Discover the spectacular beauty of Switzerland’s Engadine valley with Grand Hotel Kronenhof this autumn
Already hunting for your next adventure? With travel to the United States currently off the menu for UK nationals, Switzerland makes an obvious choice for a stunning autumn break with its striking mountain landscape and emphasis on active culture.
The Engadine valley, in the eastern canton of Graubünden, is particularly popular for a health-focused escape – offering the peace and quiet of wide-open spaces that can be explored on foot or by e-bike while admiring the spectacular panoramic vistas.
Plus, there’s the advantage of warm day-time temperatures and plenty of sunshine – all you’ll need is a decent pair of hiking boots to enjoy it all.
Just in time for the new season, the exquisite Grand Hotel Kronenhof in Pontresina has created a “September Mountain Escape” package to make the most of this very special time of year.
After a morning of adrenaline and activities, enjoy a leisurely lunch on a restaurant terrace before catching a train or gondola back to the five-star hotel (unlimited use of all the mountain railways in the Engadine/St Moritz area is included in the package) for a late afternoon pamper in the Kronenhof Spa. Feet up and… relax.
For the more adventurous visitors, the Swiss National Park, part of the worldwide UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is a 45-minute drive away (and guests travelling to the hotel by train can borrow a car for free – on a first come, first served basis).
Here, eighty kilometres of footpaths and nature trails criss-cross the 170 magnificent square kilometres of National Park wilderness, offering visitors the chance to witness nature at is glorious best before winter kicks in.
Not just the landscape, but also the wild animals: ibex with their sweeping horns, cute-looking chamois, playful marmots, majestic red deer and maybe a golden eagle (six pairs are resident in the park).
For those who prefer to stick to train travel, there are plenty of day excursions to be made on the regional rail network, where local villages and spectacular mountain passes demand to be experienced.
Diary Dates
Closer to the hotel, the Engadine valley hosts several events during the autumn. Make the most of free outdoor lunchtime concerts in the woods near Pontresina (till late September), as well as a new digital art & culture forum called Window of the World and the Bernina Gran Turismo.
The forum is recreating the historic St. Moritz Automobile Weeks of 1929 and 1930 by staging a series of hill climbs (open to classic racing and sports cars dating from the 1930s to early 1980s) on the Bernina Pass. Talk about va va zoom.
What’s included:
Offered from 31 August to 1 October, Grand Hotel Kronenhof’s “September Mountain Escape” package includes dinner, bed and breakfast, complimentary use of the hotel’s stunning spa facilities, a 10% discount on spa treatments, unlimited access to the Kulm Golf St. Moritz golf course and tennis courts, and unlimited use of all the mountain railways in the Engadine/St Moritz area.
Make it happen
How: For more details and to start the adventure, please visit the Grand Hotel Kronenhof website www.kronenhof.com, email reservations@kronenhof.com or phone +41 81 830 3030.
Wallet: Prices start from CHF 420 (approx. £350) per night for two people sharing a beautiful double room and staying for three to five nights, with the nightly rate reduced to CHF 395 (approx. £330) for those staying six nights or more.
