TRAIL RUN SWITZERLAND
DATE: 08 - 15 AUGUST 2021
RISK FREE BOOKING POLICY. GET A FULL REFUND IN CASE OF CANCELLATION. READ MORE.
EARLY BIRD AVAILABLE NOW UNTIL 01 FEBRUARY 2021
£1995pp
Tier 2: £2,095 02 February - 01 May 2021
Full Price: £2,195 02 May until departure
REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT: £300 PER PERSON
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: AVAILABLE
EXPERIENCE OVERVIEW
Cruising through mystical gorges, climbing trails to high glaciers, running along flowy trails as we move from mountain hut to hut and soaking our tired legs in cold mountain lakes at the end of each amazing day. It’s set to be a spectacular adventure!
Join us on on The Swiss Dream: seven-days of running on some of the most stunning trails that Switzerland has to offer.
DATE: 08 - 15 AUGUST 2021
DISTANCE: 15 - 25km per day
MAX. 12 RUNNERS
Would you like to talk to a Pure Trails team member to learn more about this trip?
ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE
With a country as wild and beautiful as Switzerland you are spoilt for choice as to where to run and travel.
In our opinion Graubünden just about takes top spot; its all about raw natural beauty where the tall alpine mountains stand high above the clouds. The rolling meadows meet the wind-bashed plateau in Engadine and the Rhine flows through the ravines around Flims.
This is Swiss grandeur at it’s best, it’s a wonderfully remote, wild and natural.
Our base camp for the trip mixes between a beautiful 4-star wellness hotel where we have direct access from our doorstep to the trails heads, and we can indulge ourselves in the hotel steamy waters each evening to relax after a day on the trail. We’ll also be spending 2-nights in cosy mountain refuges surrounded by alpine peaks, you couldn’t ask for a better backdrop.
HIGHLIGHTS
Trail running in the idyllic region of Graubünden - a Swiss Paradise
Follow trails that cruise through mystical gorges and climb paths to high glaciers
Spend two-nights in mountain huts as we fastpack along the Swiss-Austrian border
Relax at a beautiful 4* wellness hotel surrounded by high mountains with direct access to the trail heads
ITINERARY
Click to explore in more detail.
+ DAY 1: ARRIVE INTO FLIMS
Arrival into Zurich International Airport & make your own way to Flims (we will provide details)
Check-into Hotel Schwizerhof and relax at our hotel
Group catch-up on the veranda to get to know one another
10km easy urban run to explore this lush alpine town
Welcome Dinner Ceremony
+ DAY 2: TRAILS OF SARDONA
Breakfast
Prepare kit for our days trail running in the mountains
Ski lift to Sardona
17-20km Trail Run high mountain glacier - Sardona - Water Trail - Flims
Optional: 3000m peak we can summit if the group is feeling fresh
Arrive back at our hotel for a well deserved chill
Relax at the hotels wellness facilities
Group dinner at the hotel
+ DAY 3: RUNNING THE MYSTICAL GORGE
Breakfast
Transfer to Thusis
19 - 21km Trail Run into the Viamal Gorge - Andeer
Public transport back to Flims
Afternoon relaxing and using wellness facilities
Dinner: Swiss feast with local beer to celebrate our day
+ DAY 4: REST DAY
Full day rest day to relax and explore Flims
Optional: White-water rafting experience of one of the neighbouring valleys (excluded from the cost)
5km Recovery trail run of lakes and local forests
Group dinner at the hotel.
+ DAY 5: TRAIL RUNNING THE PRATTIGAUER HOHENWEG
Breakfast
Prepare drop bags and check-out of our hotel
Public transport transfer by train to Klosters
Cable car to Madrisa Station
12+km Trail Run - high level run to St. Antönien
Wild swimming at mountain lakes
Check-into our Mountain Hut and relax
Local dinner served in our mountain hut
+ DAY 6: TRAIL RUNNING THE RATIKON
Sunrise Mountain Yoga
Breakfast
15km Trail Run along the Ratikon Ridge passing between Switzerland & Austria
Lunch (excluded) in an Austrian mountain hut surrounded by big mountains
Return to our Swiss mountain hut to relax
Afternoon to stretch and take in the mountain views
Local dinner served in our mountain hut
+ DAY 7: THE TRAIL TO MALANS
Breakfast
We will make our way to Malans depending on how the group is feeling
Option 1 (Easy): Cruise back into the valley with a 'trottinette' (free wheeling bicycle) and public transport back to our hotel
Option 2 (Regular): 10+km trail run into the Rhine Valley - Cable car into the Canto Valley and return to our hotel
Check-into the Hotel Schweizerhof, relax
Group dinner to celebrate our journey served with local beer and wine
+ DAY 8: HOMEWARD BOUND
Breakfast
Free time to do some last minute exploring
Make your own way back to Zurich Airport
Onward flight home
INCLUDES
7 days fully guided trail running in the beautiful Swiss Mountains
5 Nights accommodation
2 nights accommodation in mountain huts
Half board throughout the trip
Lunch included on the hut-hut days of the trip
All local transportation (including cable cars, but excludes arrival/departure transfers)
Access to a Wellness Spa & Recovery Yoga
4:1 Runners to Guide Ratio
EXCLUDES
International flights
Arrival / departure transfers (Make your own arrangements to the hotel)
All Beverages and snacks
Lunches (except on the hut - hut days)
Personal equipment
Personal bills
Travel Insurance (REQUIRED before the trips departure - for cancellation, accidents, health and emergency evacuation, loss, theft or damage to baggage or personal effects)
Tips
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1 - Arrival into Flims
Arriving into Zurich International Airport (ZRH) make your own way to our meeting point which is at the Hotel Schweizerhof in the beautiful town of Flims. We’ll explain the details of how best to get to the hotel before we depart.
Check-in and relax into your room with some time to get to know the rest of our trail running group. With time available we will head out to do an easy run (approx. 10km) around this lush alpine town.
Back at the hotel there is time to relax before we have a group dinner with a briefing about our days ahead.
Day 2 - Trails of Sardona
Distance : 17 - 23km
Today we’ll run past a high mountain glacier, as well as the famous Unesco world heritage site of Sardona - an area where tectonic plates collid - jaw-dropping mountain scenery is no surprise.
Leaving out hotel behind we’ll take advantage of the chair lifts which allow us to gain altitude quickly and saves our legs for the rest of the trail. We begin running when we reach Sardona.
We follow a varied trail which leads to stunning view points, high plateaus and a glacier. There is an optional 3000 metre peak we can summit if the group is feeling fresh. We then run back to Flims via the Trutg dil Flem (The Water Trail) which follows a nice descent back into town.
Back to the hotel for a well deserved chill.
Day 3 - Running the Mystical Gorge
Distance : 19 - 23km
We transfer to the town of Thusis where we run along the rold road and on single trails with many steps, as we head deep into the Viamal Gorge.
This spectacular route passes along huge rock walls and over bridges, later through forests and passing meadows, the hilly trail heads towards the village Andeer. From here we take public transport back to the Flims and back to the hotel.
We’ll spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing and taking advantage of the wellness facilities on offer.
This evening we’ll have a feast with beer to celebrate a wonderful journey.
Day 4 - Rest Day
Today we have a full day at leisure to relax and explore explore Flims and the surrounding area.
As an optional excursion we will arrange a white-water rafting experience in one of the neighbouring valleys (excluded from the price).
Later in the day we will arrange a short run around the towns lake and through local forests for those who want to stretch their legs.
Day 5 - Trail Running the
Prättigauer Höhenweg
Distance : 12+km
After breakfast this morning we check out of our rooms and handover our drop bags which will be transported ahead to our mountain hut.
We’ll travel as a group using Switzerland’s excellent transport system, first by taking the train to Klosters and then taking the cable car to Madrisa station.
From here we begin our high level run to St. Antönien.
We’ll stop by a mountain lake to have a cold, refreshing dip before taking lunch at our mountain hut with check-in. We’ll have the remainder of the day to soak up the mountain views and to relax.
Day 6 - Trail running the
Rätikon
Distance : 17+km
After breakfast we leave our mountain hut behind as we take a breathtaking route along the famous mountain ridge of Rätikon which passes between Switzerland and into Austria.
We’ll stop for lunch (excluded) in an Austrian mountain hut by a lake which has amazing views of Schesaplana (2,964m), the highest mountain in this part of the alps.
We’ll continue on our trail heading back into Switzerland and returning to our mountain hut for a well earn rest and a tasty dinner.
Day 7 - The trail to Malans
Today we will make our way to Malans and depending on how the group is feeling we have two options available:
Option 1 (Easy):
We’ll cruise back into the valley with a “trottinette” (a free wheeling bicycle) and take public transport back to our hotel. Checking-in we have the rest of the day at leisure to relax, with some time for recovery yoga and to enjoy the wellness facilities of the hotel.
Option 2 (Regular):
We can trail run through the alps as we head towards the Rhine valley. We’ll take lunch (excluded) as a local restaurant which has a spectacular view of the entire area.
From here we will ride a cable car back into the Canto valley and onward to our hotel for check-in.
Day 8 - Homeward Bound
It’s time to pack up and bid farewell to your new found trail running friends and our local team.
Make your own way back to Zurich International Airport (ZRH) in time for your onward flight.
WHERE WE
STAY
Hotel Schweizerhof, Flims
This beautiful 4* wellness hotel is located in the heart of Flims, an alpine oasis surrounded by meadows and mountains.
Big, spacious and alpine inspired rooms, direct access to the mountain trails, as well as having a wellness spa make this a perfect addition to the trip.
Mountain Huts
For three days of the trail adventure we will follow the extraordinary Prättigauer Höhenweg (the high-level trail) which straddles the border between Switzerland and Austria.
For this part of the journey we will spend 2-nights in alpine-style mountain huts, surrounded by lofty mountain peak.
Clean and very charming, the guesthouses are a cosy addition to soak up the views after a good day on the trail.
FAQ
FLIGHTS
We specialise in arranging excellent trail running holidays, but do not book International flights. As there is a great variety of value flights departing from all over the world to Zurich International Airport (ZRH).
We will discuss with you about our trusted and recommended ways to book international flights through excellent ATOL protected partners who offer great value, ease of service and flight protection.
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE
We start and finish the running adventure in the charming mountain town of Flims. As public transportation in Switzerland is so convenient and easy to use we suggest the following route:
10min train from the airport to Zurich Mainstation (there are several connections per hour)
Take an onward 1hr 15min direct train to the town of Chur (no change)
We’ll discuss with you the arrival/departure details thoroughly when joining the adventure.
VISAS
British citizens do not need a visa to visit Switzerland.
GROUP MANAGEMENT
Being a group of max. 12 runners with a mixture of ages and running abilities we may decide to split into flexible groups, all of which will be supported by our running guides who will travel with us on the trip.
By splitting the group will allow us all to move more fluidly, allowing all team members to run at their own comfortable pace, without feeling pressured.
TRAIL RUNNING
The majority of our trail running in Switzerland will see us spending time in the high mountains. The paths and trails will be a real mixture of alpine meadows, forests, gorges and mountain switchbacks.
We expect the trails to be quite and aim to take advantage of the chair/ski lifts which takes the bulk out of some of the major climbs and allows us to travel further. The trails for the most part will be hard-packed or looser shingle/stoney the higher we go.
At times the mountain trails will climb and descend steeply, travelling on average of 15km per day, up to a maximium of 25km. These being mountain trails will likely see us spending 5+ hours on our feet, will plenty of stops to take in the view, lunch stops and swimming in mountain lakes.
TEMPERATURES
In August we expect long, summer days with blue skies and temperatures to sit between 18 - 24 degrees C. Our trails will change from the lower mountain meadows to high mountain trails, and as a result the weather conditions will vary. We need to be prepared for a range of weather conditions.
For our nights in the mountain huts night time/early morning temperatures outside will dip, but these soon vanish as soon as the sun comes up.
READY TO
BOOK
NEWS FROM BASECAMP
We look at the top five places in the world to trail run