ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Engadin - swimrun racing in the Upper Engadin
The ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Engadin brings one of endurance sport's rawest formats to the Upper Engadin: teams of two swimming and running the chain of alpine lakes with no transition zones. The 2026 edition took place on 3 and 4 July; dates for the next edition will be announced on the official ÖTILLÖ calendar.
The event
Swimrun is unlike any other endurance discipline. Teams of two stay together for the whole race, moving straight between swimming and running with no transition zones, running shoes kept on in the water and all gear carried from start to finish. In the Engadin the format gains a setting to match. The route threads through the crystal-clear lakes of the Upper Engadin valley, with long stretches in and around Lake Sils and Lake Silvaplana, while the run sections climb through forest, cross alpine meadow and pick over rocky ground with the peaks in full view. At around 1,800 metres, the cold open water and the thin mountain air make every effort harder, which is exactly what places this race among the most demanding in the ÖTILLÖ World Series.
Practical information
When: The 2026 edition ran on 3 and 4 July. The next edition is to be announced on the official ÖTILLÖ calendar.
Where: Across the Upper Engadin lakes, with swim and run sections in and around Lake Sils and Lake Silvaplana.
Distances: Engadin Experience, 1.4 km swim and 5.7 km run; Engadin Sprint, 2.2 km swim and 12.9 km run; Engadin World Series, 5.85 km swim and 36.85 km run. Teams complete every segment together, within a set maximum separation.
Entry: Registration and full race information are on the official ÖTILLÖ Swimrun site.
Getting there: Sils Maria sits directly on Lake Sils, minutes from the course by car or Engadin Bus. Arriving from further afield, reach Sils Maria via the Julier Pass from Chur or the Maloja Pass from Italy; the nearest station, St. Moritz, is about 12 km away with regular buses.
Plan your stay
Schweizerhof, Sils Maria is a certified Swiss Running Hotel and an easy base for race weekend, with early breakfasts before a dawn start. The lakeside paths and the Fex Valley make a perfect shake-out the day before, and Lake Sils is right there to test the swim. Base yourself with us in Sils Maria and arrive at the start line rested and ready.
Photo copyright ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Engadin
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is swimrun, and what makes the ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Engadin different from a triathlon?
Swimrun is raced in teams of two who alternate swimming and running with no transition zones. Running shoes stay on in the water and all gear is carried from start to finish. The Engadin course threads through the Upper Engadin lakes, with long stretches in and around Lake Sils and Lake Silvaplana. Run sections climb through forest, cross alpine meadow and pick over rocky ground.
When is the next ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Engadin?
The 2026 edition took place on 3 and 4 July. Dates for the next edition will be announced on the official ÖTILLÖ calendar, so check there before fixing your travel. The race belongs to the ÖTILLÖ World Series and counts among the most demanding events on that circuit.
Which distances can my partner and I choose, and how do we register?
Three formats are offered: the Engadin Experience with a 1.4 km swim and 5.7 km run, the Engadin Sprint with a 2.2 km swim and 12.9 km run, and the Engadin World Series with a 5.85 km swim and 36.85 km run. Teams complete every segment together, within a set maximum separation. Registration and full race information are on the official ÖTILLÖ Swimrun site.
How do the altitude and the cold water affect the race, and how do we reach Sils Maria?
The course sits at around 1,800 metres, where cold open water and thin mountain air make every effort harder. Sils Maria lies directly on Lake Sils, minutes from the course by car or Engadin Bus. Arriving from further afield, take the Julier Pass from Chur or the Maloja Pass from Italy; the nearest station is St. Moritz, about 12 km away with regular buses.
Why is Hotel Schweizerhof a good base for the race weekend?
Hotel Schweizerhof is a certified Swiss Running Hotel in the village centre of Sils Maria, minutes from Lake Sils. Early breakfasts are available before a dawn start. The lakeside paths and the Fex Valley make an ideal shake-out the day before, and Lake Sils is right there to test the swim.