Tranquil Sils Maria lies just 15 minutes south of St. Moritz and dominates the southern Engadine Valley.

Situated above this charming town, the Castle Hotel Waldhaus can be seen from miles in either direction. This lovely resort hotel has been owned and operated by the same family since it opened in 1908.

Feel free to enjoy a swim or a stroll through town before our meeting this evening.

We begin our hike this morning with a brief cable car journey and a walk to the Marmore point. From this breathtaking outcrop of rock, you can see the entire Engadine Valley from St. Moritz in the north to the Maloja Pass in the south.

We continue now into the Fex Valley, accessible today only on foot or by horse-drawn carriage. A hearty lunch of local sausage, beer and “rosti” (grilled potatoes in a mushroom and onion sauce) awaits.

After lunch, you may choose to walk down through the woods or take a horse-drawn carriage back to Sils Maria and our hotel.

This morning our trail takes us to the north, rising above the lake Silvaplana with spectacular views of the Corvatch glacier directly above us. We continue on to the Surlej plateau from which we catch the cable car for the final ascent to the glacier itself.

Here at 11,000 ft., we enjoy a fine lunch with a complete view of all of the area’s major peaks and glacier groups. Warm barley soup with cognac, sliced veal with mushrooms, and apple strudel with vanilla sauce are just a few of our selections.

After lunch, we return to the valley floor with its wildflowers and gentle streams for a peaceful walk back to Sils Maria and the Waldhaus.

The Glacier Express traverses Switzerland from east to west over three separate mountain passes to connect the Engadine with Zermatt and the area surrounding the Matterhorn. It has long been known as one of the most beautiful European rail journeys, presenting an intimate view of Switzerland, from its lush valley floors to the carved rock of its glacial passes.

We board the first-class coaches of the Glacier Express for this exhilarating journey. On our way, we’ll enjoy an elegant luncheon and arrive in Zermatt in time to snap a picture of the Matterhorn at sunset before dinner.

Everyone has an image of the Matterhorn, the classic Alp immortalized by Disney and the international symbol of Switzerland. Yet nothing quite prepares a person for the 14,700-foot version. Throughout our days in Zermatt, the Matterhorn will be a constant and inspiring companion.

Today we follow a path along the eastern slope of the Zermatt valley, slowly rising up into the mountains bordering Saas-Fe to the east. From this side of the valley, we see not only the Matterhorn, but also the glacial group that leads to Italy just a few miles to the south. It is often possible to sneak in a day of skiing here, even at the height of summer.

The culmination of any trip to Zermatt must be a visit to the summit of the “Little Matterhorn,” which offers unparalleled views of the Matterhorn itself, as well as the spectacular surrounding peaks.

Our walk begins in the valley floor along a lazily flowing river that soon turns into a rushing torrent as we enter the “Slucht,” a narrow, rock-lined gorge. After leaving the gorge, we take a cable car up to the Little Matterhorn. Here we wander along the glacier itself, which spans the border between Switzerland and Italy.

Celebrate our last evening together with a special festive meal.

Zermatt has excellent rail connections to Zurich and Geneva, and through these hubs to all points in Central Europe.

Whatever your travel plans, we will go over them with you and make sure that your continuing journey is as easy and effortless as possible.

Auf wiedersehen!