WHAT'S YOALIN?

With Yoalin, CIPRA International and CIPRA's Youth Council CYC want to promote a more climate-friendly, conscious and affordable mobility in the Alps. The first edition was carried out in Summer 2018. Every summer since, it has enabled 100+ young people annually to travel sustainably across the Alps by means of public transport.

Are you wondering, what or who CIPRA is? We are a non-governmental, non-profit, umbrella organisation committed to the protection and sustainable development of the Alps. We carry out projects on many different topics, do political work and a lot of networking with others initiatives, organisations and people in and around the Alpine region. > www.cipra.org 

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN 2025?

Travel enthusiasts between the ages of 18 and 27 can apply from April 2nd to May 15th for 150 "Yoalin tickets". “Yoalin tickets” consist of a mobile version of the Interrail Global Pass (worth 286.- euros), with which they can travel 7 days within 1 month. They also get a series of other benefits, such as:

  • Invitation to the kick-off event on June 13-15 in Poschiavo/CH and final event on October 24-26 in Bern/CH (travel costs and overnight stay are covered)
  • Invitations to smaller MeetUps in different Alpine countries to get to know each other, exchange ideas and make contacts (have to be reached with your Yoalin ticket, costs are not covered)
  • Access to the Yoalin community. There you find not only travellers from this year, but also active people from past editions who are still involved in the project. We all have collected helpful tips and special destinations, which are available on this website and shared on social media. The community also exchanges on Slack, so you can ask questions there, find travel buddies and so on.
  • Access internal “Hospitality List”, where past Yoalin participants are available to act as travel guides or hiking companions in their region.

The programme also includes a photo and story contest, and the selected travelers receive little helpful and sustainable gadgets at the live events for their journey.

What are the criterias and requirements for the application?

Applicants must:

  • be between 18 and 27 years of age
  • be open to new adventures and international exchange
  • be interested in sustainable topics
  • live in the Alps
  • be first-time-Yoalins: If you already received a Yoalin ticket in the past editions, your candidacy won’t be re-considered

If you are selected as a Yoalin traveller 2025, these are the requirements you agree to by filling in the application form:

  • Pay the contribution of 50 Euros (as a security for us, see more below)
  • Attendance of at least one event, online or on site
  • Travel within the seven Alpine countries during mid June, July, August, September or October 2025 with your Interrail Global Pass (1 month, 7 travel days)
  • Share 3 pictures and the main destinations of your trip - the focus topic this year is "Culture"
  • Fill in the evaluation form at the end of the project in October.

Why is there a 50€ fee?

You only need to pay the 50.- Euros fee if you are selected as a Yoalin traveller – not when applying. This fee must be transferred to CIPRA’s bank account in Liechtenstein, where our organisation is based. The fee serves as a commitment deposit (you will not get the 50.- Euros back), ensuring that selected travellers actively participate and use the Interrail pass we provide. We want to ensure that passes go to those who will truly make use of them. In return, you’ll receive an Interrail pass worth 286€, plus many additional benefits, including an invitation to two events in Switzerland with all costs covered (travel, food, and lodging). For more details about benefits, see section "What is happening in 2025?"

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Once selected as Yoalin traveller, you will be asked to transfer a fee of 50 Euro to our bank account, this is a guarantee for us, that you want to take part in YOALIN. So you pay 50 euros and receive an official Interrail Global Pass worth € 286.- (you will not get the 50.- Euros back!).

We would appreciate, if you:

  • Use your Interrail Global Pass before the final event in October 2025 to discover the Alps
  • Engage in the Yoalin-community on Social Media and on Slack
  • Use all means of sutainable transport - trains, buses, bikes, your feet...
  • Reflect on your mobility behaviour, try to leave only small traces behind. 

HOW CAN I APPLY?

The application window for YOALIN  2025 opens on April 2nd 2025 and closes on May 15th. As an ‘Early Bird’ campaign, tickets are already being awarded to 50 people who apply by 21 April!

Please answer the questions in the form honestly and it also helps, if you elaborate a little bit and do not enter monosyllabic answers. If you do not feel comfortable writing in English, it is possible for you to answer in one of the alpine languages (German, French, Italian, Slovene).

Our Yoalin jury, consisting of so called Yoalin ambassadors (former Yoalin travellers), choose 150 people from all the applicants. They will be notified by email by May 23rd.

WHAT ABOUT TRAVELLING WITH FRIENDS?

You can only apply for one ”Yoalin ticket”. If you want to travel in pairs or a group, each person has to fill out the form. You can mention your companion(s) there, the jury will consider this, but it is not a given that everyone gets a ticket.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW?

We ask you to stay within the Alpine countries (Monaco, France, Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland) and discover this beautiful region. Get some hints under our "Places to see" or the Stories from other Yoalins.

By the way: Sustainable, slow mobility is gaining momentum. This summer is the right time to (re)discover the bike! So travel across the Alps on two wheels, you can use the Yoalin ticket also to get your bike on the train. 

If you have any other questions, feel free to contact us!