European Peace Walk - Confused about starting point

[amancio]

Hi, I have been reading information about this very interesting walk, but I am confused. Does it start in Vienna, or does it start only in Sopron, Hungary? Do you get to walk in Austria at all?

 

[edandjoan]

I think the first year or two it started in Vienna and this year it starts in Sapron. We plan to do this walk. We need to sign up and we are looking at the late July start. I know it will be hot, but with other obligations it is what works. We plan to arrive a few days early and visit Budapest and Bratislava and using Vienna as our base until we bus/train to Sapron. I have looked into walking to Sapron. Time will dictate how that works out.

 

[amancio]

I think I understand it a bit better now, thanks! If I do it, beginning of June, I would be flying to Bratislava, I guess, better combinations for me

 

[Jmmmpr]

I will be starting the EPW on June 3rd. You do need to register - only 10 people per day start in Sopron. Also, you can get more questions answered by joining the EPW Facebook (closed or private) page. Good luck with all of this.

 

[edandjoan]

Not on Facebook or other social media. I understand once we register we will receive more information.

 

[Kitsambler]

Not on Facebook or other social media. I understand once we register we will receive more information.

That's fine - but you must register to be able to walk. This route is still very much in the "start-up" mode; the organizers negotiate the lodgings each night, and there are limited dates for start. This is entirely unlike the other more established routes, where you can sleep where you like, eat where you like, and accompany whom you like. (One can change groups, by "sliding back" to join the group behind, or "sliding forward" to join the group ahead.) It is entirely possible that you will not be able to start the date you are anticipating, because the group that date is too small/to large/date is not available. In other words, if you are planning the EPW this year, now is not too soon to register.
The other new wrinkle in the picture is the refugee/immigrant situation. Be alert to changes in Hungarian border controls.

 

[kelleymac]

My niece walked the Peace Walk a few years ago and had a wonderful time.

 

[efdoucette]

Is this a trail that you can walk independantly? Is it way marked?

 

[Minou]

Is this a trail that you can walk independantly? Is it way marked?

I walked the EPW in 2016. it is marked with spray painted arrows which can be located on pavement, fence posts, trees , etc. Do not advise to walk alone. Long days in remote areas. You also will get an instruction manual emailed to you once you register which helps you find you way. No problems in crossing borders. A wonderful experience. Check out the Facebook page. The best resource in planning.

 

[kaixo]

Can you expand on your recommendation to "not walk alone".
I am a solitary walker who would like to do the EPW by myself.
Of course I enjoy meeting people and spending time with other walkers but I will set out on my own and plan to enjoy some solitude.
What are you thoughts?

 

[edandjoan]

Can you expand on your recommendation to "not walk alone".
I am a solitary walker who would like to do the EPW by myself.
Of course I enjoy meeting people and spending time with other walkers but I will set out on my own and plan to enjoy some solitude.
What are you thoughts?

I can..the first day my husband and I walked about 25 k. We did fine. Two ladies arrived around 5 hours after us after having walked for over 10 hours. They left Sopron before us, we never saw them, they got lost, more than once. They walked with us the next day and as we talked we missed a turn, but my husband got us back on track without backtracking. After another day, they said they could do it. My husband and I walk faster and so after a couple hours we went on and after they got lost arrived several hour later. They remained with us until one took a day off and the other stayed with us to the finish. Once after having cut our way through an uphill goat track we come to a place and the cue sheet says...find a way up the mountain. We take out a compass to figure out which way we should go up the mountain. You can walk alone, just make sure you have a compass, a days worth of food and a map, perhaps online. We used maps.me which can be used off line once area is downloaded. We didn't have a working phone.

 

[kaixo]

Thank you for your suggestions.
I don't travel with a working phone either so I appreciate your advice.
Enjoying your blog.
What were your approximate daily expenses?

 

[edandjoan]

Thank you for your suggestions.
I don't travel with a working phone either so I appreciate your advice.
Enjoying your blog.
What were your approximate daily expenses?

Sorry can't help. First we used 3 different currencies. Then the prices in PDF were incorrect and food was all over the place. Some cheap, often hard to find a market.