Swiss National Park Walking Holiday | Walking Holiday in Switzerland | Self Guided Walking Holiday

The Swiss National Park lies at an altitude varying between 1400 and 3200 metres above sea level and encompasses a particularly impressive piece of Alpine landscape, with a wealth of flora and fauna. Within its boundaries nature is left to develop freely; humans remain in the background and are merely witnesses of the evolution that contributes so greatly to the incomparable character of this habitat. Extending over 170 km2, the Park is the largest protected area in Switzerland and the country's only National Park. Founded in 1914, it is also the oldest national park in the Alps and central Europe. In 2008, after 6 years of planning and building, the National Park opened its new visitor centre in Zernez, where you can see a permanent exhibition about the area's natural history.

Your walking holiday starts in Scuol, in the Lower Engadine valley, and crosses the magnificent Swiss National Park into the beautiful valley of Munstertal.

Grade: Moderate

Getting there: Fly to Zurich then travel by train to Scuol

Day 1 Arrive Scuol.

Day 2 Circular walk.
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. Lead was mined in the area up until 1829 and an interesting mining museum will tell you the story. From S-Charl, you walk through the Val Minger. Over the pass of Sur il Foss, you enter another valley, Val Plauna, through which a long descent will take you back to Scuol. ~ 6h

Day 3 Scuol to Lavin.
Walk along the left side of the Engadine valley to Lavin. On your way, you visit a number of beautifully conserved traditional villages famous for the colourful murals painted on their buildings. A special attraction is 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. ~ 5h

Day 4 Lavin to Zernez.
It is only a short stroll from Lavin to Zernez; just a couple of hours if you walk along the river En. Zernez is the gateway to the National Park and features a new visitor centre with a permanent exhibition providing plenty of information about all aspects of the park. If you prefer a more challenging walk, you can 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 an unnamed peak (2682 m). From here, a steep track takes you down to the village of Zernez. ~ 2h or 7h

Day 5 Zernez to Il Fuorn.
It takes about 3 hours to reach the guesthouse of Cluozza in a small, lonely valley. From here, you climb the mountain of Muter from where a steep track takes you down to the river Spol, 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. ~ 7h

Day 6 Il Fuorn to Susom Give.
Today you walk across the broad and flat-topped mountain of Munt La Shera to Susom Give, which is the top of the Ofen Pass. The "Munt la Schera" offers enormous views and is noted for its many wild flowers, including Edelweiss. The Ofen Pass takes its name from the fact that in the old days, there were many ovens here, where iron ore was smeltered. The remains of some of these ovens can still be seen along the road. You spend the night in the hotel on the pass. ~ 5h

Day 7 Susom Give to Santa Maria im Munstertal.
The final day takes you mostly downhill. From Susom Give, you cross the slopes of the Piz Daint (well worth a visit), before you descend to the vast plain of Jufplaun. From here, you enter Val Mora, a long, secluded valley with wonderful views of  the impressive mountains around you. After a long, but fairly easy walk, you reach Sta. Maria, a very well-preserved village with narrow lanes and buildings typical of the area. ~ 7h

Day 8 Departure.