WT02: Lower Engadine Valley & National Park
On a rocky outcrop, high above the valley grounds and nestled in vast forests stands one of the most attractively situated castles in Switzerland. Pictured against the background of imposing peaks, this old stronghold of once mighty barons of Tarasp, the castle is a very famous sight and it is even more attractive when seen in reality.
But apart from this castle, the lower Engadine valley offers a lot more: picturesque and extremely well maintained and conserved villages with houses built in the typical, traditional style of the area, fantastic meadows with a proliferation of wild flowers, the surroundings of at-tractive mountains and of course, the thermal bath of Scuol which invites walkers to relax in warm waters and to enjoy the comfort of a modern, attractively designed health- and Spa-Centre. The tour combines this area with the Swiss National Park. The Swiss National Park was founded in 1914 and was at that time the first National Park in Europe. The park covers 169km2 of untamed, unspoilt natural beauty. To protect this wilderness are, the rules and regulations within the park are strict but in turn, visitors are absolutely certain to observe wild animals such as Deer, Chamois, Ibex or the only recently re-introduced bearded vulture. Our tour finally leads into the Munster Valley, one of three valleys of the canton of Grisons opening to Italy.




Infos
Scuol > Lavin > Zernez > Il Fuorn > Süsom Give > Sta. Maria. | |
Category II: Walker’s Joy-Tours. | |
Daily from 05/07/2025 through 13/09/2025 (arrival-dates). | |
7 x Hotels. | |
7 x Breakfast, 2 x Dinner. | |
Daily luggage transfers. | |
CHF 1'250.00 per person for parties of 2, CHF 1'150.00 per person for parties of 4; from Scuol/to Sta. Maria. |
Itinerary
Day 1: Scuol. Travel to Scuol and stroll through this medium-sized village which is famous for its health spa. Your hotel is situated in the old part of town, and you will certainly be fascinated by the old buildings with their thick walls, small windows and the graffiti on the walls, which are of a traditional style and unique in Switzerland.
Day 2: Scuol. Take an early morning bus to S-charl, a small, remote village situated in a side-valley of the Engadine. Cars are not allowed into the village which in Winter is accessible on foot or on horse-drawn sledges only. Led was mined in the area up until 1829 and an interesting mining museum will tell you the story. From S-Charl, walk through the Val Minger and take your time to observe the numerous Deer that are home to this valley. Over the pass of Sur il Foss, you enter another valley named Val Plauna, through which a long descent will take you back to Scuol.
Day 3: Scuol – Lavin. Walk along the left side of the Engadine valley to Lavin. On your way, you visit a number of beautifully conserved, traditional villages. Stroll through the alleys of these villages and have a look at the colourful graffiti for which these buildings are famous. Enjoy the proliferation of wild flowers in the meadows along the way and marvel at the almost perfect blend of human activities with the wild, mountainous surroundings. A special attraction is also the view of the castle of Tarasp, a fairy-tale like castle sitting on a lonely hill with the mountains of the lower Engadine as a backdrop, a sight that will accompany you for almost all the way.
Day 4: Lavin – Zernez. It’s only a short stroll from Lavin to Zernez and it will take you only a couple of hours to get to Zernez if you walk along the river En. Zernez is the gateway to the National Park and features an interesting visitors centre with an exhibition and plenty of information about all aspects of the park. However, if you prefer a more challenging walk, this can be offered as well! Climb from Lavin up to the lake-dotted plateau of Macun, a very recent addition to the National Park. Enjoy the view from here to the surrounding peaks, before you start your final ascent to a saddle called Fuorcla da Barcli and to the top of the Munt Baselgia (2682m). From here, a steep track takes you down to the village of Zernez.
Day 5: Zernez – Il Fuorn. A stroll of a about 3 hours takes you to the lonely guesthouse of Cluozza in a small, secluded valley. From here, climb the mountain of Muter from where a steep track takes you down to the river Spöl which has carved a narrow gorge into the mountains. After another climb, you reach the road, which you cross to enter another romantic, lonely valley through which you finally get to the hotel Il Fuorn which is the only building in the vicinity, far away from every other town or village. This walk is very rewarding but also quite strenuous. However, there is also a much easier alternative just in case the weather is bad or you simply do not feel like doing a long walk today.
Day 6: Il Fuorn – Susom Givé. Walk across the broad and flat-topped mountain of Munt La Shera to Susom Givé, which is the top of the Ofen Pass (Oven pass). The “Munt la Schera” offers enormous views and is known for its flowers (even Edelweiss grows there). The Oven Pass derives its name form the fact that in the old days, there were many ovens here, where iron ore was smeltered. The remains of some of these old ovens can still be seen along the road. Spend the night in the hotel on the pass.
Day 7: Susom Givé – Sta. Maria. The final day takes you mostly downhill. From Susom Givé, you cross the slopes of the Piz Daint (well worth a visit), before you descent to the vast plain of Jufplaun. From here, you enter the marvelous Val Mora, a long, secluded valley with wonderful views of the impressive array of mountains around you. After a long, but fairly easy walk, you get to the village of Sta. Maria, a very well preserved place with narrow lanes and the typical buildings of the area.
Day 8: Return.