Explore Wild Graubünden: Sustainable Swiss Travel

In Graubünden, the landscape doesn’t just impress—it teaches. The soft clang of cowbells, the scent of wild arnica, and the warmth of a handwoven blanket tell a story far older than modern tourism. Here, sustainable travel isn’t a trend—it’s a return to rhythm.

For those looking to connect more deeply with the places they visit—and share the magic of slow travel with kids or loved ones—Graubünden offers a rare gift: heritage held gently in the hands of locals who are proud to share it. This is travel that nourishes the land and your spirit.

Ready to roam differently? Here’s how to explore the crafts, foodways, and traditions of Graubünden with the people keeping them alive.

DAY 1: Cheese Trails & Alpine Herds in the Surselva Valley

Base yourself: Brigels or Vals (quiet, family-friendly villages with Alpine charm)

Morning: Visit a Traditional Alpine Dairy

Alp Nadéls near Brigels is an idyllic summer pasture where you can tour a working Sennerei (cheese hut), watch milk being turned into tangy Mutschli or aged Bergkäse, and sample warm curds straight from the vat.

• Best Time: June–September
• Book: Via Brigels Tourismus or directly with the dairy
• Bring: A reusable container to bring cheese back plastic-free

Kid Bonus: Children are welcome to stir the milk and learn about cow care. Some farms even offer short “farmer for a day” workshops.

Afternoon: Hike with a Shepherd in Val Lumnezia

Meet a local shepherd who still guides Engadine sheep across terraced pastures, sharing the ancient practice of transhumance (seasonal livestock migration).

• Experience Includes: A half-day walk, sheepdog demonstrations, and stories about predator coexistence and pasture ecology
• Book: Via Pro Natura Graubünden or Lumnezia Tourism

🌱 Eco Tip: Ask about seasonal shepherding days open to the public where families can assist in moving the herd between pastures—slow adventure at its finest.

🌿 DAY 2: Alpine Herbs, Honey & Handmade Remedies

Base yourself: Guarda or Scuol in the Lower Engadin—quiet, car-free, and postcard-pretty

Morning: Forage with an Herbalist in Guarda

Graubünden is home to hundreds of medicinal plants. Walk with a certified wild herb educator through alpine meadows to identify lady’s mantle, thyme, and edelweiss, and create your own herbal tea or balm.

• When: May to October
• Book: Through Biosfera Val Müstair or Nature Park Beverin
• Tip: Choose the full-day version for a mountain picnic with herbal tinctures and elderflower syrup tastings.

TOUR NOIR Touch: Bring blank postcards or sketchbooks for kids to draw or press flowers they’ve learned about.

Afternoon: Meet the Bees in Val S-charl

Visit a bio-certified beekeeper in the wild S-charl Valley who manages hives the traditional way, harvesting forest and alpine flower honey without industrial intervention.

• What’s Included: Hive observation, honey tasting, candle dipping (kid favorite), and optional hike to wild bee habitat
• Book: Beehive Experiences – Scuol Tourism

🐝 Sustainable Souvenir: Buy honey in refillable glass jars—ideal for a zero-waste alpine pantry.

DAY 3: Alpine Handicrafts & Breadmaking in Engadine Villages

Base yourself: Ardez or Zernez—charming villages near national park gateways

Morning: Paint, Weave, or Carve with a Local Artisan

In Sent or Ardez, traditional Romansh crafts are having a quiet revival. Join a local art collective or Heimatwerk studio to paint sgraffito patterns (the iconic white wall etchings), carve wooden symbols, or weave wool into handmade pouches.

• Book: Via Heimatwerk Graubünden or [Ardez Art Collective]
• Workshops: 2–4 hours; often family-friendly and bilingual (German/English)

Instead of a souvenir shop, take home a self-carved spoon or hand-painted candle holder.

Afternoon: Bake Traditional Rye Bread in Zernez

Participate in a communal baking session in a restored village oven. Learn the techniques for making Graubünden rye bread, scored with symbols of protection and baked in wood-fired heat.

• Book: Through Swiss National Park Centre – Zernez
• When: Seasonal (monthly workshops from April–October)

Pro Tip: Pre-register—these bread workshops are popular with locals and fill up quickly. Great option for multi-generational families.

Optional Day 4: Eco-Hikes with Purpose

Want to stretch your legs and values? Consider adding an interpretive hike with a Swiss National Park ranger or joining a citizen science trail that helps track biodiversity or monitor glaciers in Val Roseg or Parc Ela.

These hikes are often stroller-accessible, low-impact, and filled with stories, not just steps.

Sustainable Travel Tips for Exploring Graubünden

✅ Swiss Travel Pass: Includes scenic routes like the Bernina Express and local buses to villages with no car access
✅ Stay Slow: Choose family-run hotels, eco-lodges, or Alpine huts (Maiensässe) that use local wood and serve farm-sourced meals
✅ Shop with Intention: Buy fewer, better souvenirs—handwoven wool, beeswax candles, herbal soaps
✅ Live by Example: Pack out trash, use refillable bottles, and let your kids ask the guide questions—it encourages mutual respect and cultural exchange