IAESTE Ticino Weekend
August 1 - 3, 2008

Discovering the South side of the Alps!
 
Lugano Lake and Monte San Salvatore

Did you know that the region of Switzerland at the South side of the Alps is Italian-speaking?

Did you know that the bungee jumping scene in the 007 movie Goldeneye was filmed in Switzerland, not in Russia? And that you can imitate James Bond in a 220 meters high bungee jump?

Did you know that the Swiss are currently digging a 57 km long - actually, the world's longest - railway tunnel right under the Alps?

Would you consider celebrating the Swiss National Day with a fireworks show over the Lugano lake?

Visiting a place where Swiss chocolate is produced, how tasty does that sound to you?

Are you ready for biking and hiking along the valleys of the sunniest canton in Switzerland?

Join the longest IAESTE event of the year, and experience all of this!

Program

A map of Ticino can be found here.

Friday, August 1 

  • Train ride to Airolo across the Alps
  • Not-that-hard bike ride to Biasca, 40 km distance, 850 meters height difference (downhill!), 2-3 hours
  • On the way, lunch break in Giornico with barbeque!
  • Further down the way, stop at the Alptransit information center in Bodio
  • Train transfer to Lugano
  • Check in at Montarina Hostel and relaxing at the swimming pool!
  • Dinner at the hostel
  • National Day fireworks over the Lugano Lake!
Two Churches in Giornico Swiss National Day

Saturday, August 2

  • Visiting the Alprose chocolate factory in Caslano and its annexed museum - degustation included!
  • Lunch by the lake
  • Human-powered ride on the lake by pedalò (paddle boat) just in front of downtown Lugano
  • Taking the funicular to the top of Monte San Salvatore, enjoying the view
  • Walk along the lake, back to Lugano
  • Dinner at an Italian-style pizzeria
  • Discovering Lugano by night
Chocolate View from Monte San Salvatore

Sunday, August 3

  • Transfer by train to Tenero, deposit luggage
  • Hiking in the Verzasca valley (no longer than 1.5 hours), from Tenero to the dam in Vogorno
  • Lunch on the way
  • Option of imitating James Bond's 220 meters high bungee jump!
  • Transfer to Lavertezzo by postal bus, swimming in the Verzasca river's fresh green water
  • Back to Bellinzona, end of the event, heading back home (sniff :-/ )
007 Bungee Jumping Verzasca River in Lavertezzo

Participation fees

Please note that we will buy the train ticket from Zurich and back for you. For participants with Gleis 7, the return trip from Bellinzona comes for free.

Upon registration, please specify where you will travel from. If you are not traveling to Ticino via Zurich, we might find a different price for you.

  • With SBB General Abonnement (GA): 140 CHF
  • With SBB half-fare (1/2) and Gleis 7: 190 CHF (return trip after 19:00)
  • With SBB half-fare (1/2) but no Gleis 7: 200 CHF
  • Without SBB half-fare (1/2): 270 CHF

If you do not yet have a SBB half-fare card, we recommend you buying one! Check the SBB website!

A surcharge of 30 CHF will apply for participants who are not affiliated with IAESTE or its partner organisations.

The money will be collected on Friday morning on the train to Airolo. Only cash is accepted! :-)

Included in the participation fee

  • Train ride from Zurich to Ticino and back
  • All train and bus rides within Ticino
  • Bike rental and compulsory helmet
  • Visit to information center Alptransit
  • Visit to chocolate factory
  • Paddle boat rental
  • Funicular to Monte San Salvatore and down
  • Accommodation
  • Dinner on Friday and Saturday
  • Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday
  • Packed lunch on Saturday and Sunday

Not included in the participation fee

  • Train ride from your place to Zurich and back
  • BBQ lunch on Friday
  • Compulsory drink on Friday at lunch (every participant has to buy a drink at the restaurant - that's the price we pay for getting the fireplace ready for us)
  • (optional) Luggage transportation from Airolo to Biasca (5 CHF per piece)
  • (optional) Bungee jumping: 195 CHF per person, to be paid cash directly at the Verzasca dam. The price sinks to 175 CHF per person if more than 10 people will go for it! So, convince your friends! :-)
  • (optional) Sheets at the hostel, if you do not bring a sleeping bag (4 CHF)

Cancellation policy

If you cancel your registration

  • less than 12 hours before the start of the event, you pay the entire participation fee
  • 12-24 hours before the start of the event, you pay 75% of the participation fee
  • 24-48 hours before the start of the event, you pay 50% of the participation fee
  • 48-72 hours before the start of the event, you pay 25% of the participation fee 

Checklist - Remember to bring

  • Lunch for Friday: something to put on the grill!
  • Hiking/sports shoes
  • Swimming suit, towel
  • Sunglasses and sun cream
  • Cash for the participation fee, the bungee jumping, and everything else
  • Either a sleeping bag or 4 CHF for renting sheets at the youth hostel
  • Lots of energy and your best smile!
If you do not have a lot of luggage, you might be able to carry it while cycling. Fortunately it is downhill!

Meeting point and train connections

  • Meeting poing for participants traveling from Zurich: Zurich main station, meeting point (under the big clock), at 07:50.
  • Meeting point for all other participants: directly in the train from Zurich to Airolo (see below). We have seats reserved for IAESTE Switzerland!

From Basel

Train from Basel

From Zurich

Train from Zurich

Back to Basel

Train to Basel

Back to Zurich

Train to Zurich 

For further information on train connections, check the SBB website.

Important notes

IAESTE Switzerland is not responsible for any damage or accident! Make sure that you are well insured (medical, accidental & liability insurance!).

We have had cycling accidents in the past. You must be able to cycle on light-traffic roads, and you must be able to ride your bycicle across street tunnels and on downhill stretches.

If you are interested in the bungee jumping, please read rules, procedures and requirements for it.

In the 48 hours right after registration opening, IAESTE trainees and members will be given priority. After that, registration is open to everybody on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Registration

The maximum number of participants allowed for this event is 41 (including organizers and helpers) and the registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. If your registration is not among the first 41, it will be put on the waiting list.

The online registration closed on Monday, 28 July 2008, at 18:00:00.

Check out the list of participants for this event.

Contact

If you have any questions, write to Show e-mail address.