Aare Trail
Switzerland, Germany Bike Tours
Cycle along the Aare River Path
- Tour Type
- Skill Level
- Length7 days
- Prices from€808 Rates
- Book This Trip
Overview
The Aare Trail is Switzerland’s first, fully signposted long-distance bicycle route, created in 1995, and has become a favorite with many.
The Trail gives you an excellent idea of the variety of landscapes that characterize Switzerland. The starting point lies in the midst of the highest of the Bernese Alps – but don’t panic! The action of the river over millions of years has flattened the path and you can follow it quite easily.
As the bike trail winds its way pleasantly along the lanes through woods and meadows, along fertile fields and through isolated villages where the charm of the provinces lives on unchanged, you will also have ample opportunity to see a true picture of everyday Switzerland.
Highlights
- Lakes formed by the Aare – Lake Thun, Lake Wohlen, and Lake Bienne
- The capital city of Bern
- The many small towns and villages on the edge of the Jura Mountains
- The Rhine River
- Habsburg Castle
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and overnight in Interlaken
Day 2: Interlaken - Thun - Bern, 22 miles (35 km) + boat trip
Day 3: Bern - Biel, 31 miles (50 km)
Day 4: Biel - Solothurn, 22 miles (35 km)
Day 5: Solothurn - Aarau, 34 miles (55 km)
Day 6: Aarau - Waldshut-Tiengen, 28/31 miles (45/50 km)
Day 7: Individual departure or extension of stayAll distances are approximate. Due to unforeseen circumstances such as weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, along the route, you may find temporary deviations/detours necessary due to roadwork that will not be reflected on your maps or route descriptions. In this case, please follow the directions posted locally.
Day 1: Arrival in Interlaken
Interlaken, meaning between the lakes, is uniquely situated between the pristine lakes Thun and Brienz. Created during the last glacial period, these lakes boast crystal clear waters whose banks are home to picturesque fishing villages and ancient castles. Interlaken also finds itself surrounded by the impressive snow-capped heights of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, part of the Bernese Alps. You may choose to enjoy these views from a trip on a rack-and-pinion train.Sample hotels:
Hotel Derby
Hotel BellevueDay 2: Interlaken - Thun - Bern, 22 miles (35 km) + boat trip
You start the day with a pleasant two-hour boat ride across Thun Lake. Sit back and relax and watch the countryside slowly slide by. From Thun, you cycle to Bern, a simple route and well suited for acclimatizing to the days to come. Goethe thought Bern to be Switzerland's most beautiful town and though it is the capital of Switzerland, Bern has managed to maintain its unique historical features such as 15th-century terraced buildings, cobblestone streets, and lively market squares - it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983!Sample hotels:
Welcome Hotel Alpenblick
Hotel JardinDay 3: Bern - Biel, 31 miles (50 km)
After Bern, the Wohlensee extends a warm welcome – and now you will witness the merry interplay between the dazzling beauty of nature and the industrial world of energy production. The vegetable-growing region in the Grossen Moos and later on the Lake of Biel mark the scenery of today’s route. The city of Biel, the largest in Switzerland, is the watch metropolis of the world. Rolex, Omega, and Tissot, among others, all have their home here. Biel's old town has many fountains fed by Roman wells as well as a beautiful town hall and a gothic church dating from the 15th-century, certainly not to be missed during your stay here!Sample hotels:
Mercure PlazaDay 4: Biel - Solothurn, 22 miles (35 km)
Today's route is short so that you have enough time to spend in the old town or on the lake at the beach. Solothurn is the capital of the canton of the same name and is considered to be Switzerland's most beautiful Baroque town. The number eleven has particular significance here: there are 11churches and chapels, 11 fountains, 11 towers, and 11 steps.Sample hotels:
Hotel Roter OchsenDay 5: Solothurn - Aarau, 34 miles (55 km)
The River Aare, which has increased considerably in size, is what shapes the landscape in this region. Villages, fields, and a magnificent castle are on your way to Aarau, which still bears features dating back to the 16th century and from when the town was once the capital of the Helvetic Republic. Walk through the town - and keep looking up! This town is famous for its lovely gables. Be inspired by their painted scenes.Sample hotels:
Sorell Hotel Aurauerhof
Gasthof zum SchützenDay 6: Aarau - Waldshut-Tiengen, 28/31 miles (45/50 km)
Crossing into Germany, you cycle along the Aare to Brugg, through the southern Black Forest. A visit to Habsburg Castle is recommended, the castle is the seat of the dynasty of the same name which once achieved the position of true world power. Passing the "water castle" through which about half of the volume of Switzerland's water flows, you cycle on, via Koblenz, to where the Aare flows into the Rhine. The last section takes you to Waldshut-Tiengen, home to many medieval gates and towers, and is vibrant with rustic charm.Sample hotels:
Hotel Waldshuter Hof
Brauerei WalterDay 7: Individual departure or extension
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Hotels & Bikes
You will be accommodated in 3-star hotels including breakfast. Please note that twin rooms are not available. Rooms generally have double beds with two separate mattresses. In each day’s detailed itinerary you will find the name of the preferred hotel list. If the hotel listed is not available, a hotel of equal standard will be offered.
Bicycles
Men’s and women’s hybrid bike
Men's and women's hybrid bikes featuring:
- Aluminum frames (step-through or horizontal bar)
- Men's bikes from approx. 1.75 m body height
- 27-speed derailleur gears and caliper brakes
- Anti-puncture Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires
- Luggage rack
- Comfortable saddle
Accessories
- Pannier
- Handlebar bag
- Mileometer
- Bike lock
- Pump
- Repair kit (one repair set per booking)
Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodations for 6 nights in 3-star hotels in double bed rooms
- Breakfast
- Hybrid touring 27-speed bicycle equipped with bike rack, waterproof pannier, waterproof handlebar bag with mapholder, odometer, lock, pump, and repair kit
- Luggage transfer
- Route descriptions & maps (1 x room)
- Emergency service hotline
- GPS tracks
- Boat trip Interlaken to Thun
What’s Not Included
- Remaining meals
- Helmets
- City tax, if applicable (to be paid at each hotel) approximately €2 per night
- Travel Insurance
Dates & Pricing
Dates
2022
Arrival possible daily from April 14 to October 16, 2022
Please Note
- Rates are based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
2022
Season A: April 24 to April 29 | October 9 to October 16
Season B: April 14 to April 23 | April 30 to May 14 | September 18 to October 8
Season C: May 15 to May 21 | May 29 to May 31 | June 19 to June 30 | August 21 to September 17
Season D: May 22 to May 28 | June 1 to June 18 | July 1 to August 20Season A: $ 1261 £ 710 $ 1,108 € 808 ₪ 3036 NZ$ 1385 kr 8856 $ 860 Season B: $ 1417 £ 798 $ 1,245 € 908 ₪ 3411 NZ$ 1556 kr 9952 $ 966 Season C: $ 1495 £ 842 $ 1,313 € 958 ₪ 3599 NZ$ 1642 kr 10500 $ 1,019 Season D: $ 1573 £ 886 $ 1,382 € 1008 ₪ 3787 NZ$ 1727 kr 11048 $ 1,072 Single Supplement: $ 311 £ 175 $ 273 € 199 ₪ 748 NZ$ 341 kr 2181 $ 212
Extra Options
Electric Bike Rental: $ 172 £ 97 $ 151 € 110 ₪ 413 NZ$ 188 kr 1206 $ 117
Children's bicycles available: $ 70 £ 40 $ 62 € 45 ₪ 169 NZ$ 77 kr 493 $ 48
Extra Nights
Interlaken $ 155 £ 87 $ 136 € 99 ₪ 372 NZ$ 170 kr 1085 $ 105 Single room $ 217 £ 122 $ 191 € 139 ₪ 522 NZ$ 238 kr 1523 $ 148
Waldshut-Tiengen $ 92 £ 52 $ 81 € 59 ₪ 222 NZ$ 101 kr 647 $ 63 Single room $ 139 £ 78 $ 122 € 89 ₪ 334 NZ$ 153 kr 975 $ 95
Other cities $ 133 £ 75 $ 117 € 85 ₪ 319 NZ$ 146 kr 932 $ 90 Single room $ 179 £ 101 $ 158 € 115 ₪ 432 NZ$ 197 kr 1260 $ 122
Child discount on request
Extra Info
Skill Level — Moderate
This self-guided bike tour is rated moderate. The route mostly follows well-maintained cycle paths and quiet side roads. You will encounter a few inclines, which are quite manageable for all types of bikers.
Airport Info
Fly to Zurich (ZRH) or Bern International Airport (BRN)
Local Travel
From Zurich Airport, you can take a train to Interlaken. Total trip time is approx. 2.5 hours. From Bern Airport, you can take a bus to Belp and then a train to Interlaken. Total trip is 1.5 hours.
Climate
Please check local conditions before your arrival. The climate in Bern and surrounding region is moderately continental.
Remarks
It is possible to add an extra night before, after, or during your tour.
Important to know
Extra booking requirements during Covid
Applicable from November 8, 2021, until further notice, bookings will only be accepted from vaccinated or recovered guests. If you travel without a valid Covid certificate or proof of recovery from Covid, you do so at your own risk. Any trip interruption or cancellation due to insufficient documentation will be at the client's expense, regular cancellation fees apply.
Travel Documents
It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit. This includes and is not limited to passport validity, visa requirements and acquisition, blank passport pages required for your destination (s), etc.
US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and entry into other countries is travel.state.gov.
Non-EU and EU residents: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and your destination country or countries.
*Important note: Please check on the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) status as once implemented, this will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.Covid-19 Info
Country Entry Requirements
Due to the changing requirements for entry, it is imperative that you stay up to date on requirements set by the country/countries that you are visiting. Please visit our Travel Restrictions Tool page and the country/countries government webpage for this information.
Tour Operator
This tour is run by Radweg-Reisen.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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