This stunning alpine lake is tucked in the mountains south of St Moritz, near the Italian border.

It's super easy to reach if you reserve a spot on the shuttle, which drops you only 20 min walk from the lake. Otherwise, it's a long, but beautiful hike up the valley from regular bus stop or parking, about 2 hours. Both options described below.

For an relaxed day, you can simply lounge and picnic by the lakeshore. But we recommend hiking up to Lake Viola, a little further up the mountain.

Our favorite time to visit is mid October when the golden larch trees turn bright yellow and light up this mountain landscape like magic.

How to get there with shuttle bus

You can reach this lake quite easily if you reserve a spot on the small shuttle bus from Sfazù. The shuttle takes you to a mountain hut, Refuge Val da Camp. From there, it's only a 20 min hike to Lake Saoseo.

Walk from shuttle: 20 mins • 700m • see trail map

To reserve, you must call at least one hour before departure, but the bus only has about 20 spots so it can sell out far in advance. You need to reserve a timeslot for each direction.

Call +41 81 844 10 42 to reserve. The office is open Mon-Fri 8:00-12:00 / 13:00-17:00. A round trip ticket costs CHF 16/adult and CHF 8/child, no discounts for Swiss travel cards.

Hiking options

We definitely recommend hiking at least a little, so you can see Lake Viola, which is farther up the valley.

A: Easy hike from Saoseo to Viola

If you want to see Lake Viola but are short on time/energy, take the most direct trail from Saoseo to Viola. When looking at the trail signs, follow the ones with the shortest time to your left. From Saoseo, it's another 1.5 km, about 40 mins, to reach Lake Viola. Return the way you came. In total, it's about 4 km round trip, about 2 hours walking time. See trail map.

B: Mountain hike visiting both lakes

If you like hiking, this loop is a little more challenging but has spectacular views as you wander through the mountain landscape above the lakes.

Short loop to both lakes: moderate • 2h25 • 5.6 km loop • 250m up and down
See trail map

C: Long hike from Sfazu

If you don't take the shuttle, you'll need to hike up the valley. It's wonderful, just a bit long, about 2 hours to reach the first lake. So definitely start early in the day.

We've also done it by taking the shuttle in the morning, and hiking back in the afternoon. Then we don't have to worry about making it back at a specific time for the shuttle bus.

Long loop: Moderate • 5h30 • 15.2 km • 660m up and down
See trail map.

• Learn more about these hikes on SwissFamilyFun.com