Feldrich - photo via Wikimedia Commons:Welleschik Augustinergasse in the old town in Zurich - photo via Wikimedia:Roland zh

Four Country Tour

Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland Bike Tour

Four countries, 3 lakes and 1 cosmopolitan city…

This culturally rich tour starts in Constance (Konstanz), which lies on the ever-so-beautiful Lake Constance (Bodensee) in Germany. It is the largest city on the lake and remains one of the best-preserved major medieval cities in Germany and is known for its resorts, shops and beaches. From Constance, the tour will cross the Swiss border and cycle through small romantic villages to Stein am Rhein, a beautiful small medieval town, before reaching Schaffhausen. Stein am Rhein sits idyllically on the Rhine and has immaculately restored burgher houses as well as the inviting Rathausplatz, town hall square. The picture gallery in the monastery of St. George has been very highly regarded by art historians.

Located in northern Switzerland, Schaffhausen is a beautiful town with many narrow streets decorated with Renaissance houses showcasing outdoor sculptures and frescos in addition to its impressive oriel windows and Munot fortifications. Be sure to enjoy a glass of local wine in the medieval Old Town. Schaffhausen became world-famous for the nearby Rheinfall or Rhine Falls, the largest waterfall in Europe that is said to be approx. 17,000 years old. Further along the romantic river valleys of the Rhine and Glatt Rivers, this tour will bring you to Zurich, the largest of all the Swiss cities. Its Bahnhofstrasse is one of the world’s most elegant shopping streets.

The small town of Rapperswil (on the eastside of Lake Zurich) is frequently called Rosenstadt, the Town of Roses, and it won’t take you long to figure out why! Also of note are the 13th century castle of Rapperswil, a wooden footbridge and the Capuchin monastery from 1606, all mostly located within the medieval centre. From the banks of Lake Zurich, you will ride on to Lake Walen and into Sargans with a well-known castle. From here, the route runs north through Liechtenstein. Then it’s over the Austrian border to Feldkirch with a nice medieval town center. Through more small villages and protected waterways, the route will lead you back to Lake Constance via the enchanting resort towns of Rorschach and Arbon.

Where You’ll Stay

Good 2 star to 3 star hotels & inns; rooms with private facilities.

What’s Included

  • 7 night hotel accommodations
  • Breakfasts
  • 21/24-speed hybrid bicycle
  • Luggage transportation
  • Route descriptions & maps
  • Service hotline

What’s Not Included

  • Individual arrival to Constance
  • Remaining meals

Four Country Tour Map

Book This Trip

TourBike
TypeSelf Guided
SkillEasy
Length8 days
From€875
Print Tour

Tour Dates

  • Every Sunday from April 8 to October 7, 2012.

Skill Level

Easy; self-guided hotel tour

Relatively easy self-guided hotel tour with variable daily distances from 22 to 40 miles. Terrain is flat and rides along good roads/bike paths.

Day-To-Day Itinerary

Four Country Tour Map
  1. Arrival in Constance.
  2. Constance - Schaffhausen, 34 mi.
  3. Schaffhausen - Zurich, 40 mi.
  4. Zurich - Rapperswil, 25 mi.
  5. Rapperswil – Sargans, 38 mi.
  6. Sargans – Feldkirch, 22 mi.
  7. Feldkirch – Rorschach/Arbon/Egnach, 38-46 mi.
  8. Roschach/Arbon/Egnach – Constance, 15-25 mi. Departure.

DAY 1: Constance
Individual arrival into Constance (Konstanz) with the afternoon free for sightseeing in this intriguing city. The city has a nice port and old part of town well worth exploring. Overnight in Konstanz.

DAY 2: Constance - Schaffhausen, 34 mi. (55 km)
Today is the first official day of cycling, and you'll cross over the Swiss border and ride through small romantic villages to Stein am Rhein, one of the most beautiful remaining medieval towns in the German-speaking countries. The day will end in Schaffhausen, which is world-famous because it is home to the Rheinfall, the largest waterfall in Europe. Overnight in Schaffhausen.

DAY 3: Schaffhausen - Zurich, 40 mi. (66 km)
In the morning, you'll follow the Rhine River, which will lead you to the Rhine loop and to Rheinau. Briefly following Eglisau with its pictorial house line, you'll leave the Rhine and follow along the Glatt River. Then via Bülach, you'll cycle on to Zurich. Here you'll be able to see planes come and go from the Zurich Klolen airport. Overnight in Zurich.

DAY 4: Zurich - Rapperswil, 25 mi. (39 km)
Today you have sufficient time for a leisure stroll through the great metropolitan city of Zurich. Walk along the promenade, visit the beautiful old part of town or one of the museums. Subsequently, you'll bike following the southern bank of Zurich Lake and come to Rapperswil over the lake-dam. Here is the residence of the well-known Knie's Child Zoo. From afar, you should be able to see the impressive castle and magnificent houses along the promenade. Overnight in Rapperswil.

DAY 5: Rapperswil - Sargans, 37 mi. (61 km)
Out of Rapperswil, you will ride along the banks of Zurich Lake and later to Linthkanal. You'll reach Walen Lake at Weesen. The trek then follows along the banks of this deep-blue Lake, which lies embedded between imposing mountains, all the way up to Walenstadt. In the valley, you'll pass the seven Churfirsten to your overnight accommodations in Sargans, whose townscape revolves around its powerful castle.

DAY 6: Sargans – Feldkirch/Balgach, 22/40 mi. (35/64 km)
Shortly after Sargans, you'll again come to the Rhine and follow the river until you arrive in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Towering up above the capital city of Vaduz is the castle of the royal family. Next, you'll cross the national border into Austria and reach Feldkirch, with its medieval town center. Your overnight stay is in Feldkirch or alternatively in the Swiss wine village of Balgach.

DAY 7: Feldkirch/Balgach – Rorschach/Arbon/Egnach, 25/42 mi. (40/68 km)
Today you'll follow the Rhine to Höchst, past the largest fresh water delta in Europe, the protected area of the Rhine delta, and reach again Lake Constance. Then you'll follow the Lake Constance bike path, past Rorschach and Arbon, one of the oldest settlements within the region of the Lake. Overnight in Rorschach, Arbon or Egnach.

DAY 8: Rorschach/Arbon/Egnach – Constance, 15-25 mi. (25/40 km); departure
Along the banks of the Lake, you will ride through fruit meadows and small framework villages until reaching Kreuzlingen. There you'll cross the border one last time before finding your way back to Konstanz. Individual departure.

Book This Trip

Questions? Call us! 877-965-2064 or e-mail us

Facebook