The European E5 long-distance hiking trail extends from the Atlantic coast in France across the Alps all the way down to Venice. The Alpine crossing is a highlight of the entire trail and has been named the King’s Segment. It is a truly epic trek for seasoned and fit hikers that are not afraid of heights.
The King's Segment goes from the Braunschweiger Hut to the Ötztal valley and across the Timmelsjoch pass to Moos in Passeier in Italy. It can be hiked in two or three days. The Ötztal part of the trail takes you through high Alpine terrain with spectacular views of glaciers and majestic peaks, followed by the impressive stone landscapes of the Timmeltal valley. After crossing the Timmelsjoch pass, you wander down along the valleys, waterfalls and mountain brooks of the beautiful Passeiertal valley as the landscape becomes gentler and wider.
Since September 2018, the individual starting points for the E5 have been equipped with special stone steles offering orientation and information. Along the trail, “boundary stones” with inspiring quotes encourage you to also let your mind wander and reflect on the topic of boundaries. At the Timmelsjoch border crossing, you can record your thoughts in a logbook.
These recent trail enhancements were made in conjunction with an Austro-Italian cross-border project conducted by the municipality of Moos in Passeier and Ötztal Tourismus. The project was funded by the European Regional Development Fund Interreg V-A Italy-Austria 2014-2020.