Senda Munt d'Ardez

The trail starts in the beautifully maintained Engadin village of Guarda. The facades, decorated with sgraffiti, the narrow alleyways and the typical stone houses give it a special atmosphere. This not only enchants visitors: It also inspired author Selina Chönz and illustrator Alois Carigiet to create their children’s book A Bell for Ursli (“Schellen-Ursli”/“Uorsin”), which made Guarda famous far beyond the region. The village was awarded the Wakker Prize in 1975 for preservation of its architectural heritage.

The winter hiking trail leaves the village towards the east and initially continues at the same altitude. It then climbs gently through open expanses of snow and sparse patches of woodland to the small hamlet of Bos-cha. Here, hikers can enjoy glorious tranquillity, accompanied only by the crunch of the snow.

After Bos-cha, the real ascent to the alm settlement of Munt d’Ardez begins. It’s located on a sunny sloped terrace above Ardez. The path winds through snowy forests of larches and snow pines, with impressive views over the Lower Engadin Dolomites. Once you reach the top, a bench invites you to take a break and admire the landscape and alms. There are also views across the valley and of the Alpine winter landscape.

You descend towards Ardez on a well-groomed path that takes you down directly into the village. Ardez has also preserved its original character. With typical Engadin houses, a church tower and the ruins of Steinsberg castle, it’s among the most impressive villages in the region.