Our typical day starts with a continental buffet breakfast at our hotel - delicious fresh baked bread and croissants, local meats and cheeses, cereal, fruit, coffee and juice - which gives us the energy needed for the task ahead. Soon we'll be out on the trail, where you'll get to choose between an easier or more strenuous hike for the day. Each morning, you'll be handed a lunch to carry, and at a mid-point along the way we'll choose a beautiful spot to stop and enjoy our picnic. We get a lot of compliments on our imaginative lunches - making them something to look forward to as well!

We should finish our hike around 4 pm, giving you time to wash up, relax, and gaze upon the Mont Blanc panorama. After that, we'll enjoy dinner together at our hotel or another local restaurant. These are multi-course feasts, featuring delicious local specialties, and both of our hotels on this trip serve delicious meals.

With two charming villages, lofty trails, and flexible hikes, the Engadine tour is an excellent introduction to one of the world's greatest hiking areas.

Day 1 Arrive in Switzerland, and transfer by train to our meeting point in Guarda. There is a train station in both the Zurich and Geneva airports, and transferring to Guarda will be an easy introduction to Switzerland. The trip itself is incredibly scenic, and takes about 3 hours from Zurich. Perhaps you'll arrive a few days early, with time to take the famous Glacier Express between Zermatt and the Engadine valley. After we meet, we'll take a short walk through town and settle in for our welcome dinner at our lovely hotel. (Hotel Meisser)
Day 2 There are a number of lovely hikes in the area, including an energetic climb to the rugged mountain views of the upper Tuoi valley. Here we can visit a small alpine hut, delight in the myriad wildflowers, and enjoy dramatic views of the local peak, Piz Buin. The nearby village of Scuol is also a noted spa resort, and makes a great rainy day destination. (Hotel Meisser)
Day 3 We'll transfer to the lakes region of the upper Engadine, to the mellow and pretty resort town of Pontresina. The hiking here is amazingly varied, and we'll have numerous hikes to choose from. For our first hike, we might enjoy the mellow forested walk into the Roseg valley, or perhaps a steeper climb to one of the huts ringing the valley. (Hotel Steinbock)
Day 4 One possibility is a morning transfer down to the charming, Italian-steeped village of Soglio, where we can take a rising traverse route back to the Maloja pass. Broad-leaved beeches, medieval villages, welcome waterfalls, and sunny views of the Piz Badile and other mountains accompany us along the way. (Hotel Steinbock)
Day 5 The mighty Morteratsch glacier is an impressive destination, and a moderate climb to the Boval hut rewards us with panoramic views of white-capped giants in every direction. On a rainy day, a mellow walk through the woods and along the lake of St. Moritz is another option. (Hotel Steinbock)
Day 6 One of our favorite hikes anywhere is the panoramic Muragl traverse above Pontresina. Boasting quiet wooded stretches, abundant wildlife, and surprising views of the giant Piz Bernina and the paternoster lakes of St. Moritz, this hike makes a fitting finale to a wonderful week. (Hotel Steinbock)
Day 7 Today we say adieu, and depart for our post-tour destinations.

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Arrive:	Plan to arrive the day your tour begins at the latest (flights from the US would depart the day before). The closest airport is Zurich. There is a train station at the airport that will take you to Guarda.
Depart:	Plan departure for the day after your tour ends at the earliest. Plan on 1 night at a hotel in your departure city. The closest airport again is Zurich. The Swiss Card rail pass is recommended only if you have extra travel in Switzerland planned before or after this tour.

Dates don't work? Check out our Grand Tour which visits the same region or consider the peaceful Mürren or Jungfrau tours.

If you're an independent hiker and prefer to go at your own pace, or have travel dates that don't match up with our guided tours, you may prefer to do the Engadine tour as a self-guided hiking tour. This is a 7-day tour at a price of $1490 per person, based on two people sharing a double room. This tour can easily be lengthened or shortened to fit your schedule.

Our self-guided tours include prepaid hotels with breakfast and dinner, a Swiss Transfer Ticket for rail travel to and from the airport or border, hiking maps, detailed route descriptions (including longer, shorter, and rainy day options), instructions for independently sending luggage ahead, and lots of useful information that will help your trip run smoothly.

Not included are lunches, drinks with your meals, extras (such as laundry, phone calls from the room, etc), transportation not covered by your rail pass, or the cost of luggage transport.

In addition, customized guided and self-guided hiking tours are available at surprisingly affordable prices. If you'd like to lengthen or shorten an existing tour, upgrade hotels (or go rustic), or create a customized tour of the Swiss Alps from scratch, let us know. We have extensive experience in many parts of the Alps, and will be happy to work with you to build the hiking vacation that best suits your needs.

Learn more about custom and self-guided tours