From Ticino to the Engadine

Enchanting Ticino may lie in Switzerland, but it has an undeniably romantic Italian flair. The palm-fringed shores of its sparkling lakes are dotted with colorful towns that convey a joyful Mediterranean ambiance. And in the Engadine, the chic mountain resorts of St. Moritz and Davos beckon with their wild valleys and alpine atmosphere. Our journey follows the great hikes and cuisine of this beguiling route, savoring stunning alpine panoramas, shimmering blue lakes, charming villages, and wonderful meals, including local wines, cheeses, pastries, and chocolate (this is Switzerland, after all). Sumptuous fare, including three gourmet dinners in Gault Millau or Michelin-starred restaurants, and fantastic hikes in a mountain-and-lake realm—this trip has it all!

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-2
Lugano / Monte Bré / Wine Tasting in Morcote

From lovely lakeside Lugano, we ride the funicular to the summit of Monte Bré for a panoramic walk leading to the charming artists’ town of Bré. The views of the Alps are fantastic, particularly mighty Monte Rosa. In the old fishermen’s town of Gandria, we set out on the Sentiero degli Olivi to Castagnola, a tiny village on the shores of Lake Lugano. Our gourmet adventure begins with dinner at a Gault Millau-starred lakeshore restaurant. The next day we catch the funicular to Monte San Salvatore, offering views of the Swiss and Savoy Alps. Hiking down through sheltered forests to Morcote, we enjoy a wonderful wine tasting near a 15th century castle surrounded by vineyards.

Days 3-4
Lugano / Malcantone / Ascona

Our choice of hikes today in Malcantone, a lovely area of hilltop villages, includes a walk along the Sentiero delle Meraviglie (“Path of Wonders”) past old stone walls and a ruined castle. We end our day with a visit to a chocolate factory (a must on any Swiss trip), then drive to Ascona, an artists’ town of pastel-hued houses spilling down the hillsides to the shores of Lake Maggiore. After exploring its Old Town and lakeside promenade, we set off on a hike up Monte Veritá to the pretty village of Arcegno. Returning to Ascona, we dine at renowned Seven, a Gault Millau and Michelin-starred restaurant in an extraordinary lakeside setting.

Days 5-6
Ascona / Bellinzona / St. Moritz / Pontresina

Heading toward the Engadine, we stop in Bellinzona for a hike along a castle-lined trail, then skirt Lac de Champfer as we travel to sunny St. Moritz. The next day we set off on foot directly from our hotel to the wild and romantic Val Roseg, with its vistas of Upper Engadine lakes, and on to Pontresina, noted for its old houses with their typical sgraffiti (decorated walls) from the 17th and 18th centuries. Dinner tonight is at the two Michelin-starred Bumanns Chesa Pirani near St. Moritz.

Days 7-9
St. Moritz / Davos / Chur

A beautiful village-to-village hike in the Lower Engadine brings us to Lavin, where we sample the tasty pastries of a popular patisserie. We then head to the resort town of Davos, favorite wintering place of British royalty. We reach our hotel by funicular and savor the breathtaking views over town. Our hikes lead right from the hotel, and one afternoon we enjoy a cooking lesson from Sardinian chef Antonellu Pisseddu. Depart on Day 9 from Chur, just south of Zurich.

For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary

What the Trip is Like

This trip is Level 3, Moderate. We enjoy day walks and hikes of 2-5 hours over variable hill and mountain trails, with occasional short, steep sections. We will carry just a daypack. Sturdy, well broken-in hiking boots are necessary for the rural trails of this area. The meals included in the itinerary will be taken at the hotels where we are staying or at restaurants in the towns. Three dinners are at Gault Millau or Michelin-starred restaurants. For dinners “on your own,” the Trip Leader will be happy to advise you on, or accompany you, to local restaurants and trattorias. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 PM.

In an effort to capture the spirit of old Europe, the hotels we use are often family-run converted villas or inns, full of ambiance and colorful local history. Although the rooms are not always of uniform or international size, our leaders try their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole.

Explanation of Trip Levels