5-Tagestour Gotthard Tunnel Trail

Stage 1: Erstfeld - Bristen Accommodation: Gasthaus Alpenblick www.gasthaus-alpenblick.ch

On the first day of our hike, we experience the Urnerland from an elevated position, once we have reached the height of Schwandi. We overlook the valley basin with its lively transit traffic on roads and rails and we are happy to be able to travel on foot. We enjoy the slowness to the fullest, have time to look around, watch birds or study flowers more closely. From the Waldiberg we swing in an open cable car to the valley.

Stage 2: Bristen - Sedrun Accommodation: www.disentis-sedrun.ch

We hike into the Etzlital, where we reach the Etzliboden via two terrain steps. After a short ascent we arrived at the Etzlihütte. From the terrace, our view sweeps into the Chrüzli valley to the Chrüzli Pass, which was already walked as a pilgrim and mule trail centuries ago. On the Chrüzli Pass we stand for a moment exactly above the tunnel tube! Arriving in Val Strem, we are impressed by the untouched valley with the lively stream, the lush meadows with woolly grass and the view of the Oberalpstock. At the waterfalls Bauns we look down to Sedrun. Here, however, we can not continue on the planned route, because in March 2016 a rockslide buried the valley. At the top we count the mountain peaks of Piz Badus, Piz Gannaretsch to Piz Medel and other three-thousanders in between. On the following valley hike to Sedrun we always have the sun on our faces.

Stage 3: Sedrun - Lukmanier Pass Accommodation: Hospezi Santa Maria www.lukmanierpass.ch

The day promises a lot of variety: We are always in the valley area, hike through small villages and shady forests, take a break on the hill stagias and cross an extraordinary suspension bridge made of larch wood in Mutschnengia. On the old Lukmanier pass route, modernity does not yet seem to have arrived in the hamlets of Drual, Matergia and Pardé. Alpe Sogn Gagl belongs to the monastery of Disentis and the famous "wandering monk" Father Placidus A. Spescha spent some time here. But that was a good two hundred years ago.  At the latest at the first glance at the dam of the Santa Maria reservoir, modern times catch up with us again. But even that has its charm when we walk left bank on the gallery roof to the top of the pass.

Stage 4: Lukmanier Pass - Cari Accommodation: Capanna Prodör www.utoepizzomolare.ch

Benvenuti in Ticino. We now move in the Italian-speaking world, through the stony Val Termine up to the Passo dell'uomo and around the Pizzo delle Colombe, which seems somehow out of place in its appearance. Its peaks protrude into the sky and its flanks shimmer bright orange or white. It is the dolomite that gives it its shape and color and that collects sugar-shaped in the hollows. Ideally suited as decorative sand, if it still has space in the backpack. The highlight of this stage awaits us on the Passo Predelp, when we get an insight into the Valle Leventina.

Stage 5: Cari - Bodio Accommodation: Albergo Stazione www.albergostazionebodio.ch

The last day of hiking is here and we leave early to benefit from the morning coolness. Always on the sunny side of the Leventina we hike mostly on the legendary Strada Alta Leventina, on which, contrary to its name, you only have to hike on short sections on the road. Parallel to the road that connects the villages of Calonico, Anzonico, Cavagnago and Sobrio, there is also a hiking trail. Partly through light forests, then again over well-kept meadows and past picturesque rustici. A "treat" at the end is the descent to Bodio. The path is always set with stairs in the Ticino style, winds in numerous bends to the valley, and in the lower part we dive into a light chestnut forest. Tired and happy and also a little proud we arrive in Bodio.

Visit to Bogn Sedrun to relax muscles www.bognsedrun.ch

With the book "Gotthard Tunnel Trail" you can prepare yourself for this multi-day hike before the tour

The Val Strem is closed from the bauns valley level to Sedrun after a rock fall.

Option 1: From Bauns via Alp Casschlé with counter-ascent. (Etzlihütte - Sedrun via Caschlé: 5- 6 hours)

Variant 2: From the Etzlihütte via the Mittelplatten and through the Val Milar to Sedrun (Etzlihütte-Mittelplatten-Sedrun: 4 hours)

Until mid-July, there are still snowfields over the Chrüzli Pass or the Mittelplatten as well as on the north side of the Passo Predelp.