Journey on the panoramic bus journey from Chiavenna (IT) or join directly in the small mountain town of Thusis in Switzerland.

What’s included:

• 5 overnights in double / twin room with breakfast (if booking half board then also dinner)

• 5 packed lunches provided from hotels

• Luggage transports from hotel to hotel

• Trekking map (1.50:000) GPX files and useful information leaflet

• Free Thermal bath entry (max. 2 hours)

• Free Entries to: the Via Mala Gorge, the St. Martino church and the regional museum in Zillis, the Roffla

• Gorge, 1 entry to thermal bath of Andeer, the Museum of the Via Spluga in Campodolcino, the Mill of Bottonera or Paradiso botanical garden in Chiavenna, the Vertemate Franchi Palace in Piuro

• Via Spluga gadget

Set out from Thusis, passing through the dramatic Via Mala gorges. Options include the Via Traversina route, ending at the village of Andeer with its decorated houses and cobbled streets. Option to take the bus from Zwillis after exploring the museum and church. Complementary spa in the wonderful indoor/outdoor thermal baths is highly recommended.

Option 1: Thusis - Verlorenes Loch - Zillis 9.5km +850m / - 590m approx 4hrs

Option 2: Thusis / Sils - Traversins - Zillis 11.5km +990m / -730m approx 5hrs (recommended)

Extension: Zillis - Andeer 6km +200m / -100m approx 1.5hrs

From the veritable capital of the Romansch language, a somewhat particular Neo-Latin native tongue, we head off for the magnificent, scintillating and foaming Roffla Waterfalls. Then to resume our journey we climb along a path which cuts across the bends of the old road; and once beyond the motorway we enter the welcome calm of spruce woodland with huge trunks guiding us along a path which alternates with up and down tracts. It will inevitably lead us to to Sufers, a village dating back to the Carolingian epoch, situated in a basin in the valley floor and bordered by rangy mountains. (Option to take the bus from Sufers to Splügen). Following the ancient dirt track we finally reach Splügen, a town which continued to develop over the centuries thanks to commerce in transit through the Pass bearing the same name.

Zillis - Splügen 19km +900m / -300m approx 6.6hrs

Andeer - Splügen 13km +700m / -200m approx 5hrs

You can afford a later start today and a leisurely breakfast before heading out on the trail. Alpine pastures with breathtaking panorama of the surrounding peaks, avalanche barrier tunnels and well-maintained, cobbled/paved mule-tracks are all set to feature along this high-altitude and expansive section, enhanced by the heady fragrance of blooms as we move up from the village on the northern slope of the Splugen Pass at just over 2000m prior to the descent on the Italian side to the village of Montespluga, where you can breathe in the atmosphere of times past. An opportunity also to visit the avalanche gallery just before crossing the pass. A beautiful wild location on the Swiss / Italian border. From the village of Montespluga the route takes on the right side of the reservoir in order to reach one of the two dams and to appreciate some spectacular views over the Cardinello Gorge: this is one of the most dramatic sections guaranteed to linger long in the memory. It’s a route which was not created without considerable exertions over the years, with the imposing rock faces to the left and up above and the steep gorge plunging away to the right where the torrent itself courses. The descent requires a certain amount of caution but it’s not demanding and leads us gently towards the typical wooden mountain dwellings (baite) of Sosta, Mottaletta and finally to pretty village of Isola.

SPLüGEN - ISOLA - 15 km +700m / - 200m approx 6hrs

From Isola a wander through attractive fir woodland beckons and Campodolcino lies in wait. A section which is practically all downhill in nature, following the route of the Liro torrent and introducing the hiker to the joys of Val San Giacomo: we’re wandering along pathways between well-tended dry-stone wall and meadow, through chestnut groves and taking in places of considerable historical and religious interest. We approach Chiavenna along a path with magnificent panorama over the length of Val Chiavenna; from the age-old terraces hosting traditional vineyards you catch your first glimpse of a very special Alpine community, with its immaculately preserved historic centre.

Distance: 19.5 km +225m / -875m ( Distance can be shortened with use of local bus ).