Summer

Ideas for Engadin summer days

In summer the historical mountaineering village of Pontresina boasts striking glaciers, romantic mountain lakes and fragrant meadows, attracting and inspiring nature lovers, sports enthusiasts, and connoisseurs alike. Here are our tips for making the most of your summer holidays here in the mountains.

Hiking

In Pontresina, with its 580 km-long hiking trail network, the hiking options are almost limitless. Highlights include a hike through the wild-romantic Val Roseg or a walk from Muottas Muragl to the Languard Alp, passing through the territory of the largest Ibex colony in Switzerland. You can see even more ibex on a hike in the Swiss National Park nearby. And guests staying for two nights or more at the Grand Hotel Kronenhof benefit from free travel on all mountain railways operating within the Engadin St. Moritz holiday resort.

Mountain biking

With over 400 km of single trails and special flow trails, the Engadin presents exciting new possibilities for holiday activities. From dizzying ascents to magnificent lookouts, adventurous pass crossings and challenging single trails as well as easy and relaxing tours through side valleys with wide paths. There’s something just waiting to be explored for the entire family as well as the enthusiast. Our recommendation: a trip to the neighbouring Puschlav. If you don’t want to ride there, simply take the Rhaetian Railway as a shuttle up to the Bernina Pass – and look forward to the next downhill ride!

mountaineering

Pontresina, with its majestic Bernina massif, has a place on each mountain climber's bucket list. As soon as the winter is over, the summer tour season begins, and the high Alpine conditions accompany alpinists until October. Once equipped with an ice pick and crampons, the mountaineer can begin an adventure in crossing a glacier, climbing across the Bianco Ridge to the Piz Bernina in a roped party with an experienced mountain guide or taking a more individual approach on a climbing route. If you prefer something a little less demanding, try one of the three via ferrate or overcome obstacles on the Pontresina high-rope course.

goat trekking

Goats are among the oldest pets in the world. Starting this summer, guests of Grand Hotel Kronenhof are able to book trekking tours with these friendly animals. Why not hike through the beautiful Upper Engadin nature, enjoy the company of the goats and maybe even treat yourself to a picnic? Fun for the whole family!

Bathing in the lakes

All the sunshine in the Engadin warms up the mountain lakes to over 20°C – perfect for cooling off after a cycling or hiking tour. As well as making for great bathing, the three scenic St. Moritz lakes Lej da Staz, Lej Nair, and Lej Marsch are wonderful spots for simply relaxing, picnicking  or having a barbecue at one of the barbecue areas.

Water sports

Kiting, surfing and sailing. The frisky Maloja wind that plays over the beautiful Lake Silvaplana at an altitude of 1,800 meters, makes for the great wind and kite surfing scene here. Sailing enthusiasts, on the other hand, swear by Lake St. Moritz. And if the wind fails, you can row or do the rounds on the stand-up paddle board.

Golf

In summer, the Engadin becomes a golfer‘s paradise and the Kulm Hotel lets those eager to play get a head start. The two 18-hole golf courses of Samedan and Zuoz and the 9-hole Kulm golf course offer an enjoyable round and a sporting challenge.

Tennis

Tennis courts are available at our sister hotel Kulm Hotel St. Moritz. The courts can be reserved in advance. Rental rackets and tennis balls are available for a fee of CHF 5.00.

paragliding

Fly like a bird through the sky! Since the beginning of time, this has been a dream for many. Even without prior experience, you can make this dream come true together with a professional tandem pilot. Starting position, time of flight as well as duration and location are decided by the passenger and the pilot.

ibex experience

Below Piz Albris you will find one of the largest alpine ibex colonies in the Alps. Around 1,800 ibex feel at home in the mountains around Pontresina. In spring and autumn, when the mountain peaks are already covered with snow, the majestic animal of the canton of Grisons makes it way down the mountain, which is a splendid opportunity to meet this stately animal. 

carriage rides

A carriage ride is a romantic experience not to be missed during your stay in the Engadin. Our insider tip: take a ride on the restored Grand Hotel Kronenhof coach and choose one of these two beautiful destinations: Val Roseg or Lej da Staz. Benefit from our special rate of CHF 350, which includes a round trip for a maximum of four passengers including two hours waiting time at the destination. Each additional waiting hour costs CHF 50. For more details or to reserve a carriage, please contact our concierge at T. +41 81 830 32 13 or concierge@kronenhof.com

Trailrunning

When does the running season start in the Engadin? Well, answering this question is almost impossible since the running season actually never ends! Here, we don’t stow away our trail running shoes once autumn is over. No way! At most we may replace them with a waterproof pair with extra deep treads. If you want to travel throughout the year – and through the Engadin, of course – and run, our high valley is the perfect place for you.

Excursions

How about a discovery tour around the holiday region of Engadin St. Moritz? We recommend a ride through the UNESCO World Heritage site with the "Little Red", as the Rhaetian Railway is affectionately called, from the glaciers down to the palm trees in Tirano. Or hike in the Swiss National Park in Zernez, explore an alpine pass then discover the southern charm of the Italian town of Chiavenna.

Orienteering

Like no other running sport, orienteering requires both speed and brains. Its popularity is widely spread, and runners of all generations dash across meadows, hurry through forests, chop their way through undergrowth and jump over creeks. They are always in search of the next control point – which they will find in the Engadin, where several orienteering courses offer alpine running fun for experienced trail runners, nature-loving top athletes and families with kids.