Engadine 2023

Not far from the train station in Chur, you will be awaited by the ABC Hotel****, a modern city hotel of the highest quality. We will meet up at 5:30pm for a guided city round tour through the oldest city in Switzerland. You will have the rest of the evening to your own disposal.

In the morning, we will leave Chur by bike. Our path leads through the Rhine valley to Reichenau to the confluence of the Vorder (anterior) and Hinter (posterior) Rhine. Travelling through the Domleschg, the most populated area in Europe, our path will then lead to Thusis, where we will have lunch in a stylish restaurant (lunch is included in the travel price). Afterwards, we will board the Rhaetian railway. Travelling on the Albula-Line, which is part of UNESCO world heritage, we will overcome numerous tunnels and viaducts in order to reach Engadine, situated over 1000 metres higher. Here we will mount our bikes again and after a pleasant journey, we will reach Pontresina. Here we will be welcomed by the pleasant hotel Hotel Schweizerhof Pontresina*** (three overnight stays). The Bellavita adventure pool can be found just a few metres away from the hotel (admission included in the travel price). Here one can relax, before we meet up in the hotel’s restaurant for dinner.

Lakes, lined up like a string of pearls, reflecting the mountain backdrop with its snow-covered peaks, unique flora, enchanting light as well as over 300 days of sunshine a year make the Upper Engadin a unique mountain landscape. This not only attracts visitors for a relaxing holiday, but was also an inspiration for authors such as Nietzsche, musicians such as David Bowie and artists such as Beuys and Segantini. In the morning, a bus will bring us to Maloja, a village not far from the source of the Inn. We will first hike on a picturesque shore path along the Silser Lake, before we continue our journey by bike. After some relaxing time off, we will enjoy our meal in the hotel’s restaurant.

In the morning, we will travel by train to the Bernina Pass. From there, we will cycle on the general pass road for approx. 2.000 metres in height downhill. After this cycling enjoyment with splendid views, we will make a stop in the picturesque Poschiavo. We will then continue on small side-streets, past the Puschlaver Lake. We will travel a marvellous journey back on the Bernina Express. The Bernina Line of the Rhaetian railway, a masterpiece of engineering skill and listed in UNESCO world heritage since 2008, is one of the most spectacular railway routes in the world and has some of the most fabulous views. It leads through 55 tunnels, over 196 bridges and to impressive structures such as the famous Brusio spiral viaduct. Without cog wheel, we will overcome a difference in height of 2.000 metres with an ascent of up to 70 per mille. After we have travelled across the Bernina Pass, we will board the cable car and will travel even higher onto the Diavolezza (the cable car can cease to operate during very bad weather conditions). In the area of eternal ice above the Morteratsch glacier, a grand mountain panorama is opened up with a view of the Piz Bernina or Piz Palü. We will then travel back by bike from the valley station to Pontresina. We will enjoy our evening meal together.

Our path leads to St. Moritz in the morning. The village with its mundane hotel buildings has several remarkable museums. One is dedicated to the painter Giovanni Segantini, who was able to capture the light of Engadine onto canvas like no other before. His trilogy Werden, Sein, Vergehen (becoming, being, passing away) is especially impressive. After visiting the museum, we will follow the course of the Inn on our bikes. We will continue to pass picturesque places such as Samedan, Bever, La Punt or Madulain. In Zuoz, we will be welcomed by the Hotel Engiadina**** in the lovely town centre, which has been comfortably housing guests since 1876. We will be served a traditional Swiss dish for dinner this evening, and can enjoy a cheese fondue.

We leave Zuoz behind us and travel out of the Upper Engadine at Schanf. We will follow the Inn and will soon reach Zernez, the gate to the Swiss National Park. From Lavin, with its church well worth seeing, we will hike to Guarda with a view of the Engadine Dolomites, a jewel with magnificent Engadine houses, decorated with sgraffito and adorned with flowers. After a refreshing descent, we will board the train, in order to avoid the main road and after a short journey, we will reach Scuol. In the midst of the historical town centre, we will be awaited by the excellent Hotel Hotel Guarda Val**** (two overnight stays). As Sunday’s lunch is included in the travel price, you will have this evening to your own disposal. There will be enough time to relax in the spacious thermal spa Engadin Bad Scuol, which is only a few minutes away and the number one among the Swiss wellness spas (admission is included in the travel price).

Travelling via the picturesque Unterdorf, we will leave the town and following the course of the Inn valley, we will cycle over splendid meadows and idyllic forest paths, up to the Swiss – Austrian border to Martina. We will continue to pass delightful hamlets and villages along the way. A Postbus will bring us back to Scuol (It is possible to conclude today’s programme here and to spend the afternoon in the thermal spa Engadin Bad Scuol). In the afternoon, we will travel by cable car onto the Motta Naluns. From here, we will hike along a ridgeway and can enjoy the unique view of the terraced landscape of the lower Engadin. We will then cycle from Ftan down to Scuol, where we will be welcomed by the Hotel Guarda Val**** once again. We will enjoy our closing meal in the hotel’s excellent restaurant.

In the morning, we will board the Rhaetian railway for the last time, in order to reach Chur at noon, in about two hours. Those who are returning home by train or aeroplane from Zürich can bid their farewells in Landquart already, to be able to catch earlier connecting trains. We ask you for your understanding, that only the joint transfer with the group is included in the travel price, due to the booking of group tickets.

We are happy to assist you with the booking in our partner hotels (depending on availability). All prices are on request. Please note that it might be cheaper if you book directly with the hotel.