Engadine Valley in early June??
May 26th, 2014, 10:52 AM
#1
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Engadine Valley in early June??
My husband and I are planning on taking the Bernina Express June 5th and were considering staying somewhere in the Engadine Valley (and preferably convenient to the rail trail) for 3 nights. In researching places to stay though, it looks like this is very pre season, and not worth the stop. Thoughts?? We are a flexible well traveled older couple. Prefer hiking, to shopping. Don't need glitz and glamour and prefer adventures, views and new discoveries. Thanks in advance!
May 26th, 2014, 11:00 PM
#2
All of our trips to Switzerland have been in the off season and we never have trouble finding things to do - always enjoyable, regardless of the time of year.
We found Samedan a good base, plenty of hikes year round (we went pre-ski season in early Dec). You might also consider Pontresina.
Our resident Engadine expert Ingo can give you a month's worth of things to see and do. You'll be spoiled for choice.
In the meantime, you might get some ideas here:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...r-oberland.cfm
We found Samedan a good base, plenty of hikes year round (we went pre-ski season in early Dec). You might also consider Pontresina.
Our resident Engadine expert Ingo can give you a month's worth of things to see and do. You'll be spoiled for choice.
In the meantime, you might get some ideas here:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...r-oberland.cfm
May 27th, 2014, 10:44 AM
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June 5th to 8th is sort of shoulder season, but that doesn't mean everything is closed. For example, spas/pools in Pontresina, Sils, Samedan, Zernez are open. Segantini museum and Engadine museum in St. Moritz are open. The upscale hotels start their summer season (Kempinski Grandhotel des Bains in St. Moritz, Waldhaus in Sils e.g.). Horse-drawn carriages Pontresina - Val Roseg start again 1 June.
Most cable cars are still closed, true. St. Moritz-Signal opens 7 June, ditto Muottas Muragl. Diavolezza, however, is open winter until fall.
Pensiun and Restaurant Crasta in Fex Valley (Sils) open 1 June, Hotel Waldhaus opens 6 June. So, a walk in the Fex valley is a good option.
In St. Moritz, cafes Hanselmann and Hauser are open, several restaurants, too, especially around the railway station by the lake (Waldhaus am See e.g.).
In Pontresina, a lot of hotels/restaurants are either open anyway or open 6 June. Cafes, too - Gredig and Kochendörfer highly recommended. The shop of the cheese makers is also open.
Samedan is less touristy and more administrative centre, where locals live. Thus less hotels are open, but restaurants, cafes, shops are - many even all year through.
You should not have problems finding options for fine hiking. Granted, some mountain restaurants and many huts will still be closed. My recommendations would be Muottas Muragl on one day, hiking to Alp Languard, down either by chair-lift (opens 8 June if I recall correctly) or hiking to Pontresina. The other day would be perfect either with a horse-drawn carriage ride from the Pontresina railway station to Hotel Roseggletscher, hiking further into the valley to the glacier lake (with icebergs), or up to Fuorcla Surlej and down from there via lake Hahnensee to St. Moritz (check weather conditions and snow, quite long and exhausting). Or from Sils to Fex Valley, first up to Marmore viewpoint, along the sunny slopes (wildflowers!) to Hotel Fex (still closed, I think), back to Fex Crasta, where the restaurant is open, and finally back to Sils, either passing Hotel Waldhaus (pop in for a coffee or tea!) or through the small gorge of the Fex river. Add a walk along lake Sils, best around peninsula Chaste.
Most cable cars are still closed, true. St. Moritz-Signal opens 7 June, ditto Muottas Muragl. Diavolezza, however, is open winter until fall.
Pensiun and Restaurant Crasta in Fex Valley (Sils) open 1 June, Hotel Waldhaus opens 6 June. So, a walk in the Fex valley is a good option.
In St. Moritz, cafes Hanselmann and Hauser are open, several restaurants, too, especially around the railway station by the lake (Waldhaus am See e.g.).
In Pontresina, a lot of hotels/restaurants are either open anyway or open 6 June. Cafes, too - Gredig and Kochendörfer highly recommended. The shop of the cheese makers is also open.
Samedan is less touristy and more administrative centre, where locals live. Thus less hotels are open, but restaurants, cafes, shops are - many even all year through.
You should not have problems finding options for fine hiking. Granted, some mountain restaurants and many huts will still be closed. My recommendations would be Muottas Muragl on one day, hiking to Alp Languard, down either by chair-lift (opens 8 June if I recall correctly) or hiking to Pontresina. The other day would be perfect either with a horse-drawn carriage ride from the Pontresina railway station to Hotel Roseggletscher, hiking further into the valley to the glacier lake (with icebergs), or up to Fuorcla Surlej and down from there via lake Hahnensee to St. Moritz (check weather conditions and snow, quite long and exhausting). Or from Sils to Fex Valley, first up to Marmore viewpoint, along the sunny slopes (wildflowers!) to Hotel Fex (still closed, I think), back to Fex Crasta, where the restaurant is open, and finally back to Sils, either passing Hotel Waldhaus (pop in for a coffee or tea!) or through the small gorge of the Fex river. Add a walk along lake Sils, best around peninsula Chaste.
May 28th, 2014, 07:44 AM
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You all are the best!! A special thanks to Ingo who is obviously Engadine's expert!! So we will definitely enjoy. It doesn't sound much different (in terms of what is open and what isn't) than Bernese Oberland where we are now (in the rain :.( Would Celerina be a good place to stay??
Jun 5th, 2014, 04:02 PM
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I was in the Lower Engadine, based in Guarda, last June 7 to 9, and in the Upper Engadine, based in Pontresina, from June 9 to 12. Loved it! The Lower Engadine and the Val Bregaglia were filled with gloriously blooming wildflowers. Enjoy!
Jun 6th, 2014, 03:09 AM
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The weather over the next few days should be great, but keep in mind that in the mountain regions, pockets of thunderstorms can pop up any time, especially when the temps have gotten suddenly warmer.
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