Private St. Moritz & Engadin Valley Day Trip from Lucerne

Chur, the Oldest Town in Switzerland

Chur lies in the Rhine valley at the foot of the Alps and has been settled for about 5,000 years, which is why it is called the oldest town in Switzerland. The Romans built a station here on the road to the passes, and later bishops ruled the region from the walled precinct on the hill above the town. Today Chur is the capital of Graubünden, the largest canton, where German, Romansh and Italian are all spoken.

Our driver stops so you can explore the car-free old town with its fountains, painted facades and narrow lanes leading up to the Cathedral of St. Mary, built in the 12th and 13th centuries. Allow about 45 minutes for a coffee and a stroll around the squares. If you are wondering whether Chur is worth visiting, it is a calm and authentic Swiss town, far less crowded than the lakeside cities.

The Via Mala Gorge

South of Thusis, the Hinterrhein river has cut a narrow canyon through the rock, with walls rising up to around 300 metres. For centuries this was the feared bad road of the traders and mule trains crossing the Alps, and the name Via Mala means exactly that. Old stone bridges from the 18th century span the chasm, and a stairway leads down to the water, where the river has carved round potholes into the rock.

We stop at the visitor point on the old road so you can look down into the gorge from the bridges. In the warmer months the stairway down to the river is open, with a small entrance fee that is not included; in winter you enjoy the views from above. The stop takes about 30 to 45 minutes and is one of the most dramatic sights on the drive from Lucerne to St. Moritz.

The Julier Pass

From the Albula valley the road climbs in wide bends to the Julier Pass at about 2,280 metres, one of the oldest crossings of the Alps. The Romans used this route and remains of stone columns from that period still stand near the summit. Above the tree line the landscape becomes wide and rocky, with snowfields lingering late into summer, before the road drops into the Upper Engadin with sudden views of the lakes.

The Julier road is kept open all year, which makes it the main way to reach St. Moritz by car in winter. Our driver stops near the top for photos if the weather allows. Many travellers ask how to get to St. Moritz from Lucerne: by train it takes around four hours with changes in Zurich and Chur, while the private car lets you see the gorge and the pass on the way.

Lake Silvaplana and the Engadin Lakes

The Upper Engadin is a high valley at around 1,800 metres with a chain of lakes: St. Moritz, Champfer, Silvaplana and Sils. Lake Silvaplana, between the villages of Silvaplana and Sils, is the largest of them, its deep-blue water set against the peaks of Piz Corvatsch. Almost every summer afternoon the Maloja wind blows up the valley, which has made the lake one of the best spots in Europe for kitesurfing and windsurfing.

In winter the lakes freeze and become white plains crossed by cross-country ski tracks. We stop on the shore for a short walk and photos, about 30 minutes, with the colourful sails on the water in summer or the snow-covered surface in winter. Nearby Sils is a peaceful village with Engadin houses and access to the Fex valley, should you wish to add a short stop.

Free Time in St. Moritz

St. Moritz rises above its own lake at about 1,820 metres and has welcomed winter visitors since the 1860s. It hosted the Winter Olympics in 1928 and 1948, and the village is famous for its sunny climate, its elegant boutiques and the leaning tower of a long-gone church. The lakeside promenade leads to St. Moritz Bad, while funiculars and cable cars climb to the ski slopes of Corviglia.

You have about two hours to explore as you like: stroll around the lake, browse the shops of the Via Serlas, or, in the snow season, try a winter activity with your own rental equipment. Halal food is limited in St. Moritz, but vegetarian and fish dishes are easy to find. As for the best time to visit St. Moritz, summer brings green meadows and calm lakes, while December to March offers a classic snowy resort.