Large Lake Constance Discovery Tour

Austria, Germany, Switzerland Bike Tour

Bordered by three countries, Lake Constance occupies an extremely beautiful corner of Central Europe. This tour includes the most important visitor attractions in the area. The stages are designed so that there is enough time to experience everything. You will have an active and enjoyable holiday between the Pfänder mountain and the Rhine Falls, the flower island of Mainau and the Appenzeller countryside. Boat trips and ferry rides will bring you into close contact with the lake and numerous towns and villages are waiting to be discovered. This extended cycling tour along Lake Constance is also suitable for those not accustomed to cycling long distances.

Where You’ll Stay

Overnight stays in good quality 2 star-4 star guesthouses and hotels with private bath

What’s Included

• 11 overnight stays with breakfast
• Luggage transportation
• Boat trip Reichenau-Gaienhofen including bike transfer
• Boat trip Schaffhausen-Diessenhofen including bike transfer
• Boat trip to the Rheinfall rocks
• Entrances to Rosgarten museum, the Hermann-Hesse-Haus (museum), the Napoleon museum, the Island of Mainau, the lake dwelling museum, Meersburg castle, and to the Zeppelin museum.
• Journey by cable car to Pfänder excluding bike (bike transport is free between 9-10 am)
• Journey by mountain railway from Rorschach to Heiden
• Journey by mountain railway from Walzenhausen to Rheineck
• Boat trip Rheineck-Rorschach (if water levels are low then this journey is by train)
• Comprehensive cycling route description with maps
• 7-day Service-Hotline
• 7 or 21 speed unisex bicycle
• Dinners included is optional

Tour Dates

• Daily from April 21 to October 2, 2012.

Skill Level

Easy to moderate self guided bike tour on mainly flat, paved cycle paths along the shore of the lake or on paved lake side roads. Total distance covered is approximately 181 miles with the opportunity for a 5 mile hike. Average daily distance is approximately 22 miles.

Day-To-Day Itinerary

1. Arrival in Constance.
2. Constance - Isle of Reichenau - Diessenhofen, 18 mi. (29 km)
3. Diessenhofen - Schaffhausen - Diessenhofen, 13 mi. (20 km)
4. Diessenhofen - Stein am Rhein- Constance, 25 mi (40 km)
5. Constance - Mainau Island - Radolfzell, 16 mi. (26 km)
6. Radolfzell - Uhldingen/Meersburg, 25 mi. (40 km)
7. Uhldingen/Meersburg - Friedrichshafen, 14 mi. (22 km)
8. Friedrichshafen - Lindau - Bregenz, 24 mi. (38 km)
9. Bregenz - Pfänder - Rorschach, 12-19 mi. (20/30 km)
10. Rorschach - Heiden - Rorschach, 5 mi. hike (8 km)
11. Rorschach - Romanshorn - Constance, 22 mi. (36 km)
12. Departure or extension of stay.

All distances are approximate.  Daily itinerary can be altered to 5, 7, or 8 days.  We may also offer a hotel based tour in Constance.  Please call or email us for details.   

DAY 1: Arrival in Constance
You will begin your trip in Constance, which is the largest town on Lake Constance, and is still, to this day, quite Medieval in character. In 1414, the town hosted the only church council ever to take place north of the Alps. A small museum is dedicated to the Czech reformer Jan Hus, who was burnt at the stake here. The symbol of the city is the statue of Imperia which was inspired by a short story by Balzac, "La belle Impéria". The story is a harsh satire of the Catholic clergys' morals, where Imperia seduces cardinals and princes at the Council of Constance and has power over them all. The aquariums of the Sea Life Center are also worth a visit, as is the Archaeological Museum. Overnight stay in Constance/Kreuzlingen

DAY 2: Constance - Isle of Reichenau - Diessenhofen, 18 mi. (29 km)
You will cycle past the bird sanctuary Wollmatinger Ried and reach the island of Reichenau, well-known for its abbey of the same name. It has been a UNESCO world culture and heritage site since 2001. Reichenau Abbey illustrates the religious and cultural influence that an abbey had on medieval society. It housed a school, a scriptorium and an artists' workshop which was the largest and most artistically influential center in Europe at that time. The monks produced lavishly illuminated manuscripts during the late 10th and early 11th centuries when this part of Switzerland still belonged to the Holy Roman Empire. You will travel by boat to the idyllic peninsula of Höri. In Gaienhofen you will visit the former house of the town's most famous former resident, Hermann Hesse. You will cycle through Stein am Rhein and along the banks of the Rhine until you reach medieval Diessenhofen with its wooden Rhine bridge. Overnight stay in in Diessenhofen

DAY 3: Diessenhofen - Schaffhausen - Diessenhofen, 13 mi. (20 km)
Today will be an easygoing, relaxing day. In the morning, a refreshing cycle ride will take you to Schaffhausen where there will be enough time to take a stroll through the attractive capital city of the Swiss Canton with its ornate "oriel" windows and picturesque house facades. You will continue on to Neuhausen and the Rhine Falls, the largest waterfall in Europe. A boat will bring you back to Diessenhofen and you will be able to relax and enjoy the landscape on the hour long trip. Overnight stay in Diessenhofen.

DAY 4: Diessenhofen - Stein am Rhein- Constance, 25 mi (40 km)
You will cycle up along the Rhine today back to Stein am Rhein. Due to its many buildings decorated with frescoes, its city gates and medieval lane ways, the town deserves its name "Rothenburg of the High Rhine". Numerous picturesque Swiss fishing villages lie along your return path through the peaceful countryside of the Lower Lake. Napoleon's stepdaughter Hortense de Beauharnais made this area her adopted home. You will visit her former home in Arenenberg, which is now a Napoleon museum. Overnight stay in Constance/Kreuzlingen

DAY 5: Constance - Mainau Island - Radolfzell, 16 mi. (26 km)
Today the "flower island" of Mainau awaits you. Make sure you take enough time to enjoy this paradise-like island on the Überlingen Lake with its luxurious, colorful flowerrrrbeds, towering mature trees, shady forests and sweet scented roses. After your visit you will have a short cycle through Allensbach, which is well known due to its public opinion research institute, to the former imperial town and modern Kneipp health resort of Radolfzell. Overnight stay in Radolfzell.

DAY 6: Radolfzell - Uhldingen/Meersburg, 25 mi. (40 km)
After leaving Radolfzell crossing over the Bodanrück ridge near Stahringen and near the former Royal Palace in Bodman you will come to the Überlinger See section of the Lake. You will cycle along the lake shore towards the former imperial town of Überlingen with its Gothic cathedral and famous lakeside promenade. The route continues on in the direction of Meersburg. The Baroque pilgrimage church of Birnau and the reconstructed lake dwellings near Uhldingen are both worth a visit. Overnight stay in Uhldingen/Meersburg.

DAY 7: Meersburg - Friedrichshafen, 24 mi. (38 km)
Meersburg, the well known wine growing area, awaits you today with numerous attractions. Take a mental leap into the Middle Ages, as you explore Meersburg, a town of half-timbered houses and castles, squeezed between vineyards and the lake. The old fortress dating back to the 7th century was the seat of kings and bishops, and then turned artists’ colony in the 19th century when Germany’s greatest poetess, Annette von Droste-Huelshoff, resided there. The castle’s moat, dungeon, and subterranean tunnel tell tales of life in medieval times. Further attractions include the new castle with its amazing staircase by Balthasar Neumann and the market place which is surrounded by picturesque wooden-framed houses. Accompanied by a beautiful panoramic view of the Alps, you will cycle towards the lively town of Friedrichshafen where you can visit the Zeppelin museum. Overnight stay in Friedrichshafen.

DAY 8: Friedrichshafen - Lindau - Bregenz, 24 mi. (38 km)
Today will lead you through Langenargen, where you can admire the inspiration for the famous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Next a cycle route through sprawling orchards and arrival in the Bavarian town of Lindau, whose old town is a protected site. After a couple of miles you will be on Austrian ground. Cycling along the lakeshore, the day's end awaits at Bregenz with its unique lakeside stage. Overnight stay in Bregenz.

DAY 9: Bregenz - Pfänder - Rorschach, 12-19 mi. (20/30 km)
The cable car will bring you and your bicycle up to the summit of the 3490 foot high Pfänder Mountain. From here you will be able to enjoy the beautiful view before making your ½ hour descent down along a well pathed road towards Bregenz. You will then continue along the Lake through the delta of the Alpenrhein, and near Altenrhein with its Hundertwasserhalle you will reach the Swiss border. Please ensure you have good brakes for this descent! You can also leave your bike in the hotel or in the valley station of the cable car and make the descent by foot or by cable car. Overnight stay in Rorschach.

DAY 10: Rorschach - Heiden - Rorschach, 5 mi. hike (8 km)
Today you will need supportive footwear! In the morning a cog railway will bring you to the Biedermeier village of Heiden in the Appenzell Region. The train journey will transport you 1312' up into the mountains. You will then follow along the Witzwanderweg (hiking path) to Walzenhausen. The hiking route takes 2.5 hours. If you wish you can take the bus instead of walking (bus ticket not included). In Walzenhausen the cog railway will bring you back towards the Lake to Rheineck, from there you will take a boat back to Rorschach. Overnight stay in Rorschach.

DAY 11: Rorschach - Romanshorn - Constance, 22 mi. (36 km)
You will cycle through the Swiss canton (region) of Thurgau today mainly alongside the lake shore. This canton is also known as “Cider India” due to its many orchards and its relative remoteness. It lies t the south of Lake Constance, nestled between the lake and the foothills of the Swiss Alps. Enjoy a coffee with a view of the lake in one of the many cafes. Overnight stay in Constance/Kreuzlingen.

DAY 12: Individual journey home or extension of stay After breakfast you cycling trip along Lake Constance comes to an end and you will begin your journey home. You might want to consider extending your stay.

Book This Trip

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