The Specialists in Swiss Ski
and Snowboard Holidays

Situated on the sunny South facing slopes of The Schanfigg valley opposite Arosa’s Weisshorn and on the same ridge as Davos’s Parsenne lies the idyllic small resort of St.Peter. The Hochwang reference is the local name for the resort, named after the nearby Hochwang summit at 2532 m.

With only two ski lifts, one hotel and two Restaurants the infrastructure is limited. However what it lacks in size is made up for with «charm» and quality.

It is the perfect spot to get away from the crowds and enjoy the peace and serenity of a beautiful Alpine village.

The variety of pistes is fine for those of an «intermediate» standard and with fresh snow presents some excellent and safe «off piste» opportunities.

St. Peter / Hochwang is without doubt one of the best resorts for families or to learn to ski or snowboard in.

Alternatively it is the perfect base for the experienced skier or snowboarder as it is situated right in between Davos, Arosa, Lenzerheide and Flims / Laax / Falera.

The main advantage is that it is relatively cheap with lift passes being only CHF 38 – £17 for an adult full day pass and CHF 29 – £13 for a half days pass.

The Schanfigg Valley

A secret valley even for the Swiss, the Schanfigg lies between Chur and the popular resort of Arosa. The entrance to the valley is in Chur, an hour and a halfs car journey from Zurich airport or two hours by train.

The valley runs virtually East to West, with Maladers receiving some of the most daily sunshine hours in Europe! It is a naturalists paradise with a mass of wild flowers in the spring and summer and the autumnal colours in the forests rivalling even New England in The U.S.A.

The valley is abundant in wildlife with herds of deer often seen, as well as badgers, foxes, chamoix, steinbock, marmmots, rabbits/hares and even lizards and snakes! High above soar a resident family of Golden Eagles and for bird watchers many species can be seen whilst out walking or even sitting on a restaurant terrace.

Farming and forestry are the main industries of the locals who are amongst the friendliest in the country. The pace is slow and never too hectic and it is well worth the time to discover the local meats, cheeses and breads.

Easily accessible by car from Chur along its rumoured 365 bends to Arosa the road winds its way through tunnels and over impressive bridges but the best way to appreciate the views is to let the train take the strain.

The narrow gage railway provides one of the most memorable journeys in Switzerland if not in Europe! Breathtaking scenery over viaducts and through tunnels allows the passenger to see down to the river Plessur that runs through the gorge far below the railway. High above on the right as one travels towards Arosa lies the impressive North face of The Arosa Weisshorn (2653 m) and at the head of the valley the Strela pass that links Davos with The Schanfigg. High to the left of the railway as one travels up the valley lies The Weissfluhgipfel. (Peak, not the edible variety!) The Weissfluhgipfel is the highest point on the Parsenne ski area at 2844 m.

On the South facing side of the valley the resort of Hochwang above St. Peter provides a winter playground for skiers and snowboarders alike offering some excellent yet safe off piste /free riding opportunities. Beginners and families wont be disappointed with the un crowded pistes and friendly atmosphere. The views are stunning and the mountain scenery of peaks, forests, fields and streams sparkles in the clear, unpolluted Alpine air.

In summer the ski lift is open at weekends for hikers to enjoy the natural beauty. A highlight being a trip up to Teufels Kopf ( Devils Head) – a peak high above the valley with panoramic views over the Schanfigg and over The Rhine valley and on to Surselva Flims and Laax.

Opposite St. Peter on the North facing side of the valley lies the village and resort of Tschiertschen. Larger than St. Peter and Hochwang this winterresort has a recent addition of a new 4 seater chair lift to take guests up towards the high peaks of Alpstein and Guergaletsch. Famous for its fantastic off piste possibilities Tschiertschen links the two resorts of Arosa and Lenzerheide. A Safari pass allows the user to ride the ski lifts in all three resorts, making it one of the best tours in the area. It is however recommended to go with an experienced mountain guide the first few times as some of the terrain is prone to Avalanches.

Tschiertschen has its own ice rink as well as a good infrastructure of reasonably priced hotels and guesthouses.

The Chur – Arosa railway passes on the other side of the valley but Tschiertschen has a reliable Post bus service and is only a twenty minute drive from Chur. For the adventurous the road past Tschiertschen to Molinis is unsealed and a good mountain bike is the best way to cover it. A recommended summer hike is from Tschiertschen up to The Churer Joch where the views of Chur and The Rhine valley are worth the walk.

At the top of the Schanfigg valley is the village of Langwies. Another beautiful part of the valley with spectacular views to hike in and it offers a few accommodation possibilities as well as an excellent bakery and dairy.

Without naming every village hidden away in the valley I think it best to study the map or the train stops and venture on your own journey of discovery in to this wonderful environment!

The climate in the valley varies dramatically with temperatures in February dropping below the minus 20 C mark and in July reaching over 30 C! And of course depending on your altitude.

In winter its safe to say, even with less snow falling in recent years, that the snowline starts at about 1500 m. In summer the occasional thunderstorm can be dangerous causing flash floods and mud slides due to the nature of the steep terrain.

If outdoors in Spring and Autumn it is wise to carry extra layers of warm and waterproof clothing but in summer shorts and a T-shirt are the norm.

Weather visited in winter, spring, summer or autumn The Schanfigg valley will leave you wanting to return time and again to discover another piece of natural magic.

If you require any further information please Email us at info@schanfigg-tourismus.ch or specifically for winter sports holidays and information bookmark www.snowmotions.com and Emails to info@snowmotions.com.

Jason Savidge

Snowmotions

Luen