Switzerland | Engadine Summit Series

If you like peakbagging, then this trip is for you!

“We are leaning towards another guided trip with Ryder-Walker because for both of us, part of what made our last trip so memorable was some of our conversations with Ken. We really enjoyed his stories, both the ones that made us laugh and the ones that gave us more insight into the culture of the area.”- Noel and Mark D.
"I was on one of your trips recently with my mother and my sister, as well as our aunt and cousin. The trip was INCREDIBLE. One of the most unique experiences of my life, and I couldn't get over the variety and sheer beauty every day in Switzerland."- Annabel Tory
"We had taken a guided tour through the Italian Dolomites over 10 years ago with Ryder-Walker and thoroughly enjoyed the trip. We didn't consider anyone else for our hike in the Engadine. After this trip we probable won't use anyone else. You guys did an excellent job! We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and we can't thank you enough for all of the excellent planning you did for us."- Steve and Martha Mitchell
"All the hikes were great, spectacular to the eye, vigorous to strenuous for the body, varied terrain and diverse trails with several up and down lifts involved. Hotels were good to fantastic, food was OK to outstanding. Trains and buses were easy to negotiate and of course, always on time. And almost everyone could speak English."- Sterling Speirn

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Trip Highlights:

Climbing to the top of local mountains.
Village-based hiking to minimize packing and unpacking.
A good quality strenuous hike with great food and accommodations.

Feel the burn in your legs as you mountain hop across the undiscovered peaks of eastern Switzerland. Beginning in the picturesque village of Zuoz, you spend eight days summiting the many mid-height, un-glaciated mountain peaks that the Engadine region is famous for. Hike to the mountaintops by day, and bed down in the region’s quintessentially Swiss inns by night. Spend two nights in each location (except the last town), giving you ample time to enjoy an in-depth exploration of the region’s historic villages, quiet valleys, and rugged peaks. If you like to climb or “bag” peaks, then this trip is for you!

Not a peak bagger, or never tried? That’s fine too. There are typically two hike options on this tour for maximum flexibility. Relax on the shores of the Silvaplanersee, a sparkling lake in the Upper Engadine Valley, and climb to the top of the Piz Padella (9,370 feet), offering expansive views across the Rhaetian Alps. Have lunch at the Rifugio Segantini, a dramatically situated mountain hut, popular for its delicious homemade soups and hearty mountain fare.

Visit the towns of Zuoz, Pontresina, and Sils Maria, and celebrate the finish of your hike in the tiny hamlet of Soglio, a perfectly preserved Roman village where Italian is the language of choice, and cobblestone roads carry you back in time.

Learn more about the Eastern Swiss Alps-Engadine destination

Trip Itinerary

Choose from our standard itinerary or customize the trek by adding or subtracting days.

Day 1 - Arrive in Zuoz

Travel independently to Zuoz, the first vantage point from which you can see the high, glaciated peaks of the Upper Engadine. Settle into a marvelous, old-world hotel centrally located on Zuoz’s main street.

Day 2 - Zuoz

Enjoy a warm-up day to one of our favorite high mountain huts above Zuoz. The views of the Palu and Bernina massifs to the southeast are superb. Descend near the old Albula Pass road to La Punt or Chamues for transport back to Zuoz.

Distance: 6 – 12 miles. Elevation gain: 2000 ft.

Day 3 - Zuoz to Pontresina

Transfer to one of the Upper Engadine’s greatest attractions, a funicular with arguably the finest vista in the Alps. Traverse to one of the highest hikeable summits in the region. Stop for delicious soup and otherworldly views. Descend to Pontresina and a warm, welcoming inn in a quiet section of the village.

Distance: up to 9 miles. Elevation gain/loss: up to 3400 ft.

Day 4 - Pontresina

Hike out of Schlarigna, made famous as the finish village of the renowned Cresta Run, perhaps the world’s most famous bobsled course. Wander into remote and rarely traveled terrain behind the summits of Las Tres Fluors and beneath the rocky Piz Ot. Descend to Samedan for transport back to Pontresina.

Distance: 9 miles. Elevation gain: 3350 ft.

Day 5 - Pontresina to Sils Maria

Begin with a gentle ascent up one of the Alps’ most pristine valleys; a region carved by glaciers over the millennia. You hike all the way to the head of the valley, where a charismatic hut rests on the edge of a moraine adjacent to a quickly receding glacier. Descend to Sils Maria and a superb old-world hotel.

Distance: 12 miles. Elevation gain/loss: 2800/3000 ft.

Day 6 - Sils Maria

While there are several options for the day, the goal is to reach the summit of Piz Lunghin. On this route, you get to take in one of finest viewpoints of the stunning, steep terrain of the Bregaglia. Return to Sils and your elegant hotel.

Distance: up to 8.5 miles. Elevation gain/loss: up to 3540/3400 ft.

Day 7 - Sils Maria to Soglio

High above the Val Bregaglia you ascend to a pass above your final destination, Soglio, one of the most charming villages in the world. Descend through numerous rustic, but still active, tiny farms and hamlets. Enjoy your last night here dining on local specialties and watching the alpenglow embrace the granite spires of the Bregaglia.

Distance: 7.5 miles. Elevation gain/loss: 1170/2290 ft.