“The scenery each day was different and beautiful. The hiking was enjoyable and well paced by our guides. The passion our guides had for the culture and experience for that day made it extra special." - St Moritz to Italy guest
Upon arrival, a train takes you to St. Moritz in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. This afternoon, we’ll explore this historic and glamorous alpine resort town which combines outdoor adventure with luxury lifestyle, fine dining, and stunning natural scenery. Nestled in the Engadine Valley, it boasts pristine lakes, majestic mountains, and year-round activities. Enjoy a short warm-up hike around Lake St. Moritz, then head to your welcome dinner and a group orientation. Overnight in St Moritz. (D)
Distance: 3 miles | Ascent: 430 feet | Descent: 270 feet (may vary)
Our first stop today is to visit a small alpine dairy where cheese is traditionally made by hand, over an open fire. Enjoy a delicious brunch of alpine cheeses before heading up the valley to hike to the Morteratsch Glacier, the largest in the Bernina Alps. Dinner will be at a lovely restaurant in St Moritz, followed by an evening enjoying our hotel. (BSD)
Distance: 5.5 miles | Ascent: 1200 feet | Descent: 1200 feet (may vary)
A cable car takes us to the summit of Piz Corvatsch for commanding views of the Bernina Alps. After soaking in the panorama of peaks, we descend to the mid-mountain station to begin our traverse along the lower flanks of Corvatsch and down towards the beautiful Val Fex. Guests can choose the option of taking a cable car or walking the remaining distance through alpine meadows to get to our hotel in Sils Maria. Sils has a rich Romansch culture, which is evident in its architecture, language, and cuisine. (BSD)
Distance: 5-8.5 miles | Ascent: 550 feet | Descent: 2000-3500 feet (may vary)
We follow the Via Engadinia out of Sils Maria and hike up to the scenic Lägh dal Lunghin, nestled below Europe’s most important watershed at the Lunghin Pass. Here, a single raindrop may end up in the North Sea, Black Sea, or Adriatic Sea. We descend to the historical village of Maloja, which has attracted famous artists and writers for over 200 years. We stay at a historic hotel with a tradition of hospitality dating back 140 years (BSD).
Distance: 8.2 miles | Ascent: 2500 feet | Descent: 2300 feet (may vary)
The Maloja Pass was well known to 19th-century traders and travelers, as well as to smugglers. A gentle forest walk takes us to castle ruins and a historic tower, with panoramic views over the pass. After taking in the views, guests can go back to the hotel and enjoy a rest day, or continue by hiking along the smuggler's route to the hidden Lägh da Cavloc where we enjoy lunch at a lakeside mountain refuge. We return to our lodge in Maloja in good time for a massage or sauna before dinner. (BSD)
Distance: 1-6 miles | Ascent: 500-1800 feet | Descent: 500-1800 feet (may vary)
We begin with a short bus ride to Vicosoprano, the former capital of the region and site of many former witch trials. Explore the historic town hall, then pass by the Latteria (dairy production) before ascending out of the valley. Hiking on the Via Panoramico, we make our way to the cobblestone streets and alleyways of Soglio -the ‘threshold to paradise.’ Enjoy this picturesque village where we stay at a palazzo dating back to the 17th century. (BSD)
Distance: 5.5 miles | Ascent: 1650 feet | Descent: 1550 feet (may vary)
From Soglio, we walk through beautiful chestnut groves into Castasegna. We then cross into Italy, where we soon arrive at Acquafraggia Waterfalls, one of the most spectacular cascades in the Italian Alps. From here, we follow a steep stone path up to the forgotten cliffside village of Savogno to enjoy lunch at a rifugio before descending through the forest into Chiavenna. We stay in the old city, which had an important strategic position on the trade route dating to the Middle Ages. No visit to this part of Italy would be complete without dinner at one of the famous crotto restaurants—and you’ll have a table at a top crotto restaurant in the heart of Chiavenna. (BSD)
Distance: 7 miles | Ascent: 2150 feet | Descent: 3450 feet (may vary)
Depart Chiavenna and venture further into Italy. Transfer to Colico, where we’ll pick up the Sentiero del Viandante, a historic mule track dating back to Roman times. We’ll follow this trail along the mountainside, skirting around the eastern shoreline of Lake Como. Enjoy the views and small villages you’ll pass along the way. Each village presents the option to take transportation the remaining distance into Varenna, so the length of today's hike will depend on guests' preferences. We’ll end our trek in Varenna, a beautiful lakeside village. (BSD)
Distance: 7-16 miles | Ascent: 1500-4000 feet | Descent: 1500-4000 feet (may vary)
Soak in your marvelous surroundings on this iconic Italian lake. Enjoy a gentle hike and a tasty lunch, followed by a ferry ride across the lake to neighboring towns of Bellagio and Menaggio. Take some free time to explore and maybe grab some gelato before re-convening for a farewell dinner to celebrate our completed journey from St. Moritz to Italy. (BSD)
Distance: 5 miles | Ascent: 1200 feet | Descent: 1200 feet (may vary)
Breakfast is provided at your hotel, but otherwise, no group activities are scheduled. Use our provided train ticket to get from Varenna to the Milan Airport for your departing flights. Note that the journey takes 2.5 hours, with the earliest possible train leaving at 5:10 am. Please plan your departing flights accordingly. (B)
A Note On Hiking Stats
Daily distance and elevation measurements may vary depending on the device you use to record them. Use our listed stats as an estimate and a reference point while training for this tour.
We rate this trip as moderately strenuous. You should be capable of hiking 4 to 7 hours per day on both well-groomed and rocky trails at an elevation up to 9,000 feet above sea level. You should be capable of accomplishing 2500 feet of ascent in 3 hours. Please note that the stats listed on the itinerary can vary depending on the device used to record them. Some hikes are adaptable according to the desires of the guests.
