Cicerone Guides: Tour of the Bernina explores two treks in the Bernina region of the Swiss-Italian Alps. The Tour of the Bernina is a 9-stage trek circling the Piz Bernina massif, 119 km long and suitable for beginner trekkers. The Alta Via Valmalenco in Italy is a shorter, 8-stage trek over 94 km, but is a more challenging route suitable for trekkers with more experience. Cicerone Guides: Tour of the Bernina contains detailed route descriptions in combination with plenty of background and practical information. Whether skirting above St. Moritz and below snow-capped giants on the Tour of the Bernina, or climbing over wild, high passes and through isolated mountains in the Italian Valmalenco by Monte Disgrazia, the treks offer incredible experiences. Both feature spectacular peaks towering over snow fields and perfect alpine pastures, with accommodation in comfortable alpine guesthouses and high altitude huts.
Introduction
The Tour of the Bernina
The Alta Via Valmalenco
About glaciers
Plants and flowers
Wildlife
Getting there
Getting around
Tourist information
When to go
Accommodation
Food and drink
What to take
Waymarking and maps
Dos and don’ts
Emergencies
Using this guide
The Tour of the Bernina
Stage 1 Pontresina to Fuorcla Surlej
Stage 2 Fuorcla Surlej to Maloja
Stage 3 Maloja to Rifugio Longoni
Stage 3A Maloja to Chiareggio
Stage 3B Chiareggio to Rifugio Longoni
Stage 4 Rifugio Longoni to Lago Palù
Stage 5 Lago Palù to Rifugio Carate Brianza
Stage 6 Rifugio Carate Brianza to Rifugio Bignami
Stage 7 Rifugio Bignami to Cavaglia
Stage 7A Rifugio Bignami to Selva
Stage 7B Selva to Cavaglia
Stage 8 Cavaglia to Berghaus Diavolezza
Stage 8A Cavaglia to Ospizio Bernina
Stage 8B Ospizio Bernina to Berghaus Diavolezza
Stage 9 Berghaus Diavolezza to Pontresina
The Alta Via Valmalenco
Stage 1 Torre di Santa Maria to Rifugio Bosio Galli
Stage 2 Rifugio Bosio Galli to Rifugio Ventina/Rifugio Gerli-Porro
Stage 3 Rifugio Ventina/Rifugio Gerli-Porro to Chiareggio
Stage 4 Chiareggio to Lago Palù
Stage 5 Lago Palù to Rifugio Marinelli Bombardieri
Stage 6 Rifugio Marinelli Bombardieri to Rifugio Bignami
Stage 7 Rifugio Bignami to Rifugio Cristina
Stage 8 Rifugio Cristina to Caspoggio
Appendix A Glossary
Appendix B Accommodation
Gillian Price was born in England but has lived in Venice for many years. Gillian has steadily explored the mountain ranges of Italy, and now Corsica, and brought them to life for visitors in a series of outstanding guides for Cicerone. She is an active member of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI) and Mountain Wilderness.