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Light-hearted on the move on both feet

Mountain Paradise & Golden Sun

The breathtaking view of the mountains and a sunny day with a bright golden sun will remain unforgettable as you hike carefree on both feet.

 Guests have booked a different hotel order for this tour for availability reasons. However, the hikes are identical.

HIKERS are lucky, because in the Upper Engadine the best time for hiking is actually from June to November: In June, the blooming and fragrant mountain spring beckons, the cool mountain summer from July and until mid-September, when the cows on the Alps are "on holiday" and their tinkling bells echo off the rock faces. Or the splendid autumn, when the forests almost explode in bright colors and the stone pine forests transform the Engadine into a golden paradise. Yes, even in winter, when the kilometers of hiking trails that have now been cleared ensure that not only skiers and cross-country skiers can enjoy the winter wonderland, the Upper Engadine has its charms for hikers! These dreamlike images run through my mind on this windy, rain-swept Sunday morning as I dream in my warm bed of the experiences of past sunny days. A very real daydream, because we had taken advantage of the golden autumn to book the exclusive "Hiking Experience Engadine" by Private Selection Hotels, which took us from Zuoz via Celerina to Pontresina and back to Zuoz again.

Day 1 and 2

After a good night's sleep, we stood in front of the defiant walls of the HOTEL CASTELL above Zuoz, well-fed and full of expectation, because now the adventure was about to begin: We had in mind to make our way on foot to the next bed - the Hotel Cresta Palace in Celerina. The yellow signpost to Madulain kindly did not point uphill, but along a nice flat path southwards along the mountain flank warmed by the morning sun. We were allowed to leave our luggage at the hotel reception (a courier will transport it to the next hotel during the day, in the small day pack rain protection and the picnic prepared by the hotel kitchen are of little importance). After about half an hour, the hiking trail led down to the village of Madulain. From here we could now follow - always according to our detailed travel documents - the "Via Valtellina" signposted with No. 30 - the map was superfluous, our gaze went rather upwards to the colorful facades of the typical Engadine houses. In the next village with the tongue-twisting name La Punt-Chamues-ch, hunger was already making itself known. Passing beautiful Engadine farmhouses and patrician houses and churches worth seeing, we reached the Chamuesch-ch part of the village - somewhat away from the noisy excursion traffic that pours down from the Albula Pass to La Punt. Suddenly we were standing in front of an inviting inn. In the garden restaurant there was lively discussion, and we let ourselves be enchanted by the dynamic melody of the Rhaeto-Romanic language. The dishes of our lunch also had Romansh names: Pizokel, Capuns, Maluns, Salsiz - they tasted excellent and gave us energy for the remaining stretch to Celerina. On largely flat, wide hiking paths that lead through a natural high moorland area and along the golden pine forests, we could now, having had our fill and in a good mood after a red Herrschäftler, devote ourselves undisturbed to in-depth conversations - you can only do that on such wide and flat paths, because on mountain paths steeply uphill or downhill you usually have to walk one after the other, and it is difficult to have deep conversations in addition to deep breathing. So my companion asked me: "What do you prefer to do: hiking or biking (well, she asked of course: hiking or biking?)". My spontaneous answer: "Hiking". And she again: "Why?" "I have to tell you the story of the snail: When a snail crosses the path, only the hiker keeps still and looks at the snail. Everyone else - including the bikers - runs over it...". Silently we hiked on towards our day's destination Hiking experience in the golden Engadine autumn. Celerina. From the surrounding floodplains along the Inn, we heard birdsong in many voices. These sounds are denied to the hurried car driver and even to the mountain biker. Gradually, a new feeling of anticipation crept in: The afternoon sun was still burning quite warmly from the sky, the back under the day packs felt damp, and the legs reported a contented tiredness. And so the anticipation of the panorama pool with bubble loungers, of possibly even relaxing massages, of a blissful pre-dinner hump and then of the revitalizing apéritif drink made itself felt - and increasingly also the desire for the upcoming dinner. There, where alpine nature, luxurious wellness, world-class cultural highlights and pure enjoyment merge into a unique source of inspiration: Suddenly, our steps became a little more brisk, because in the distance, the stately building of the CRESTA PALACE HOTEL of Celerina was already visible in the golden evening sun. Upon entering this oasis of hospitality, our eyes automatically searched for our suitcases. But the charming voice of the receptionist immediately reassured us: the luggage was of course already in the rooms: "Private selection oblige!...".

Day 3

The next day, we already felt like experienced hikers in the morning in front of the hotel. All the more relaxed, we could look forward to the ride in the post bus to St. Moritz and further on foot along the Upper Engadine lakes and from Furtschelas on high-altitude paths with great views to Pontresina. We were hardly talkative on these probably rather narrow mountain paths - the amazement at the impressive mountain world left us almost reverent. In the evening, muscles and palates were again pampered in the hamam of the HOTEL SARATZ and at the delicious 4-course dine-around menu before us.

Day 4

On the fourth day, we made our way home via the world-famous view of Muottas Muragl back to the already familiar HOTEL CASTELL in Zuoz. And there we slept for the last time in a comfortable Engadine bed.