Switzerland's Grisons Tour Code: 19340 Grade 7 Alps Holiday Duration: 14 nights HOLIDAY DATES 3th Jul 2019 - 17th Jul 2019, 7th Aug 2019 - 21st Aug 2019 Extend your time in Switzerland, combing 21st Aug 2019 - 4th Sept 2019 the alpine resorts of Arosa and Klosters Why not extend your time in the Swiss Alps by combining Alpine Arosa with Klosters, with magnificent hiking opportunities HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS Walk above the treeline and experience breathtaking views. A fantastic mix of walks from the doorstep combined with easy transport links. Explore a remote and undiscovered area of Switzerland. Enjoy easy access to over 400 miles of hiking trails. Ascend the Rätschenhorn (2703m), via the Saaser Calanda col, which offers fabulous views. Experience the ridge walk to the Weissfluh (2843m) with the possibility of traversing some easy snowfields. Switzerland's Grisons Alps' Arosa has all the ingredients for the perfect Alpine holiday. The village itself lies between 1700m and 1800m, so many walks start with a short ascent through trees, but beyond that the landscape opens into alpine meadows with peaks in every direction. Higher up you enter the realm of the ibex, and certainly for the higher grade options this is a peak-baggers dream. The Aroser Rothorn is a challenging walk reaching nearly 3000m, but there are lesser peaks such as the Schiesshorn, Weisshorn, Tiejer Flue and Matlishorn. The attraction of the area extends beyond these peaks to the remote valleys and ridges and the pretty villages such as Tschiertchen. The beautiful grassy ridge above Langwies is a joy and the remote walk passing the tiny collection of barns at Alp Farur is both wild and charming. Arosa is at the end of the spectacular train line, opening up walks between the village and Chur on the valley floor. Several cable cars from the village centre can whisk you to well over 2000m. The Swiss village of Klosters is an idyllic Graubünden village, tucked away at the confluence of four valleys where much of the old world charm of an Alpine Switzerland remains. A patchwork of picturesque flower-filled meadows cover the lower slopes and the sound of cowbells often accompanies you on your walks. Higher up we may see Marmots and maybe even the Chamois or Ibex which find their summer home amidst the high peaks. The hiking opportunities here are magnificent and extensive, with routes progressing through meadowland, forest and alongside fast flowing glacial rivers up to exposed high level terrain. The well marked tracks are generally good underfoot, but at higher levels as we snake up and around the jagged peaks there are some tougher ascents and descents. Some of the hikes we'll enjoy include a ridge walk to the Weissfluh, a walk along a wonderful ‘Panoramaweg', and a walk starting with a gondola ride up the Rinerhorn, so the hiking is spectacular from the outset. The hike descends to the village of Monstein, where you might like to relax with a local craft beer. Our departure on the 19th June will be at a more leisurely pace to allow time to appreciate the flora. This two week holiday combines our one week Alpine Arosa holiday with our one week Klosters holiday. A fantastic way to see two Alpine resorts in one go! WHAT'S INCLUDED Return flights from Heathrow to Zurich (British Airways) Airport transfers by train Half board en suite accommodation Arosa Card and Davos Klosters card, with free travel and free or reduced entry to some local attractions All local transport costs. HOLIDAY GRADE This Grade 7 walking holiday is challenging and requires stamina. The holiday consists of full day walks with appreciable amounts of ascent and descent with walks in some remote areas. The walks are mostly on good waymarked paths and tracks with some narrow and steep rocky areas. At any time of year there may be areas of snow to cross. There are more challenging walks on some days with vertiginous mountain paths in some parts and plenty of ascent and descent over rough and steep ground, so a steady foot and a good head for heights is required. The actual walking time can take 5-7 hours a day and could involve as much as 800-1,000m of ascents and descents on some days. The maximum altitude reached on this holiday is unlikely to be more than 2700m. See the itinerary section for more information. Proposed Itinerary Our bottom line is happy travellers, and to that end we trust our tour leaders to use the itinerary below as a basis for providing you with a great holiday. We expect our leaders to make adjustments to the itinerary if the weather, group ability or other local conditions make that necessary. There are normally more options available to our leaders than those listed below and one or more of these options may well be chosen. All distances, heights & timings are approximate. Key to Meals: B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D - Dinner. In flight meals, if appropriate, will be advised in your final travel documents Day: 1 - Arosa (B) We fly from London Heathrow, Manchester or Birmingham to Zurich Airport and travel the very scenic journey via Chur to Arosa by train. Day: 2 to 7 - Arosa (B,D) During our time in Arosa, our walks will start from the village of Arosa and others will require us to take a cable car, train or the occasional local bus. Our walks are flexible to allow for group ability and weather conditions, and may include one or more of the following examples: No trip to Arosa is complete without a visit to the top of the Arosa Weisshorn, and we start the day by taking the cable car up to this dramatic 2653m peak. The walk takes us steeply down to the Carmanna Pass, before crossing the lower slopes of the Plattenhorn to the Hörnlihutte, for morning coffee. Crossing beneath the Parpaner Weisshorn, the path takes us to Urdenfürggli and Gredigs Fürggli passes, before walking back down to the hotel, via the dramatic mountain lake, Älplisee, and Inner Arosa village.11 miles (18km) , 610m ascent, 1435m descent, 5 hours. We take the train a short distance down the Schanfigg Valley to the small village of Peist. From here we climb through woodland to the Fatschel chairlift which whisks us up to the Schanfigg Höhenweg and our onwards route through alpine meadows to the ridge at Faninpass (2206m), where we can enjoy a dramatic picnic lunch, with views down into the next valley. Walking along the ridge, we ascend to the Mattjisch Horn (2461m), before dropping steeply down to Pirigen and afternoon tea at a lovely little Hütte. Lastly, we drop all the way down to Langwies, for the train back to Arosa, crossing the vertiginous Langwieser Viaduct. 12.4 miles (20km), 950m ascent / 1100m descent. 6 hours. The Ramozhütte is a remote hostel operated by the Swiss Alpine Club, located high in the remote and dramtic Welschtobel Valley. This walk takes us along the most beautiful valley for a picnic lunch at the Ramozhutte, before returning to Arosa along the same route. 11.8 miles (19km), 875m ascent & descent, 5 hours. Arosa's Untersee lake marks the start of this walk, as we climb steadily up the far slopes of the Schanfigg Valley to the delightful alpine village of Medergen at 2000m, we can stop for coffee at a the Alpenrose, a beautiful mountain ‘Hütte' overlooking the valley. We then climb up a long line of steps (not for those with vertigo) below the Mederger Flue, for a dramatic picnic lunch. Passing behind the Chüpfenflue and Strela mountains, with magnificent views down to Davos, before we reach the Strelapass. From here it's a steep descent down to Chüpfen, and then easier down to Langwies, way down in the valley, to catch the train back to Arosa, crossing the vertiginous Langwieser Viaduct.15 miles (24km), 1045m ascent / 1465m descent, 6 hours. One free day will be organised during the week, you can use your Arosa Card on any of the local cable cars. Alternatively take the very scenic modern railway line down to Chur. The Arosa Card is included and will be provided and will be provided on the first day of your holiday. It gives you free travel on local transport and reductions on many local attractions. See more details at the following website: www.arosa.ch/en/summer/all- inclusive. Day: 8 - Klosters (B,D) We will say goodbye to beautiful Arosa and travel by train to Klosters to start our 1 week holiday in a fine Swiss idyllic. Day: 9 to 14 - Klosters (B,D) During our time in Klosters, our walks will start from the village of Klosters and others will require us to take a cable car, train or the occasional local bus. Our walks are flexible to allow for group ability and weather conditions, and may include one or more of the following examples: Gotschnagrat Circuit. This magnificent high level walk on the Gotschnagrat Circuit takes us on a hike under, around and over the rocky spires of Gotschnagrat and Casanna. The varied habitats passed allow for a wide range of flowers, especially orchids and of course splendid views at all times. 8.7 miles (14km), 680m ascent/ descent, 4 hours 50 mins. Saaser Calanda. A definite day not to be missed is the interesting ascent through a collection of fascinating limestone rock formations to an easily rounded summit guarded by fearsome cliffs at the Saaser Calanda. We start with a ride on the Madrisa cabe car to Massplatte.