Switzerland | Walking at Davos
Independent Walking, Single centre
During your stay in Davos, you can choose between gentle riverside paths that wind through flower filled meadows or more challenging mountain routes that discover dramatic waterfalls and craggy limestone peaks, snow capped even in summer. Highlights include exploring the Alpinium Botanical Gardens - rare sulphur anemones and lady's slipper thrive here - and spotting marmots playing on limestone boulders on the descent to Lake Davos. You can also taste freshly made cheese in Clavadel and walk along the aptly named Panoramaweg for balcony views over the entire valley.
| Duration: | 8 Days |
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| Tour Code: | ITW78 |
| Trip Style: | Superior - 4 star |
| Departure Dates: | 03 Jun 2012, 10 Jun 2012, 17 Jun 2012, 24 Jun 2012, 01 Jul 2012, 08 Jul 2012, 15 Jul 2012, 22 Jul 2012, 29 Jul 2012, 05 Aug 2012, 12 Aug 2012, 19 Aug 2012, 26 Aug 2012, 02 Sep 2012, 09 Sep 2012, 16 Sep 2012, 23 Sep 2012, 30 Sep 2012 |
| Price: | From $1,810 |
| Single Supplement: | NIL |
| Places you'll visit: |
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| Highlights: |
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Trip Details
This walking holiday is based at the delightful Hotel Meierhof. From its formal lobby dominated by a hand carved pine grandfather clock to its low-lit wooden panelled dining room, this 19C hotel recalls a grander age of travel. Headwater guests normally stay in south facing rooms with balconies. There's also an indoor swimming pool and brand new wellness area with saunas, steam bath, whirlpool, and mini gym.
Your hosts are Riet and Kathrin Frey, both keen walkers. Riet is also a sommelier and arranges a complementary wine tasting at the start of the week in his cellar. Breakfast is a buffet of hams, cheeses, cereals, yoghurts and fresh fruit. Dinner is a lavish four course affair. There's also a gala dinner once a week. Expect to try exquisitely presented dishes such as cheese roulade with a courgette and wild mushroom ragout or red mullet served with olive ravioli. Not to mention a delicious home-baked strudel to finish!
All guests receive a Davos Card for unlimited travel on most regional bus, train, mountain railway and cable car routes. When you're not walking, your centrally located hotel is ideally situated to enjoy Davos' geranium-decked streets and tempting pavement cafés. There's a varied programme of musical events throughout the summer. The Davos Card also gives discounts on other activities including the glacier railway and outdoor swimming pool. There's sailing and windsurfing on Lake Davos (15 minutes walk from the hotel).
Sunday - Arrive in Davos
We meet you at the station and take you to your hotel (5 mins).
Monday - Dischma Valley - 7km/4mi/2hr or 13km/8mi/3.5hr
From the tranquil hamlet of Durrboden, framed by the mighty snow-capped Scalettahorn (3086m) and Schwartzhorn (3146m), a rocky trail winds through scarlet daphne to charming Teufi by the river, for lunch on the village restaurant terrace. Homewards through pine forest alive to the chatter of wood pigeon, with ever opening views over Davos nestling under the mighty Weissfluh.
Tuesday - Clavadeler Alp - 8km/5mi/2hr or 13km/8mi/4hr
A wooded track, bright with angelica and mountain scabious leads to Mt. Jakobshorn - breathtaking views over Davos shadowed by the snowy Graubunden peaks. Then, with Lake Davos' shimmering blue waters below, you reach today's best lunch spot, Jakobshorn Gasthaus. Descending to Clavadel - perhaps stop off to taste the spicy mountain cheese before joining the riverside trail back to Davos.
Wednesday - The Serene Sertig Valley
7km/4mi/2.5hr or 17km/11mi/4.5hr From Mt Rinerhorn cable car, you descend in and out of pine forest to pretty Sertig hamlet, lost in a sea of meadows dotted with perennial cornflower. It's then on to the dramatic waterfall under Gross Alp - a clash of jagged limestone peaks and white water cascades. Finally a wooded path follows the meandering River Sertig to Frauenkirch where it's a short bus ride to Davos.
Thursday - Classic Alps Walk - 11km/7mi/3hr or 18km/11mi/5.5hr
Today's route begins at the Alpinium, home to hundreds of rare Alpine blooms. Winding past larch roofed mountain chalets and high meadows dotted with Alpine cows grazing, you reach Stafelalp. Commanding views over the Mittaghorn and Jacobshorn, it's a great picnic spot. Homewards: you descend through a narrow valley, alive to the crashing River Chummer to Glaris, returning to Davos by bus.
Friday - Walser Villages Walk - 10km/6mi/3hr or 18km/11mi/5hr
A mountain path lined with irises and yellow vetchling leads over sparkling mountain streams to HauderAlp where the cheery farmer sells you fresh milk by the glass! Onwards with panoramas over snow capped Bodmen Alp, you descend to delightful Monstein with its two gasthaus and medieval brewery. After lunch, you dip into oak forest, with lapwings and kittiwakes flitting through the dappled shade, to descend to Jenisberg for an exciting mountain railway ride (30 mins) back to Davos.
Saturday - Grand Panoramic Trail
8km/5mi/2hr or 19km/12mi/6hr What better way to end the week than with the aptly named Panoramaweg? With Lake Davos shimmering below, you ascend to the tinkle of cowbells to tiny Lake Schoansee. Soon, Klosters frames the horizon as you climb to Gotschnagrat for the most panoramic lunch yet! Returning, you pick your way through edelweiss and gentian and may spot marmots playing on limestone boulders as you descend to Davos for a final 5-course gala dinner.
Sunday - Return home
WALKING DETAILS
This holiday offers walking following stony mountain paths and forest trails. Hiking boots are essential. Well-made and well-maintained paths with excellent signposting. Massive choice of walking routes. Buses, trains and cable cars used to assist walking. Program designed for mixed ability groups.
Located in the south-eastern corner of Switzerland in the Canton of Graubunden. A former spa town, Davos is at 1500m (4900ft) with wonderful air. Spectacular scenery, excellent hotel, great walks with flexibility for mixed ability groups. Excellent local transport, knowledgeable and helpful proprietor. There's lots to do in evening or if the weather is bad.
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel Meierhof, Davos Dorf
The Hotel Meierhof is situated in the heart of Davos Dorf. It's a traditional hotel dating back to 1850, which has been lovingly restored and has all of the modern comforts that you'd expect from an excellent 4 star hotel. There are 75 rooms and Headwater guests stay in the more spacious comfort rooms, which are normally south facing with balcony. All of the rooms are well equipped with both bath and shower, satellite television, minibar, radio, direct dial telephone with internet connection, safe and hairdryer.
Inclusions
- 7 nights accommodation
- Buffet breakfast and evening meals
Terms & Conditions
Click here for our Terms & Conditions
For more information, availability and pricing and options, please contact our expert travel specialists at Inspired Travel Worldwide on (02) 9449 8598 or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.
