Bernina-Tour

An unparalleled scenery: this long-distance hike offers impressive views of all the glaciers in the Bernina massif. At 4049 metres, Piz Bernina is the only four-thousand-metre peak in the eastern alps and also the highest mountain in Graubünden. On this tour it is circled as far as Maloja. As you start out on the southern side of the alps, you will experience a Mediterranean atmosphere against an alpine backdrop. From Poschiavo with its townscape of national importance, the first stage of the UNESCO world heritage route follows the Rhaetian railway. On the way to the Bernina pass at 2328 metres, you will see the Cavaglia glacier garden with its glacier mills and Alp Grüm, offering a first view of the eastern side of the Bernina massif. The pass itself not only represents the main European water divide between the Black Sea and the Adriatic, but also the border between the Rhaeto-Romanic and Italian language zones.

At the Bernina hospice, a breather on the even, wide path along Lago Bianco helps to loosen the muscles. This is necessary, because the second stage climbs all the way up to the Diavolezza top station with spectacular views of Piz Palü and Piz Bernina with the legendary Bianco ridge. You can take the mountain railway down to the valley or the trail past the Lej da Diavolezza. Once down, a steep ascent begins on the other side of the Val Bernina towards Fuorcla Pischa at 2835 metres. A jewel right at the start of the third stage: the Val da Fain, known for its magnificent alpine flora and the multitude of marmots. The area around Piz Albris is home to one of the largest ibex colonies in the alps. You descend through the Val Languard to Pontresina, the destination of this stage, either on foot or from Alp Languard by chairlift.

After leaving the mountain resort, the trail takes you into the lovely Val Roseg. It branches off in front of the Hotel Restaurant Roseg Gletscher, and you find yourself surrounded by stone pines, larches and alpine flowers with a great view of the Sella and Roseg glaciers. Once you reach Fuorcla Surlej, you can see the lake Lej da Vadret and the Bianco ridge of Piz Bernina to your left. After Fuorcla Surlej, the wide path ends at the middle station Murtèl of the Corvatsch cable car. The last section is a downhill traverse along the mountain flank to Alp Prasüra. In the valley between the lakes of Silvaplana and Sils, you arrive at the culturally significant village of Sils with the well-known district of Sils Maria. Past the church of Sils Baselgia and now on the Via Engiadina, the route leads through Grevasalvas on the left side of the valley, where a Heidi film was shot in the 1970s. The Bernina tour ends in the village of Maloja, on the border to the unspoilt Bergell valley.