Robiei Cable Car: Up to the Basodino Glacier

Name: Lakeview Camping Resort Cannobio
Price range: $$

An excursion with an impressive cable car to Lago di Robiei, the starting point for beautiful hikes.

San Carlo – Robiei Cable Car (San Carlo, CH)

Robiei is located at 1890 meters at the very end of the Bavona Valley, a side valley of the Maggia Valley, directly beneath the Basodino, Ticino's largest glacier. You can only reach it by cable car from San Carlo. For us, it's one of the most beautiful excursions for a clear summer day.

Robiei at a glance

Location: San Carlo in the Bavona Valley, Ticino (Switzerland)
From Cannobio: just over an hour by car via Locarno and the Maggia Valley
Cable car: approx. 15 minutes up to 1890 m
2026 Season: June 13 to October 4, with a lunch break
Highlights: Tour inside the dam wall, glacier educational trail, Lago di Robiei
Refreshments: Albergo Robiei at the mountain station, Capanna Basodino

The Journey and the Cable Car

Admittedly, the journey itself, which takes over an hour via Locarno and the Maggia Valley to the Bavona Valley, is extensive but well worth it. At the end of the Bavona Valley in San Carlo, the real adventure begins: you board the San Carlo – Robiei cable car, built in the 1960s for hydroelectric power and later made accessible to the public. The cable car, which can carry over 100 people, is high, steep, and the destination is beautiful!

Robiei, idyllically situated at the foot of the imposing Basodino Glacier, is a true gem in the Alps. In addition to its natural beauty, the area offers rich wildlife and exceptional flora. With a bit of luck, you might spot ibex, chamois, marmots, rare ermines, and birds of prey like the golden eagle.

Hiking from Robiei

From Robiei, embark on various strolls and hikes in the Basodino area, to the glacier, and to the surrounding mountain lakes. Particularly recommended are the Basodino Glacier educational trail with its panoramic views, as well as the tour inside the Robiei dam wall. The rather short path around Lago di Robiei, a green mountain lake, is also relaxing and beautiful, especially with children.

At the mountain station of the Robiei cable car, you'll find the hotel of the same name with a restaurant serving regional specialties. It's ideal for recharging your batteries, as the hikes from here can be strenuous and long.

The Educational Trail Inside the Dam Wall

An absolute highlight of our Robiei tour is the educational trail inside the Lago di Robiei dam wall. Here you get a look behind the scenes of the structure that has profoundly changed the landscape of the upper Bavona Valley.

The dam walls store water used for electricity generation. The educational trail explains how the facilities are integrated into the natural water cycle, how they are built and monitored, and how hydropower generates electricity. The tour inside the dam wall is unique in Ticino and takes about 30 minutes.

To enter the (free) educational trail, you will receive a key at the reception of Hotel Robiei. Please note that dogs are not allowed and the temperature inside the dam wall is a constant 8 °C. So, bring appropriate clothing.

The Glacier Educational Trail to Basodino

The Robiei – Zött – Basodino Glacier – Randinascia – Robiei glacier educational trail leads you on a roughly 5-hour journey through an impressive high-mountain landscape with unique geology, flora, and fauna. The Basodino Glacier is the largest glacier in Ticino and a good example of a glacier south of the Alps. It extends from about 2500 to over 3100 meters above sea level. Unfortunately, as with many glaciers in the Alps, a rapid retreat can be observed here too. The route is almost 10 km long and reaches its highest point at 2430 m.

Along the way, you will find eight numbered metal signs that refer to descriptions in the hiking guide. You can obtain this guide at Albergo Robiei, at the valley station of the cable car in San Carlo, at the Basodino hut, or at the Vallemaggia tourist office.

Descent to San Carlo

For those who shy away from this somewhat greater effort, we recommend the hiking trail back to San Carlo: the very charming descent from Robiei to San Carlo takes about two hours and is also suitable for children who are ready to hike (but not with strollers!). Lakeview Tip: just a few hundred meters after the start of the trail, you reach the mountain hut "Capanna Basodino", a very rustic hiker's hut with excellent daily specials, Swiss cheese, and sausage specialties, all with a fantastic view.

On the way back through the Bavona Valley, a stop in Foroglio is worthwhile: the waterfall plunges there directly next to the old stone houses of the village.

After a good hour’s drive, you’ll be back at Lake Maggiore in the evening. Here in Cannobio, you can stay in a mobile home by the lake, a holiday apartment with lake view, or on a motorhome pitch at Lake Maggiore.

Season and Timetable

Attention: Check the opening hours and timetable of the Robiei cable car here: Robiei.ch. The cable car only operates in summer (2026 from June 13 to October 4) and has a daily lunch break!