Hiking Safety & Risk
Please read before you set out
Walking the Via Francigena is a strenuous outdoor activity that carries inherent risks.
You take part entirely at your own risk and are responsible for your own safety and that of anyone in your care.
Inherent risks
Long-distance walking exposes you to hazards that no app, guide, or operator can remove, including:
- Uneven, steep, slippery, or unmarked terrain, and the risk of slips, trips, and falls.
- Rapidly changing weather — heat, sun exposure, storms, cold, and reduced visibility.
- Remote sections with limited mobile signal and slow access to emergency services.
- Road and traffic crossings, livestock, dogs, ticks, and other wildlife.
- Fatigue, dehydration, blisters, and pre-existing or new medical conditions.
Your responsibilities
- Assess your own fitness and experience honestly, and choose stages within your ability.
- Carry enough water, food, suitable footwear and clothing, a charged phone, and a means of navigation.
- Check the weather and trail conditions before each stage, and turn back when conditions exceed your ability.
- Tell someone your plan and expected arrival, and use the app's check-in and emergency-contact features.
- Carry travel and medical insurance appropriate for hiking abroad.
In an emergency
The European emergency number is 112. If you or someone near you is in danger, call the emergency services first. Share your location with your emergency contacts where possible.
No guarantee
Trail data, distances, elevations, and points of interest in the Walk Via Francigena app and website are provided for general guidance only and may contain errors or become out of date. They are not a substitute for your own judgement, official maps, or professional advice. Walk Via Francigena and Pixelo Mobile Ltd accept no liability for loss, injury, or damage arising from your use of the trail or our services, to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Questions about safety? Email hello@walkviafrancigena.com.