18 JUL 2009-26 JUL 2009: SWISS TRAIL WEEK & ALPINE MARATHON, DAVOS, SWITZERLAND

If ever there was a tour for superlatives, this is it. Magnificent scenery, fantastic trail running, superb walking, excellent races - Davos has the lot - a truely superb holiday for runners and families alike.

This  tour has a bit of everything; races for all ages, great trail runs, excellent guided hiking, visit to St. Moritz and a social evening on a mountain top. You can enjoy this trip on many levels - just enjoy an active holiday with a mix of training runs and walks, maybe hire a mountain bike or go sailing on the lake then do the K21 or K28 on the final Saturday as a beautiful training run, or acclimatize and rest for the K42 or the full K78 Alpine Marathon. There are even plenty of events for children and most of the walks are suitable for kids as well.

Davos
A small town rather than an Alpine village, Davos has a wide range of sport facilities, good shopping and a choice of restaurants and bars. Set in a high valley - it is the highest town in the Alps at 1,560m - it has a lake side path just a jog away, or run the Dischma Valley and hike into the Sertig Valley or the spectacular Landwasser gorge. There is an excellent swimming pool complex with indoor pool and new pool with waterslides. At Schatzalp there is a summer toboggan run - great fun for adults and kids alike.

The Tours
Eight days of running and hiking with a weekend of racing based on the Alpine marathon events - a superb balance between active holiday and racing that is suitable for all standards. 

If time is short and but you want to run in the Alpine Marathon then we have a 3 night option arriving on Thursday and departing on Sunday.  

Races

Tue 21 July - Seelauf - 4 or 8 km race around the lake (1 or 2 laps). Kids run of 1 lap. Entry is free.

Fri 24 July - Mini - events for children only: under 8 - 600mts. 9 to 12 yrs - 2.1k or 13 to 16 yrs 3.7km kids

Sat 25 July - Swiss Alpine Festival Events

K11: This new 'beginners' alpine event has a hill soon after the start at Laret (10kms on the K21 route) then levels off passing Davos Lake, dropping past the Hotel Bunda and then rising through the woods a short way before dropping to the stadium finish.

K21:        The Half Marathon changed to a new course in 2007 with a spectacular start on the new bridge to Klosters. From there is is a steady climb for 10km through forest and meadows, more-or-less shadowing the rail line, to Laret where it levels off before a further 1km up to Davos Wolfgang where you drop to run along the side of the Davos Lake, pass the Hotel Bunda and join the last 3km of the K78 into Davos Stadium. It is a course of two halves - walk-jog the first 11km and then slightly downhill and flat into the finish line. Demanding but doable and a great introduction to Alpine running. Time limit 5 1/2hrs.

Walk:       The Nordic Walk makes the Alpine Marathon accessable to non-runners. It starts soon after the K21 and follows the same route from Klosters to Davos - the only stimpulation is that you walk with Nordic Walk Poles which are easily obtainable. Time limit 5hrs.

K31:      After a number of years the K31 has returned to the stadium start and follows the full K78 route as far as Filisur. 

C42:       As in the K31, reversed from previous years to start at the stadium and follows the K78 route to Filisur before diverting on to Tiefencastel for the finish. Time limit 8hrs. 

K42: This is truely Alpine starting in the charming town of Bergun then climbing for 10 miles to the Keschutte Refuge, the first high point at 2,700m, then you decend into the remote Val Funtauna before climbing up and over the Scaletta Pass finishing by running down the Dischma valley and into the Davos Stadium. Most people run about 1 to 1 1/2 hrs slower than their road time. Time limit 8 1/2hrs.

K78: The Alpine Marathon. This is what it is all about - more than 1000 runners will tackle this giant Alpine route which is a a combination of the K28 in reverse and then picking up the K42 plus a bit. Time limit 12hrs.

Run this event for charity.

2:09 Events Travel Essentials - Large Duffel Bag, Document Belt, 2:09 Training Technical T-Shirt, 2:09 CoolMax Running Socks

Typical Programme
Sat 18 July: Arrive at Zurich Airport - Transfer to Davos by Rail (3hrs). Late afternoon run around the lake (6km). Clients arriving on our morning BA flight or any earlier regional arrivals will have their luggage collected at Zurich Airport and transferred by Van to Davos. 

Sun 19 July: Acclimatisation runs in the nearby Dischma Valley - 8 to 15 miles - this is a beautiful valley that gradually climbs from Davos at 1600m altitude to a restaurant/rescue hut at Durrboden at the head of the valley (2000m) it is 7.6 miles to the turn around point at Durrboden where you can run back down again or take the regular bus back down to Davos (free journey using the included Regional pass). Afternoon 10km walk on K21 route from Laret to Klosters. 

Mon 20 July: Walk over the Scaletta Pass (2,700m - 16km, 5 to 6 hrs - demanding hike not suitable for children).

Tues 21 July: Run around the lake. Walk on K78/K31/C42 route from Spina to Monstein. Open races around the lake (1km for young children, 4km for older kids and 4 or 8km choice for adults).

Wed 22 July: Run around the lake. Easy walk through Landwasser gorge from Monstien Station to Wiessen Station (restaurant for refreshments) - 5km - extend the walk to Filisur to make a longer walk crossing the famous Viaduct into the Albula Valley (10km in total).

Thur 23 July: Run around the lake. Take bus to Glaris and gondolla to Rinerhorn then walk the beautiful trail around the top of the Sertig Valley to Sertig-Sand - gently down hill walk  of approx. 6km. Bus back to Davos and race registration at the Congress Centre.

Fri 24 July: Children's races & pasta party

Sat 25 July: Swiss Alpine Marathon events

Sun 26 July: Final run around Davos Lake. Afternoon departures and evening flight home. Clients leaving on the late afternoon flights will have their luggage transferred from Davos to Zurich Airport.

On all tours you will receive a regional rail pass for the period of the Alpine Marathon festival and we have up graded the Davos Guest Visitor card to include free travel on the mountain railways and cable cars. This gives free rail travel throughout the Davos region plus a free journey to St. Moritz in the Engadin valley.

Hotel Package

We are using one of the official hotels of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, The Hilton Palmer House - a superior and historic hotel located on Grant Park and overlooking the race start and finish. You will literally be able to step out of you hotel room and be on the start line minutes later and, at the end, be back in your room and soaking in a nice bath and relieving your aching limbs before anyone else.

All rooms have luxury bathrooms en suite, hairdryer, colour TV and air conditioning. The hotel has a number of restaurants and bars and is a short walk to the entertainment and shopping districts. 

The package includes airport transfers for those arriving on the Virgin Atlantic flights listed below.

Run this event for charity.

2:09 Events Travel Essentials - Large Duffel Bag, Document Belt, 2:09 Training Technical T-Shirt, 2:09 CoolMax Running Socks

Hotel Bunda***

This family run hotel will be welcoming our group for the 20^th consecutive year in 2006 there are not many hotels where the manager comes running with you and enters the same races - it happens here and it means that all of our needs as runners are catered for.

The Hotel Bunda is located in a semi-rural location, close to the lake and at the start of the Dischma Valley yet only 500m from the station. Uniquely, the hotel offers different levels of accommodation in the original chalet building and new annex. All rooms are 3-star or above, each with bathroom and colour TV.

Standard rooms are slightly smaller and will not have a balcony (single rooms are available as standard rooms only), comfort rooms are larger but may not have a balcony, superior rooms are larger and have a balcony. Family rooms are available. Most people take the good value optional half board option. Buffet breakfast is included.

There is a wide grass area around the hotel with a children's play area with swings, see-saw and small slide/climbing frame for young children in front of the sunny terrace which makes this an ideal hotel to bring children. 

Prices are based on Bed & Breakfast but we highly recommend the Half Board option - the food and service are first class and at only £8 per person per night for a 4-course dinner it is fantastic value.  

Apartments

We can book clients into the holiday apartment complex at Solaria, 5 mins walk from the Bunda. Apartment types range from studio to 3 bedroom - prices on request. 

Run this event for charity.

2:09 Events Travel Essentials - Large Duffel Bag, Document Belt, 2:09 Training Technical T-Shirt, 2:09 CoolMax Running Socks

PRICES

Own flight reduction