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A weekend road trip on the Alpine Circle - Ruta Focus, Graubünden
Discover the beautiful mountain world of Graubünden for three days and camp in an idyllic setting with private hosts. The Ruta Focus takes you along adventurous pass roads, picturesque mountain panoramas and cultural landmarks. We'll take you with us.
Travel diary road trip along the Ruta Focus, Alpine Circle, Graubünden
Travel diary by Adrian, Alex and Joshua from Constance
It's Friday lunchtime and we want to see mountains this weekend. Our destination: Graubünden in Switzerland, more precisely the Ruta Focus, which is part of the Alpine Circle. We spontaneously found the van, a cute T4, via PaulCamper, a rental platform for private campers in Germany, and after a short briefing from our landlady, we were off. From Constance, we drove along Lake Constance towards Davos to our pitch at Camp Steinbock Bergpanoramasicht. Our highlight on site: definitely a sumptuous breakfast with products from the farm store and an outstanding view of the mountain panorama. The perfect start to our road trip along the Alpine Circle. What you shouldn't miss: the Landwasser Viaduct in Filisur is rightly the most popular photo subject in the canton of Graubünden.
We are really looking forward to Camp Muntanela in Surses, because there is a barbecue area here. We decide to climb the nearby Piz Martegnas in the afternoon. The path leads over the last old snowfields, but the main thing is sunshine. Once at the top, the view of the valley and our camp is wonderful.
By the time we get back to camp, it's already getting dark. But of course we still have a barbecue. The following morning, a mystical atmosphere awaits us. Before we set off again, we stop off at the restaurant run by Andrea, Rita, Reto & Angi, our hosts. They run the restaurant together and are super friendly.
Enjoying Camp Muntanela
We continue over the beautiful Julier Pass towards the Engadin.
Our destination for the day is the Diavolezza glacier world and the breathtaking view of the four-thousand-meter Piz Bernina and the striking Piz Palü with the Pers and Morteratsch glaciers at its feet. If you prefer, you can take the gondola, walk along the hiking trail or scramble up the alpine path to the Diavolezza viewing platform. We opt for the hiking trail and set off. The initially scattered patches of snow quickly become more and more, and then at some point become too adventurous for us as clouds roll in. So we decide to turn back and make another fun descent. We didn't get the view, but we certainly had a nice hike.
The snow is perfect for racing. Nevertheless, caution is advised.
Even though the area around Ardez and the Swiss National Park offers wonderful opportunities for hiking, we will take it easy and simply spend our time at Camp Ustaria la stalla Unterengadin. Our hosts are almost old friends to us, and we are offered a beer with dinner. The night is quiet and the following morning we enjoy the company of alpacas and billy goats, who give us envious glances as we eat breakfast.
Strengthened, we set off on the last stage of our road trip back towards Davos and then on to Constance.
Wild camping in Graubünden
In general, wild camping is not permitted in the canton of Graubünden, except for one night in the mountains above the tree line, emergency bivouacs or with the permission of the landowner on private land. When staying overnight with a camper in parking lots, it is essential to observe the signaling and parking time restrictions on site (NO camping behavior such as not putting out tables or chairs). Here you will find all the important information about wild camping in Graubünden.
Be inspired!
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