St Moritz & the Engadin Valley
Rail & Trail Tour
Holiday Type:
Rail & Trail
When:
June to October
Centres:
St Moritz & Zernez
Length:
8 days (suggested)
Grade:
Flexible
2024 Price:
From £ 1,500.00
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Hike through Switzerland’s only National Park, a haven for wildlife
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Discover the traditional Engadin village of Guarda
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Stroll through the trendy town of St Moritz
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Wander to Fuorcla Surlej, one of the great Alpine viewpoints
Hidden away in a quiet corner of Switzerland, the beautiful Engadin valley is a paradise for lovers of nature and gentle walks. Here you’ll find Switzerland's only National Park, where nature abounds, alongside traditional Engadin villages, sparkling lakes and high peaks.
Based first in the trendy town of St Moritz, make use of local cable cars to start high on the hillsides. Head up to the Fuorcla Surlej, one of the great Alpine viewpoints, with views of mighty Piz Bernina and Piz Roseg.
Next is Zernez, a well located Engadin village, on the edge of the Swiss National Park. From here walk into the park through the Val Cluozza, where nature is given absolute priority - a sanctuary to marmots, golden eagles, ibex and chamois, amongst the lush forest. Visit the picture-perfect village of Guarda, where centuries-old paintings adorn the walls of many houses, and the ancient Romansch language is still spoken. Many easy hiking trails head off into the countryside from here.
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Our Rail & Trail holidays take you to some of the best hiking destinations in Europe, by public transport. Spend a few nights in each location, in comfortable accommodation, rather than checking in and out daily. Our itineraries are designed to make use of the most convenient train and bus routes, often to locations where cars are not allowed. Included in your package, along with all accommodation, is a Travel Pass which will allow you to travel on local trains and buses for free.
Each day we have set out a specific hiking route which makes the most of the area. A detailed guidebook, map, online mapping and GPX route is provided for each route. However, as this is a self-guided trip, you can of course choose an alternative hike, depending on your preference, and perhaps the weather! Your information pack will therefore also include plenty of alternative hiking routes in each area, of varying difficulty.
Photo Gallery
St Moritz & the Engadin Valley Itinerary
▼ Day 1: Arrive St Moritz
Tucked away in the far southeastern corner of Switzerland, the Engadin does take a little more travel time, but it is still only 3 hours by train from Zurich. Popular with the rich and famous, St Moritz is certainly swish, but it has accommodation, restaurants and shops to suit all budgets and is a pleasant town to wander on an evening.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel in St Moritz
▼ Day 2: The Fuorcla Surlej pass
13.3km & 101m ascent (8.3 miles & 331ft)
One of the classic viewpoints in the Alps. From St Moritz it’s either a 30 minute bus or a 1.5 walk to Silvaplana, where a cable car will whisk you up 800m to Murtèl, high above the treeline. From here, begin your walk across a wild, rocky landscape, arriving fairly soon at the Fuorcla Surlej pass. Views at the high point are stunning, across to the huge Piz Bernina massif, the Piz Roseg, and down into the Val Roseg. It's then a gradual descent into the Val Roseg, and a walk along the valley floor to Pontresina, where you can catch a 10 minute train back to St Moritz.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel in St Moritz
▼ Day 3: St Moritz to Maloja
23km & 837m ascent (14.3 miles & 2746ft)
A section of the Via Engiadina from St Moritz along the valley is a great way to stretch your legs and see some more of the upper Engadin valley. From Signal above St Moritz (accessible by short walk or gondola) the trail traverses along the side of the valley, with open views across the many lakes and mountains of the area. At the village of Maloja, you will have reached the head of the valley, and the edge of the Engadin region. From here, it’s a 30 minute bus back to St Moritz.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel in St Moritz
▼ Day 4: St Moritz to Bever
24.1km & 847m ascent (15 miles & 2778ft)
Starting again from Signal above St Moritz, this time head northwest, up to the remote Pass Suvretta. Then a long and gentle walk down the valley of Suvretta da Samedan gradually takes you through differing terrains - from rocky hillside, through Alpine pasture and then open forest. Here, the busy streets of St Moritz seem a world away, and wildlife sightings are common - look out for ibex or chamois. From Bever, it’s a 15 minute train to St Moritz (or you could cut the walk short by about an hour and take the train from Spinas instead).
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel in St Moritz
▼ Day 5: Travel St Moritz to Zernez
By Train
It’s a straightforward 45 minute train from St Moritz to the village of Zernez. Much smaller than St Moritz, charming Zernez is a great base for hiking, being situated on the edge of the Swiss National Park.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel in Zernez
▼ Day 6: Val Cluozza and the Swiss National Park
15.4km 1081m ascent (9.5 miles & 3546ft)
The Swiss National Park is a haven for wildlife, which you’ll be hard pressed to miss on today’s walk. The forested valley of Val Cluozza feels very much cut off from the outside world - the only hint of civilisation being the Chamanna Cluozza hut, where you might want to stop for a coffee break. From the village of Zernez, it’s a straightforward walk up into the valley, returning the same way.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel in Zernez
▼ Day 7: Guarda and Val Tuoi
14.5km & 606m ascent (9 miles & 1988ft)
The village of Guarda is arguably the most picturesque in the Engadin. From Zernez, it’s 30 minutes by train and bus to the village, where we recommend spending plenty of time exploring the narrow cobbled streets, amongst houses painted with beautiful murals that are centuries old. Once you’ve seen every nook and cranny, head up into the valley of Val Tuoi, a gentle ascent, with views to the pyramidal peak of Piz Buin ahead. The Chamonna Tuoi hut provides a convenient point for a cake stop before you turn around and head back to Guarda.
Accommodation:
Guest House or Hotel in Zernez
▼ Day 8: Depart Zernez
Similarly to St Moritz, it is a mere 2.5 hours from Zernez to Zurich, where plenty of onward flight and rail connections can be found.
St Moritz & the Engadin Valley Route Map
What’s Included?
✔ 7 nights accommodation
✔ Breakfast every morning
✔ Travel Pass for all Public Transport
✔ Detailed Itinerary, Map & Guidebook
✔ GPX Waypoints and online mapping
✔ 24/7 Emergency Phone Number
What’s not Included?
X Travel Insurance
X Flights to and from the holiday
X Lunches
Optional Extras
? Rail Transport to and from the holiday
? Taxi Transfers to and from the holiday
? Luggage Transfers
Accommodation & Prices
On our Rail & Trail itineraries we aim to book all accommodations on a B&B basis. However, we will always ensure that there are options for dinner either at your accommodation or nearby, and provide restaurant recommendations in your information pack.
Standard
2024 Price: from £ 1,500.00 GBP per person (Request a Quote)
Accommodation will be in en-suite rooms, in a mixture of 2 to 3 star hotels, or good quality, comfortable Guest Houses.
Luxury
2024 Price: from £ 2,100.00 GBP per person (Request a Quote)
Accommodation will be in en-suite rooms, in a mixture of luxury 4* star hotels, or boutique Guest Houses.
FAQs
What is a self-guided holiday? When is the best time to travel? How do I get to the start of my holiday?
Please head to our FAQs page for all answers. Alternatively, please don’t hesitate to send us an email or give us a call with any questions about our holidays.