IAESTE Ticino Weekend
July 31 - August 2, 2010

Discovering the South side of the Alps!
 
Lugano Lake

3..2..1.. goooooo

Ever wondered why Italian is an official language in Switzerland? Sure.. all swiss iaesters 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?

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

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

Note that 1st of August is the Swiss national day but August the 2nd is a working day and you will need to take it off to join this weekend.

Program

A map of Ticino can be found here.

Saturday, July 31st

  • 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.
  • Train transfer to Lugano
  • Check in at Montarina Hostel featuring nice swimming pool!
  • Open evening in Lugano
Two Churches in GiornicoSwiss National Day

Sunday, August 1st

  • Paddle boats ride on the Lugano lake.
  • 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
  • National Day fireworks over the Lugano Lake!
007 Bungee Jumping
View from Monte San Salvatore Verzasca River in Lavertezzo

Moday, August 2nd

  • 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 :-/ )

Participation fees

Please note that we will buy the train ticket from Zurich and back for you.

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): 150 CHF
  • With SBB half-fare (1/2) and Gleis 7: 185 CHF (return at 19:06h - in Zurich 21:51)
  • With SBB half-fare (1/2) and Gleis 7: 200 CHF (return at 18:35h - in Zurich 20:49)
  • With SBB half-fare (1/2) but no Gleis 7: 200 CHF
  • Without SBB half-fare (1/2): 255 CHF

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

A surcharge of 25 CHF will apply for participants who are not affiliated with IAESTE or its partner organisations.

The money will be collected on Saturday 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
  • Funicular to Monte San Salvatore and down
  • Paddle boats rental
  • Accommodation
  • Dinner on Saturday and Sunday
  • Breakfast on Sunday and Monday
  • Packed lunch on Sunday and Monday

Not included in the participation fee

  • Train ride from your place to Zurich and back
  • Lunch on Saturday
  • (optional) Luggage transportation from Airolo to Biasca (10 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 36 hours before the start of the event (that is 8:30am Saturday 31st of July 2010), you pay the entire participation fee
  • 36-48 hours before the start of the event, you pay 75% of the participation fee
  • 48-72 hours before the start of the event, you pay 50% of the participation fee
  • after confirming but before 72 hours before the start of the event, you pay 25% of the participation fee

Checklist - Remember to bring

  • Lunch for Saturday
  • 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 08:15.
  • Meeting point for all other participants: directly in the train from Zurich to Airolo (see below). We have seats reserved for IAESTE Switzerland!

From Zurich

Train connections from Zurich

From Basel

Train connections from Basel

From Lausanne

Train connections from Lausanne

Back to Zurich

Trains back to Zurich

Back to Basel from Zurich

Trains back to Basel from Zurich

Back to Lausanne from Zurich

Trains back to Lausanne from 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. If a registration remains unconfirmed for more than 24 hours from the time of registering, IAESTE reserves the right to give the spot to confirmed registrations on the waiting list and move the unconfirmed registration to the waiting list.

Registration

The maximum number of participants allowed for this event is 33 (including organizers and helpers) and the registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. If your registration is not among the first 33, it will be put on the waiting list.

The online registration closed on Monday, 26 July 2010, at 15:00:00.

Check out the list of participants for this event.

Contact

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