Lakes Trail

Switzerland Bike Tour

The Tour of 16 Lakes

The Lakes Trail tour is aptly named because from its start in Vevey on Lake Geneva in the south, the route skirts 16 lakes before reaching its destination by Lake Constance in the north. To get from one lake to the other is not always a walk in the park…you will have some hills to contend with – some of steeper and some less steep grades. Make no mistake. This route is a challenge both with regard to the total distance covered and to the topography encountered. But the great thing is that should the going get too tough, you can always load your bike on the train and take the comfortable way out. After completing the Lakes Route, you can pat yourself on the back and know that you’ve really experienced Switzerland!

This tour starts on the sparking waters of Lake Geneva and takes the old Cheese Route to Gruyères. This pretty village is perched on a hill and attracts thousands of tourists each year, who fall prey to its medieval charms. The clanking of cow bells will be your constant companion on the stretch to Boltigen in Saanen country and the Simmen valley. This is dairy country at its best.

Lake Thun and Lake Brienz are framed by the snowy peaks of the Bernese Alps, a magnificent panorama! As the adventure capital of Switzerland, Interlaken has no end of thrills. The shores of Lake Lungern and Lake Samen will bring you to Lake Lucerne, a beautiful Lake with great views from Mt. Rigi or Mt. Pilatus and also offers scenic boat rides. The Rothenturm high moorland is a precious tract of open countryside; Einsiedeln is Switzerland’s most-frequented place of pilgrimage. The glimmering waters of Lake Zurich will bring you to the charming town of Rapperswil, definitely a highlight on the tour! In Sargans, the Lakes Route leads into the Rhine valley and then it’s smooth sailing on the Rhine dam through the Principality of Liechtenstein and into Buchs. Riding along the Rhine River, the tour will end in picturesque Rorschach on Lake Constance.

Where You’ll Stay

There are 5 options for accommodations:
*Sleep in Straw: It is what it says! Sleep overnight with your sleeping bag at a local farmhouse in the hay barn.
Hostel: Dormitory (share a room) in youth and backpacker hostels.
Budget Hotels: Simple hotel rooms (single, double, or triple) with common shower on each floor, in hotels, hostels, B&B, etc.
Standard Hotels: Nice, comfortable hotels based on the 3-star level. All rooms with private facilities.
Top Class Hotels: Superior hotels of at least the 4-star level. All hotels in a special location, for example on the shores of a lake, and / or with special amenities (such as Wellness area). All rooms with private facilities.
*For Sleep in Straw, linens are provided but it’s best to bring your own sleeping bag. Since only 1 piece of luggage is included in luggage transportation, it’s best if you can somehow tie it to your luggage piece.

What’s Included

• 7 or 9 nights accommodations
• Breakfast buffets
• Luggage transportation (only 1 piece of luggage per person, supplemental fee for extra luggage)
• Route descriptions & maps
• 21-speed hybrid bicycle

What’s Not Included

• Remaining meals

Tour Dates

• Daily from April 15 to October 15, 2011.

Skill Level

Difficult self-guided hotel tour (but not as difficult as the Alpine Panoramic Trail) with up to 8000 meters difference in elevation. For this, there is always a bus or train available as an alternative. Daily distances range from 28 to 52 miles.

Day-To-Day Itinerary

10 DAY TOUR:

1. Arrival in Vevey.
2. Vevey - Le Paquier (Morlon), 29 mi.
3. Le Paquier - Boltigen (Zweisimmen), 40 mi.
4. Boltigen - Iseltwald (Meiringen), 46 mi.
5. Iseltwald - Horw (Lucerne), 37 mi.
6. Horw - Unterageri (Zug), 29 mi.
7. Unterageri - Rapperswil-Jona/Schmerikon, 33 mi.
8. Rapperswil-Jona - Buchs, 52 mi.
9. Buchs - Rorschach, 44 mi.
10. Departure from Rorschach.

8 day tour runs from Interlaken to Rorschach including overnights in Meiringen, Luzern, Unterageri, Rapperswil, & Buchs.

DAY 1: Arrival in Vevey.

DAY 2: Vevey - Le Paquier (Morlon), 29 mi.
Leaving sparkling Lake Geneva behind, your ride takes the old Cheese Route to Gruyères. This pretty village perched on its hill attracts thousands of tourists every year who all fall prey to its medieval charms.

DAY 3: Le Paquier - Boltigen (Zweisimmen), 40 mi.
The clanking of cow bells will be your constant companion on this stretch in Saanen country and the Simmen valley. This is dairy country at its best. Now available: River rafting on Saane River (guided half-day trips!).

DAY 4: Boltigen - Iseltwald (Meiringen), 46 mi.
Lake Thun and Lake Brienz are framed by the snowy peaks of the Bernese Alps – a panorama that doesn't get better than this! And as for Interlaken, the adventure capital of Switzerland, there’s no shortage of choice.

DAY 5: Iseltwald - Horw (Lucerne), 37 mi.
The Brünig Pass is an exciting challenge for some, a steep obstacle for others. Just as long as you know that the cable car at Meiringen can whisk you up to Hasliberg and from there, it is pretty much a downhill ride all the way – along Lake Lungern and Lake Sarnen to the shores of Lake Lucerne.

DAY 6: Horw - Unterageri (Zug), 29 mi.
A short ride today. You will surely want to stroll through Lucerne, enjoy the panoramic view from Mt Rigi or Mt Pilatus, or perhaps take a boat ride and discover the beauties of the lake. Later on, Lake Zug awaits with cherries in every variety and at Lake Aegeri we are reminded that, here, centuries ago the Swiss Confederates forced the occupying Habsburg army to flee.

DAY 7: Unterageri - Rapperswil-Jona/Schmerikon, 33 mi.
The Rothenturm high moorland is a precious tract of open countryside; Einsiedeln is Switzerland's most-frequented place of pilgrimage. Both of these are on your route today. From Lake Sihl, it's down valley to the shores of Lake Zurich and your overnight stay in the charming town of Rapperswil – definitely a highlight on the Lakes Route!

DAY 8: Rapperswil-Jona - Buchs, 52 mi.
A longer ride, but a very level one along the shores of Lake Zurich and Lake Walenstadt – between towering rock faces on either side. In Sargans the Lakes Route leads into the Rhine valley and from now on it's plain sailing on the Rhine dam through the Principality of Liechtenstein and into Buchs.

DAY 9: Buchs - Rorschach, 44 mi.
A pretty and very pleasant finale to the tour – riding along the Rhine River to Lake Constance and your final Lakes Route destination of Rorschach.

DAY 10: Departure from Rorschach, after breakfast.

Book This Trip

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