[Removed user]

10 July 2017 at 17:10:18 #812581

After spending time in the Valais and Jungfrau regions (22 Aug-10 Sept) hiking my husband and I are considering exploring the Lower Engadine area. Our goal is to hike for 3-5 days there before returning home to the US.

My request for information is selection of a city/village to become our base as we hike daily. The “base” needs to have frequent public transportation as we will be reliant upon trains, busses, & post bus to reach or return from trailheads. Also, the base location needs to have a selection of hotels available. Our goal is to have a hotel budget of 200-250 CHF with breakfast and easy access to transportation. The hotel/guesthouse doesn’t need to be modern. It does need to be clean, comfortable, and have a hearty breakfast. We are NOT committed to any specific hikes. We will select our hikes once we’ve found a base. That’s a little backward, I know, but our goal is to explore a bit of the Lower Engadine. So to us, just about anywhere will be a new and rewarding experience.

Ultimately, we will make our way to Chur or St Moritz to catch the Bernina Express onward to Milan for our departure.

Thanks for any tips you can give for locating a hiking base and hotel.

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[Removed user]

11 July 2017 at 2:31:08 #866606

Hi Julie,

Scuol would probably offer the best choice of accommodation and is the transport hub for the Lower Engadin. Other villages to consider would be those directly on the railway line, such as Ardez, Lavin and Zernez, but options would be more limited in these villages.

The railway station in Scuol (Scuol-Tarasp) is on the edge of town, so if you decide to look for accommodation in Scuol, given your plans, it would be more convenient to choose one of the hotels near the railway station rather than in the centre of town.

If you are willing to consider the youth hostel, it is adjacent to the station. You could get a private double room with ensuite and breakfast buffet for CHF 61.80 per person per night. Non-members pay a daily surcharge of CHF 7. It is modern, clean and comfortable, but basic, as you would expect of a hostel. I have attached some photos I took when I stayed there in early October last year. I would happily stay there again.

http://www.youthhostel.ch/en/ hostels/scuol

Although your main plan is to hike, I would strongly recommend you find time to include a visit to the tiny village of Guarda, and to walk through the old part of Scuol.

If you are interested, I have written trip reports about Scuol and Guarda:

http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/scuol

http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/trip-report-lower-engadine-guarda-october-2016

Wet weather alternatives could include the National Park Centre at Zernez and the Monastery of Son Jon at Müstair. Both can be reached with the 811 bus from Zernez station, which is about half an hour by train from Scuol. A PostBus trip over the Flüela Pass might also be an option.

http://www.nationalpark.ch/en /visit/national-park-centre/

http://www.muestair.ch/en/con vent/convent-of-st-john/

http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/trip-report-postbus-over-the-fluela-pass

>> Ultimately, we will make our way to Chur or St Moritz to catch the Bernina Express onward to Milan for our departure.

There are hourly trains from Scuol-Tarasp to St Moritz, requiring a change in Samedan (journey time 1 hour 24 mins).

There are also hourly trains from Scuol-Tarasp to Chur, either direct or with a change in Landquart. Journey time is 1.75 to 2.0 hours.

Both routes are scenic.

Alpenrose

[Removed user]

11 July 2017 at 2:33:30 #866607

Scuol Jugendherberge private room, including ensuite

[Removed user]

11 July 2017 at 22:22:12 #866608

Hi Alpenrose, thanks for the detailed information. I’ve been out of touch for the past two days, I’ll give your contribution a serious look tomorrow when I’m not so tired.