Bike Tours Swiss Alps - Classic Climbs
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Gateway Airport:
Arrival: Zurich, Switzerland by late-July
Depart: Zurich, Switzerland mid-August |
Swiss Alps – Classic Climbs Now taking reservations for 2013
Ride Rating: Category 1 (some steep climbs and long descents)
CHF 3200 per person double occupancy CHF 3700 per person single occupancy (limit 4 persons) |
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Itinerary Summary:
Day 1 – Zurich arrival
Day 2 – Brunnen loop (Swiss Independence Day celebrations)
Day 3 – Walenstadt
Day 4 – Lenzerheide
Day 5 – St Moritz
Day 6 – St Moritz
Day 7 – Thusis
Day 8 – Andermatt
Day 9 – Andermatt
Day 10 – Zermatt
Day 11 – Zermatt
Day 12 – Grindelwald
Day 13 – Grindelwald
Day 14 – Brunnen
Day 15 – Zurich departure |
The Swiss Alps blend stunning scenery with delicious Italian cuisine influences to create flavors to savor and vistas to linger.. The natural beauty and grandeur of glacier capped peaks set atop lush green meadows and pastures prompted one guest to state “that if it got any more beautiful, then they would have to tax it.” Fortunately, the only tax you must pay when cycling the Swiss Alps is the taxing of your body as you climb above rushing streams over smooth roadways reaching to the skies. We’ll enjoy traditional celebrations of Swiss Independence day as bonfires are lit high atop mountains surrounding deep valleys and pastures. Swiss timepieces are world renowned for craftsmanship and quality, perhaps the Swiss rail system evolved due to the quality of Swiss timepieces. And the ubiquitous Swiss Army knife is a part of nearly every hiker’s pack, so it is fitting that we visit the Victorinox factory where it all began in Schwyz. You will be amazed to see Swiss trains emerge on bridges over sparkling streams and disappear into the rock faces of the canyons formed by the massive glaciated mountains of Switzerland. Naturally as you ride along myriad streams you will wonder where the water flows as it cascades ever downward toward distant seas. The source for two of the great streams of Europe lies near the summit of the Furka Pass where melting glacial waters begin the long journey toward the Mediterranean and North Seas. The Rhone is well known for its influence on the cultures of the Swiss and French as it supplies water to vineyards along its banks and hydro power to light cafes we enjoy on a summer’s eve. On the other side of the Furka Pass, waters begin their flow toward the North Sea as the Rhine, again traversing a multitude of countries including Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France and Holland. The Tour du Suisse annually challenges the big passes of these mountains to highlight the beauty and to humble the unprepared. We will certainly be challenged and perhaps humbled by the magnitude of the mountain homes of our hosts as we climb many of the famous passes crossed in the Tour du Suisse. The Albula Pass will stun your senses as you climb thru ever thinning and shrinking forests to reach tree-line, where you are rewarded with great views and good food at the summit. The Pragel Pass will cause you to ponder the strength of herders over the generations as the roadway sharply climbs above a rushing stream. While the Gottard Pass will amaze you with the durability of a cobblestone roadway that has endured long after its builders. A visit to Zermatt’s Matterhorn and Gindelwald’s Eiger will complement our tour of Swiss Alps villages and valleys. Of course a visit to Switzerland demands that we sample products of the regions, so we will be treated to hearty whole grain breads at breakfast, complete with fresh cheeses and yogurts, delicious cold cut meats, jams and fresh fruit of the season. Hearty mountain food will yield to more delicate pastas and sauces as we travel ever closer to Italy. And Swiss chocolates seem to flow into every giftshop and store too.
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Highlights:
Glacier Express Trains
Engadine Glacier
Bernina Pass
Gottard Pass cobbles
Furka Pass
Rhone glacial headwaters
Rhein valley
St Moritz
Zermatt – Matterhorn
Grindelwald – Eiger train
Wilhelm Tell
Swiss Independence Day
Victorinox Knife Valley
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Accommodations: 3-4 Star Swiss inns and hotels; always clean, always well situated for post-ride relaxation
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Included: 14 nights lodging, 14 breakfasts, 12 dinners with dinner drinks, ride snacks and drinks, luggage transfers, van support (sag wagon), ride guides, detailed route maps and descriptions, gateway airport transfer on designated arrival/departure days |
Excluded: Lunches, 2 dinners, gratuities, airfare, trip insurance |