> Hike a green valley from Switzerland into wild Italy
> Spend your nights in cozy mountain rifugios
> Let us handle the hut bookings, you just hike
You step out of the cable car and into a world of contrast. Behind you, Switzerland’s tidy perfection. In front, Italy’s wild charm. You’re surrounded by green slopes and alpine silence except for the whistle of marmots. It feels like crossing into a different world on foot. This four-day Alps hut-to-hut hike brings together light hiking, rifugio hospitality, and high-mountain views. And you don’t even need to carry a tent.
The Val Formazza Beginner Tour is made for those who want to step into the high Alps without jumping into the deep end. You’ll start and finish in Ulrichen, Switzerland, and in between hike to three classic mountain huts across the border in Italy. Expect quiet trails, sweeping views, turquoise lakes like Toggia and Morasco, and even a dam crossing. Oh, and one day with a bit of a climb but you’ve got this.
The day starts above Ulrichen, where the bus winds its way up the Passo della Novena / Nufenenpass for 15 minutes before dropping you straight into a sea of green slopes and easy-going paths. As the bus runs every day but only sporadically, it is worth planning your timing, though the stage is short enough to suit different departures. Once high above Ulrichen, gentle paths lead through grassy slopes and scattered rocks, with wide views towards the rounded summit of Nufenenstock. It is a relaxed introduction, perfect for families to get used to the altitude and the open, bright landscape around Val Corno.
The route first dips slightly towards the pastures around Mandelli, crossing streams and small bridges where the water runs straight from the snowfields. From here the path begins to climb in easy zigzags into the upper valley. The further you go, the more the massif of Corno Gries appears, with traces of old glacier and wind-carved ridges above the trail.
The final stretch traverses a rocky slope on a well-marked path, with one last short climb to reach the stone buildings of Capanna Corno Gries. The hut sits like a balcony above the valley, with plenty of flat rocks for children to explore. Inside you find a welcoming dining room, warm drinks and simple family rooms, the ideal place to settle in for the night.
From Capanna Corno Gries the route rolls out across a high, open balcony above the Ticino mountains. It is a hard but wonderfully scenic traverse, with big views toward Lago Morasco, Lago Toggia and the pale peaks around Punta Elgio and Pizzo San Giacomo. The rhythm is mostly downhill, but never sleepy, alpine theatre from the first step.
The path first follows gentle terrain near the Chapel of San Nicolao Val d’Olgia, then bends south toward Lago Toggia. Around the lake the trail keeps things elegant, with water on one side and rugged stone on the other. Peaks such as Punta Elgio (2,887 m), Manió (2,962 m) and Pizzo San Giacomo (2,924 m) give the route that proper high-mountain swagger.
After the view over Lago Morasco the descent becomes the main act, dropping decisively toward Riale di Sotto. The final stretch eases into the valley, where Rifugio Bim Se waits in a calmer, greener setting. Boots off, shoulders down, and there it is: a finish with lakes, mountains and a plate waiting somewhere nearby.
Here the mood changes from lakeside strolling to a proper mountain climb. Leaving the shore behind, you head for the high plateau beneath Punta dei Camosci at 3,046 metres, trading the soft blues of the reservoir for rocky ridges and wide glacier views. It is the most demanding stretch so far, yet still steady enough for mountain-savvy families who like a bit of effort.
The trail follows the lake for a short while before crossing the dam and turning into the valley of Bettelmatt. Through famous alpine meadows you begin a long climb of roughly 700 metres, first on a track, then on a narrower path that winds past streams and small waterfalls. Higher up, the terrain becomes more mineral, with views towards Blinnenhorn.
Near the Piano dei Camosci the gradient eases and the path swings across a stony slope towards a rocky knoll. Rifugio Città di Busto appears suddenly, perched above the basin like a lookout. The hut offers a cosy dining room, terraces facing the evening light and a friendly atmosphere where stories from the day naturally find their way across the tables.
The final stretch feels like a victory lap through high country. From the balcony of Rifugio Città di Busto you wander past rock and grass, with Lago Morasco glimmering below and peaks like Nufenenstock and Kleines Grieshorn on the skyline. Bit by bit the route turns from wild to gentle, swapping rough slopes for softer meadows as you move back towards the cable car and the valley.
The path starts with an easy traverse and then drops steadily towards Lago Morasco, where a solid dam guides you across the water with big views up and down the valley. Beyond the lake the trail climbs once more to a wide plateau with a second reservoir and a real high alpine feel. From here a long, friendly descent follows good paths and tracks, winding past streams and grassy terraces towards the roof of the cable car station.
Arriving at Altstafel, the noise of the valleys still feels far away. You can sit for a moment, look back at the reservoir and the line you walked, and let it all sink in. From here you will need to make your way back to the Ladstafel bus stop, where the bus takes you down to Ulrichen. As the bus does not run very frequently, it is important to check the timetable in advance and plan your timing accordingly. While you wait for the bus to arrive, you can enjoy a final quiet moment in the mountains, legs humming and pockets full of new stories from the trail.
