From Basel, the walker will follow the Rhine to Koblenz, where it will join the Aare. Follow the Aare to Baden and up the Limmat River to Zurich. There is also the possibility of going to Rapperswil by boat or on foot along Lake Zurich.
From Pfäffikon to Wattwil, hikers can cross Lake Zurich on the lakeside dam to Rapperswil and follow the St. James’ Way to Wattwil; or through the small village of Tuggen. A beautiful walk in the hills takes the hiker to Magdenau Abbey, where accommodation is available for pilgrims.
From Saint-Gallen, the walker will head to Arbon on Lake Constance where he can, once again, choose between traveling by boat to Bregenz in Austria or covering part or all of this stage. Columbanus and his companions remained in Bregenz for two years. Gallus decided to stay in the Lake Constance region and build his hermitage, while Columbanus and the other monks continued south, passing through Vorarlberg (Austria) and Liechtenstein. The trail takes the walker back to Switzerland as it climbs to Chur, over the mountain of Lenzerheide, down to Tiefencastel and back to the border, via Savognin and Bivio.