Chamanna Coaz: 2-Day Hut Tour Through Val Roseg to Furtsche

From Pontresina through the wild romantic Val Roseg to Chamanna Coaz and the next day over the Fuorcla Surlej down to Furtschellas: This two-day hut tour in the Engadin combines impressive glacier views with varied, technically not too difficult trails. Anyone looking for a compact multi-day hike will find the perfect combination here of high alpine landscape, cozy overnight hut stay, and magnificent mountain panoramas.

Day 1: From Pontresina through Val Roseg to Chamanna Coaz

The Engadin greets me this Monday morning with gray clouds. Will it rain? To be honest, the overcast sky works out well for me. I want to get through the first two hours of this hike as quickly as possible so my hiking companions don’t have to wait too long at the meeting point by the Hotel Restaurant Val Roseg. They started a day earlier and stayed overnight at the Tschiervahütte.

Fortunately, I’m already familiar with the first seven kilometers of this hike. In fall 2023, we hiked the loop through Val Roseg from Pontresina – a route that thrilled us. This time too, the idyll captivates me immediately and I reach the intermediate destination, Hotel Restaurant Val Roseg, faster than expected. Here I treat myself to a quick snack at the legendary cake buffet. From here, Chamanna Coaz is marked with about three hours of hiking time.

Shortly after noon, we tackle the climb. The trail initially runs along a section of the broad alluvial plain and then steadily climbs to Alp Ota. Soon we leave the tree line behind and feel almost at eye level with the 3,000-meter peaks that tower up at the valley’s end. A special highlight is the Lej da Vadret, which shimmers in surreal turquoise even on this gray day.

After about two hours, Chamanna Coaz appears in the distance. The final section does stretch on a bit, but since the trail now more or less follows the contour line, hiking becomes pure enjoyment. While we can’t always see the Lej da Vadret from the trail, it reveals itself in all its splendor behind the hut.

Quick Facts for the Pontresina – Val Roseg – Chamanna Coaz Hike

Using the following hiking map, you can see the route of the hike from Pontresina to Chamanna Coaz. The first section (to Hotel Restaurant Val Roseg) follows the marked Bernina Trail. It is a white-red-white marked mountain hiking trail throughout (T2/T3). The trail is well-marked throughout and has no technically difficult or exposed sections. Nevertheless, the route runs through alpine terrain – good footwear is therefore essential.

Variation: If the distance is too long, you can take the horse-drawn carriage (Pferde-Omnibus) from Pontresina to Hotel Restaurant Val Roseg. This shortens the climb to Chamanna Coaz by two hours. A single ticket costs 25 CHF for adults. Carriages run hourly from 10 to 3 PM according to schedule (first departure from Pontresina station at 10:10 AM). To reserve a seat, you must register (Reservation at +41 78 944 75 55). Current information can be found here: Schedule/Rates

Starting Point	Pontresina Train Station (1,774 m above sea level)
Accessibility	Starting point accessible by public transportation
Distance	9.8 miles
Elevation Gain	↗ 3,442 ft ↘ 673 ft
Duration	5:00 hours
Destination	Chamanna Coaz (2,610 m above sea level)
Dining Options	Hotel Restaurant Roseg Glacier

Day 2: Over the Fuorcla Surlej to Furtschellas

After a quiet night in the only half-occupied 8-person dorm – we were five – we set off early for the second leg. The forecasted mountain weather lives up to expectations: not a cloud in sight. Since Chamanna Coaz essentially sits in a dead end, we first follow the same trail for about an hour that brought us to the hut the day before. We stop repeatedly and look back. The sight of Piz Roseg and the ice and snow-covered valley end toward Italy is a perfect photo subject. Shortly after, Piz Bernina also appears with its distinctive Biancograt.

At trail marker 2521, we turn onto the path toward Fuorcla Surlej and tackle the climb. About 820 feet of elevation still separates us from the highest point of the tour at 9,036 feet above sea level. Once at the top, the mountain lodge at Fuorcla Surlej invites you for a short coffee break. Right next to it lies a small mountain lake, from which you get one last impressive view of the imposing Bernina Massif.

We now follow the hiking trail toward Murtèl. The transition from the unspoiled Val Roseg to the infrastructure-heavy Corvatsch ski area feels somewhat abrupt. By the time you reach the middle station of the Corvatsch cable car, the magnificent view softens the contrast, as the Upper Engadin lake plateau spreads out before us. Additionally, this point offers the shortest and least demanding access to Chamanna Coaz.

We decided at this point to add a scenic bonus loop over the Senda ils Lejins. To do this, we first follow the Bernina Trail signs downhill toward Silvaplana and Sils-Maria. At an elevation of 7,905 feet, above the Alpetta restaurant, we leave the gravel path and continue straight ahead on a narrow natural trail to the Lejin Rhodonit. Here we meet the Senda ils Lejins. The six-kilometer-long loop leads from the middle station of the Furtschellas cable car to six small mountain lakes – a popular route, especially for families with children. Just before the finish, there’s one more highlight: a breathtaking view over the Silser Lake all the way to Maloja.

For my hiking companion and me, this tour to Chamanna Coaz and on to Furtschellas was a worthwhile two-day hike. In just two days, you experience many facets of the Engadin and enjoy numerous mountain lakes. An added benefit is that the tour can be flexibly adapted and, depending on the variation, is neither technically nor physically extremely challenging. Still, kudos to the 91-year-old senior who was sitting at the table next to us at Chamanna Coaz and also stayed overnight at the hut.

Quick Facts for the Chamanna Coaz – Fuorcla Surlej – Murtèl – Furtschellas Hike

Using the following hiking map, you can see the route of the hike from Chamanna Coaz over the Fuorcla Surlej to Furtschellas. It is a white-red-white marked mountain hiking trail throughout (T2/T3). The trail is well-marked throughout and has no technically difficult or exposed sections. Nevertheless, the route runs through alpine terrain – good footwear is therefore essential.

Variation: If you want to shorten the tour, you can take the Corvatsch cable car down from the Murtèl middle station. This reduces the hiking stage from about five hours to approximately three hours.

Starting Point	Chamanna Coaz (2,610 m above sea level)
Accessibility	Destination accessible by public transportation
Distance	10.0 miles
Elevation Gain	↗ 2,618 ft ↘ 3,585 ft
Duration	5:15 hours
Destination	Furtschellas Middle Station (2,314 m above sea level)
Dining Options	Mountain Lodge Fuorcla Surlej

Practical Tips for Your Hike to Chamanna Coaz

• This two-day hike leads to elevations above 2,600 m above sea level and is suitable from late June to mid-October.
• Chamanna Coaz is open during this period. The SAC hut was recently renovated and now offers modern comfort. An overnight stay with half board costs 116 CHF for non-SAC members (price as of 2025). Current prices and the booking tool can be found here: Chamanna Coaz
• Remember to bring a hut sleeping bag liner. There are no showers, and a small fee is charged for charging cell phones (Tip: bring a power bank).
• The starting point of Pontresina is accessible by the Rhaetian Railway from Zurich Main Station in about 3.5 hours (2 transfers).
• For the return trip from Murtèl (Corvatsch cable car near Silvaplana) or Furtschellas (near Sils-Maria), the route goes via St. Moritz through either the Albula or Vereina, depending on the connection (travel time approximately 4 hours).
• If you have more time, you can easily extend the tour to a 3-day multi-day hike: On the first day, go from Pontresina through Val Roseg to the Tschiervahütte, and on the second day continue to Chamanna Coaz.