Saint Moritz Off The Beaten Path

4 more images

This is one of my favourite places, unfortunately (or not) in a somewhat remote location - thus never crowded. It is a side valley of the Poschiavo valley, beyond the Bernina pass. Easiest is to drive over the Bernina pass to Sfazu, park the car there and take the mini bus (large van) up into the valley. There is also a bus connection from the train station Ospizio Bernina but that takes time and it's really infrequent. Make sure to reserve a seat in the mini bus (phone or got to either the post office or Engadin bus office). If you take the mini bus to the mountain hut Lungacqua this saves you a walk of about an hour on a gravel road (not open to private traffic) with an elevation difference of almost 400 m.

The valley is lush, green, with a few farm houses, grazing cows - absolutely picturesque! The surrounding mountains tower up about 1,000 to 1,500 m above the valley floor. Highlights are the lakes - the stunning Lake Saoseo (see pictures) only an easy 20 minutes walk from Lungacqua, Lake da Val Viola with even different amazing blue/turquoise colours an hour farther up.

Experienced hikers might follow the hiking path over the pass at the end of the valley into Italy (Livigno). The others (like yours truly) walk back to Sfazu - easy, with the Palü glacier in view from afar.