of beautiful natural and cultural treasures. The route will take you over hills, through vineyards and orchards, passing by a number of villages immersed in green countryside. In the heart of the region you can find Dobrovo, where you can admire the beautiful Renaissance castle, which dates back to the year 1600. Along the way, it’s worth taking a short deviation to the Gonjače Lookout Tower, whose 144 steps lead up to a platform from which you can enjoy fabulous panoramic views. The walking stage finishes in the village of Šmartno, a picturesque town defended by ramparts and five small towers. Šmartno is considered to be a Slovenian national cultural monument, due to its rich architectural heritage. Accommodation in Šmartno or surrounding area.
Day 4
Meals and accommodation
Daily hiking information
Highlights of the day
Šmartno – Cormons
From the town of Šmartno, the trail continues its pleasant journey over the hills until it crosses once more into Italian territory, via the Plessiva pass. Along the way, you’ll pass by many vineyards and enjoy beautiful scenic views, especially from the highest hills from which you can see the peaks of the nearby Julian Alps, and glimpse the faraway Dolomites. Once back in Italy, a pleasant stretch of the route brings you to the Parco di Plessiva, a real oasis of peace in the midst of holm oaks and chestnuts. Next, Mt Quarin offers a fabulous observation point over the underlying valleys and the nearby town of Cormons. From the top of the 274-metre-high hill, a beautiful walk through the forest leads you to Cormons, the main population centre of Collio and the endpoint for today’s stage.
Day 5
Meals and accommodation
Daily hiking information
Highlights of the day
Cormons – Gradisca d’Isonzo – Cividale del Friuli
From the lovely Hapsburg city of Cormons, you will head up to the vineyards that overlook the romantic Spessa Castle, a historic manor house which in the past has played host to such famous characters as Giacomo Casanova. From here, you’ll walk along the magnificent Path of High Vineyards, a real natural jewel which offers splendid panoramic viewpoints over the Isontine plain all the way to the Karst. From here, the route takes you to the bucolic Preval plain, an oasis of peace which features a number of reflection pools. A series of easy ups and downs will take you to the hills of Farra d’Isonzo, beyond which you will be able to see the town of Gradisca, the endpoint of today’s trail. The historic centre of this village, rich in history and culture, is the end of your unforgettable wine country journey along the Alpe Adria Trail. The tour ends with a transfer to Cividale del Friuli.
What we love about this tour
Feel yourself at here and beyond the border
Walking through vineyards, castles and ancient villages
The fragrance of cherry-trees in bloom in spring time
Finish the stage with a good glass of local wine
Price per person
520,00 €
Group size
Minimum 2
Price includes
Accommodation in double room; scheduled meals (4 breakfasts and 1 dinner); Alpe Adria Trail guidebook; tourist taxes; transfer from Gradisca d’Isonzo to Cividale del Friuli the last day; helpline during the tour.
Price excludes
Travel to/from Cividale del Friuli; meals not mentioned above (4 lunches and 3 dinners); medical insurance; tips, expenses and personal extras; anything not expressly mentioned above.
Supplement for luggage transfer
240,00 € (price valid from 1 to 4 people) (1 item of luggage per person)
Supplements
→ Peak season (16.06 – 17.09) 90,00 € per person
→ Solo traveller: 130,00 €
Extra
→ Extra night in Cividale del Friuli on request
Information
Important information
→ An adequate physical condition is required to support 4,5 – 8 walking hours per day with sure footing; only recommended for children aged 12 and over.
→ Please disclose any food intolerances at the time of booking.
What to bring
Valid ID for crossing the border; backpack with rain cover; good hiking boots; water; sunscreen; anti-tick repellent; appropriate clothing (sun hat, cagoule, waterproof jacket, etc.), camera.
Mobility
This tour is not suitable for those with reduced mobility
Other self-guided trips
Alpe Adria Trail:
→ ALPE ADRIA TRAIL: the Three-Nation Loop
→ ALPE ADRIA TRAIL: Triglav National Park and the Soča Valley
→ ALPE ADRIA TRAIL: from the Karst paths to the sea
In Friuli Venezia Giulia:
→ CIRCULAR TRAIL OF FRIULIAN DOLOMITES
→ TRIESTE AND THE KARST REGION: Soft hiking in the borderlands
Juliana Trail:
→ JULIANA TRAIL: walk the path of lakes and traditions
→ Slow travel between Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj
Walk of Peace:
→ WALK OF PEACE: Kobarid and the mountain battles of the Isonzo Front
→ WALK OF PEACE: historical routes in the Gorizia region
Booking
30% of the total amount must be paid at the time of booking. The balance is due 30 days before departure. In the case of a reservation being made within 30 days of the departure date, payment of the full amount is required. Payment can be made by bank transfer or credit card.
Cancellation policy
In the case of cancellation by the client, the following fees will be applied:
→ 59 to 30 days prior to departure: 10% of the cost of the trip to cover the management costs
→ 29 to 15 days prior to departure: 50 % of the cost of the trip
→ 14 to 7 days prior to departure: 75 % of the cost of the trip
→ less than 6 days prior to departure: 100% of the cost of the trip
PHOTO: www.slovenia.info – arhiv ZTKMŠ Brda; Jošt Gantar; Boris Pretnar; Ernad Ihtijarević