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Villages of the EngadineWalk between Switzerland’s most beautiful villages
Step into another world as you explore the idyllic, Romansch-speaking Engadine Valley and its timeless villages, some of the most beautiful in all of the Alps. This is an area that continues to astonish visitors with the silent splendour of the ancient villages, characterised by sturdy stone-built houses with deeply-recessed windows, arched doorways and intricately painted façades. On this marvellous discovery of the lower and upper Engadine - both very different in character - you stay in the three most picturesque villages and their best hotels. This is a region made for walkers, and linking the villages are splendid paths close to the River Inn and across the upper slopes that offer different perspectives of this twisting valley. Choose walks of a grade 2 level (as described) or explore the well-waymarked paths into the high mountains for more demanding walking. Nights: 7
Starting point: Hotel Meisser (3*), Guarda. Two generations of the Meisser family welcome you warmly to their historic hotel. The atmosphere is intimate and relaxed, the use of light wood throughout the hotel being at once stylish and cosy. There is plenty of space to relax, including a delightful garden with superb mountain views, the perfect place to enjoy an aperitif before a dinner of delicious, refined cuisine. Day 1: there are various possibilities for your day at Guarda (widely regarded as the best preserved of the Engadine villages) depending on how energetic you are feeling. A superb circular route leads into the high mountains, rewarding you in clear weather with breathtaking views or, for something less demanding, head along the contours of the valley to the workaday village of Lavin with its remarkable covered wooden bridge. From here, you walk alongside the River Inn before ascending back up the valley slopes to Guarda. (17km, 6h or 12km, 3h30) Accommodation: Hotel Meisser, as above. Day 2: your day begins with a train journey (included) to S-chanf, the valley widening to reveal new views. You then walk up the Trupchun Valley into Switzerland's only National Park, where you may be lucky enough to see red deer, chamois, elk, bearded vultures or even a golden eagle. From the Park, you descend to Zuoz, another handsome village. (17km, 6h) Accommodation: Posthotel Engiadina (4*), Zuoz. Spacious and elegant, this 4-star hotel still recalls the era of the Grand Tour. The Arquint family are welcoming hosts, and the facilities are excellent, including an outdoor pool, massage rooms, and several high-ceilinged lounges. Day 3: for a relatively easy day, a low-level circuit leads across the valley slope to the village of Bever, from where you follow the River Inn back to Zuoz. A more demanding but thoroughly rewarding walk takes you into the high mountains, ascending past a spectacular waterfall and up through forest to the secret mountain lake of Lej da Prastinaun. (18km, 6h or 12km, 5h) Accommodation: Posthotel Engiadina, as above. Day 4: on your second day in Zuoz, we recommend that you take advantage of the hotel’s minibus service into the national park, where there are some superb walking routes. The bus only operates on certain days of the week, so if you are keen to use this service, please consult us when deciding on the dates of your holiday. Accommodation: Posthotel Engiadina, as above. Day 5: from Zuoz, you head south along the valley by train to St Moritz (included). After the tranquillity and deep traditions of Guarda and Zuoz, the bustle and glitz of St Moritz comes as a real shock. When you are ready, you strike out into the upper Engadine, keeping more or less to the gradient and enjoying breathtaking views in every direction. As you approach Sils, the lakes that sit either side of this Italianate village come into view, the snow-capped peaks of the surrounding mountains reflected in the sparkling waters. (10km, 3h) Accommodation: Pensiun Privata (3*), Sils. Owned by former Olympic skiier Dumeng Giovanoli and his genial family, the Pensiun offers comfortably furnished rooms and cuisine that fuses Swiss and Italian influences. Intriguing bric-a-brac such as old wooden skis and an old butter churn lend real character and charm to the hotel. Day 6: your last day is thoroughly enjoyable. Paths ascend alongside gushing streams and through a remote village where it is claimed that Heidi lived. You then descend to the far end of Lake Sils and walk along its shores, enjoying a new perspective of the mountains. To extend your walk, you can explore the unspoiled Fex Valley and its tiny hamlets and isolated churches. (14km, 5h or 18.5km, 6h) Accommodation: Pensiun Privata, as above. Walking chart: the chart gives the distance and an approximation of the ascents and descents involved each day. If comparing holidays, please note the scale of each chart as this can differ.
Recommendations for extra nights: all three hotels make excellent choices for extra nights, with plenty of walking opportunities from each village. Extensions: If you are flying via Zurich, enjoy attentive service in the idyllic Goms Valley with 3 nights at the award-winning 4* Hotel Castle, Blitzingen. Other information: if you would like to see the brochure page, you can download this (and the pages for any other holidays you are interested in) by using our brochure creation system. You can also read our website travel diary for a personal account of the holiday. Similar holidays: The Bernese Oberland (grades 2 & 3), Towards the Matterhorn (grades 2 & 3), The High Dolomites (grades 2 & 3), The High Route (grade3), Lake Lucerne (grade 2), Lake Geneva to Lake Neuchâtel (grade 2) Prices & travel 2008:
Recommended destination airport: Zurich Extra night prices
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Hotel Meisser, Guarda 
