Favorite "easy" hikes in the Berner Oberland, Engadin, and the Dolomites
 

Hi all

I was hoping to get some input on some hikes you've enjoyed in the above areas. Nothing too strenuous, we aren't bringing any equipment - just want to see some pretty sights up close!

Thank you!

An Engadin "easy" hike I'd recommend is one that has beautiful views and goes horizontally above the valley floor starting at Guarda, through Ardez (with lunch here: http://www.stua-granda.ch/restaurant.html) and on to Ftan. From there, we took the post bus to Scuol and the train back to our car at Guarda.

Thanks Tuck - any recos on a place to stay for the night? (which town, which hotel...)

We will be leaving Pufels/Ortisei in the morning, and will stay one or maybe two nights somewhere in the Engadin before heading on to Lake Como.

We stayed in Pontresina in a ferienwohnung so that wouldn't work. I'm sure others here will have recs.

On your way to Lake Como, be sure to make a stop at fantastic Soglio, just before the Italian border. We did a wonderful hike from there too...

We took a cable car up Marmalada in the Dolomites and hiked up to the beginning of the glacier. You can't go past that without gear (although we made a valiant effort!), but we have some of our favourite pictures of the trip from there. You can actually walk the whole way up but we decided to take the cable car up and hike down.

We also took a cable car up Pordoi which was breathtaking. Didn't do much hiking up there, but we walked around a while - the views were amazing.

Marmalada was really interesting as you can really see how far the glacier has receeded up the mountain - the little cafe up there is about 150 meters or so down the mountain, and in the pictures from years ago it's right at the glacier!

Near the Engadin is the Bregaglia Valley. We hiked from Soglio to Castasegna on the Italian border along the Via Bregaglia. We are returning this summer to hike the Via Bregaglia and the Via Panoramica.

1. Guarda (Lower Engadine): Hotel Meisser is a great place to stay.

a) I agree with TuckH about the horizontal hike above the valley floor.

b) There is also a stupendous, and rather more difficult hike, up toward Piz Buin.

c) In addition, the horizontal hike above Scuol is very nice, too (I think it took us to Ftan).

2. Sils-Maria (Upper Engadine): I like the Pensione Privata - great meals, too! Hike the Fex Valley

3. Berner Oberland:

a) Hike from Maennlichen station above Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg; can continue on back down to Wengen, if you're up for it.

b) There are wonderful hikes from Muerren (I don't know how to make an umlaut!) in a number of directions.

c) Hiking near First in the Grindelwald area is nice, too (I l like the hike to the Bach Alp See).

Hi Flygirl - How about a hike (- more of a stroll really) around Italy's most beautiful lake?

http://www.hotel-carnia.com/img/ferrate/braies.jpg
(Lake Braies in the Dolomites)

Nearby Prato Piazza is also scenic.

Alpe di Siusi (- above Val Gardena) is gorgeous walking country. Head for the Saltria area ...

For walks in the Val Gardena area:

http://www.valgardena.it/en/walking-...ng/page50.html

You might find this link useful:

http://www.dolomiti.org/dengl/cortin...oni/index.html

There are often guided walks in the Dolomites if you're there in the high season.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Coming back from the Schilthorn, We got off the gondola in Murren and walked to Gimmelwald -- it was beautiful, and all downhill. Then we rode the gondola from Gimmelwald down to Stechelberg, and walked the valley floor back to our hotel in Lauterbrunnen. You can detour to see Trummelbach falls on the way.

Hi flygirl,
For a really nice walk amidst beautiful Dolomites scenery, take the cable car (Mont Seuc) from Ortisei (Val Gardena) to the Seiser Alm. Paved paths, an outdoor restaurant/cafe at the top, all within a fantastic Dolomite setting.

Paul

Tuck, the hotel Stüa Granda is in Soglio, not in Ardez.

Agree on that hike you described. I personally prefer it the other way around and a little bit longer:
gondola from Scuol to Motta Naluns, walk to Prui (30-45 min), chair-lift down to Ftan, then hike to Ardez, continue to Guarda. IMO the better views and the portion Scuol to Ftan is very easy with the gondola/chair-lift.

As for accommodation: In Guarda anything is very good: Hotel Meisser, Hotel Piz Buin, Pension Val Tuoi.

In Scuol you have plenty of options. You can try hotel Engiadina, Hotel Astras, Hotel Guardaval.

In the upper Engadine are favourite easy hikes of mine:
- funicular to Muottas Muragl, hike to Alp Languard, chair-lift down to Pontresina. Spectacular views.
- Sils-Maria to Fex Valley and back. Take the horse-drawn carriage into the valley, hike (read: walk) back. very easy, relaxing, great views.

Accommodation: in Pontresina Hotel Engadinerhof or Chesa Mulin e.g. but honestly, you cannot really go wrong.

Easy hikes in the Bernese Oberland (and I think you refer to the Jungfrau region):
- cable car from Wengen to Männlichen or gondola from Grindelwald to Männlichen, hike to Kleine Scheidegg, back by cog-wheel train. You can continue the hike down to the villages as far as you please and hope on the train at one of the stops (Wengernalp e.g.)
- Grindelwald, gondola to First, hike to Grosse Scheidegg, back by bus or hike down (can get long-ish).
- Lauterbrunnen, gondola to Grütschalp, hike to Mürren via Winteregg and/or Allmendhubel, down to Stechelberg by cable car or hiking. Back by bus or walking along the valley.

Hope this helps ;-)

Ingo

Ingo - right you are! It was from THAT hike around Soglio that we had a scenic lunch there...

Hello everyone!

Thank you so much, this is great!

Hi flygirl,
Here's a link to the Mont Seuc cable car up to the Seiser Alm from Ortisei, Val Gardena.

www.alpedisiusi-seiseralm.com/index.html