Excursions - Zernez (Graubünden)

80 kilometres of hiking trails lead through the Swiss National Park. And provide intimate insights into nature that continually reinvents itself.

Leaving the Parkhütte Varusch mountain lodge (S-chanf), visitors walk alongside the brook into the national park, to the Purcher Alpine meadow and then on to the Val Mela picnic area. Once there, deer, chamois and ibex can all be observed using telescopes and binoculars. At around midday, it's time for a picnic on the Trupchun Alpine meadow picnic area. Here too, there will still be lots of time to observe the animal and plant world. 6 hours; suitable for children accompanied by adults.

Small is beautiful stands for Bogn Zernez, with its attractive and family friendly installations and its outdoor whirlpool.

Switzerland's first national mountain-bike route leads from the Engadine valley to the Rhone – 666 devilishly challenging kilometres across the Alps. It's the world's longest – and one of the toughest.

Personal hiking guide in the form of a hand-held computer (reserve in the National Park Centre). An interactive quiz, 360° panoramas of the most beautiful vantage points, as well as audio commentaries by park wardens are also on the eGuide. A simple identification key is also provided for the identification of plants, birds, butterflies and grasshoppers.

In Central Europe’s oldest national park, which is located at the Ofen Pass, over 100 species of birds are found. To see the most impressive one, the bearded vulture, you need a bit of luck. Postal cars run from the Zernez train station to the starting points of popular hiking tours that lead to the Val Stabelchod or across the Buffalora and Schera mountains.

Picture: Bearded Vulture