Seven days, Six nights
Sils Maria (St. Moritz), Zermatt
Day One – Arrival in Sils Maria; Castel Hotel Waldhaus
Tranquil Sils Maria lies just 15 minutes south of St. Moritz and dominates the southern Engadine Valley. Situated above this charming town, the Castle Hotel Waldhaus can be seen from miles in either direction. This lovely resort hotel has been owned and operated by the same family since it opened in 1908. Official check-in time is 2:00 PM though our rooms are often available earlier. You may wish to enjoy a swim, a game of tennis, or a stroll through town before our meeting this evening.
At 6:30 PM, we will meet for a welcome cocktail where you will be introduced to your guides and meet your travel companions. Dinner tonight is in the elegant restaurant of our hotel. A five-course meal awaits as we enjoy the mountain views from our table, but be sure to save room for the fabulous buffet breakfast in the morning!
Day Two – Sils Maria; Castle Hotel Waldhaus
We begin our hike this morning with a walk through pine forests to the Marmore point. From this breathtaking viewpoint you can see the entire Engadine Valley, from St. Moritz in the north to the Maloja Pass in the south. We continue now into the Fex valley, which is accessible today only on foot or by horse drawn carriage. A robust lunch of local sausage, beer and warm apple strudel in a vanilla sauce awaits.
Afterwards, choose to drop down through the woods to the shores of Lake Maloja, either on foot or maybe by horse, which brings us full circle back to Sils Maria and our hotel. Tonight we will share a more intimate and cozy dinner at our hotel’s “stubli”, where the room may be smaller but the menu options abound. Being only 10 miles from the Italian border, delicious, homemade pasta is always a good choice.
Day Three – Sils Maria; Hotel Waldhaus
This morning our trail takes us to the north, rising above Lake Silvaplana with spectacular views of the Corvatch glacier directly above us. We continue on to the Surlej plateau from which we catch the cable car for the final ascent to the glacier itself. Here at 11,000 ft. we enjoy a fine lunch with a complete view of all of the area's major peaks and glacier groups. Barley soup with cognac and veal in a porcini mushroom sauce will keep us warm as we gaze at the snow-covered peaks outside.
After lunch, we return via cable car to the valley floor with its wildflowers and gentle streams for a peaceful walk along the shores of Lake Silvaplana back to Sils Maria and the Waldhaus. The glacier fed lake is calmingly tranquil and almost turquoise in color. This evening we will venture into town to a quaint Swiss Chalet to share our meal with the locals.
Day Four – To Zermatt; Grand Hotel Schoenegg
The Glacier Express traverses Switzerland from east to west over three separate mountain passes to connect the Engadine with Zermatt and the area surrounding the Matterhorn. It has long been known as one of the most beautiful European rail journeys, presenting an intimate view of Switzerland, from its lush valley floors to the carved rock of its glacial passes. We board the 1st Class coaches of the Glacier Express this morning for this exhilarating journey.
On our way we will enjoy an elegant luncheon and we will arrive in Zermatt in time to snap a picture of the Matterhorn at sunset before dinner. To arrive at our hotel, the 4-Star Schoenegg, we must take an elevator 350 ft. up through solid rock where it rests on a grassy slope overlooking Zermatt and the Matterhorn behind it. A quite impressive entrance!
Day Five – Zermatt; Grand Hotel Schoenegg
Everyone has an image of the Matterhorn, the classic alp, immortalized by Disney and international symbol of Switzerland. Yet, nothing quite prepares a person for the 14,700-foot version. Throughout our days in Zermatt, the Matterhorn will be a constant and inspiring companion. Today, we follow a path along the eastern slope of the Zermatt valley, slowly rising up into the mountains, which border with Saas-Fe to the east. From this side of the valley, we look across not only at the Matterhorn, but also to the glacial group, which leads to Italy just a few miles to the south. It is often possible to sneak in a day of skiing here, even at the height of summer.
After a lunch of the famous “rosti” potatoes in the freshest chantrelle mushroom sauce, a cogwheel train will return us to the village where you may want to explore Zermatt’s elegant shops or relax at the extensive facilities of our hotel. Tonight is a special treat as we head into town for an almost obligatory but fun fondue dinner.
Day Six – Zermatt; Grand Hotel Schoenegg
The culmination of any trip to Zermatt must be a visit to the summit of the "Little Matterhorn", which offers unparalleled views of the Matterhorn itself, as well as the spectacular surrounding peaks. It is no wonder Disney was so inspired.
Our walk begins in the valley floor, following a lazily flowing river, which soon turns into a rushing torrent as we enter the "Slucht", a narrow rock-lined gorge. Upon leaving this gorge, we take the cable car up to the "Little Matterhorn, and can wander on the glacier itself which covers this entire region. We return back to the valley by cable car, and for tonight, we have planned a special festive meal to celebrate our last evening together.
Day Eight – Departure from Zermatt
Zermatt has excellent rail connections to Zurich and Geneva and through these hubs to all points in central Europe. Should you wish to stay in Zermatt for an additional day or two, explore another area of Switzerland or continue to France or Italy, your guides will gladly assist you in your further travel plans.
We Look Forward To Seeing you in Sils Maria!
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