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Walking & Wildflowers in the Engadine

The Engadine - Switzerland's 'secret' valley
 
Located in an idyllic village of cobbled streets and frescoed houses, the centuries-old Hotel Meisser makes a charming base for this single-centre walking holiday. Five guided walks with an experienced guide are included, along with detailed self-guided route notes and a local travel pass.
Walking & Wildflowers in the Engadine. 7 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Walking & Wildflowers in the Engadine. 7 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A walking holiday in the Engadine

To visit the Engadine Valley is to enter a land in which time seems to have stood still. Above the fast-flowing River Inn perch historic villages whose cobbled streets are lined with sturdy stone houses. Decorated with intricate pastel murals, the walls of these centuries-old houses would doubtless have many stories to tell. But the fairy-tale villages are just part of the allure of this tranquil Alpine valley – this is a region made for walkers, with flexible, varied routes that reward you with splendid views.
Your base for the week is the most idyllic village of them all, Guarda, silently watching over the valley from its panoramic location. It is one of those special places that you will never want to leave, quickly seducing you with its old-world charm. At the heart of the village lies the 3-star-superior Hotel Meisser, a fittingly romantic hotel that makes a delightful base from which to explore the Romansch-speaking Engadine on foot, both with a guide and independently.
 

Book with confidence

We are accepting bookings for our holidays to Switzerland. Our flexible booking arrangements, commitment to safety and financial protection mean that you can book with confidence.

What we’re doing so you can book and travel with confidence >
Check the destination entry requirements >
 
Gallery
 

Walking & more

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. Although the start dates are fixed, you are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.

    The best time for flowers is from late May to early July.
     
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C -2 1 3 6 11 15 19 19 16 11 3 -2
    mm 113 96 111 122 132 150 155 162 126 108 124 112
  • An introduction
    The Engadine Valley is a walker's paradise. We include guided excursions (with picnics included) on five days during your week, leaving you free on other days to strike out along the inviting paths independently using our detailed walking notes and maps, or simply relax at the hotel and marvel at the scenery. From late May to early July, the wildflowers are at their best, complementing the spectacular Alpine vistas.
  • 5 guided walks are included in your stay
    Together with your knowledgeable and experienced English-speaking guide, you will explore larch woods, riverside paths, crystal-clear lakes, pretty villages and verdant meadows, all the while enjoying splendid views to the high peaks. The walks – some of which start with a journey by train and bus – are tailored to the group, with plenty of time to admire the splendid displays of wild flowers. Among the possible routes are a walk alongside the River Inn to a traditional farming village, an ascent past the tree line to the high meadows above Guarda, and a trail from one of Switzerland's highest villages to a frescoed monastery. The walks are generally 2.5-4.5 hours in length, with ascents and/or descents of between 300 and 700 metres.
  • 10km to 15km

    Tuoi Valley option (grade 2-3): 11.5km, 4.5hrs; 670m ascent/descent
    Head up the Tuoi Valley, ascending some 500 metres so as to gain superb views towards one of the most famous peaks in the area, Piz Buin. You follow the scenic Clozza River then head back through forest and fields to Guarda.

    High option (grade 3): 15km, 6hrs; 1000m ascent/descent
    This longer option features even more ascent and descent, but rewards with flower-filled meadows, old larch and spruce woods, a panoramic ridge and magnificent views southwards and into Austria.

    Lavin option (grade 1-2): 10km, 3.5hrs; 410m ascent/descent
    For a less demanding walk, cross the lower slopes of the Inn Valley to the attractive village of Lavin with its remarkable covered wooden bridge, from where you walk alongside the River Inn and then ascend some 180 metres back up the valley slopes to Guarda.
    Panoramic routes
    Tuoi Valley option: 11.5km
    High option: 15km
    Lavin option: 10km
 

Accommodation

You stay in a high-quality hotel of great character located in one of Switzerland's most beautiful villages. Near the hotel you will find a small handful of shops and cafés.
Hotel Meisser
  • 3-star superior

Bedrooms

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 7 nights: 29 May 2021 - 13 June 2021 & 11 June 2022 - 19 June 2022

    Start Saturday or Sunday | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    29 - 30 May 2021 £1225 £160
    5 - 6 Jun 2021 £1225 £160
    11 - 12 Jun 2022 £1290 £170
    3rd & 4th person discount £0
    Single traveller supplement £0

    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

    7 nights: 29 May 2021 - 13 June 2021 & 11 June 2022 - 19 June 2022

    Start Saturday or Sunday | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    29 - 30 May 2021 £1650 £160
    5 - 6 Jun 2021 £1650 £160
    11 - 12 Jun 2022 £1735 £170
    3rd & 4th person discount £0
    Single traveller supplement £0

    Includes all elements in the 'walk price', plus standard-class travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras or Ebbsfleet International to Lille or Paris, with onward travel as described below.

    Included travel from the UK: Out: UK–Paris (Eurostar), Paris–Guarda (TGV/regional rail/bus), approx duration 12h20 plus 0h05 walk to the hotel. Home: Guarda–Paris (TGV/regional rail/bus), Paris–UK (Eurostar), approx duration 13h10 plus 0h05 walk from the hotel.
    > More about 'by rail' prices
    > The 'rail experience': what to expect
    A Swiss Card is included, providing you with half-price tickets for trains, bus and boat journeys and up to 50% reduction on private railways and cable cars.

    If you book your holiday less than 6 months in advance of your travel date, seats may no longer be available at the tariffs on which our prices are based, but we may be able to offer you seats on the same services at a supplement.

    7 nights: 29 May 2021 - 13 June 2021 & 11 June 2022 - 19 June 2022

    Start Saturday or Sunday | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    29 - 30 May 2021 £1290 £160
    5 - 6 Jun 2021 £1290 £160
    11 - 12 Jun 2022 £1345 £170
    3rd & 4th person discount -£60
    Single traveller supplement £60

    Includes all elements in the 'walk price', plus a return ferry crossing between Dover and Calais with P&O Ferries for your party and one car.

    > More information about travelling self-drive

    A supplement of £35 per car per single journey applies for outward travel on 26-28 March & 2-4 April 2021, and for homeward travel on 4-5 & 10-11 April 2021. A supplement of £56 per car per single journey applies outward on Fridays & Saturdays 28-29 May & 9 July-14 August 2021 and homeward on Saturdays & Sundays 5-6 June & 17 July-29 August 2021. Supplements also apply at peak times in 2022; please contact us for details.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Hotel Meisser, Guarda
    Double with Balcony (no twins): 29 May - 13 Jun 2021 £22
    Double with Balcony (no twins): 11 Jun - 19 Jun 2022 £24

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Hotel Meisser, Guarda (with dinner) Double room Single room
    29 May - 13 Jun 2021 £132 £154
    11 Jun - 19 Jun 2022 £140 £164
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Zürich
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Zürich. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Zurich (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Aberdeen - Zurich (via Paris) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Zurich Swiss 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Zurich (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Zurich Swiss 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Zurich (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    London City - Zurich British Airways,  Swiss 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Zurich easyJet,  Swiss 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Zurich British Airways,  Swiss 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Zurich easyJet,  Vueling 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Zurich Swiss 
    Manchester - Zurich (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Manchester - Zurich (via Munich) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Zurich (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Newcastle - Zurich (via Paris CDG) Air France 
    Outward route Airline
    Norwich - Zurich (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Zürich. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above except those operated by Ryanair. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service (£60 for India and Nepal). Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    If purchasing outward connecting travel through Inntravel, the homeward travel is at no extra cost.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Zürich

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    rail Zürich airport to Guarda staziun (2h45), postbus Guarda staziun to village (0h08) £96 in 2021; £100 in 2022 1530
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    hotel transfer or postbus to Guarda station (0h15), rail Guarda to Zürich airport (2h45) £0 1300
What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 7 dinners
    5 picnics
    7 breakfasts
  • 5 guided walks
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • local travel pass
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 4 reviews
  • Mrs H Carter
    Switzerland
    06 June 2021

    This was the sixth time we have been with Inntravel to flower-walk in Guarda and it never disappoints. The scenery is stunning and the Hotel Meisser most welcoming. The wild flowers that are out in early June depend on the Spring weather as well as the altitude at which they grow. This year it had snowed in May, making them a bit later than usual. After a warmer Spring there is a greater variety of orchids, but nevertheless we did see the Lady's Slipper. The meadows all along the Inn valley were a mass of flowers, happy to be alive till haymaking begins on 15 June. 

  • Anon
    09 June 2019

    Walking through the Swiss meadows, each with a different colour palette, will stay in my memory. They are so beautiful. And I loved getting to the high point of a walk, and stopping at a Hut for a well-deserved beer, while looking out over the mountains. The views are always spectacular.

    We went up the Stubai Glacier on the Saturday morning, and it happened to be the day of the Stubai Ultra Race (65k from Innsbruck and up the Glacier at the end!) They start at midnight in Innsbruck and run through the night. So we saw some of the runners crossing the finish line, which was at the top of the glacier.

    Useful tip - be prepared for any weather! And take walking poles.

    INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined two of our single-centre Discovery Walking holidays - Walking and Wildflowers in the Engadine, Switzerland and An Alpine Stroll, Austria

  • Mr G Peters
    Ely
    08 June 2019

    The  breathtaking beauty of swathes of tiny wild white crocus emerging from the receeding snow will stay with me. The brilliant blue of the gentians and the profusion of wild flowers in the meadows will be a lasting memory of this holiday. 

  • Anon
    27 September 2018

    This was our second visit and we had a great time - the location of Hotel Meisser in Guarda is fabulous, with wonderful views of the surrounding mountains and valley. The hotel is a perfect blend of simple rustic decor and top-notch contemporary bathrooms. The food is wonderful - the chef is very creative and produces varied, innovative and tasty meals. The wine list is very interesting, with some excellent, albeit expensive, Swiss Pinot Noir wines available. The restaurant service is excellent. The walks to nearby villages of Lavin and Ardez are excellent and very relaxing.

    We chose the timing of late Sept/early Oct thinking it would be outside school holidays and therefore less busy than summer. However, we didn't realise that this was also a period of Swiss school holidays which meant the area and the hotel were busy and this put pressure on the staff, especially in the evenings in the restaurant. If we go again, we would pick a different time. 

     
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • If your holiday plans go awry because of Coronavirus, rest assured that we’ll do right by you. Since the start of the pandemic, our flexible booking policy and prompt issuing of refunds to customers who prefer not to defer their holiday have earned us high praise in the national press.
  • We sincerely hope that your holiday experience will be as enjoyable as it would have been before the pandemic – walking holidays are ideal in these times of social distancing, and we’re not operating holidays if the key highlights can no longer be delivered – but, naturally, there will be some changes to ensure your and other people’s safety, not least taking tests before and after your holiday for many destinations.
    Your holiday experience: what to expect >
    Safety measures being taken by hoteliers & others >
    Entry requirements for non-UK destinations & for re-entering the UK >
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. If/when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation, meaning that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.

    For more detailed information, see our walking holidays in Europe page.
  • Yes, prior to going on holiday you will be able to download GPX tracks so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you use them – our detailed, step-by-step route notes remain the principal means of guiding you from A to B – but we provide them as a secondary means of navigation for additional reassurance when walking.
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines (but not, currently, with Ryanair). As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. For Europe, there’s a £35 booking fee per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). For India and Nepal, the booking fee is £60 per person. More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to take out our recommended travel insurance policy (if you live outside the UK you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    We'll ask you for the details of your policy (insurer, policy number and medical emergency phone number) so that we can help out if the worst happens while you are on holiday. It's up to you, though, to check that your policy covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs; we don't check alternative policies.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Switzerland, but not a visa. If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). UK citizens can no longer use their EHIC in Switzerland, and nor is the new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) valid in Switzerland. It is therefore important that, if you already have travel insurance in place, the terms do not exclude medical cover, especially for existing conditions, in the absence of an EHIC.
  • The official languages are German, spoken in the majority of the country; French, spoken in the south-west; Italian, spoken in the south-east; and Romansch, mostly limited to the Engadine valley. The currency is the Franc. Swiss time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.

    At Inntravel we work in close partnership with our hoteliers, taxi drivers and other local suppliers to provide our self-guided holidays directly to you. We are entirely confident that you will continue to receive the usual warm welcome from them, regardless of what is happening in the European political sphere.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.
    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
  • You are the best judge of your child’s/children’s capabilities. We are happy to take bookings for families of older children/teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved. Please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.
Last fetch time is : 7/27/2021 12:20:06 AM