Club cross country ski trip to Pontresina, Switzerland

Saturday 31 January to Saturday 7 February 2026

Photo: G ClackAbout this cross country ski trip

Based in Pontresina, this trip repeats the successful club trip in 2025 and aims to explore the varied tracks in the Engadin Valley, one of the best areas for cross country skiing in Switzerland: 

• the area is one of the most snow sure in Europe - the valley is at 1700m with tracks up to 2000m;
• there are restaurants and cafes at key points on the tracks;
• this is a recreational trip without coaching, although there is a local ski school if needed;
• temperatures are typically -5C to -10C during the day, with sunrise at approx 0800 and sunset 1700.

You book your own flights and transfer, coordinate with the organiser re accommodation and meet up daily with other members to explore the area. For a better idea of the nature of the area, see the photo album from our 2025 and 2024 trips.

Who the trip is for

It’s open to all LRNSC members, and those wishing to join the club. You must have a reasonable level of fitness and be a competent skier, with the ability to make a controlled descent downhill.

There are large areas of mostly flat terrain reachable without difficulty from Pontresina, together with valley runs involving only gradual height gain, so skiing can be tailored to suit.  If the number attending is as expected, there should be scope for slower and faster groups, each choosing tours well within their capabilities but any improvers should be capable of skiing safely without formal supervision.

We’ll decide on groups daily according to conditions and preferences. The organiser knows the track system and town well having visited several times and can advise, leading tours as necessary.

About Pontresina/the Engadin valley

There are around 220 km of cross-country skiing trails, most runs are linear not circular. These are the main trails - see this map for more detail:

• Main Engadin valley floor (SW) – St Moritz Bad to Sils Maria & Maloja = mostly flat, including 3 frozen lakes which offer a special skiing experience when conditions permit. There is also a challenging black run up Val Fex from Sils.
• Main Engadin valley floor (NE) – Pontresina to Celerina, Samedan Golf, then the Marathon loipe past Samedan airport to Zuoz, SChanf, Zernez = mostly flat, excellent for clocking up distance.
• Staz Forest (restaurant by lake) – tracks from Pontresina/Celerina go up, across and down to St Moritz Bad, then up into the forest again and down to Lake Champfer / Surlej = quite hilly but great fun. Optional extension to the other two frozen lakes. Optional black run up to Alp Staz.
• Val Roseg – valley run to restaurant with extension towards glacier = gradual height gain. Narrow/twisty in parts but no real difficulties.
• Val Morteratsch – easy valley run up to restaurant, then on to the edge of a glacier with impressive views of Piz Bernina (4000m). Has markers showing glacial retreat = gradual height gain.
• Val Bever – just beyond Bever, easy valley run. = slight height gain. Restaurant at top of valley.

Resort Information Plus map of town - see further information & click on “lageplan” at the bottom.

Local bus (free to hotel residents) lines 1&2 stop on the main street. Members have found these very useful for skiing one way to outlying parts of the trail system combined with taking the bus back.

Ski hire – 4 options : Bernina Sport and the Cross Country Centre, both close to the railway station, plus two ski shops on the main street Via Maistra, close to the hotels – Fahndrich Sport & Gruber Sport.

There is plenty of scope for non-cross country skiing partners: downhill skiing in the nearby St Moritz ski area, plus an extensive network of winter hiking trails – also exploring the wider area by bus, or by train.

Transport

Fly to Zurich and transfer by train to Pontresina.

Best flights LHR to Zurich:  08.05 BA arriving 10.55 or 08.55 SWISS arriving 11.50

There 7 other possible flights from LHR, CTY, STN and LGW arriving before 1300. Flights to Basel are also an option, with BA prices good value, although the transfer takes slightly longer.

Transfer to Pontresina - two trains per hour direct from Zurich airport (train station under the terminal, 5 mins from baggage reclaim). If you arrive by 1300 it’s possible to get a train at 1415 latest and still arrive in time for dinner.

Trains go via Zurich HB, then via Chur or Landquart on to Samedan, where there are train/bus/taxi options for the final 4 km to Pontresina. Total journey time approx. 3 hours 45 mins. Get tickets at www.sbb.ch, or via the SBB App. The trains are reliable and the journey via Chur on the Albula line is particularly scenic, with UNESCO World Heritage status.

For the return journey, leaving Pontresina on the 09.05 train means airport arrival at 12.44, allowing plenty of choices of flights from 15.00 onwards.

Alternative – direct flight (BA/EJ) to Innsbruck, hire a car for the 2 ¾ hours drive to Pontresina. Public transport from Innsbruck is complex, involving 3 buses and 2 trains, taking well over 4 hours.

Accommodation

Hotel options[exchange rate ~1.10 CHF:£]

There are many options on the official Engadin website. Pontresina is popular with downhill skiers as a more affordable alternative to St Moritz, so it does get booked up by the summer/autumn - hence we have taken the precaution of reserving the following rooms:

Primary hotel:  Hotel Engadinerhof  (No. 19 on the town map)

• 10 single ensuite rooms at 153 CHF/pp night incl Half Board & tax
• 1 twin/double ensuite room at 130 CHF/pp night incl Half Board & tax

Additional rooms are available.

For this initial booking the hotel requires a deposit of 75% to be paid on 10th October (16 weeks pre-arrival), but cancellation is free prior to that.

The Engadinerhof looked after us extremely well in 2025 and we found the breakfast plus 4 course dinner to be of a high standard. Hotel facilities are also excellent, with large lounge areas and ski room. They are currently undergoing refurbishment, and although the chances of a renovated room are high, they cannot guarantee all of ours will be at this stage.

On previous trips we found it enjoyable and convenient to be mostly in the same hotel, to facilitate socialising and planning, but if the above doesn’t suit, or is full, suggested alternatives nearby include: Hotel Bernina (has plenty of single rooms – used in 2024). Sunstar Hotel, Steinbock Hotel, Chesa Mulin, Station Hotel. Direct contact with these hotels is the best approach.

Apartment option: Choice of apartments for 1 person and upwards. Approx cost 700-1600 CHF per week for 1-3 bedrooms. This is the most economical option for anyone sharing, especially if also self-catering.

There is only one supermarket, on Via Da Mulin (F13 on map) but buses run down the main street, so renting at the other end of town is viable, if inconvenient. Deposits (25%) are required.

If some of us are spread across various accommodations we would aim to meet up as a group after dinner at the Engadinerhof or elsewhere and socialise/plan the next day’s activities.

Wherever you stay you will be close to the many track access points. There are two practice areas which we use for meeting up and reachable from any in 5-10 mins – these are at G10 & F10 on the town map.

Other Expenses to budget for

40 CHF for a weekly trail pass, online or at the Cross Country Centre. Ski hire if needed.  

Travel Rules, including Covid-19

The trip will be run in accordance with English and Swiss regulations and guidance in force at the time. Note especially the passport validity requirements. General Swiss info also at : SwissTravelCtr

Medical/travel insurance

Everyone on the trip is recommended to have their own travel insurance policy. For medical treatment you are recommended to take either your EHIC card (these remain valid unless expired), or the new GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) issued by Gov.uk.

What to do next

This trip is now confirmed.  As good, reasonably priced accommodation gets booked quickly in Pontresina, any members interested in joining us should contact the organiser or register your interest via this form as soon as possible. Flights are not an issue, given the large number of options into Zurich and train capacity is ample.

NB If you are interested in the Hotel Engadinerhof, please check with the organiser before making any bookings.

Any questions?

Please contact the organiser Greg Clack.