When the summer heat starts to cool down only one thing crosses the mind of Telluride locals & skiers around the world…planning an epic winter ski vacation! We winter lovers are a entirely different breed, the slightest breeze, ski photos from a blog or magazine set us into a flurry filled frenzy! Looking for the ultimate winter experience? Let me help with your trip planning. This past March I enjoyed a ski vacation in the Engadin, Switzerland. I toured the area on foot, horse driven sleigh and of course skis! I shopped till I dropped, ate the finest Swiss foods, stayed in the most glamorous hotels, satisfied my adventurista side with backcountry ski touring and viewed the FIS World Cup Ski Championship.

The catch phrase for Switzerland is “Get Natural” you feel this sentiment in everything you do there. They have a great sense of pride in their culture paired with unforgettable natural surroundings. It’s a place like none other & there are loads of reasons why I go back year after year. Here’s a few snippets from this unforgettable part of the Alps that will have you packing your bags!

Ski Touring

For those of you curious about ski touring I suggest you try it as soon as you can. This is lift accessed backcountry ski terrain that requires skinning up hill to achieve your thrills going down hill. You need to work for your tracks, but trust me it’s completely worth the haul! The goal of a ski tour is to find untracked terrain so you can lay down fresh tracks in the perfect powder. It’s a great workout, adrenalin filled and an unforgettable way to see mountain views unattainable anywhere else.

My guides were highly experienced and super savvy about the local ski terrain. When you tour the backcountry this is an essential. Conditions can be high risk and natural obstacles such as crevasses exist frequently in the Swiss Alps. My guide Lucas takes his job every seriously, but also had a playful goofy side. A great guy!! When ski touring you come across all kinds of obstacles including river crossings…

And high cliffs. A true test for adrenaline junkies!

But the hikes are totally worth it…the gain you access to runs like these…

I did two ski tours with the Bersteigerschule Pontresina. When you sign up for a ski tour be sure to communicate your ski ability clearly and honestly. This will ensure your experience meets your expectations.

After one of our tours I enjoyed a ride from these beauties back to town. It was a beautiful snowy ride through the alps!

Hotels

I stayed in three different hotels on this trip. Two super luxury properties located in St. Moritz:  The Carlton Hotel and The Kempinski

I also stayed in the Sporthotel located in Pontresina. This hotel caters to the outdoor enthusiasts that flock to the area for alpine thrills. Pontresina is a peaceful, quaint town filled with super active locals and tourists.

The Sporthotel was very comfortable with a delicious brunch to feast on before an epic day in the great outdoors! My daily brekkie included regional Swiss cheeses and challah bread.

My room at the Sporthotel had these splendid views…

Pontresina is a beautiful town, just as thriving in the summer as it is in the winter. A fantastic place to mountain bike and hike.

Speaking of hiking, you can take a bus out to the Muottas Muragl station nearby for a walk through the hills….

Muottas Muragl

It’s worth taking a few hours to see these nearby peaks. Just one bus stop away from Pontresina (between Pontresina and Celerina) is this stunning destination. It will have you breathing the fresh mountain air deeply as you hike around the pistes, getting great exercise and a very memorable experience.  You access the hikes from the funicular railway, the Muottas Mural Bahn. There is a Romantik hotel up there and a panoramic restaurant.

FIS World Cup Ski Championships

It’s always fun to catch special events on the slopes. It was a true treat to attend the St. Moritz World Cup alpine races.

The crowds roared as pro skiers painted wicked fast lines on the ski slopes. It’s such an honor for a ski resort to hold an event like this & St. Moritz was excellently prepared to show off their slopes & hospitality!

A girl’s gotta shop!

After all that playing in the snow it’s a necessity to spend time in the local shops!

When I visit the Engadin/St. Moritz one of my favorite activities is shopping the regions boutiques. A few of my favorites include: Moncler, Bally, Rossignol, Jet Set and Kriemler I love European fashions. The style is simple, clean and polished. Perfect for this rustic-luxe mountain girl!

Contact

Interested in taking a vacation in the Engadin? Please reach out to the very helpful staff & peruse their website for more information. Happy travels! xo

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