- I'm Eric Hanson, and this week on Epic Trails, I'm exploring the ALP region of Lichtenstein and Engelberg Switzerland.

- So you're ready to hike around Lichtenstein, and I hope you brought your passport.

- Switzerland.

Lichtenstein.

Switzerland.

Lichtenstein - Liechtenstein is what I call Paradise, nestled in the Alps and we deliver princely moments and beautiful nature.

Booksey, I'm coming.

Come on.

Woo-hoo.

- It's gonna be beautiful, - Fun stuff up here.

There's a few places on the planet that just drop my jaw.

This is certainly one of them.

I am Eric Hansen.

When I see a trail, I see more than a path from point A to point B. A good trail is the ultimate opportunity to explore, to discover new landscapes, and to challenge myself.

When I don't have a pack on my back, I'm thinking about my next big adventure because my mission is simple.

My mission is to discover the world's most epic trails.

Epic Trails is made possible by the following Alaska by rail.

Passengers can travel the coasts and wilderness of Alaska with baggage, service, meals, and wheelchair access.

Information available at AlaskaRailroad.com Collette offers small group exploration tours, destinations and local experiences.

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So I flew into Switzerland and then driving into Lichtenstein.

My first impression of Lichtenstein is, are we there?

There's no like border, there's no pomp of like arriving to Lichtenstein.

You just, all of a sudden you look around and you're like, oh, I'm in Lichtenstein.

It is the fourth smallest country in Europe, but it packs in so much history and nature and really amazing stuff into a small landscape.

So this week I am exploring on the Lichtenstein Trail.

It's a 75 kilometer trail that links in the mountains, the valleys, the villages, and the history of this place into one trail experience.

- My name is Marco Buechel.

Everybody calls me Booksy.

I'm a Lichtenstein native, and I used to be a professional skier, and now I am a Goodwill ambassador for the country of Lichtenstein.

It's one of the things I love to do, and since I call this my home, I'm, I'm happy to take people along, show them a little bit about Lichtenstein in the country.

- Pleasure to meet you.

- Pleasure.

- And I'm very excited for this adventure.

And already we can see deep into the heart of the country.

- Yes.

- And see this castle that's perched up on a hill.

- This is one of the first stops.

Unless you are not weatherproof, then we'll stop at a restaurant.

Other than that, that's the first stop.

- Shall we begin?

- Yes, I think we should.

All right, let's go.

The first steps in our journey start now.

- Yes.

- The concept of the Liechtenstein Trail is pretty interesting.

It's sort of an urban trail, but it connects it with natural points and the mountains as well as a very much a modern life.

And I've truly found it fascinating the way it really intertwines life here.

- Welcome to the Castle Gutenberg.

- This is a beautiful place.

- It is.

Spend much time up here when I was young.

Trying to sneak in.

Yes.

- Yeah?

Did you have some successful sneak in attempts?

- No.

No.

I always had the imagination.

There's gold in there and I want to see it and find it.

- There's gotta be gold in here.

So Marco and I have been hiking for a few hours now, and it's really such a cool way to just get initiated here into the country.

It feels woody and natural and beautiful hiking through these villages with beautiful architecture and wood sided buildings.

This feels so iconic and beautiful, and just has this smell and this sense of being here in aliveness that I just truly love.

So I'm loving my chance to be to chat with Marco along the trail.

And my goodness, just look at this.

This is stunning.

While Liechtenstein is tiny, at only 62 square miles, there is plenty to learn, do and see.

For any history buffs, the National Museum is absolutely worth seeing where unique royal treasures are on display.

Not only is the Prince of Liechtenstein, the governmental leader, he's also a business leader.

Of his many businesses.

Perhaps my favorite is the Princely Winery.

Needing a first hand experience, I head to the Princely Wine cellar to tour the vineyards, and most importantly, sample the product.

This is my first taste of Lichtenstein wine.

- Okay.

- And that's quite good.

- Perfect.

- So thank you so much.

So I'm just setting off for one of the most classic hikes in all of Liechtenstein, and that is the (speaking foreign language).

There's a route that goes up high up into the rocks overlooking all the valley.

And I keep hearing how much this route means to the people here.

Oh, yeah.

Leaving the trees behind.

And immediately it's got these big exposures.

The trail is so unique, it's just this sinuous trail that snakes along these cliff edges, massive dropoffs below.

It seems like the mountainside is almost collapsed, where a lot of this rock is just exposed.

And this trail is just this scar of a mountain.

This is a very impressive trail, just clinging to the cliff side.

I'm looking ahead, seeing places where it looks like I'd be better off being a mountain goat up here.

Honestly, this hiking trail blew my mind.

I had no idea that there was anything this incredible here and hiking through this sinuous trail that just hugs the mountain with all this air and space below me.

Pretty intimidating, but truly thrilling.

And being up here, being in this space, watching the sun go down is an experience I'll never forget.

- Not all hiking trails are the same.

And so for something a little bit more eerie, I meet up with local historian and tail spinner to hike the Trail of Legends.

- The legend says people are dead, and sometimes they are in the night walking in the road.

They are praying.

It's like a precision, you know?

Some people, and always the last person in this procession is the person who will, who will die is next.

- Oh really?

- Yeah.

- Who?

So I don't want to be last.

Yeah.

(both laughing) Oh my.

See?

- Yeah.

Be bit of the night.

He's the last one.

- Don't be the last one.

Can I take pictures of them or will they come haunt me if I take their photo?

(guide laughs) (camera shutters) - He was already moving.

He will haunt you.

(laughs) - He's moving.

I don't wanna be last.

- So I'm in the Triesenberg area of Liechtenstein, and I've met up with Leander.

He's kind of a local historian and keeps up with all the legends and tales of the area.

He's telling me lots of stories about all of the legends, all of the ghosts, you know, some of the spooky side of things, as well as just the actual history of the trail.

And it's really fascinating time to have a deeper understanding of this trail.

And obviously this place, this country, and its roots here in the center of Europe.

So I've been hiking through the higher country and now actually working my way back down and getting closer to Vaduz, which is the capital city, and just came across this viewing platform.

Pretty incredible here.

I'm feeling pretty lucky today.

(alphorn blows) Most people get to learn new instruments in relative private, but when the instrument is the famous alphorn, you have to shout it from the mountaintops.

(alphorn blows) Oh, that was beautiful.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

Now I'm gonna sound like a dying elephant.

- Yeah.

Okay.

(both laughs) (Eric blows horn weakly) - So bad.

So bad.

(blows horn weakly) I feel like I'm learning an instrument in front of the entire country of Liechtenstein.

- Yeah, that's right.

- Because they can all hear, it's projecting so much.

- Especially over the borders to the other side.

- Even Switzerland is listening in.

- Around the corner.

- No pressure.

Two countries are listening to me play right now.

- Maybe around the corner you hear maybe also the Austria hear you.

- Oh, three countries now are listening?

Oh, no pressure whatsoever.

(Eric blows alphorn) - You got it.

- I got something.

I got noise.

I got noise.

(alphorn blows) Good to see you again.

- Likewise.

My pleasure.

You missed us for a day.

But yeah.

- I heard you were well behaved.

- Well, I tried to be like a good Swiss person.

And just be very, very controlled.

- I heard you played the alphorn.

- I did.

- Nice.

- It sounded wonderful.

- I know, I know.

I heard it down there in the valley.

I heard it.

Yes.

- People definitely confused me for an elephant, I think.

Yeah.

Today we're going for a hike.

We're gonna start by jumping on this chairlift, the ski lift.

In the summertime, we're gonna be going up one of these ridges and then hiking all along this amazing ridge line to one of the peaks here.

So it's gonna be a fantastic opportunity to see all of Liechtenstein, as well as some of Switzerland, and maybe even Austria and beyond.

Who knows?

I mean, this is such a jam packed area.

Beautiful, beautiful area.

And I'm excited to see what today has to offer.

So atmospheric and beautiful up here.

- Yeah.

Clouds passing by.

- So Booksey and I are making our way up this spine here of the mountains.

Got Austria on one side, Liechtenstein on the other, and across the valley over there is Switzerland.

We're gonna continue on up this ridge head for one of the peaks that's currently obscured in the clouds.

- I felt sorry that the mountains were covered in the clouds, but Eric was all excited because, oh, look at that.

It looks a lot better when the clouds are moving in then pass by.

And well, it was interesting, but I showed him one of one or two peaks.

I explained to him where I skied during the wintertime, and I think he appreciated it.

- Good job today.

- Likewise.

- Woo.

- Wanna go for lunch?

- Yeah.

- Okay.

- Sounds good.

Honestly, I really had no idea that Liechtenstein had dramatic mountains like this.

So I am learning something here, and my eyes are totally open to this new and beautiful landscape, and I'm really, really drawn in by this place.

It feels deeply moving and and powerful up here.

I love it.

- Booksey, I'm coming.

- Come on.

- Woo hoo!

(pleasant music) - The town of Engelberg is this really cool small city that actually feels like a quaint mountain village.

It's got a lot of vibe, it's got a lot of beautiful atmosphere.

It's set in one of the most beautiful mountain valleys you could ask for.

It's such a beautiful city, and I just love it here.

(pleasant music) So getting out and departing from Engelberg, I set off for (speaking foreign language).

There's a few places on the planet that just drop my jaw and are just incredible.

This is certainly one of them.

This is truly next level epic.

(pleasant music) One of the many perks of hiking here in Switzerland is the places to stay.

So tonight I'm not tent camping.

I've got a little bit of a more luxury accommodation.

It's actually a home stay, kind of like a hostel with a family, an actual farm family that lives up here and maintains this beautiful building.

So tonight I'm gonna be treated well.

And of course there's a pretty spectacular view.

(cheerful music) So I am participating in a little bit of the authentic farm life here in Switzerland.

So Rudy here is about to go get the cows and bring a bunch of milk in and, well, I don't even really know what I'm getting into, but it's looking pretty cool.

We're gonna go have a little adventure.

(cheerful music) You guys want to keep going?

You know the, the cows, I think they know authority and I, I don't have it out here.

Oh, wrong way.

Hey.

Whoa.

Go that way.

Come on, let's go that way.

Whoa, whoa.

I ain't food.

Come on.

Let's go.

Come on!

I don't speak cow.

Yeah, they, they listened to Ruedi and his son, but I, I did my best.

Hello.

(cow bells ring) So Ruedi here is just beginning to milk the first cow, and they've got 17 milk producing cows right now, three pregnant cows, and they're gonna make about 200 liters of milk per day here at this farm.

It's kind of a wild process to see.

(cheerful music) Something that happens out here on a daily basis that I find to be quite beautiful is the tradition of the Alp blessing.

At Sundown Sepp, the most elderly figure here of the farm, every time at sundown he gives the Alp blessing.

He takes out this big wooden amplifier, if you will, and sings his nightly benediction, his blessing, his appreciation for nature, for the cows, for the way that the day has gone, and to give a blessing to all of these things, the people, his neighbors.

And I found it to be touching and endearing and truly beautiful.

(Sepp singing foreign language) (cheerful music) - Well, I'm leaving behind my home stay and heading on to where they will deliver the milk, and we're gonna go make some cheese.

This little local cheesery makes some really amazing cheese.

And of course, it wouldn't be an authentic experience without getting my hands in the milk.

It's pumping the cheese all the way over here.

- Yes.

- One thing that surprised me about the cheese making process was actually how quick and efficient this whole process is.

It actually goes from milk to a product that is aging in a cellar in about two hours.

(machines whir) This is fun.

It was really actually quite exciting and interesting to see the process from start to finish.

Tonight I get another special treat, gonna continue hiking up to an area known as Trubsee and gonna be staying at a really sweet spot, just totally nestled into these rugged and gorgeous mountains up here.

So I'm staying at this lodge that's up in the mountains, and it's right at the base of Trubsee Lake.

And it is this beautiful glacier colored lake, and I really wanted to get out and experience the lake.

So I met up with Kili who's a local guide here, and he volunteered to take me for a little kayak cruise as it was perfectly still and calm, to really get a chance to see the mountains and to experience this from the water.

(cheerful music) No trip to Engelberg would be complete without going to the top of Titlis.

It is a huge, beautiful mountain, and there's all these gondolas that are also making their way up.

And if you're coming here in the wintertime, it's one of the best areas to ski from.

As soon as I make it to the actual top, I'm standing and just overlooking a vast sea of mountains in beautiful morning light.

So this is pretty cool.

We're on top of Titlis Mountain, and you actually can hike under the glacier here.

They've carved out this little tunnel and made it very accessible for lots of people.

So if you've never had a chance to actually be in an ice cave, well this is a pretty easy and beautiful one to see.

You're literally under the glacier right now.

As I am staying here in Engelberg, you, I'm looking up at these toothy, gnarly mountains.

And of course some of these peaks are calling my name.

So I get up bright and early to make my way up the mountain, because today I'm going for a Via Ferrata adventure.

- So yeah, we are at the beginning of the, the climb.

- It starts now.

- Yeah.

- Alright.

- We have it.

The ridge ahead of us starts pretty easy.

- Yeah.

- And after that it steepens up.

- Sounds cool.

- Yeah.

- I'm excited.

- Let's go.

- Let's go.

- I've done some Via Ferratas before, so I'm feeling pretty comfortable.

But as I get up there and actually see the route that Tobias is taking me on, well, not gonna lie.

There was a little bit of anxiety that starts to set in thinking about actually climbing some of these almost more than vertical, leaning back rock faces.

(cheerful music) Look at this place.

This is insane.

(energetic music) - Good job.

Nice work.

- Well done.

- Pretty incredible experience up here, getting to climb one of the summits with Tobias.

I love getting to be able to be on these places with exposure.

Kind of a mix of rock climbing and the Via Ferrata aspect gives you that sense of safety, but it's it's serious business.

And to overlook the Alps here, to be up here in the morning, to have a quiet place of solitude, truly an amazing experience.

So being here in Switzerland has been remarkable.

I've had such an amazing time here.

And yeah, I'm deeply thankful for all the people I've gotten to meet the cultural experiences.

The food here has been insane.

And of course, a fitting end is here on a mountaintop.

(energetic music) Epic Trails is made possible by the following Alaska by rail.

Passengers can travel the coasts and wilderness of Alaska with baggage, service, meals, and wheelchair access.

Information available at AlaskaRailroad.com Collette offers small group exploration tours, destinations and local experiences.

Explorations by Collette.

Guided travel since 1918.

Vivid-Pix memory station and software allows users to scan personal history items like photos and documents, record voice narrative, and share what has been conserved.

More online at Vivid-pix.com.

Host- Additonal support provided by these sponsors ♪ upbeat music (calm music)