@an3flury / Graubünden
If you are looking for seclusion, breathtaking landscapes and challenging stages, you will find it in Graubünden on the new Parc Ela Trek long-distance hiking trail. The Parc Ela Trek leads over Alpine and passes around Parc Ela in 17 daily stages.
Beginning from Tiefencastel in the Albula Valley, the village is the perfect starting point – for this Alpine trek as well as for further excursions. The first two stages are a steep ascent – to the pretty Lai digl Feil at 2,400m, where mountain lake glistens dark blue in the sun.
Most of the nights are spent in the middle of nature in simple accommodation at 2,000m. From an Alpine paradise to the land of Mineral Springs, here are the Summer destinations to add to your travel bucket list.
Arosa
A favourite for family holidays, Arosa‘s highlights include the Bear Sanctuary, one of Europe’s highest golf courses and Lake Obersee—known for its stunning mountain scenery and relaxing rowboat rentals. Those who want to explore a little further should take the family along the themed trails of Arosa’s forested wilderness or watch the sun rise at Arosa Weisshorn.
Nestled on the mountainside on the edge of the Arosa forest, nature meets iconic modernity at the Tschuggen Grand Hotel. Set in the sunniest spot in Arosa, the Tschuggen Grand Hotel was instrumental in establishing Arosa as the prestigious ski resort you see today and boasts a spectacular alpine position of 1,801 m above sea level.
Chur
Switzerland’s oldest city charms visitors with its fine mountain setting, twisting alleys and historic buildings. Numerous boutiques, restaurants, bars, museums and galleries in the largely traffic-free Old Town create a Mediterranean-style atmosphere – providing a perfect starting point to discover the nearby vineyards and surrounding holiday regions of Graubunden.
Rich in traditions, Romantik-Hotel Stern is situated in the center of Chur and offers superb food and wines from Chur and Graubunden for over 300 years. A culinary focal point of the region, guests can enjoy the unique atmosphere of the richly decorated restaurant, plus taste the region’s largest selection of red, white, and rose wines from the hotels’ dedicated cellar.
Samnaun
There are three draws to summer in Samnaun—hiking, biking and tax-free shopping. Once a hot-bed for cross-border contraband, former smugglers used to pack their rucksacks with goods from neighbouring Austria and sell to the Swiss. So lucrative was the act, rumour has it that one villager bought a consignment of cigarettes, sold them for five times their worth and returned with a live ox!
Oxen aside, nowadays people come to Samnaun to fill their shopping bags with goods. Home to the only tax-free resort in Switzerland, visitors can shop from collections of perfumes, jewellery, cosmetics and sporting goods. There are over 50 exclusive shops to explore.
Hotel Chasa Montana boasts beautiful mountain views. Guests can enjoy lunch on the sunny terrace while admiring the views of the Samnaun Mountains. The Montana Spa is fully renovated with a wide range of facilities.
Scuol
Spoiled for sunshine, Scuol lies cradled between the peaks of the Silvretta Range and the Engadin Dolomites. It is known for its Roman-Irish baths and unique mineral springs. Aristocrats, authors, poets and the like have been making pilgrimages to the spa town of Scuol since the mid-1300s.
Today you can find the precious mineral water in the town’s dedicated thermal baths and fountains or in the historical drinking halls dotted along the Inn River. After your quest for miracle water, venture to the Swiss National Park or hang poolside and read a chapter of the quintessential Swiss children’s book, Schellen-Ursli.
The Hotel Belvédère is harmoniously nestled between gorges and mountain meadows. It is a contemporary, wellness, and family hotel with a traditional main building that has been welcoming guests since 1876.
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