Wild Switzerland Trek

Day 1: Travel to Bergün (1363m)

We meet either at Munich Hauptbahnhof to take the train together or directly in Bergün.

Accommodation: 4 bed room with bath/shower, bedding & towel, WC, hairdryer (Evening meal, board & breakfast)

Day 2: Bergün (1310m) - Chamanna Ela (2253m)

Distance: 7km, Ascent: 1000m, Descent: 126m, Walking time: Approx 5 Hrs

We leave the mountain village of Bergün and start our climb through lush alpine forest. Passing the tree line, we continue through alpine meadow and into the rocky landscapes of the Parc D’Ela. Our hut for the night is an idyllic self-catered Swiss Alpine hut. With a well-resourced kitchen, we are able to cook up a tasty dinner and relax with some star-gazing.

Accommodation: Shared room. Toilet & wash basin. Ingredients for dinner & breakfast provided and distributed by group to carry up. Group preparation, cooking and clear up are part of this experience.

Lunch: Packed lunch (Available for purchase at hotel or in Bergün).

Day 3: Chamanna Ela (2253m) – Alp D'Err (2178m)

Distance: 10km, Ascent: 670m, Descent: 750m, Walking time: Approx 5 Hrs

We say goodbye to our Heidi hut and set off through the moonscape landscape to the Pass D’Ela at 2724m. The rocks of this area bear witness to the formation of the Alps. The mix of rocks from European and African continental plates, as well as sea bed, provide a stunning backdrop to our hike as we continue passed high alpine lakes, where we can picnic and enjoy a cold plunge!

Our route continues, descending into lush Alpine meadows, bursting with flowers and between the whistles of the marmots. This is picture-book Switzerland, as the sound of cow bells greet us as we reach the lower meadows.

We finish the day at our accommodation, a traditional mountain farm which has a barn converted for hikers. We have all the local produce at our finger tips to sample and a cheesy raclette dinner awaits with the farm cheese.

Accommodation: Converted farm house. Modern 8-bed dorms, shared shower & WC, Half-board (evening meal, board & breakfast)

Lunch: Packed lunch (Pre-purchase in Bergün)

Day 4: Alp D'Err (2178m) – Alp Flix (2652m)

Distance: 11km, Ascent: 500m, Descent: 700m, Walking time: Approx 5 Hrs

Waking up to the sounds of farm life, we get to enjoy breakfast in the thick of it. It’s time however to bade farewell to this charming spot and continue onwards to our next magnificent leg. The trail takes us up over the Fuschela da Colm and provides many moments of awesome panoramas and views. We walk through trails lined with mountain flowers, passing through cows in their pastures and climb up and down around the east side of the Piz D’Err.

As we descend into Alp Flix, a stunning high alpine plateau and moorland, we take a detour to two glistening alpine lakes for a dip. Tonight we are accommodated in a delightful family run guest house- as well as soaking up the sun on their beautiful sun terrace, we are treated to an exceptional 4 course evening meal.

Accommodation: 2-4 bed private room with shared washroom/toilet, Half-board (board, 4 course dinner & breakfast)

Lunch: Packed lunch (Available for purchase from Alp D’Err farm)

Day 5: Alp Flix (2652m) - Julier Pass (2233m)

Distance: 10km, Ascent: 830m, Descent: 600m, Walking time: Approx 6 Hrs

After a good sleep and sumptuous breakfast we are energised for another day of wonder and awe on the trail. We depart the high alpine plateau and climb through the mountain pastures, gradually into the rocky terrain of the Park Ela. As we walk we cross the divide between where the African and European tectonic plates met and observe the changes in geology, terrain and plant life.

Further natural wonders meet us along the way - a natural rock arch, a mysterious lake and flowers that have adapted to thrive in these extreme environments. We finally descend to the Julier Pass, with historical significance since the Bronze Age. From here we take a short bus ride down to the mountain village of Bivio where we stay for the night.

Accommodation: 2 bed private room with en-suite shower/toilet, Half-board (board, evening dinner & breakfast), sauna & steam room

Lunch: Packed lunch (Available for purchase from Hotel)

Day 6: La Veduta (2233m) - Septimer Pass

Distance: 13km, Ascent: 875m, Descent: 815m, Walking time: Approx 7 Hrs

Following a hearty breakfast we take a short transfer to the Julier Pass for today’s magnificent tour. We head back into alpine meadow and are soon back in the world of high alpine flora and fauna, passing shimmering alpine lakes and crossing high alpine passes. Passing over the Fuorcla Grevasalvas pass we get breath-taking panoramas across to the Bernina glaciers and Lake Segl and Sils. We descend again and skirt below the southern most peaks of the Parc Ela, passing further crystal clear lakes.

Eventually we climb to the climax of our day- the Lunghin Pass, the triple watershed. A drop of rain here can travel into three different seas- via the Rhine to the North Sea, via the Po to the Med and via the Inn and Danube to the Black Sea. After celebrating this feat, we descend to our final accommodation of the tour, the Cas da Sett, a newly converted farm to mountain hut. Here we watch the sun go down over the Alps and can enjoy an evening of star-gazing before our final return to civilisation.

Accommodation:4 bed rooms with shared washroom/toilet, Half-board (board, evening meal & breakfast)

Lunch: Packed lunch (Available for purchase from Hotel)

Day 7: Septimer Pass - Bivio

Distance: 7 km, Ascent: 0m, Descent: 540m, Walking time: Approx 2 Hrs

Our last day of the trek takes us down from the historic Septimer Pass, tracing the old trading route, down to the mountain village of Bivio. We conclude our trek in Bivio with a coffee beneath the peaks of the Parc Ela, before starting our journeys home.

• 7 days personalised guided hike with German and English speaking mountain and travel guide
• 6 nights lodging (2 nights shared dorm, 2 nights 4-bed rooms, 2 nights twin rooms, mostly shared shower/WC)
• Bedding and towels provided 4 nights, hut sleeping bag & towel needed 2 nights
• 6 x breakfast, 6 x dinner
• Transfers within tour
• Pre-tour information package (including local information, packing & travel guide)
• Special 4elements’ trek souvenir
• Tour photo album

• Lunches (Packed lunches needed as indicated. Some can be pre-bought, otherwise available to purchase at accommodation)
• Drinks
• Personal insurance (travel insurance and personal accident insurance)
• Tips

Accommodation along this route has been selected for its character, traditional atmosphere and scenic location- giving you a mix of accommodation style.

Some days we are in traditional private guesthouses, and others in more rustic alpine refuges- giving you a taste of all aspects of Swiss alpine life.

Breakfast and dinners are included every day.

Most accommodations across the Alps can cater for most food allergies e.g. glutenfree, celiac etc if they have the information in advance - please let us know upon booking or latest 2 weeks before! Vegetarian options are also mostly readily available. Vegan eaters won’t go hungry, but will have limited options (this is the land of cheese, after all!) - we recommend packing extra snacks.

Parc Ela

Parc Ela is Switzerland’s largest Nature Park. Located in the heart of Graubünden, it is made up of three languages and cultures - Romansch, German and Italian. With grand mountain peaks and vast landscapes surrounded by glaciers and mountain lakes, you get to experience wild alpine trekking. The proximity of high mountain passes Albula, Julier and Septimer Alpine passes paint a picture of the history of the nature, people and their products.

When booking a tour with 4elements it is vital that you have adequate valid travel insurance covering the activities included. It is your responsibility to arrange appropriate insurances and ensure you have read and understood the full terms and conditions of your insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake whilst on the trip, including all optional activities. We also recommend Travel Cancellation Insurance (Reiserücktrittversicherung) in the case that you have to cancel a trip for any reason.

Your Insurance Policy must fully cover you for medical expenses and emergency repatriation to your country of residence. Please ensure your policy includes medical emergency helicopter repatriation in the event of illness or injury –and covers the entire duration of your holiday. For this tour it is vital that you are covered for mountain search and rescue. One of the best offers for this is included in annual membership of the German Alpine Club Deutscher Alpenverein

If you are looking for insurance to cover a single hiking/ mountain tours (Wander- und Bergsportversicherung) or further insurances such as Travel Cancellation Insurance (Reiserücktrittversicherung), then we recommend the following provider for residents in Germany: Travel Secure