Easy and non-technical trails with stunning Alpine views. A great tour for families and light hikers.
All meals included with a picnic lunch packed for the trails. You will not go to sleep hungry.
Enjoy top-rated mountain chalets with comfortable beds, optional spa and impressive wine cellars.
Luggage transfer included on all stages of this tour. We promise you it’s worth the it!
Embark on an unforgettable family adventure amidst the majestic landscapes of the Swiss and Italian Alps. The Via Spluga offers a unique opportunity to bond, explore, and create lasting memories!
Details
ItineraryYour viaSpluga hiking trail begins in the charming village of Thusis. Meet our representatives at your hotel to receive an initial briefing and some essential documentation. We will also issue any passes and vouchers you might need during your Alps hiking trip. Then it’s off to bed for an early start the next day.
Your first full day of hiking in the Alps begins with a brisk walk through Thusis and into some of the most beautiful countryside in the world. This 15 km hike takes in some truly jaw-dropping vistas and the very best of the Via Mala gorges. Running parallel to this famous route is the Via Traversina — an equally historic route that takes hikers a little higher.
Our first day of Alpine hiking ends in the charming village of Andeer, which is characterised by its quintessentially European architecture and cobblestone streets. The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
Our second full day of hiking in the Alps begins with a walk to one of the region’s most stunning beauty spots — the Roffla Waterfalls. After spending a few minutes taking in the scenery and spectacular falls, we take a well-trodden path that runs parallel to an ancient road. This is where we leave the modern world behind, as we make our way into the forest in search of flora and fauna.
Our next stop along the way is the pretty village of Sufers. This ancient settlement was founded during the Carolingian epoch and is awash with history. Once there, you’ll be able to take in the majesty of what surrounds you — a gorgeous valley and towering mountains at every turn. Then it’s back to the ancient path as we wind our way through the valley and onto the town of Splügen. This bustling town offers all the trappings of modern life, yet its ancient character and mystique remain almost unchanged.
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 Pass prior to the descent on the Italian side to the village of Montespluga, where you can breathe in the atmosphere of times past.
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 Isola.
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 Valchiavenna; 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.
Today is a day to recharge your batteries and explore everything the historic settlement of Chiavenna has to offer. Whether you simply want to sip coffee and watch the world go by or explore the town’s frescoes, ancient architecture and piazza, take the time to immerse yourself in the local way of life.
Breakfast and departure.
Location And Getting ThereReaching Thusis is straightforward with multiple travel options.
Airports: Zurich Airport (150 km), Friedrichshafen Airport in Germany (120 km), and Milan Malpensa Airport (200 km). From Zurich, travelers can rent a car for a scenic 2-hour drive via the A3 and A13 motorways.
Public transport: is efficient, with direct trains from Zurich to Chur, then a short regional train ride to Thusis. Car rentals are available at major airports and in Chur for greater flexibility. Buses also connect surrounding areas, but renting a car offers easier access to nearby hiking trails and alpine villages.
AccommodationExamples of accommodation on this tour:
Hotel Alte Herberge Weiss Kreuz
Accommodation
This tour is designed for two participants sharing a double, twin, or family room. Solo travelers should anticipate an additional surcharge for single occupancy in double rooms. On certain routes, particularly those involving high alpine huts, private rooms may not be available due to limited capacity or late bookings. In such cases, shared accommodations will be required and will be clearly indicated in your itinerary.
Linen & Towels
Most huts and hotels provide linen and towels. In rare instances where you need to bring your own towel and sleeping bag liner, this requirement will be clearly outlined in your itinerary.
Luggage Transfer
Luggage transfer is included on most stages of our tours. However, some remote huts are inaccessible by car. In these cases, you’ll need to carry a few extra essentials in your daypack, and your luggage will be delivered to your next hotel the following day. This will be clearly specified in your itinerary.
Included Services
Add to this tourWhen booking this tour online, you will get the option to add the following services:
GuaranteeThis tour is fully covered by the Danish Travel Guarantee Fund (Rejsegarantifonden), ensuring financial protection and security for all participants. The guarantee covers situations such as company insolvency, securing refunds for canceled trips or necessary repatriation. Importantly, this protection applies to travelers of all nationalities, not just Danish citizens. By booking with a company registered under the Danish Travel Guarantee, you can embark on your adventure with confidence, knowing your investment is secure and your travel experience is safeguarded, regardless of your country of residence. Learn more here.
WeatherFrom May to October, the Via Spluga offers excellent hiking conditions across its varying altitudes. At lower elevations (800–1,200m), temperatures range from 12–22°C in spring and autumn, rising to 18–28°C in summer. Spring and autumn bring cooler mornings and occasional rain showers, while summer provides warm, sunny days with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms, especially in July and August. Higher sections (1,200–2,000m) are cooler, with temperatures between 10–20°C, and may still have lingering snow in early May. Sudden weather changes, including fog and rain, are possible. Layered clothing and waterproof gear are essential for comfort and safety.
Difficulty
This tour is categorized Easy to Moderate
Easy trails, shorter distances and suitable for people with no prior mountain experience. Physicality is not very challenging, although participants should still be able to hike 10-15 km without problems on a flat road. Suitable for children above the age of 8.
FAQIf you cancel your tour 60 days or more before the departure date, you will lose your deposit. If you cancel your tour between 60 and 45 days before the departure date, you will lose 50 per cent of the total tour price. If you cancel your tour within 45 days of the departure date, you will lose the full amount. If you fail to turn up on the first day of your tour, Outdoor Italy may not be able to make arrangements for you to join the rest of the tour, and you will lose the full payment. If, for any reason, Outdoor Italy has to cancel your tour, you will be offered an alternative tour or a full refund.
You can book your tour directly on the Outdoor Italy website. Choose the tour from the dropdown menu, select the date you would like to start, and the number of participants in your group. You can either pay a deposit (60 days or more from the start of your tour) or pay the full amount. Click ‘book’ and follow the instructions. Once we have confirmed your payment, you’ll receive your confirmed tour itinerary within 10 days. There may be seasonal variations in the time it takes us to arrange everything. Please note that programmes on the tour pages are only examples — there may be several differences in the final programme you receive.
When booking your tour, you can choose to pay by credit/debit card or direct bank transfer. Direct bank transfers will generally take longer to process, while credit and debit card payments are processed instantly. You are, by default, asked to pay a deposit of 25% of the total cost of the tour. If you choose this option, you will be asked to pay the remaining 75% one month before your tour. Please be sure to follow the payment links you receive in your invoice or reminder email, which we will send you when the second payment is due.
This depends on the individual tour and when you book it. When hiking in the Alps, most people stay in dorms or shared rooms as the availability of single, double and family rooms are limited. We can only guarantee your own room on certain tours such as in the Lys and Ayas Valleys — but only if you book in time. If this is your preference, we will do our best to ensure you get your own room, but please expect to spend some nights in shared accommodation if there is limited availability.
Unfortunately, we are not able to offer this service with all our packages. Often, the huts or hotels we work with are in locations that can only be reached by foot or helicopter. Indeed, when choosing a tour that includes baggage transport, there may be one or two exceptions depending on the route. This will appear clearly on the tour page and in the program you receive when your booking has been confirmed.
All our tours include the day of arrival and the day of departure. This means that a six-day tour will include five nights of accommodation, a seven-day tour will include six nights, and so on. On the first day, guests are usually expected to arrive in the afternoon. And the program does not include any activities except for a briefing by our representative on the first evening. On the day of departure, guests are free to decide if they want to leave directly after breakfast or go on a shorter tour before their journey home.
Most of our tours will include Half Board (HB) services, which means breakfast, a three-course dinner, and a light-packed lunch. Please check the individual tour page for details, however, as variations occur with certain tours.
We specialize in self-guided tours. These tours are designed for travelers who love the independence of hiking, skiing, or running on their own but want to know that everything else is taken care of. In some cases, we are able to offer luggage transport to lighten your load as you enjoy the Great Outdoors.
Whether you’re already a group of friends, business colleagues or a sports club looking for an active mountain adventure, we can design and organize your Alpine tour for you. We also offer guided group tours for individual participants on fixed dates.
Yes, absolutely! Outdoor Italy can design the perfect mountain adventure for you and your friends or colleagues. Whether you want to hike, ski, run, cycle or climb, we have the expertise and experience needed to create a bespoke package for any level of experience or physicality. Please contact us if you would like us to create a customized package for your group.
There are few better ways to spend time with your children than with an active holiday in the mountains. Sharing a mountain adventure with your child is a memory that will last a lifetime. We try to design child-friendly variations (marked ‘family’) of all our Alpine tours. Children can hike, ski or bike a lot longer than you might expect, as long as you make it entertaining for them. However, they will respond instantly to the way you behave, so please consider whether you are able to create a safe environment for your children when faced with the many different challenges of an alpine environment.
Yes, we are able to offer a discount for children on most of our tours, provided they are not yet 13 years of age on the first day of the tour. Please see the individual tour page for our child discounts.
Many single travellers chose Outdoor Italy due to our high level of service and our expertise in self-guided mountain tours. And the safety of one of our representatives will only ever be just a phone call away. However, please expect additional costs, as our prices are based on two persons — the industry standard for outdoor tours of this nature. Private rooms and other services are often more expensive for individual travellers. You can find information about any additional costs for individual travellers on the tour page.
We are all different. Some of our clients are 70+ and have lived an active lifestyle all their life. Others may be twenty years younger and have barely left their office chair. It is very difficult to judge the physical and mental ability of a person on the basis of a phone conversation. If you are in doubt, each tour is rated for level of physicality, which you can learn more about here. You are of course welcome to call us and we will do our best to advice you. Find your level of physicality here (link to Find your level page).
Our local partners know every square inch of this beautiful Alpine region. During the introductory briefing, you will receive an app, physical maps and a phone number to call if you need advice. In some cases, you’ll be able to forward your location to a local guide with the press of a button. This may prove helpful if you become lost.
We recommend that you speak to your insurance provider to ensure your existing policy covers mountain-based activities such as hiking, skiing, and mountain biking. Please note that any costs relating to emergency situations and the potential need for evacuation are the sole responsibility of the client.
We are all different. Some of our clients are more than 70 years old and have lived an active lifestyle all their life. Others are twenty years younger and have barely left their office chair. It is very difficult to judge the physical and mental capabilities of a person on the basis of a phone conversation. If you are in doubt, each tour is rated for the level of physicality involved, which you can learn more about on our Find Your Level page. You are, of course, welcome to call us, and we will do our best to advise you.
Enjoying the mountains with your best friend can be a joyful experience, which is why we try to make our tours dog friendly wherever possible. Unfortunately, it is not always possible due to local rules. Selected tours are marked ‘Dog Friendly’ on the tour page. This means that your dog can stay with you in your private room or, in a few cases, the hut will have a separate or external room for dogs. Please refer to the individual tour page for more information.
*This tour is based on a minimum of two participants. Only the services mentioned above are included in the price.
Additional Information| Start | Multiple options |
|---|---|
| Time of departure | Flexible |
| Month | May |
Whether you're a large family, a work team or a sports club, we will help you create a perfect group adventure.
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