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Walking in Switzerland
an Engadine & St. Moritz adventure - 11 days

ITINERARY - difficulty grade B ( height gains of up to 1,000m, 3,500 ft a day )

Day 1

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 Arrive at Zurich airport before midday. We meet at the airport and transfer to the charming village of PONTRESINA, our base for the first half of our adventure. Settle into the valley hotel with time for sightseeing before the welcoming meal and evening briefing.
Our hotel is normally the charming & friendly Hotel Engadinerhof
Day 2 Muottas Muragl: We ride this steep furnicular train to our start point at 2,543m (8,340ft). Here we have a great viewpoint over St Moritz. From here we follow a glorious balcony trail to "Paradise", a quaint mountain restaurant. We descend into our village by chair lift. (5 hrs hiking).
Day 3 Diavolezza: We drive to the Bernina Pass and hike from here, through flower-filled meadows, to the Diavolezza cable car. We ride this cable car up into the heart of the glaciers at 2,973m (9,750ft). Here there are spectacular views of the huge Morteratsch glacier and of Piz Bernina itself. We hike up to the summit of Munt Pers 3,207m (10,520ft) with 360° views over the Bernina Alps. (6 hrs hiking).

Day 4

 

Surlej Pass: Today starts with a ride in a horse-drawn carriage up the beautiful Roseg valley to the trailhead at 2,000m (6,560ft). From here we climb steadily through Larch forest and then open meadows to reach the Fuorcla Surlej at 2,755m (9,040ft). After a picnic on the pass with it's spectacular views we descend on the most beautiful balcony trail, into the valley and lakes of St Moritz itself. (6 hrs hiking).

Day 5

 Bregalia Valley: A change of scenery today as we descend into the wilder Bregalia Valley and follow an ancient mule track along the mountainside to the isolated village of SOGLIO, perched on the mountainside. Here we are just 1 mile from the Italian border and we have spectacular views of the Italian Alps and famous peaks like the Piz Badile. (5 hrs hiking).
We stay in the lovely Albergo La Soglina at 1,411m (4,630ft).
Day 6 Rest day: After a lazy start and a tour round the ancient village of SOGLIO we drive back to Pontresinas where we can shop, have a massage in the local spa, try kite-surfing or wind-surfing on the lake or do a gentle half-day hike.
Day 7 Piz Langard: Our highest point; today we reach the summit of this spectacular peak at 3,262m (10,700ft). From the trailhead in Val Fain (2,100m, 6,900ft) we climb steadily through alpine meadows to reach the Pischa Pass (2,874m, 9,430ft). Now we are in a wild, lunar landscape for a short picnic break before following a rocky traverse to the base of Piz Langard itself.
Our final steep hike is rewarded by spectacular views from the summit and the inevitable coffee, beer and appelstrudel snack on the way down. (7 hrs hiking)
Day 8 Swiss National Park: Today is full of Edelweiss and a rugged contrast to the normally organised Swiss countryside. The National Park hike takes us from our roadhead at Alp Buffalore (1,968m, 6,455ft) through untouched forests of Larch and Cembra Pine to arrive at the broad summit of Munt la Schera (2,586m, 8,482ft).
Our views are of the many glaciers and summits of Italy to the south and east (the border is just yards away), and the Swiss Alps to the north and west. (5 hrs hiking).
Day 9 The Grenasalnas Pass: A short transfer to the Julierpass (2,238m, 7,340ft) takes us to the start of our hike. We climb gently up the grassy Val Grenasalnas, past peaceful mountain lakes, to the Grenasalnas pass at 2,688m, 8,820ft. From here there may be time to climb Piz Lunghin (2,780m, 9,120ft) before descending to our waiting minibus. (5 hrs hiking).
Day 10

Piz Nair: A fitting finish to our Engadine adventure. A short transfer takes us to the trailhead at Alp Spinas (1,815m, 5,950ft). A long gentle hike up the Suvretta valley takes us to the Suvretta Pass and then the summit of Piz Nair at 3,057m (10,027ft).
Our reward is spectacular views of the whole Bernina Alps and the lovely lakes of the Engadine valley. We descend by cablecar. (6 hrs hiking).
Day 11 Your journey home, but perhaps with time for last-minute shopping before leaving. Transfer to Zurich airport (3hrs) for your afternoon/evening flight.
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Based on:
2 people sharing a twin room in 2-3* hotels (10 nights).
A single-room supplement is readily available if you prefer.

What is included:
All-inclusive Zurich-Zurich i.e. airport transfers, bed and breakfast (nights 1-11 inc), big picnic lunches (days 2-10), all evening meals, all cable cars and lifts, minibus transport and 2 guides.

What is NOT included:
Insurance, alcoholic drinks and your postcards and obvious personal spending, including medical supplies. Lunches on travel days (days 1 and 12). Activities on the rest day.

Key points:
* Everything is included in the price.
* We have time to enjoy the scenery, in comfort, with good quality accomodation and food.
* We have minibus support, and 2 GUIDES, throughout the trip.
* There is a well-earned rest-day built in: for resting, shopping and even exciting water sports.

Trip Facts:
Average height climbed a day - 800m (2,600ft)
Highest pass - Surlej Pass 2,755m (9,040ft)
Highest point - Piz Langard 3,262m (10,700ft)
Languages - Swiss-German, Romanche.
Difficulty - For reasonable hikers
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