The Engadin Ski Marathon, 42 km across frozen lakes
How the race works, from the start on Lake Sils to the finish in S-chanf: entering, choosing a technique, preparing your legs, and spending race week in a St. Moritz chalet.
The Engadin Ski Marathon is a 42 km cross-country ski race from Maloja to S-chanf in the Upper Engadin, held on the second Sunday of March since 1969. It crosses the frozen lakes of Sils, Silvaplana and Champfèr, runs past St. Moritz and through Pontresina, then follows the valley floor to the finish. Entry is online through the organisers’ official site, engadin-skimarathon.ch, and the race is open to amateurs as well as elite skiers, in classic or skating technique.
The organisers describe it as the largest cross-country skiing event in Switzerland and the second largest in the world. In practice that means a long ribbon of skiers on the lakes at dawn, a whole valley given over to the race for a morning, and a week of shorter races around it. For the 57th edition the organisers list Sunday 14 March 2027; always confirm the date on the official site before you book anything.
This guide covers what the race fact sheets leave out: how the course changes from section to section, how start waves are decided, which technique suits a first-timer, how to train for it, and how race week works in practice when you are staying in St. Moritz. For the valley itself, our guide to the Engadin valley and its lakes describes each village between Maloja and S-chanf.
The Engadin Ski Marathon in figures
Checked against official sources, so you can plan with confidence.
The race has been held since 1969 on the second Sunday in March; the 57th edition is listed for 14 March 2027.
Source: Engadin Skimarathon (official site)The marathon covers 42 km from Maloja to S-chanf; the half marathon (21 km) starts with it in Maloja and finishes in Pontresina.
Source: Engadin Skimarathon, half marathonThe course crosses the frozen Lakes Sils, Silvaplana and Champfèr, then the Staz forest to Pontresina, Bever and S-chanf, between 1,650 m and 1,980 m above sea level.
Source: Graubünden Tourism, the original marathon routeBoth techniques are allowed: classic tracks run on the right, free technique on the left, and skating in the classic tracks can lead to disqualification.
Source: Engadin Skimarathon, during the raceSkiers start in waves of up to 500, assigned from mid-January on the basis of recent qualifying times or the expected finish time given at registration.
Source: Engadin Skimarathon, before the raceOutside race day, the original route is a signposted trail, groomed daily from late January when there is enough snow and the lakes are frozen.
Source: Switzerland Tourism, Engadin marathon trailThe route, section by section
The course is often summed up as “flat”, which is half true. The first third is on lakes, wide and exposed; the middle third has the only real climbs and the tightest passages; the last third is a long, gently falling run down the valley. Knowing where each part begins helps you pace a race that many first-timers start far too fast.
| Section | What it is like | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Maloja and Lake Sils | The start, at the head of the valley, then the open surface of Lake Sils | Thousands of skiers leave in waves; settle into a rhythm instead of chasing gaps |
| Lakes Silvaplana and Champfèr | Long, open stretches of frozen lake | The Maloja wind blows down the valley and can help you along or make the lake sections hard work |
| St. Moritz and the Staz forest | The course leaves the lakes, climbs at the Olympic ski jump and runs through the forest towards Pontresina | Skis must stay on, including on the ski jump climb: taking them off means disqualification |
| Pontresina | Roughly halfway, the finish of the half marathon, and a groomed crossing of the railway line | Marathon entrants may stop here and are then ranked in the half marathon results |
| Samedan to S-chanf | The valley floor, past the airfield and Bever, down to the finish | Gentle, fast terrain where you can lose a lot of time if you have spent too much on the lakes |
Course details from the official race site and Graubünden Tourism. The course map, feed stations and repair points are published by the organisers each season.
How to register for the Engadin Skimarathon
There is one route in: the online registration on engadin-skimarathon.ch. The entry fee rises in steps the later you pay, so entering in late summer or autumn is sensible if you are sure of your dates. The current fee scale is on the official site.
- Choose your race and technique
Marathon (42 km) or half marathon (21 km, Maloja to Pontresina). Classic skiers declare their technique when registering online.
- Give an honest expected time
Without a qualifying result from recent editions, your start wave is based on the finish time you declare. An ambitious time (under 2 h 30 for the marathon) has to be backed by a recent Swissloppet or Worldloppet result.
- Wait for your wave
Waves are assigned from mid-January. The organisers do not consider wave-change requests after 16 February, and a change after start numbers are issued carries a processing fee.
- Receive your start number voucher
It arrives by email at the end of February and is shown, on your phone or printed, when you collect your bib in the Marathon Village in Pontresina.
- Late entry, if places remain
Online registration stays open until 5 pm on the Friday before the race, and late registration is possible in the Marathon Village on the Saturday until 5 pm, both subject to availability.
Classic or skating: choosing a technique
Cross-country skiing comes in two styles. Classic is the striding motion in parallel tracks, closest to walking or running; skating is a V-shaped push-off on a flat groomed lane, closer to ice skating. Both are allowed at the Engadin Ski Marathon, and classic skiers have their own tracks along the course wherever conditions allow them to be set.
For someone coming from downhill skiing, the choice is less obvious than it looks. Skating feels natural to many alpine skiers on day one, then punishes weak technique over 42 km. Classic is easier to learn slowly and kinder at a gentle pace, but needs good grip wax or the right skis for the day. A few lessons on the lake trails before deciding are worth more than any article.
| Classic | Skating (free technique) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you ski on race day | In the classic tracks on the right, where they can be set | On the left side of the course, and across the full width where it narrows |
| Learning curve | Gentle: stride, glide, double poling | Steeper: balance on one ski at a time, timing of the poles |
| Equipment | Classic skis with a grip zone, softer boots | Shorter, stiffer skating skis, boots with ankle support |
| Ranking | Listed separately, in alphabetical order rather than ranked | Ranked in the main results |
| Good for | Steady, long efforts and skiers who prefer a calmer race | Speed, and skiers with a strong sense of balance |
Rules on tracks and rankings as published by the organisers. Equipment must meet FIS rules, and the organisers apply a fluorinated wax ban: check their equipment page before waxing.
Training for the ski Engadin marathon
The race is long rather than technical, so most of the preparation happens far from snow. What follows is general guidance for a recreational skier aiming to finish comfortably; anyone with a health condition should take advice before taking on a race of this length.
- Autumn: build endurance with running, cycling or hiking with poles, and add upper-body work, since double poling carries much of the effort on the flat valley floor.
- Early winter: get on snow as early as you can and book lessons to fix technique while the habits are still new. Our guide to private ski lessons explains how a one-to-one instructor is organised; the same applies to cross-country.
- January and February: long, easy sessions on snow, building towards two to three hours at a steady pace. The Engadin has more than 240 km of trails, so a winter week in St. Moritz doubles as a training camp.
- Race week: ski a section of the original route once to learn the terrain, then rest. The trail is signposted and groomed from late January when the lakes are frozen, and the Pontresina side of the valley, described in our Pontresina guide, has quieter trails for easy days.
- On the day: start slower than feels right on the lakes, eat and drink at the feed stations, and save energy for the second half.
Race week from a St. Moritz chalet
St. Moritz sits in the middle of the course, which makes it the most practical base: the start in Maloja is up the valley, Pontresina and the Marathon Village are next door, and the finish in S-chanf is down the valley. From a chalet such as Chalet Azelia, St. Moritz, with a private chauffeur available every day, each is a short drive on any other day of the week. The catch is that the valley is organised around the race on Sunday morning, and plans built for an ordinary ski day do not work.
On race morning the road between Maloja and Silvaplana is restricted to through traffic from 5 am to 9.30 am and parking is not allowed in Sils or Maloja; parking at the S-chanf finish is very limited and stopping along the road is prohibited. The entry includes a return trip on Graubünden public transport, and on race Sunday the bib itself serves as a ticket on the trains and buses, so racers generally travel to the start by public transport and leave a bag in the start area in Maloja.
For supporters, Pontresina is the easiest place to watch: it is at the halfway point, a few minutes from St. Moritz, and it is where half marathon skiers finish. From there, public transport runs down the valley towards the finish in S-chanf. Our St. Moritz travel guide covers getting around the resort the rest of the week.
| Who | Race morning | After the finish |
|---|---|---|
| Racer | Train or bus with the bib, bag left at the start in Maloja | Public transport back from S-chanf, then a chauffeur pick-up away from the closed roads |
| Supporters | Breakfast at the chalet, then Pontresina at the halfway point | Public transport down the valley to meet the racer in S-chanf |
| Non-skiers in the group | A late morning at the chalet pool or spa | Lunch together once everyone is back in St. Moritz |
Road closures and transport arrangements are published by the organisers before each edition and can change: check them in the weeks before the race.
The marathon week: shorter races around the main event
The marathon is the closing day of a week of races, and the shorter ones are a good introduction for a first season, or a way for others in the group to take part. All are entered through the official site.
| Race | Distance and route | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Engadin Women’s Race | 17 km, Samedan to S-chanf | Women only, held the Sunday before the marathon |
| Engadin Night Race | 17 km, Sils to Pontresina | An evening start, skied by headlamp and moonlight |
| Engadin Half Marathon | 21 km, Maloja to Pontresina | Same start and same day as the marathon |
| Engadin Ski Marathon | 42 km, Maloja to S-chanf | The main event, on the second Sunday of March |
For the 2027 edition the organisers list the Women’s Race on 7 March, the Night Race on 11 March, and the marathon and half marathon on 14 March. Confirm dates on engadin-skimarathon.ch.
Our chalets in St. Moritz for marathon week
Four St. Moritz chalets that suit a race week: a base between start and finish, an indoor pool in each, and ski rooms with heated boot storage at Azelia, Gus and Nore.
The residences side by side
Size, bedrooms and wellness facilities of each chalet at a glance.
| Residence | Guests | Bedrooms | Bathrooms | Living area | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chalet AzeliaSt. Moritz | 14 | 6 | 7 | 1,000 m² | Indoor Pool, Cinema Room, Hammam, Massage Room, Jacuzzi |
| Chalet GusSt. Moritz | 20 | 9 | 9 | 930 m² | Indoor Pool, Wine Cellar, Hammam, Sauna, Massage Room |
| Chalet NoreSt. Moritz | 15 | 6 | 7 | 467 m² | Indoor Pool, Cinema Room, Hammam, Sauna, Massage Room |
| Chalet CalistaSt. Moritz | 20 | 7 | 8 | 744 m² | Indoor Pool |
Rates are on request and depend on dates and services. Your advisor confirms availability and the final details of every residence.
A race week organised around the skier
What Nathalie Nguyen and Adam Haddad take care of when one of your group is on the start line.
Training days that count
A cross-country instructor booked for the first days, skis and boots fitted for your technique, and a session on the original route before you rest.
Recovery under one roof
Chalet Gus has a counter-current pool and a massage room; Chalet Azelia an indoor pool, hammam, three treatment rooms and daily massage treatments included in its inclusive stay.
Race morning, timed
An early breakfast, the train or bus your bib covers, and a chauffeur waiting away from the closed roads when you are back.
The rest of the group
Downhill days on Corviglia, a place to watch in Pontresina, or a quiet day at the chalet for those who are not racing.
Engadin Ski Marathon questions
Anything else? Our team in Paris answers personally, usually within the day.
Ask our teamHow long is the Engadin Ski Marathon?
The race is 42 km, from Maloja at the head of the valley to S-chanf. The half marathon covers 21 km from the same start in Maloja to Pontresina. Outside race day, the original route is signposted as a trail of around 44 km. The distance is long rather than steep, so the real challenge is pacing: keep something back for the flat second half down the valley.
When is the Engadin Ski Marathon?
It is held on the second Sunday of March, at the end of a week of shorter races. For the 57th edition the organisers list Sunday 14 March 2027, with the Women’s Race on 7 March and the Night Race on 11 March. Dates can change, so confirm them on engadin-skimarathon.ch before booking travel or accommodation.
Where does the Engadin Ski Marathon start and finish?
It starts in Maloja and finishes in S-chanf, crossing the frozen lakes of Sils, Silvaplana and Champfèr, then passing St. Moritz, the Staz forest, Pontresina and Bever. Racers usually reach the start by public transport, since their entry includes it and parking in Maloja and Sils is not allowed on race morning.
Can a beginner do the Engadin Ski Marathon?
Yes, many participants are recreational skiers, but 42 km is a long effort and you need a winter of preparation and some lessons. A first-timer might enter the 21 km half marathon, or the 17 km Women’s Race, before the full distance. Give a realistic expected time when registering so that you start in a suitable wave.
Is the Engadin Skimarathon classic or skate?
Both techniques are allowed. Classic skiers use tracks on the right side of the course, where conditions allow them to be set; skaters use the left side, and the whole width where the course narrows. Skating in the classic tracks can lead to disqualification. Classic skiers declare their technique at registration and are listed separately.
Where should I stay for the Engadin Ski Marathon?
St. Moritz is the most practical base: it lies between the start in Maloja and the finish in S-chanf, close to the Marathon Village in Pontresina, with a full choice of restaurants and downhill skiing for the rest of the group. Book early, as the valley is busy during marathon week. Residences such as Chalet Nore, St. Moritz, with its ski room, boot warmers and indoor pool, are presented above.
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Plan your race with us
Tell Nathalie Nguyen or Adam Haddad which race you have entered, how many are coming and who is skiing, and they will suggest a St. Moritz chalet and a week built around the start line, usually within the day. Some residences are available without being published online. WhatsApp +33 7 80 98 05 43 or contact@lutetia-group.com.