Switzerland’s largest canton by area is the only one to have three official languages. In addition to its rich culture, it also offers an impressively diverse array of tourist attractions. There are 150 valleys and 615 lakes waiting to be discovered.

The Alpine Circle is a round trip that takes in the most beautiful highlights of the canton of Graubünden’s alpine wilderness. The three routes (ruta focus: 150km, ruta centrala: 200km and ruta cumpleta: 450km) are easy to follow by car or public transport and guarantee that you won't miss out on any of the key sights. Visitors planning to take the full route should allow at least one week.

Visitors have been discovering the canton of Graubünden with the famous little red train ever since 1889. And wherever the Rhaetian Railway doesn’t reach, buses and cable cars do. Unlimited travel throughout the canton with the graubündenPASS.

More than 10,000 years ago, the Flims rock avalanche buried the Anterior Rhine. The resulting dammed lake gradually fought its way through the steep walls, some of which were 350m high — creating the Rhine Gorge, which today is 14km long. In addition to the Ruinaulta (the gorge’s Romansch name), Lakes Laax, Cauma and Cresta were also created during this process.

In the early hours, we set off for Flims and walk for about an hour to the “Il Spir” viewing platform (the name means “swift” in Romantsch). The short hike at this early time is well worth it. We experience the incredible 180° views of the Rhine Gorge at sunrise and witness how the Rhaetian Railway winds through the gorge alongside the river.

Next, we experience the Rhaetian Railway, which just a few bends in is already delivering thrills. The Albula/Bernina line is not a UNESCO World Heritage Site for nothing: the tracks are an engineering marvel that weave through the Graubünden mountains by means of helical tunnels and bridges, reaching their highpoint at the Landwasser Viaduct. The train glides over the 65m-high structure, which is equally impressive from the train and from below.

We continue in the direction of the Bernina Pass to the valley station of the Diavolezza cable car. Once at the top, the Diavolezza glacier stretches out below us. To us, the eternal ice appears less like a she-devil, and more like a queen. We explore this panorama on a hike, then relax in the jacuzzi at 3,000m above sea level, taking in the views of the Bernina massif and Piz Palü.

Legend has it that one young hunter after another followed a pretty she-devil across the rocks, only to disappear without a trace. Among those meeting their fate was Aratsch, whom the she-devil mourned, crying “Mort ais Aratsch!” (meaning “Aratsch is dead!”) — thus giving rise to the name of the neighbouring Morteratsch glacier. The she-devil could not find peace until the entire valley was covered with ice, which is how the Diavolezza glacier came into being.

From the eternal ice we continue to Zernez, where we encounter the myriad flora and fauna of the oldest national park in the Alps. At our final highlight, we lace up our hiking boots once again, and a ranger shares with us some of the lesser-known secrets of the national park. Telescope in hand, we spot lazing marmots and learn fascinating facts about the local deer and ibex.