Walking in Davos, Switzerland

This 1-boot and 2-boot walking holiday is based at the delightful Hotel Meierhof. From its formal lobby dominated by a hand carved pine grandfather clock to its low-lit wooden panelled dining room, this 19C hotel recalls a grander age of travel. Headwater guests normally stay in south facing rooms with balconies. There’s also an indoor swimming pool and brand new wellness area with saunas, steam bath, whirlpool, and mini gym. Your hosts are Riet and Kathrin Frey, both keen walkers. Riet is also a sommelier and arranges a complementary wine tasting at the start of the week in his cellar. Breakfast is a buffet of hams, cheeses, cereals, yoghurts and fresh fruit. Dinner is a lavish four course affair. There’s also a gala dinner once a week. Expect to try exquisitely presented dishes such as cheese roulade with a courgette and wild mushroom ragout or red mullet served with olive ravioli. Not to mention a delicious home-baked strudel to finish!

All Headwater guests receive a Davos Card for unlimited travel on most cable cars, gondolas, funiculars, the local railway and bus routes. The Davos Card also gives discounts on other activities including the outdoor swimming pool. When you’re not walking, your centrally located hotel is ideally situated to enjoy Davos’ geranium-decked streets and tempting pavement cafés. There’s sailing and windsurfing on Lake Davos (15 minutes walk from the hotel) and a varied programme of musical events throughout the summer.

Detailed Itinerary:

Sunday - Arrive in Davos
We meet you at the station and take you to your hotel (5 mins).

Monday - Dischma Valley 7km/4mi/2hr or 13km/8mi/3.5hr
Your day starts from the tranquil hamlet of Durrboden, framed by the mighty snow-capped Scalettahorn (3086m) and Schwartzhorn (3146m), a rocky trail winds through scarlet daphne to charming Teufi by the river, for lunch on the village restaurant terrace. Then it’s homewards through pine forest alive to the chatter of wood pigeon, with ever opening views over Davos nestling under the mighty Weissfluh.

Tuesday - Clavadeler Alp 8km/5mi/2hr or 15km/10mi/4.5hr
A wooded track, bright with angelica and mountain scabious leads to Mt. Jakobshorn - breathtaking views over Davos shadowed by the snowy Graubunden peaks. Then, with Lake Davos' shimmering blue waters below, you reach today's best lunch spot, Jakobshorn Gasthaus. Descend to Clavadel - perhaps stop off to taste the spicy mountain cheese before joining the riverside trail back to Davos.

Wednesday - The Serene Sertig Valley 7km/4mi/2.5hr or 17km/11mi/4.5hr
From Mt Rinerhorn cable car, you descend in and out of pine forest to pretty Sertig hamlet, lost in a sea of meadows dotted with perennial cornflower. It's then on to the dramatic waterfall under Gross Alp - a clash of jagged limestone peaks and white water cascades. Finally a wooded path follows the meandering River Sertig to Frauenkirch where it's a short bus ride to Davos.

Thursday - Classic Alps Walk 11km/7mi/3hr or 18km/11mi/5.5hr
Today's route begins at the Alpinium, home to hundreds of rare Alpine blooms. Winding past larch roofed mountain chalets and high meadows dotted with Alpine cows grazing, you reach Stafelalp. Commanding views over the Mittaghorn and Jacobshorn, it's a great picnic spot. Homewards: you descend through a narrow valley, alive to the crashing River Chummer to Glaris, returning to Davos by bus.

Friday - Walser Villages Walk 10km/6mi/3hr or 18km/11mi/5hr
A mountain path lined with irises and yellow vetchling leads over sparkling mountain streams to HauderAlp where the cheery farmer sells you fresh milk by the glass! Onwards with panoramas over snowcapped Bodmen Alp, you descend to delightful Monstein with its two gasthaus and medieval brewery. After lunch, you dip into oak forest, with lapwings flitting through the dappled shade, to descend to Jenisberg for an exciting mountain railway ride (30 mins) back to Davos.

Saturday - Grand Panoramic Trail 8km/5mi/2hr or 19km/12mi/6hr
What better way to end the week than with the aptly named Panoramaweg? With Lake Davos shimmering below, you ascend to the tinkle of cowbells to tiny Lake Schoansee. Soon, Klosters frames the horizon as you climb to Gotschnagrat for the most panoramic lunch yet! Returning, you pick your way through edelweiss and gentian and may spot marmots playing on limestone boulders as you descend to Davos for a final 5-course gala dinner.

Sunday - Return home

Is this trip for you?
This single-centre independent holiday offers 1 and 2 boot walking (See Headwater’s Boot Rating System). The walking is on well-made and well-maintained paths with excellent signposting. There is a massive choice of walking routes and buses, trains and cable cars used to assist walking. This holiday is suitable for everyone, including couples, friends and families with children, and the programme designed for mixed ability groups.