The Best Adventure Anniversary Hiking The Liechtenstein Trail

Your informative guide to the Liechtenstein Trail, a multi-day hike across the Principality of Liechtenstein. And why choosing adventures and experiences to celebrate special dates and events is a good idea.

Choosing Adventures and Experiences to Celebrate Special Dates and Events

As a couple, we choose to celebrate special dates and events with adventures and experiences over material or physical gifts. Here are some of the reasons you can consider choosing experiences to celebrate yourself and loved ones, anniversaries, and birthdays:

• Bonding and Shared Memories: When you embark on adventurous activities for your anniversary, you're creating lasting memories that you can both cherish and reflect upon in the future. Sharing new experiences helps deepen your connection and understanding of each other.

• Novelty and Excitement: Breaking away from traditional celebrations and opting for travel and attraction experiences adds a sense of novelty and excitement to your special date. It brings an element of surprise and anticipation, making the occasion even more extraordinary and memorable. Adding a sense of adventure to your relationship keeps things exciting and there's always something to look forward to together.

• Growth and Personal Development: Adventurous experiences often involve stepping out of your comfort zone and facing challenges. These experiences can nurture personal growth and development, both individually and as a couple. Overcoming obstacles and expanding your comfort zone can boost your confidence, resilience, and problem-solving skills. It can also help you learn more about yourself and your partner.

• Connection with Nature: Naturally, choosing outdoor adventures to celebrate provides an opportunity to connect with nature. You are in a shared scenic space that reduces stress, improves mood, and increases overall well-being. It allows you to appreciate the beauty of the natural world and escape from the daily hustle and bustle.

• Creating Unique Traditions: Choosing to celebrate your birthday or anniversary with travels or adventures can establish unique traditions that set your relationship apart. By doing something out of the ordinary, you're creating a special tradition that you can continue in the years to come. It adds a sense of anticipation and excitement each time your birthday or anniversary approaches.

• Breaking Societal Norms: Going against societal expectations and celebrating in your own unique way can be liberating and empowering. It challenges conventional notions of anniversary celebrations and allows you to express your individuality as a couple.

The goal of choosing adventures and experiences to celebrate special dates and events is to create meaningful and memorable experiences that reflect your relationship and celebrate the love you share. That could look like an exhilarating hike, retreating to a cabin in the woods, spending a long weekend on the lake, taking on adrenaline activities, exploring a new city, or island hopping.

“Why should a relationship mean settling down? Wait for someone who won’t let life escape you, who’ll challenge you and drive you towards your dreams. Someone spontaneous who you can get lost in the world with.” ~ Beau Taplin

Informative Guide to The Liechtenstein Trail

The Principality of Liechtenstein is nestled in the heart of Europe, between Switzerland and Austria. The country is the fourth smallest in Europe and the sixth smallest in the world.

The Liechtenstein Trail is a way to explore this beautifully picturesque country by hiking through the country. The trail is 75 km and invites you to learn about Liechtenstein’s cultural and economic history, present, and future.

The entry rules or visa requirements for Liechtenstein are the same as for Switzerland. Daniel has a European Passport, and I have a South African passport with a permanent residency in Europe. We did not require a visa with these passports and residency.

While the Liechtenstein Trail is generally considered suitable for hikers of moderate fitness levels, some sections may be more challenging than others. Hikers should be prepared for varying terrain and elevation changes. The Liechtenstein Trail is well-marked with signposts and trail markers, making it quite easy to follow.

The best time to hike the Liechtenstein Trail is during the summer months, typically from June to September, when the weather is most favourable for outdoor activities.

Organising The Liechtenstein Trail

The Liechtenstein Trail is a tourism initiative by the country, so you can contact the Liechtenstein tourism and marketing offices directly (email we used: info@liechtenstein.li).

When you give the dates of arrival and departure, the tourism office will organise an individual program for you and make the necessary reservations for you:

·       Hotel reservations

·       Daily packed lunches

·       Luggage transport service

·       Adventure Pass for tourist activities (including free use of public buses)

Your daily hiking kilometres are determined by the number of days you have available to hike. The fewer days you have, the further you need to hike each day. The more days you have, the less you need to hike each day. With the adventure pass, you also have the option to take the bus to a chosen spot and reduce the distance you're walking.

Note, you do not need to hike the full 75 km of this trail. You can also select specific routes to hike when you give your dates. Our dates were limited to 6 days and 5 nights at the beginning of August, and we wanted to hike the full trail.

There is an app you can download that has the route with unlockable information points (historical, economic, social), called "LIstory". We thoroughly enjoyed using the app and learning as we walked.

“And the purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Our Liechtenstein Trail Package: 6 Days and 5 Nights in August

We started in the south and walked north, with the reasoning that the north is closer to Germany and would the travel home shorter.

All breakfasts and packed lunches were included in the price. You will pay for dinners and any other snacks you purchase. You are walking through towns as well as mountains and forests, so there will be places to buy snacks and drinks should you need them.

Day 1: Arrival and Check-In

We arrived in Balzers by bus from Switzerland and checked into Hotel Hofbalzers. The hotel was easy to find, the room was comfortable, and the restaurant below served great pizzas. Depending on when you arrive, you may have time to explore the quiet and charming town. You could also walk some of the trail set for the next day.

Day 2: Hiking Day 1 - 23,5 km

Our goal was to walk from Balzers through Triesen and Treisenberg to Vaduz. After breakfast, we checked out, put the packed lunches received from the hotel into our day backpacks, left our name-tagged bags in the lobby, and headed out.

The day was spent walking up mountains, along mountainsides, and venturing back down mountains. It was a wickedly hot day, so we walked some of it with our kikois over our capped heads and shoulders. We checked into Hotel Giessen and took well-deserved showers before walking to the beer garden at the corner of the street.

Day 3: Hiking Day 2 – 17,9 km

Our goal today was to walk from Vaduz through Schaan and Planken to Nendeln. After breakfast, we did the same thing as the day before and headed out. We walked in the valley, along the icy blue river, and headed up the mountain through the forests, walked along the mountain, and then back down. We checked into Hotel Weinstube and ate dinner at the on-site restaurant.

Day 4: Hiking Day 3 – 14,5 km

Our goal today was to walk from Nendeln through Eschen and Bendern to Ruggell. After breakfast, we did the same thing as the day before and headed out. The weather had cooled so the hike was comfortable. We came across a structure that explained The Liechtenstein Trail was created to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Principality. This hike weaved through the towns, along the river, and across a natural-looking swimming pool. We checked into Hotel Kommod and enjoyed dinner across the road.

Day 5: Hiking Day 4 –19,6 km

Our goal today was to walk from Ruggell through Schellenberg to Mauren (14,3km). We walked through fields and forests, up into mountains with beautiful last overlooking views. On your programme, it said we could walk from Mauren to Schaanwald (another 5,3 km) and we did so. In Schaanwald we took the bus back to Bendern, where our hotel for the night was. We checked into Hotel b-smart and had our last dinner in Liechtenstein at their on-site restaurant.

Day 6: Check Out and Travel Home

We checked out and took the bus to Switzerland, to get onto the train and head back to Germany.

“What we find in a soulmate is not something wild to tame, but something wild to run with.” ~ Robert Brault

Recommendations and Notes for The Liechtenstein Trail

We highly recommend this hike. The Liechtenstein landscape is both wild and tame, calming and challenging, and simply exquisite.

The distance we walked each day was manageable because you have the entire day to reach your goal. We would add another day to lessen the distance on the first two days, giving you a week in the country.

If you are hiking in August (or other summer months) be sure to have sun protection, like suncream, sun hats, long-sleeve protection, and kikois.

Wear day packs to carry packed lunches, sun protection, and extra water bottles. There are drinking fountains and troughs along the trail.

The one time we had issues checking in was when we arrived at Hotel b-smart on our last day. It was a Sunday, so we needed to use the self-check-in machine, but the machine told us no reservation existed and the doors into the hotel were locked. We called the numbers on the machine, but no one answered. We called the tourism office using the numbers in the email signatures and the call was answered. The tourism agent tried to get through to the hotel and called us back with answers. I think we arrived around 2 pm, but check-in was only at 3 pm - our check-in would be locked until then. A hotel employee finally came to the front doors, and we could wait in the lobby until check-in. The tourism agent was wonderful, and it showed us they are on hand if you need assistance (even on Sundays, which is a big thing in Europe).

Have Adventure Anniversaries and Experience-filled Birthdays

Embrace living life on your terms and do things that excite you, enrich you, and are authentically you. Be courageous as you follow the path that brings you joy and fulfilment. Try new things, especially when it’s unexpected and a variation from the norm.

It is possible to have the best adventure living the life of your dreams, with the person of your dreams. There is something truly special about having a partner who is both home and an adventure at the same time – and for this, I will always be grateful.

“Here’s to all the places we went. And here’s to all the places we’ll go. And here’s to me, whispering again and again and again and again: I love you.” ~ John Green

Travel gives you the keys to a long-lasting relationship – patience, tolerance, effort, and communication. We hope this informative guide to the Liechtenstein Trail, a multi-day hike across the Principality of Liechtenstein, inspires you to visit and hike this small European country. And hopefully, you appreciate why choosing adventures and experiences to celebrate special dates and events is a good idea.

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