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- Lej da Sils (Lake Sils) — A wide, glassy alpine lake on a high plateau where the light gets that special, almost northern quality; perfect for easy walks, paddle-sessions, and quiet evenings when the mountains mirror perfectly in the water. Feels timeless — and photographers and philosophers (yep) have loved it for a reason.
- Lej da Silvaplana (Silvaplana Lake) — Windy, shallow and turquoise in summer; this is the place locals go to kite- and wind-surf, or just watch the sails. The thermal winds that sweep the valley make it a playground you won’t find in many other alpine basins.
- Morteratsch Glacier & Glacier Trail — A straightforward hike from Morteratsch station to the glacier forefield gives an up-close look at a retreating Alpine giant, with moraines, ice-blue seracs and stark comparisons
- Lej da Sils (Lake Sils) — A wide, glassy alpine lake on a high plateau where the light gets that special, almost northern quality; perfect for easy walks, paddle-sessions, and quiet evenings when the mountains mirror perfectly in the water. Feels timeless — and photographers and philosophers (yep) have loved it for a reason.
- Lej da Silvaplana (Silvaplana Lake) — Windy, shallow and turquoise in summer; this is the place locals go to kite- and wind-surf, or just watch the sails. The thermal winds that sweep the valley make it a playground you won’t find in many other alpine basins.
- Morteratsch Glacier & Glacier Trail — A straightforward hike from Morteratsch station to the glacier forefield gives an up-close look at a retreating Alpine giant, with moraines, ice-blue seracs and stark comparisons of past vs present. It’s raw, educational and properly dramatic.
- Val Roseg — A hush of a valley just above Pontresina with timber bridges, crystal streams and a long, gentle trail into true high-Alpine wilderness. Walk far enough and you’ll be alone among glaciers and larch slopes — an Engadin valley that still feels pristine.
- Diavolezza / Bernina panorama — Ride the cable car high for one of the most compact Bernina Range views you can get: Piz Bernina, hanging glaciers and ridgelines all around. Go early or late in the season to dodge the crowds and savor the high-altitude silence.
- Guarda village — A tiny picture-postcard Engadine village where houses wear sgraffito façades and narrow, sun-warmed lanes. It’s small, local and very specific to Engadin building traditions — real village life, not a staged souvenir zone.
- S-charl (hidden gem) — A remote hamlet in the Lower Engadin that feels like stepping into a nature documentary: open meadows, mountain streams, alpine flowers and empty trails. Locals head here to escape; hikers and birdwatchers should pencil it in.
- Lej da Staz / Lake Staz (hidden gem) — A compact pine-ringed lake near St. Moritz with calm water, picnic spots and a very local vibe. Great for a lazy swim, a barefoot walk on the shore, or a chill afternoon away from the main lakeshore crowds.
- Muottas Muragl viewpoint — The terrace up here gives a sweeping view over the Upper Engadin lakes and a jagged skyline you’ll remember. Take the trail instead of the funicular if you want solitude; sunrise is sensational if you don’t mind an early start.
- Maloja Pass & Lej da Maloja (hidden gem) — The dramatic pass where mountain weather does its theatrical thing — fog curls, sun punches through, and the little Maloja lake sits like a stage prop. Drive or hike the pass for unique microclimate views and that “edge of the valley” feeling locals quietly enjoy.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.