Via Francigena Camino Switzerland – Lausanne to Colle Gran San Bernardo – 9 days

DISTANCE - AVERAGE

Distance training is a major consideration in your overall training program. As you progress, incorporate longer walks into your training plan. Schedule one or two long walks each week, gradually increasing the distance until you can comfortably cover 17-26 km in a single day. Additionally, also include back-to-back walks to simulate walking on consecutive days. This helps your body adapt to the demands of walking for multiple days in a row. Take every opportunity you can to walk. If you have a fitness watch or phone, you should try to reach >15,000 steps every day. Ensure you can comfortably walk the average distance per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

ELEVATION - ABOVE AVERAGE

Elevation training is a major consideration in your overall training program. You must include walks with serious hill climbs. If you do not have access to hills, it it essential to replicate the elevation level you will be undertaking in any way possible via a treadmill or stair climber. Prioritising resistance training assumes heightened significance in this context, emphasising the incorporation of stair climbing whenever feasible. Walking up and down stairs at work, at a local oval with a grandstand, or up and down small hills, boring as that sounds, is incredibly useful. Elevation is the chief walk killer, not distance, as it uses an entirely different set of muscles. If high altitude is a factor, incorporate sessions at a higher altitude to acclimatise your body to reduced oxygen levels ( this may not be possible). Ensure you can comfortably walk the average elevation per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

TERRAIN - FLAT / MOUNTAINOUS

FLAT TERRAIN :
Training for walking on flat, hard terrain primarily focuses on building endurance and ensuring you can maintain a comfortable pace. Start with regular walks on sidewalks, roads, or paved paths to acclimate to the surface. Maintain a proper posture and engage your core muscles to support your back and maintain a steady gait. Ensure that you have comfortable, supportive footwear with adequate cushioning. If endurance is important, consider incorporating low-impact cross-training activities like swimming or cycling into your routine.

MOUNTAINOUS / UNDULATING TERRAIN

As terrain associated with Mountain climbs is often somewhat uneven and or rocky balancing and core exercises are vital. Try to also include some form of elevation in more than 50% of your walking and prioritise resistance training, whilst incorporating stairs anytime you can. Walking up mountains or hills or up and down stairs at work, at a local oval with a grandstand or up and down small hills, boring as that sounds, is incredibly useful. Elevation is often the chief walk killer, not distance, as it uses an entirely different set of muscles. So concentrate on doing lots of squats and lunges to build your glute muscles.

HOW TO GET THERE AND AWAY

Arriving:

By Plane

The closest international airports to Lausanne is Geneva Airport. From here, you can take a 45 minute train to  Lausanne.

Getting Away:

By Plane from Sion Airport

Colle Gran San Bernardo doesn’t have a train station. At the end of the trip, you can take a bus from Colle Gran Bernard to Martigny then take an approximately 20 minute train to Sion Airport.

By Train:

Alternatively, you can take a bus to Martigny then take a train to your onwards destination.

LUGGAGE TRANSFERS

Luggage transfer is included in your package and is normally provided by the accommodation itself.
Please clearly mark all your belongings with your name and put a small note with the name of the next accommodation in order to indicate where the bags should go next (check your accommodation list). Also ask the accommodation owner where the bags should be left in the morning. Labelling your belongings prevents mix ups, delays and loss.
Bags should be ready and at the reception or store room by 9:00 hrs.
If you are unable to walk, you can always ask, if the luggage transporter can take you with him when transporting your baggage, but this is not always possible and sometimes you have to pay a small fee locally. In some countries there are special insurances for transporting peoples and sometimes the car is not suited for transporting persons.
When you travel with public transport you always take your luggage with you unless specified differently.

AVAILABILITY

We offer this walk everyday from April to October, as it can get quite cold in the depths of winter, and many accommodations close their doors as well at this time.

INSURANCE

We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.

You must have purchased travel insurance for all trips requiring international travel, including medical evacuation coverage.

We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred by our suppliers and in the office.  See the FAQ section for more information.

INFORMATION PACK

For over 30 years, we have taken pride in providing seamlessly organised walking holidays, but we know you’ll have many more questions even with that in mind. You will receive a detailed information pack and itinerary approximately six weeks before departure outlining all the fine details and much more.

CONTACT

If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants, or if you have specific track-related questions if we can’t answer them, we can also ask our staff who have walked the track. You can contact us via our contact form, email us at info@auswalk.com.au, or call us on +61 3 9597 9767.

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