National Geographic Traveller (UK)’s The Alps Summer 2024 guide is out now. Distributed free with the May issue of the magazine, this 100-page insert is packed full of tips and inspiration to plan your next warm-weather mountain getaway, whether you’re going to France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany or Slovenia. 

Europe’s most extensive mountain range is emerging as a summer destination. New and discounted rail links across Europe are making the Alps an attractive no-fly break. And due to unpredictable winter snowfall, especially at lower altitudes, local businesses and operators are expanding their year-round offering. 

Luckily, there’s no shortage of options. Our main story focuses on alternative and lesser-known ways to explore on foot. Some, like the trail linking the ‘farmers’ cableways’ of Engelberg, Switzerland, lead to corners rarely glimpsed by foreign visitors. Others, like the wellness hikes in Alpe di Siusi, Italy, offer a new look at a well-loved route. 

Angela Locatelli, editor of The Alps Summer 2024 , said: “I grew up in the north of Italy, with the Alps on my doorstep. Every summer, my family would go on a trip to the mountains and explore a different corner of the range. We set off each morning with a destination in mind — a refuge under the Switzerland’s Matterhorn peak, or a glacier in Italy’s Valtellina valley. 

But some of my favourite memories are of those times we’d wander just a little off trail, on a side path or down a meadow. I still remember the sense of excitement, of not knowing what the next view would reveal. I hope the main story of the The Alps Summer 2024 will inspire readers to get off the beaten track, too.” 

Also inside this issue: 

What’s new: Openings and experiences to keep on your radar 

On the trail: Architectural wonders in the Bavarian Alps 

Competition: Win a three-night trip to Leogang 

Inside Guide: Bad Ischl is a 20204 European Capital of Culture 

Weekender: Cycle around a lake or climb a mountain in Annecy 

Sleep & Eat: The new hotels celebrating Alpine flavours 

Kit list: Hiking gear for fast-changing mountain weather 

Samoëns: The small town with a big claim to fame 

Werfen: The cinematic appeal of this Sound of Music site 

Slovenia Green Routes: Explore the country on two wheels 

Throwback: The roots of Switzerland’s summer pastures 

To read a sample of The Alps Summer 2024 guide, click here.  

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