A unique excursion that brings you across the Bernina alpine pass with one of the most enchanting train rides in the world.
The “Trenino Rosso del Bernina” is a must-do day trip. A small red electric train passing through mountain villages, pristine alpine lakes and peaceful refuges. At any time of the year!
The train departs from the village Tirano, north of Milan. Tirano is located in one of my favourite wine and food area of Italy: Valtellina…! — See Northeast region wine and culinary tours.
After whistling through the bustling piazza, animated by smiling locals (here tourists are “still” not too many…!), the train starts the amazing slow climb from 450 meters to the 2,000+ meters of the Bernina pass.
You can get off the train at any station and take the train after. There is a train every hour. My favourite stops are: Alp Grüm at 2091 meters of altitude, Ospizio Bernina at 2256 mt. and Bernina Diavolezza, where a nice cable car ride brings you at 3000 mt. to admire closely the Bernina pick (4050 mt.) and its glaciers.
The train then reaches the final destination: the Swiss village of St. Moritz. Total one-way ride time without getting off at any stop is about 2 hours and a few minutes. If you get off at 2 or 3 station, and you stay one hour at each stop (plan 2-3 hours at the Diavolezza glacier for an unforgettable lunch with a view!), you can be sure you are in for a treat: a very enjoyable, relaxing day trip (say 9am to 4pm).
After being pampered at a beautiful 5-star spa hotel in St. Moritz, I took the Bernina Express back to Tirana, without getting off at any stop. I had a reservation in one of the panoramic cars. Mother nature had prepared a nice surprise for me: at the end of August, at 2000 mt of altitude it was snowing! So, on my way back, I was gifted with a total different view of the magical Bernina mountains!
“If you are interested in visiting these areas on your own or with a small group, contact me and I will be happy to share my experiences or design a custom itinerary for you”
— ANTONIO