Engadin Glacier Day

Trip: Morteratsch &

Scenic Railway

Your day begins with a private meet and pickup from your hotel. No rushing, no logistics to manage – simply step into a day curated entirely around you. From here, we travel to the Bernina Line for a scenic rail segment toward Morteratsch station, part of one of the most iconic train tours in Switzerland.

You’ll board the iconic red carriages of the Bernina Line and glide through high alpine terrain framed by vast windows for roughly 30 minutes. This UNESCO-listed route climbs through high alpine terrain using gradients of up to 7% without cogwheels – a remarkable technical achievement. 

Your guide provides context on the railway’s construction, the surrounding geology, and its designation as part of the UNESCO Rhaetian Railway Tour network.

From Morteratsch station, you begin your guided walk in Switzerland – lasting roughly 1.5-2 hours.

The path gradually leads you toward the glacier tongue, offering ever-closer views of the melting ice and surrounding alpine landscape.

Along the route, dated markers show where the glacier once reached in previous decades, illustrating how dramatically the ice has retreated over time. Your guide provides context along the way, explaining glaciology, climate patterns, and how the Morteratsch Glacier has changed over the years.

The walk is not on the glacier itself, but rather follows the valley floor toward the ice, allowing you to experience the scale of the glacier safely while enjoying one of the most striking alpine landscapes in the Engadin.

By private vehicle or train, we’ll continue upwards to the Bernina Pass at 2,253 metres, which takes roughly 20 minutes.

Here, you’ll see the “White Lake” – Lago Bianco – known for its pale glacial waters, which are striking against the dark rock and snowfields. This is the official watershed between the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea. On clear days, the horizon seems endless; on moody days, clouds drift low and cinematic across the peaks.

After that, we can take a 1-hour short hike or hop back on the train – the choice is yours – for a stop at Alp Grüm, which offers one of the most exclusive viewpoints in the region.

After that, you can choose to enjoy a 1-hour hike or simply hop back on the train for the next stop – the choice is yours. Either way, the journey leads to Alp Grüm, one of the most remarkable viewpoints along the Bernina line. What makes Alp Grüm particularly special is that it is only accessible by train or on foot, with no road connection, so it’s relatively uncrowded compared to many alpine viewpoints.

From this balcony-like platform, the landscape suddenly opens toward the Italian-speaking Val Poschiavo. You’ll see the Palü Glacier dominating the skyline. Few visitors stay here for long, but with your private guide, you have the space and time to absorb it fully.

Before returning, we pause at a traditional mountain lodge.

Here, you’ll enjoy Engadin nut tart – a local speciality of caramelised walnuts in buttery pastry – paired with coffee or tea. It’s simple, authentic, and rooted in regional tradition. Moments like this define our luxury private tours in Switzerland: understated, meaningful, deeply Swiss.

In the late afternoon, you board the train once more for the scenic return through the Bernina landscape. Upon arrival, your guide ensures a comfortable transfer to your hotel in the Engadin. 

This experience integrates seamlessly into broader Swiss Alps tours, or can be paired with a Bernina Express Day Trip for guests wishing to explore further toward Italy.