Walking Holidays in the Swiss Alps

Price
From £1495
Enquire Book Now
29 June 2024 – 14 September 2024
Our classic Collett’s Mountain Holidays experience, showcasing the best of the Engadin
- Switzerland's 'quiet corner'
Country
Switzerland
Grade
All Abilities
Duration
Flexible
Style
Self-Guided
Type
Centre-Based
Price
From £1495
Hike like a local in Switzerland
snow-capped peaks dominate picture-postcard landscapes

This is as majestic as it gets for a walking holiday. A preferred spot for local hikers who cherish the variety and splendour of the landscape, the Engadin valley is a true Swiss treasure. Sitting high at 1800m, the Engadin offers the rare combination of stunning altitudes and a glorious Italian climate. Snow-capped peaks dominate picture-postcard landscapes, and the meadows explode with colour and local wildlife. Never overrun with tourists, the Engadin has all the qualities of a hidden gem.

With an exceptional network of easy-to-access, waymarked walking trails and superb local transit, it couldn’t be easier to immerse yourself in the supreme natural splendour of south-eastern Switzerland. You’ll also have the glitz of St Moritz and Pontresina at your fingertips, where you can browse designer shops, and travel up the funiculars to delight in panoramic views and stunning sunsets.  

This holiday also includes a free Mountain Pass, a perfect way to experience all the possibilities of this magical place. With your pass, you’ll have free use of all cable cars, chairlifts, buses and mountain trains in the Upper Engadin – including the world-celebrated UNESCO Bernina Express.

At a glance

Dates

29 June – 14 September 2024
(Arrive & depart any day)

Price

Standard – £1495
Superior – £1595
Single room – £1575
Junior Suites – contact us

Grade

All grades – from easier and idyllic to high and dramatic.
Choose from three different Walk Packs – Easier & Idyllic, Moderate Classics or Challenging Trails – depending on your level of fitness and experience.
Whichever you choose, daily access to our local Walks Team, who can provide additional routes on request, will ensure you get the absolute best out of the area.

What’s Included

7 nights at the 3* Hotel Maria, Sils including bed, breakfast and 4-course dinner with a glass of wine each evening.
Local Mountain Pass covering all local transport (including buses, trains & cable cars).
Walk Pack – A Collett’s holiday is all about memorable walks! Your Walk Pack will include everything you need to self-guide – comprehensive route notes and maps for walks of your chosen grade, plus a selection of easier and/or harder options. You can then either focus exclusively on walks of your chosen grade – or you can mix it up – pushing yourself one day and taking it easy the next. The choice is yours! Rest assured – every walk is a tried and tested gem which you’re free to explore at your own pace.
The Collett’s Walk Team – – their extensive local knowledge will be on hand to provide you with all you need to enjoy the mountains. They will be able to deal with any questions you might have about your Walk Pack, or any particular routes in it.
‘Office Hour’ – a chance to meet our Walks Team, browse maps, glean local information or ask questions about your chosen walk for the following day. Or come and meet other like-minded guests and enjoy sharing experiences, perhaps over a pre-dinner drink. Either way, enjoy dinner with everything organised. Wednesday is the day off for our Walks Team in the Engadin so there will be no Office Hour.

Travel

This holiday is based in Sils-in-Engadin. We recommend flying into and out of Zurich and taking the train to Chur where you can join the world-famous Rhaetian Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage train journey to St. Moritz. From there, the Hotel Maria is either 15 minutes by connecting bus or a short taxi ride away. Click here to find out more about the rail journey and how to book.

Rail tickets are available 60 days before your day of travel from www.sbb.ch

Alternatively, fly drive from either Zurich or Milan Bergamo.
For a competitive car hire quote please click here.

Your Walk Pack

Our uniquely flexible formula allows you to choose a Walk Pack for whichever grade of walking you are most interested in.
For a typical 7 night stay, this will include 6 walks of your chosen grade, plus a selection of easier and/or harder options.
For longer stays our Walks Team will be on hand to supplement your chosen Walk Pack as you familiarise yourself with the terrain and area.

Easier & Idyllic Moderate Classics Challenging Trails
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Day 1 - Arrive

Travel to Sils. Expect a warm welcome from Andreas, Regula and their efficient team on arrival at the Hotel Maria.  
Meet our Walk Team at Office Hour from 6 – 7pm (Except on Wednesday’s our Staff Day Off). Enjoy a fabulous dinner with everything sorted for the following day.  

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Day 2

Sightseeing & Strolling at Leisure
Surlej & Silvaplana
Another mindboggling double cable car ascent, this time to the Engadin’s highest peak at 3303m. Absorb inspirational views over coffee or lunch. On your descent, disembark at Surlej and enjoy the short walk to Lake Silvaplana, alive with the vivid colours of windsurfs. Picnic by the lake or buy lunch at the campsite restaurant, Papalou. Or cross the bridge to explore options in Silvaplana.

Our Easy & Idyllic Walk
Lake Silvaplana, 11.1kms,  3–4 Hrs. Walking, Ascent 175m
A loop of one of the Engadin’s most spectacular lakes, featuring exquisite flowers, grand waterfalls and quaint cafes and even the chance of a freshwater dip if it takes your fancy! Or simply enjoy the vibrant colours of gliding windsurfers, maybe over an aperitif at a lakeside bar.

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Day 3

Sightseeing & Strolling at Leisure
Pontresina
If you crave a unique view of the Upper Engadin and the Bernina massif, today’s itinerary will provide it. Constructed in 1905, the James Bond-ish Muottas Muragl furnicular was the Engadin’s first. At the top, you can stroll the Philospher’s Path, an easy 2hr. loop, featuring the world’s most accurate sundial, correct to within 10 seconds! Alternatively, you can potter about at the top before lunch on the panoramic sun terrace of the culinary-excellent Romantik Hotel.

Our Easy & Idyllic Walk
Chamanna Paradis, 6.7kms,  3–4 Hrs. Walking, Ascent 300m
Drool over the view from one of the Engadin’s best panoramic sun terraces. Perched atop a ridge with striking views across the valley to the Morteratsch Glacier, this mountain hut is an exhilarating place for relaxation, reflection and refreshment. The walk traverses a high valley to an enchanting glacial tarn, before finishing at the Alp Languard chairlift, where you descend over forest to Pontresina with more scenic treasures to drink in.

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Day 4

Sightseeing & Strolling at Leisure
Sils Maria
Stay local and enjoy the best of Sils. Maybe start with a ride up the Furtschellas cable car, indulging in a cheeky coffee and cake at the top (?!) where the views of Lake Silvaplana and Lake Sils are simply beautiful. Perhaps take a boat trip to Maloja? In the afternoon, visit Nietzhe’s house and the Sils Museum before an aperitivo in the village’s pretty piazza.

Our Easy & Idyllic Walk
Val Fedoz, 12.8kms,  4–5 Hrs. Walking, Ascent 250m
An idyllic and gentle adventure into the Val Fedoz with sections along the shore of Lake Silsersee. This is a spectacular and tranquil valley, abundant in alpine flora and comical marmots. You also have every chance of glimpsing soaring bearded vultures and golden eagles. The picturesque village of Isola is the perfect spot for a drink as you near the end of the walk.

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Day 5

Sightseeing & Strolling at Leisure
St Moritz Cable Car & Funicular
Indulge in the allure of St Moritz and its spectacular surroundings on a dramatic double cable car ascent to Piz Nair (3056m) via Corviglia. At the top of both cable cars, you can stroll to nearby alpine huts for refreshment or lunch, enchanted by sensational mountain panoramas and bird’s eye views of the valley below. Consider the optional 3kms downhill walk to the Signal cable car for a descent to St. Moritz Bad.

Our Easy & Idyllic Walk
Pontresina Panoramica, 10.6kms,  4-5 Hrs. Walking, Ascent 320m
At the start of the day, the spectacular funicular to Muottas Muragl provides one of the finest views in the Engadin. The walk along the panoramic path reveals Val Roseg and St Moritz, not visible from the valley below. Finish at Alp Languard and marvel at the Roseg glacier over welcoming refreshment, before descending to Pontresina on the chairlift.

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Day 6

Sightseeing & Strolling at Leisure
Alp Grum & Diavolezza
Take the Bernina UNESCO train from St Moritz to Alp Grum with its glass-topped panoramic carriages, all included in your mountain pass. Hop off at Bernina Diavolezza and ride the cable car up to the glaciers with close-up views of the Engadin’s highest peaks, Bernina & Palu.  Here you can do the free Virtual Reality mountain experience, whilst walking options include a 2kms glacier circuit with 215m of ascent. Continue up to Alp Grum on the train for a panoramic-rich restaurant lunch or picnic.

Our Easy & Idyllic Walk
Lagh da Cavloc, 10.5kms,  4–5 Hrs Walking, Ascent 350m
A gorgeous hike up to one of the Engadin’s lesser-frequented lakes. Lagh Da Cavloc is in the Forno Valley, renowned for its goats cheese – available at the local shop. For some of the walk, you might have the company of the free-range goats themselves. A fabulous lakeside restaurant serves Engadin delicacies.

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Day 7

Sightseeing & Strolling at Leisure
St Moritz Town
There’s plenty to see and do in this world-renowned mountain resort, a window-shopper’s paradise! Museums are rife and you can choose between the Segantini, the Berry, the Mili Weber or the Engadiner. Circumnavigate St. Moritz’s own lake or head  out to the picturesque Lake da Staz, perfect for a lakeside lunch or picnic.

Our Easy & Idyllic Walk
Val Roseg, 14.5kms,  4–5 Hrs. Walking, Ascent 200m
This heavenly, flower-rich valley will bewitch you, as you venture through aromatic forest and alongside streams and rivers. Eventually, a magical view showcases the highest mountains in the Eastern Alps with their brilliant white glaciers. A fitting finish to your week, this will leave you wanting more.

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Day 8 - Depart

Independent onward travel. 

Looking to stay for more than 7 nights?
Guests who book for more than 7 nights will still receive our standard Walk Pack.
You might want to spend your additional days relaxing in the village, visiting nearby places of interest or partaking in other locally-supplied alpine activities.
But if you are simply looking for more walking, our Walks Team will be on hand to support this. They will be expecting you and we have an extended selection of wonderful walks of your chosen grade for you to pick from – all with comprehensive route notes and maps.

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Day 1 - Arrive and Settle in

Travel to Sils. Expect a warm welcome from Andreas, Regula and their efficient team on arrival at the Hotel Maria.  
Meet our Walk Team at Office Hour from 6 – 7pm. Enjoy a fabulous dinner with everything sorted for the following day.  

swiss-alps-walking-holidays

Day 2

Via Engadina,  12.4kms,  4–5 Hrs. Walking, Ascent 550m
One of the signature walks of the Engadin, as its name suggests. A delightful hike of sleepy hamlets, traditional farmsteads and vistas to die for. Traverse wildflower-strewn meadows and meander on forest trails before emerging at the majestic Lake Silvaplana.

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Day 3

Piz Cheurn, 12kms,  5 – 6 Hrs. Walking, Ascent 475m
A local classic in the high terrain above the Furtschellas gondola, this hike is as varied as it is fabulous. No two hours are the same as you climb, traverse and descend through some of the most mindboggling scenery the Engadin has to offer. Look out for Edelweiss, Switzerland’s national flower, as you criss-cross streams on your descent through the Val Fex.

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Day 4

Muragl Terrace, 10kms,  5–6 Hrs. Walking, Ascent 600m
On this beauty, you get mesmerising views of three Engadin valleys, each one a feast for the eyes. The route includes an ascent on the famous Muotas Muragl funicular before a high traverse in front of looming 4000m peaks. The hike ends at the Alp Languard chairlift, where the marmots are notably braver and more curious!

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Day 5

Alp Muntatsch, 12.5kms,  4–5 Hrs. Walking, Ascent 250m
Walk a charming section of the renowned Via Engadina above Celerina and Samedan before descending through forest into the flower-rich upland pastures of the valley that accommodates a delightful pastoral descent. 

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Day 6

Boval Hutte, 11kms,  5–6 Hrs. Walking, Ascent 550m
This is a hike with a close-up of one of the Engadin’s largest glaciers. You can see first-hand the history of the area carved into the rocks, before enjoying the famous ‘Rosti’ at the Boval Hutte, beneath the highest peak in the area. The glacier becomes more and more impressive the closer you get to it.

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Day 7

Fuorcla Surlej, 15kms,  5–6 Hrs. Walking, Ascent 1000m
Spend a day surrounded by the area’s highest peaks on a trail that links two exquisite valleys. The views are sublime, especially from the pass with Val Roseg below.

walking-holiday-swiss-alps-02-engadin-sils

Day 8 - Depart or Extend your stay

Independent onward travel. 

Looking to stay for more than 7 nights?
Guests who book for more than 7 nights will still receive our standard Walk Pack.
You might want to spend your additional days relaxing in the village, visiting nearby places of interest or partaking in other locally-supplied alpine activities.
But if you are simply looking for more walking, our Walks Team will be on hand to support this. They will be expecting you and we have an extended selection of wonderful walks of your chosen grade for you to pick from – all with comprehensive route notes and maps.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Day 1

Travel to Sils. Expect a warm welcome from Andreas, Regula and their efficient team on arrival at the Hotel Maria.  
Meet our Walk Team at Office Hour from 6 – 7pm. Enjoy a fabulous dinner with everything sorted for the following day.  

walking-in-the-swiss-alps

Day 2

Chantarella,  14.9kms,  6–7 Hrs. Walking, Ascent 750m
Take the long route behind Piz Nair to see a different side of St Moritz. You pass through a delightful variety of classic alpine treasures, including forest, pastureland and scree, as you drink in views of St Moritz, Lake Silvaplana and beyond.

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Day 3

Surlej Balcony uphill, 12kms,  5–6 Hrs. Walking, Ascent 900m
Hike to ‘the best view in the Engadin.’ This magnificent route unfolds above Lake Silvaplana and Sils, where you will surely be awe-inspired by what you see. This is followed by an ascent to the highest cable car point in the valley (3,303m), where you get a close-up of the Corvatsch glacier and on a clear day, the Matterhorn is easily visible too.

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Day 4

Fuorcla Pischa, 11.1kms,  5–6 Hrs. Walking, Ascent 850m
Journey along the iconic Bernina Express towards Diavolezza, where you follow a track over a high pass back towards Pontresina. This is a drama-packed trek of ever-changing views throughout. You start in a wild valley, but the terrain soon becomes moonscape as the high point beckons. Traverse the mountain top and head down into the Alp Languard valley, land of the friendly marmots. 

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Day 5

Lake Tscheppa,  13.2kms,  5–6 Hrs. Walking, Ascent 850m
Hike high above the valley with classic views towards Piz Bernina and Piz Corvatsch. The large Tscheppa Lake is frozen for much of the year, only revealing itself once summer is in full swing. After arriving at the lake, you will traverse across the top of the mountain tops, passing high tarns and lakes along the way, before the ultimate Lake Silvaplana.

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Day 6

Piz Languard, 10.3kms,  6–7 Hrs. Walking, Ascent 1000m
A magnificent day out above Pontresina. You can summit this 3263m peak and marvel at spellbinding 360 views that stretch northwards to the National Park and south to a seemingly unending rim of 4000m peaks. This is your reward after a small section of scrambling near the peak. When your ‘top of the world’ feeling subsides,descend just 50m to Georgy’s Hut and savour it all over a cuppa or a beer.

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Day 7

Es-Cha Hutte, 16.2kms,  6–7 Hrs. Walking, Ascent 900m
A stunning hike into a quieter, more remote valley, below one of the most recognisable mountains in the area, Piz Xesch. Today you indulge in peace and tranquillity, save for some clanging cowbells and gushing waterfalls. Heavenly meadowland brings you to a unique view of the Engadin, unlike anything else in the region, and so fitting for the final day of your time here.  

walking-holiday-swiss-alps-02-engadin-sils

Day 8

Independent onward travel. 

Looking to stay for more than 7 nights?
Guests who book for more than 7 nights will still receive our standard Walk Pack.
You might want to spend your additional days relaxing in the village, visiting nearby places of interest or partaking in other locally-supplied alpine activities.
But if you are simply looking for more walking, our Walks Team will be on hand to support this. They will be expecting you and we have an extended selection of wonderful walks of your chosen grade for you to pick from – all with comprehensive route notes and maps.

Need to Knows

Our Day Off – Wednesday is the day off for our Walks Team in the Engadin. There is no Office Hour. However, there is always somebody to meet and settle in new arrivals. Breakfast & Dinner are served as normal.

Dietary Requirements – The Hotel Maria requires these in advance of your stay, so please communicate this to us on booking or soon after. The hotel provides “uncomplicated, tasty, fresh, innovative and authentic, Italian cuisine” and satisfaction levels are high. It always offers vegetarian options (which include cheese but not fish or seafood). Where vegans are concerned, whilst willingly catered for, this is not a holiday we wholeheartedly recommend, as the hotel admits that its vegan menus do not compare with the gastronomic experience of other diets.

Booking Conditions – be sure to read our full terms and conditions here before booking.

At Your Own Risk – please read the important notes here.

Travel Advice – check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination. For UK citizens, check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice here.

Passport & Visa –  any questions should be directed to the relevant embassy of your destination country; find out more here. It is your responsibility to be in possession of a full passport, valid for your chosen destination.

Travel Insurance – having adequate and valid travel insurance is a condition of booking with us. Details of our insurance partner, Campbell Irvine, are here.

Health Information – You should carry either an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)  Neither is an alternative to adequate travel insurance. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice and https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/

ABTA – Independent travel advice and help is always available from ABTA by calling 020 3117 0599 or visiting www.abta.com.

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