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3-day guided hut to hut hike above Lake Lugano

Photo of Celine Kahn
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Celine K. and Otto
3-day guided hut to hut hike above Lake Lugano

Details

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Stunning 3-day hut to hut hike in Ticino! We will hike a section of the Lugano Trekking Tour, which has fantastic panoramic views and very charming mountain huts along the route.

This event is led by Otto van Andel, International mountain leader.

What's the plan?
Day 1: Lugano - Capanna Pairolo
Meet Otto at Lugano train station and go to Cassarate, Monte Brè station. We start with a nice ride on the historic mountain railway with panoramic views of Lugano. The hike starts in Monte Brè with a steep uphill to the summit of Monte Boglia. The descent follows the ridge, all the way to Alpe Bolla, located on a small plateau, and continues towards the beautiful Denti della Vecchia. The Sasso Grande dominates in the middle. The path continues through the dense mountain pine forest. Evening and night at Capanna Pairolo at 1300m above sea level. One of the highlights of this hut is its views of the Monte Rosa and the 4000m peaks of the Mischabel group.

Technical info: 5h, 1000m +, 450m -

Day 2: Capanna Pairolo - Capanna Monte Bar
After a nice breakfast, we start the hike following a ridge until we leave the woods and catch sight of the limestone cliffs of the Cima dell’Oress. From Alpe di Pianca Bella, we can climb to Cima di Fojorina and enjoy the magnificent view, before starting the steep descent to the Bocchetta di San Bernardo. Then the ascent on the ridge towards Gazzirola begins. From this summit we can enjoy a wonderful panorama; the area of Lugano, the Magadino plain, Lake Maggiore and, on the distant horizon, the Alpine chain. We go down along the steep pastures to Alpe Pietrarossa. On a forest road closed to traffic, we reach the Capanna Monte Bar at 1600m above sea level, where we will spend the evening and night.

Technical info: 7h, 1100m +, 850m -

Day 3: Capanna Monte Bar - Tesserete
The last day starts with an ascent to the summit of Monte Bar. The view from here extends over the Isone valley to Lake Maggiore, with Locarno. We stay on the ridge until we reach Motto della Croce, with a view of the nearby Capriasca Valley. Military fortresses that date from WWI and WWII can still be seen along our route. From Alpe Santa Maria we climb up through meadows towards Monte di Bigorio. We will pass the monastery of Santa Maria di Bigorio, the chapels of Via Crucis, the village of Bigorio... until we reach Tesserete. From there we return home.

Technical info: 5h, 200m +, 1300m -

Requirements
T3 hike. Good physical condition, used to hiking with up to 1000m ascent/day.

Insurance
It is the participant's responsibility to get health and accident insurances that cover mountain rescue, including extreme sports. Becoming a Rega patron is highly recommended (CHF 40 per year only for emergency medical assistance from the air).

How to get there
If you are traveling from Zurich by public transport, we recommend you to take the following:

  • Friday: Zurich HB 08:05 - 10:48 Lugano (via Arth Goldau)
  • Sunday: Tesserete 16:30 - 18:55 Zurich HB (via Lugano) - depending on what time the event finishes

Kit list
Day Clothing Essentials

  • Hiking boots
  • T-shirt
  • Hiking trousers or shorts
  • Fleece
  • Down jacket
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Waterproof over trousers
  • Sun hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Warm hat
  • Buff
  • Gloves

Night Essentials

  • Sleeping bag liner
  • Lightweight towel
  • Ear plugs
  • Cash for drinks at the huts

Technical gear

  • Hiking poles
  • Hiking backpack (30-40L)
  • Waterproof backpack cover
  • Waterproof inner bags or bin bags
  • Headlamp with spare batteries

F&B

  • Water (min. 2L)
  • Snacks

Pharmacy

  • Sunscreen and lip protector
  • Plasters and basic medicine

Pricing

The price for this event is CHF 460 for non SAC members and CHF 440 for SAC members.

A CHF 50 non-refundable deposit is due upon booking. We will then contact you and send you the details for the payment of the balance.

Included in price

  • 3 days hiking with an international mountain leader
  • 2 nights of accommodation in mountain huts (shared rooms)
  • Shower tokens on Friday and Saturday
  • 3-course dinner on Friday and Saturday
  • Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday

Not included in price

  • Transport to Lugano and back from Tesserete
  • Cable car to Monte Brè (CHF 8 with half fare travel card, CHF 16 without)
  • Lunches
  • Drinks and snacks

Group size

  • Min. 4 participants
  • Max. 11 participants

By signing up for this event, you agree that you have read, understood and will adhere to our Terms and Conditions.

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