Step into the heart of Ticino, Switzerland and explore a hike across an awe-inspiring suspension bridge – the Ponte Tibetano Carasc Bridge. This architectural marvel, nestled amidst the breathtaking landscapes of the canton of Ticino, offers more than just a crossing; it promises an unforgettable adventure suspended high above the rugged terrain.
In our blog post, we dive right into the enjoyable hike to the bridge of the Ponte Tibetano Carasc, including information on the Monte Carasso cable car and Curzutt village. We did this hike together with a friend during Autumn after a rainy day, but was greeted to sunshine and a little wind for most of the day.
Within the post we will share some factual information on the history, how to get there and our recommended tips along the way. Read on!
Information
History
The Italian name of the bridge is Ponte Tibetano Carasc, but you can also refer to it as the Tibetan Bridge.
The construction of the Tibetan Bridge, which is 270 meters long and weighing approximately 50 tons, was made possible thanks to the Curzútt – San Barnárd Foundation.
For the height, it is 130 meters high, which crosses the valley that separates the nature areas of Monte Carasso and Sementina.
Based in the Ticino canton of Switzerland, close by Bellinzona, the Tibetano Carasc bridge is a popular hiking spot in good weather – and for those not afraid of heights.
How to get to Ponte Tibetano Carasc?
If you are not choosing to hike the whole way from the base, and want to start with the cable car, you need to reserve this in advance. The Monte Carasso – Mornera cable car can take a maximum of 8 people per cabin, which departs every 15 minutes when open.
The prices of the cable car are 5 CHF for adults and 0 CHF for children under 5 years old.
Important!! Click here to book the cable car (or more services/facilities). The payment is done also through the link in advance and you simply have to turn up and show your ticket before boarding.
Alternatively you can show up and buy a ticket during opening hours, however we highly suggest to book via the link above to be sure you get your spot, else you may not have the chance otherwise on your chosen day!
Address: Monte Carasso, 6513 Bellinzona
Parking Near The Monte Carasso – Mornera Cable Car
Yes! There is some street parking spots right nearby the entrance of the cable car. This is a paid parking area, which we paid via the app Twint. The machines also accept cash!
Else if this is already full when you arrive, there are more (free) parking available for your car just a short 10 minutes away at the following Google Maps location: Er Str. nòvo 17, 6513 Monte Carasso
However, we would like to highlight that it’s actually best to arrive by public transport. There are a few buses that stop right nearby based on if you would be coming from Locarno or from Bellinzona etc. So check these out as they run very frequently!
Things You can SEe And do at Ponte Tibetano Carasc Bridge
Since this bridge is fully in nature, the best thing you can do here is relax, enjoy the bridge structure and admire the views!
Many who hike to the bridge take refreshments, so they can enjoy some snacks and a drink near the bridge. This is suitable of course to always have something with you when hiking. There is also water fountain at one end of the bridge to fill up your water bottle if empty.
Many hikes also include visiting the bridge with much longer hiking routes. There are multiple routes around this area and with good weather it’s a wonderful day out.
Where to sleep when hiking the Tibetan Bridge in Ticino
There are plenty of hotels and B&Bs in the area if you wish to stay in the area for a night or more. We spoke to some locals who have stayed and suggested the following locations for a night:
- Ca’ Pölete Do-Minus guesthouse, bike stop & mini spa – Set in Monte Carasso and only 18 km from Piazza Grande Locarno, the accommodation has stunning mountain views, free WiFi and free parking if arriving by car. Guests can benefit from a balcony and an outdoor fireplace. It’s an easy walk to the cable car or to start some hiking from here.
- Appartamento Ticino – Boasting garden views, Appartamento Ticino offers accommodation with a garden, a terrace and barbecue facilities. Private parking is available on site and just a short walk to the cable car. It’s super ideal for those with children and groups who want an apartment stay together.
- Hotel Bellinzona Sud Swiss Quality – a little further way in Bellinzona, this lovely 3 star hotel has peaceful rooms, a rich breakfast buffet and parking (even for electric cars!).
How Long Is The Hike To Ponte Tibetano Carasc?
If like us you want to take a circular route – such as starting from Curzutt to the bridge, and then down via the other side of the mountain to Sementina, this takes on average around 2 hours and the distance is around 5 KM. Then the small climb from the village of Curzutt to the bridge is 240 meters up.
From the bridge, we then hiked the recommended route down to Sementina, as shown on the image below. This route takes you down to the same main road as where you can start with the cable car.
You can always consider also not hiking down the other side and returning the same way, but we personally like circular routes and enjoyed the return down on the other side with the Autumn foliage at the time.
For more statistics and the route with a map, we suggest using the Kamoot app.
Our Hiking To Ponte Tibetano Carasc
Read on to see our journey and hike to Ponte Tibetano Carasc during a sunny but Autumn day:
Monte Carasso To Mornera Cable Car
You can first take the Monte Carasso – Mornera suspended cabin to the top (make sure to book this in advance for your timeslot with the link above), which then gets you to Curzutt for the start of the hike. You can explore the little stone-housed village, which is very picturesque!
We booked our time slot for 10:15am with the 3 of us, as we had a friend also visiting us that day ready for some hiking!
The journey up was really easy, with the staff at the bottom to help you get in. When arriving at Curzutt, you need to make sure to press the stop button and then open and close the door yourself once out. This is fairly easy.
We have a fully-loaded, high content Ticino Guide sharing local things to see, do and explore with each season: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
CLICK HERE
Curzutt Village and San Bernardo church
Once at the village with the cable car, we had a little wander around to see what was here, but mostly focused on the route towards the bridge.
The village is located at 612 meters above sea level and has already a stunning view looking down to Bellinzona and the valley in Ticino.
It’s a beautiful little village, where you could easily spend a long afternoon here exploring, enjoying and relaxing. You could bring a picnic and stop here at one of the benches with a view, else to visit the grotto for some local meats, cheese and wine. For those with children, there is also a nice playground.
From the village to the bridge, you start walking towards the San Bernardo church. It’s just a short walk on the cobblestones from the village and the views are just as impressive from here. It was closed during our visit, but do take a peak if its open when you’re there as it’s beautiful!
Hiking To Ponte Tibetano Carasc
From the village and church, you then follow the yellow direction signs to the Ponte Tibetano Carasc bridge. The bridge is about 45 – 60 minutes away from Curzutt only, so it’s pretty easy if you’ve arrived with cable car.
This section does have a bit of a climb, so it is suitable that you have the correct type of shoes on that will support you!
This section also passes by some little waterfalls, which during Autumn can be overflowing. So this hike is suitable for when it’s safe enough and you don’t want wet feet. We did this hike after a full day of rain, so actually we got a bit wet, but with the sunshine we were dry in no time!
Reaching The Ponte Tibetano Carasc Bridge
And wow, we had reached it! With us being the only ones there for ages too!
It was a (mostly) sunny weekend so we were expecting many hikers, but to our surprise we must have saw only 5 or 6 people during the whole hike.
Our visit was a little windy on this 270m long bridge, but it still felt very strong and safe to be on. Though it’s definitely not recommended for those with a fear of heights, with the 130meter depth below!
We also spotted the Tibetan prayer flags along the bridge, which promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom.
Here we stopped for a while nearby, viewing the bridge and enjoying some refreshments that we had taken with us. There is a water fountain also nearby for filling up your water bottles. We also decided to get the drone out and fly here, which was possible and not in any restrictions. Since it was windy, I was worried we’d lose it, but our footage turned out amazing.
Interested In More Scenic Hiking Routes In Ticino? Check below!
Capanna Monte Bar: A Night In The Mountains At 1602m
Piora Valley: Lago Ritom, via Lago di Tom to Lago Cadagno Lakes!
Hiking Monte Generoso At 1,704m
Monte San Salvatore Highlights
Monte Tamaro Explorations At 1962m
Exploring Cimetta: A Funicular, Chairlift and Ski lift to the top!
Hiking Down To Sementina
We decided to follow the circular route and head down to Sementina. There are two routes to take, but we took the more quicker (and then steeper) route down. This was 1.8 km down the most beautiful route of dirt paths, stoney roads and narrow trails. Else you can take the more casual route down that is more of a slope.
After a while down the route you reach a few houses, wine vineyards and a self-service mini bar for hikers (where you can get drinks or snacks). You can buy something with cash or via the Twint app if your Swiss, which we saw many drink choices and snack bars to choose from.
Summary
We personally loved this hike and exploration as it allowed us to walk across a Ticino suspended bridge. Despite the wind and having to walk in the waterfalls (getting wet feet!), we really enjoyed the views and experience.
The hike for us was pretty easy, and we didn’t use hiking poles or any equipment. We simply had good clothing on to stay warm, refreshments with us and comfortable walking shoes. This was important but we did see others wearing sneakers which seemed fine too.
We definitely plan to return to the village of Curzutt in the future to check the restaurant, and maybe even stay one night to enjoy those views at night time. I’m sure we’d be able to see some stars and enjoy some stargazing from there!
We hope you liked our post, and that it was helpful for you too. We hope it mostly inspired you to save this hiking route and beautiful suspended bridge location for your next visit in Ticino!
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