Trail Run The Swiss Dream | Trails of Graubünden
Flims, Switzerland
Flims, SwitzerlandSun 08th August 2021 - Sun 15th August 2021
1 race
£300.00
COVID-19 INFORMATION
We are taking bookings for departures into 2021 and beyond into 2022, but understand anyone considering travel will likely have additional concerns and questions.
During uncertain times, flexibility and confidence can be invaluable, and we understand you might be apprehensive when it comes to booking a trail running adventure right now.
So, we wanted to outline our assurances for all new and existing bookings:
FULLY REFUNDABLE DEPOSITS - On all new bookings. For all new bookings we have now included a six-week cooling off period which begins after the day your book with us. What that means is that your initial deposit is fully-refundable in the event that you change your mind, no questions asked.
Once the six-week cooling off period has ended your deposit payment then comes in line with our existing terms and conditions which states that deposit payments made are non-refundable in the event of cancellation by yourself.
FLEXIBLE CHANGES - For all bookings, we’re allowing you to flexibly change to any other future departure (dependent on availability) using existing monies paid as credit. We are also reducing the number of days’ notice we ask for before your departure for you to make changes, down from 90 days to 45 days. This means you can change your trip, for any reason, up to 45 days before your scheduled departure date. No hassle, no questions asked and no charge. If you choose to amend your booking, you can select any new destination or departure date.
FINANCIAL PROTECTION - All customers booking with Pure Trails Adventure are fully financial protected in the unlikely event of financial failure by the company. When you book your adventure with us you are covered by the Travel Regulation Insolvency Protection. What that means is that your holiday with us is financially safe, secure and water tight with 100% protection and no additional cost.
TRIP POSTPONEMENT - As a travel company based in the UK, we follow The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). If they advise against ‘all but essential travel’ or ‘all travel’ to a destination, we’ll postpone or amend itineraries in accordance with this advice. If your running adventure is affected as a result of these changes, one of our team will contact you directly. If we need to postpone your trip for any other reason, we’ll be in touch with you as soon as we can.
Please, rest assured, though – if your trip is postponed, for any reason, you will still get the running adventure you paid for, on a date that suits you and this will remain 100% financially protected.
Organiser's Description
Cruising through mystical gorges, climbing trails to high glaciers, running along flowy trails as we move from mountain hut to hut and soaking our tired legs in cold mountain lakes at the end of each amazing day. It’s set to be a spectacular adventure!
Our base camp for the trip mixes between a beautiful 4 star wellness hotel where we have direct access from our doorstep to the trails heads and indulge in the wonderful spa facilities every evening. We’ll also be spending 2 nights in cosy mountain refuges surrounded by alpine peaks.
Races
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Deposit for One Person£300.00 CLOSED
Final Balance of £1795 Due 12 Weeks Before Departure
Book
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Deposit for One Person£300.00 CLOSED
Final Balance of £1795 Due 12 Weeks Before Departure
What's Included
7 days fully guided trail running in the beautiful Swiss Mountains
5 Nights accommodation
2 nights accommodation in mountain huts
Half board throughout the trip
Lunch included on the hut-hut days of the trip
All local transportation (including cable cars, but excludes arrival/departure transfers)
Access to a Wellness Spa & Recovery Yoga
4:1 Runners to Guide Ratio
Max 12 runners
NOT INCLUDED:
International flights
Arrival / departure transfers (Make your own arrangements to the hotel)
All Beverages and snacks
Lunches (except on the hut - hut days)
Personal equipment
Personal bills
Travel Insurance (REQUIRED before the trips departure - for cancellation, accidents, health and emergency evacuation, loss, theft or damage to baggage or personal effects)
Tips
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival into Flims
Arriving into Zurich International Airport (ZRH) make your own way to our meeting point which is at the Hotel Schweizerhof in the beautiful town of Flims. We’ll explain the details of how best to get to the hotel before we depart.
Check-in and relax into your room with some time to get to know the rest of our trail running group. With time available we will head out to do an easy run (approx. 10km) around this lush alpine town.
Back at the hotel there is time to relax before we have a group dinner with a briefing about our days ahead.
",
Day 2 - Trails of Sardona
Distance: 17 - 23km
Today we’ll run past a high mountain glacier, as well as the famous Unesco world heritage site of Sardona - an area where tectonic plates collid - jaw-dropping mountain scenery is no surprise.
Leaving out hotel behind we’ll take advantage of the chair lifts which allow us to gain altitude quickly and saves our legs for the rest of the trail. We begin running when we reach Sardona.
We follow a varied trail which leads to stunning view points, high plateaus and a glacier. There is an optional 3000 metre peak we can summit if the group is feeling fresh. We then run back to Flims via the Trutg dil Flem (The Water Trail) which follows a nice descent back into town.
Back to the hotel for a well deserved chill.
",
Day 3 - Running the Mystical Gorge
Distance : 19 - 23km
We transfer to the town of Thusis where we run along the rold road and on single trails with many steps, as we head deep into the Viamal Gorge.
This spectacular route passes along huge rock walls and over bridges, later through forests and passing meadows, the hilly trail heads towards the village Andeer. From here we take public transport back to the Flims and back to the hotel.
We’ll spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing and taking advantage of the wellness facilities on offer.
This evening we’ll have a feast with beer to celebrate a wonderful journey.
",
Day 4 - Rest Day
Today we have a full day at leisure to relax and explore explore Flims and the surrounding area.
As an optional excursion we will arrange a white-water rafting experience in one of the neighbouring valleys (excluded from the price).
Later in the day we will arrange a short run around the towns lake and through local forests for those who want to stretch their legs.
",
Day 5 - Trail Running the Prättigauer Höhenweg
Distance : 12+km
After breakfast this morning we check out of our rooms and handover our drop bags which will be transported ahead to our mountain hut.
We’ll travel as a group using Switzerland’s excellent transport system, first by taking the train to Klosters and then taking the cable car to Madrisa station.
From here we begin our high level run to St. Antönien.
We’ll stop by a mountain lake to have a cold, refreshing dip before taking lunch at our mountain hut with check-in. We’ll have the remainder of the day to soak up the mountain views and to relax.
",
Day 6 - Trail running the Rätikon
Distance : 17+km
After breakfast we leave our mountain hut behind as we take a breathtaking route along the famous mountain ridge of Rätikon which passes between Switzerland and into Austria.
We’ll stop for lunch (excluded) in an Austrian mountain hut by a lake which has amazing views of Schesaplana (2,964m), the highest mountain in this part of the alps.
We’ll continue on our trail heading back into Switzerland and returning to our mountain hut for a well earn rest and a tasty dinner.
",
Day 7 - The trail to Malans
Today we will make our way to Malans and depending on how the group is feeling we have two options available:
Option 1 (Easy):
We’ll cruise back into the valley with a “trottinette” (a free wheeling bicycle) and take public transport back to our hotel. Checking-in we have the rest of the day at leisure to relax, with some time for recovery yoga and to enjoy the wellness facilities of the hotel.
Option 2 (Regular):
We can trail run through the Alps as we head towards the Rhine valley. We’ll take lunch (excluded) as a local restaurant which has a spectacular view of the entire area.
From here we will ride a cable car back into the Canto valley and onward to our hotel for check-in.
",
Day 8 - Homeward Bound
It’s time to pack up and bid farewell to your new found trail running friends and our local team.
Make your own way back to Zurich International Airport (ZRH) in time for your onward flight.
Faqs
FLIGHTS
We specialise in arranging excellent trail running holidays, but do not book International flights. As there is a great variety of value flights departing from all over the world to Zurich International Airport (ZRH).
We will discuss with you about our trusted and recommended ways to book international flights through excellent ATOL protected partners who offer great value, ease of service and flight protection.
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE
We start and finish the running adventure in the charming mountain town of Flims. As public transportation in Switzerland is so convenient and easy to use we suggest the following route:
- 10min train from the airport to Zurich Mainstation (there are several connections per hour)
- Take an onward 1hr 15min direct train to the town of Chur (no change)
We’ll discuss with you the arrival/departure details thoroughly when joining the adventure.
VISAS
British citizens do not need a visa to visit Switzerland.
GROUP MANAGEMENT
Being a group of max. 12 runners with a mixture of ages and running abilities we may decide to split into flexible groups, all of which will be supported by our running guides who will travel with us on the trip.
By splitting the group will allow us all to move more fluidly, allowing all team members to run at their own comfortable pace, without feeling pressured.
TRAIL RUNNING
The majority of our trail running in Switzerland will see us spending time in the high mountains. The paths and trails will be a real mixture of alpine meadows, forests, gorges and mountain switchbacks.
We expect the trails to be quite and aim to take advantage of the chair/ski lifts which takes the bulk out of some of the major climbs and allows us to travel further. The trails for the most part will be hard-packed or looser shingle/stoney the higher we go.
At times the mountain trails will climb and descend steeply, travelling on average of 15km per day, up to a maximium of 25km. These being mountain trails will likely see us spending 5+ hours on our feet, will plenty of stops to take in the view, lunch stops and swimming in mountain lakes.
TEMPERATURES
In August we expect long, summer days with blue skies and temperatures to sit between 18 - 24 degrees C. Our trails will change from the lower mountain meadows to high mountain trails, and as a result the weather conditions will vary. We need to be prepared for a range of weather conditions.
For our nights in the mountain huts night time/early morning temperatures outside will dip, but these soon vanish as soon as the sun comes up.
Course Details
TRIP ADVENTURE GRADE: B2 - C2
B (MODERATE)
Moderate graded trail runs normally follow on well established trails and route at lower altitudes which are generally lower than 1,500m. Some of the trails will involve some short, steep ascents. Previous experience is not essential.
C (CHALLENGING)
Challenging graded trail runs feature longer trails which involves some long, steep ascents, as well as steep descents which are away from civilization. The trails we travel on can sometimes reach higher altitudes up to 3,000m and follows rough and more difficult terrain. Previous experience would be advantageous, but not essential.
Highlights:
Trail running in the idyllic region of Graubünden - a Swiss Paradise
Follow trails that cruise through mystical gorges and climb paths to high glaciers
Spend two-nights in mountain huts as we fastpack along the Swiss-Austrian border
Relax at a beautiful 4* wellness hotel surrounded by high mountains with direct access to the trail heads
Accommodation
Hotel Schweizerhof, Flims
This beautiful 4* wellness hotel is located in the heart of Flims, an alpine oasis surrounded by meadows and mountains.
Big, spacious and alpine inspired rooms, direct access to the mountain trails, as well as having a wellness spa make this a perfect addition to the trip.
Single supplement available
Mountain Huts
For three days of the trail adventure we will follow the extraordinary Prättigauer Höhenweg (the high-level trail) which straddles the border between Switzerland and Austria.
For this part of the journey we will spend 2-nights in alpine-style mountain huts, surrounded by lofty mountain peak.
Clean and very charming, the guesthouses are a cosy addition to soak up the views after a good day on the trail.