Hiking holidays Alpine passes trail Vella - Ulrichen TO
Hiking: Alpine passes trail
A couple of steps
The first part of this tour takes you from Val Lumnezia in the Grisons to the "Valley of the Sun" in Ticino. Between these two valleys lies the Greina plain. A remote high valley, which was saved from flooding only by a nationwide protest. A long descent leads you to the Valle di Blenio to the small village of Olivone. Leave those pointed, stone church steeples of Ticino behind as you walk from the canton of Ticino towards Valais.
While you will hear Italian language on the first days, soon German or even French is spoken in the end of your walking days. But this hike does not only show different cultures and languages but also different landscapes and nature. Wild and rocky close to the Gotthard pass, dreamy and secluded in the Leventina and mild and playful in the area of Goms in Valais. A couple of steps can make a whole lot of a difference in Switzerland.
The Val Lumnezia (Valley of Light) captivates with picturesque mountain villages, historic cultural treasures and sunny slopes. Vrin has been awarded the coveted Wakker-Preis for the preservation of its architectural heritage.
The high plateau of Plaun da Greina is an area of outstanding natural beauty with a symbolic character, an extensive water meadow, laced with small streams. The change of rock and continental microclimate are also of interest.
1400-metre descent through all vegetation levels - from the rock world of Greina to meadows and alps and the forest belt. The Olivone Tourist Office has interesting information on the region.
A day in or above the Valle Santa Maria, stretching up from Olivone to the Passo del Lucomagno. Preserved marshland areas of national significance with rich flora at Capanna Dötra.
Ascent to Passo del Sole, the rock changes from sediment to granite. The Val Piora is one of the largest and most peaceful high plateaux in the Swiss Alps. On foot or with one of the world’s steepest funiculars down to the Leventina.
The cable car takes you up to Pesciüm. The long panoramic stage to All’Acqua reveals the southern charm of the valley: airy larch woods, the tiny villages of Ossasco, Villa, Bedretto and Ronco down below. Latin-style stone houses dotted between typical Valais wooden houses.
The Val Corno stretching up from Cap. Gorno-Gries to Passo del Corno is very interesting in landscape and geological terms. Garnet inclusions in slate on the Griesspass, picturesque Griessee on the edge of a glacier world. Long descent to Goms.
approx. 7 h
approx. 20 km
1'060 m
1'335 m
Day
9
Departure or extension
Tour character
Some passes with long ascends in Ticino. Surefootedness is needed in the beginning. A good stamina is required for this tour.
Travel on buses and funiculars not included in the price (Ilanz – Vella, approx. CHF 7.-).
Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price!
Information
Arrival / Parking / Departure:
Free parking spaces at the community centre. Advance booking necessary.
Return journey by bus and train via Andermatt, Göschenen and Biasca to Olivone. Duration approx. 3 hours.
Travel Documents
Travel documents "analogous"
By default, your travel package includes a set of travel documents, which we will transmit you in advance. The following documents will inform you about your tour:
Travel program with all organizational details.
Official guidebook «Cycling Switzerland»
maps for your biking and/or hiking routes
Detailed maps about your stage locations
Detailed programme day-by-day
Travel documents "digital"
If you select the option "digital travel documents" when booking, we will provide you with all documents for your trip in a digital form. You will receive a small set of documents with the following content:
Manuals for the use of necessary apps
luggage tags
eventual vouchers
En route you will inform yourself easily with the app of SwitzerlandMobility and other free apps. Background information and all other documents are electronically assigned and can be downloaded to your mobile phone in advance.
Since this option saves resources and costs, a discount of CHF 30.- per room is offered.