Aare Trail

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: Waldshut-Tiengen - Schaffhausen, 37/40 miles (60/65 km)
Day 8: Schaffhausen - Constance, 34 miles (55 km)
Day 9: Individual departure or extension of stay

*All distances are approximate.

DAY 1: Arrival to 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 Bellevue

DAY 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 Berne, a simple route and well suited for acclimatizing to the days to come. Goethe thought Berne 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 Jardin

DAY 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 Plaza

DAY 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 Ochsen

DAY 5: Solothurn - Aarau, 34 miles (55 km)
The River Aare, which has by now increased considerably in size, is what shapes the landscape here. 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 Schützen

DAY 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 a 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 Walter

DAY 7: Waldshut-Tiengen - Schaffhausen, 37/40 miles (60/65 km) + Boat Trip to Rhine Falls
Back again to Switzerland, you cycle up the Rhine, passing Rheinau Abbey, which is situated idyllically on an island in the river. The closer you get to the Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen, the louder the roar of the water gets. Enjoy a boat trip that takes you to the rocks of the Falls and experience the roaring mass of water all around you. In Schaffhausen, discover the Munot Fortress, which can be seen for miles. From the battlements of this stronghold, built between 1564 and 1589, you can see far and wide. Every evening at 9 p.m., the Munot guard who lives in the tower rings the Munot bell, which used to be a sign that the town gates and inns should close.

Sample hotels: 
Hotel Park Villa
Hotel Kronenhof

DAY 8: Schaffhausen - Constance, 34 miles (55 km)
From Schaffhausen, the last bike ride will lead you through pretty fishing villages to Constance. Constance is a lively university town lying on the shores of beautiful Lake Constance. It has been a city since as early as the 1st-century AD, and quickly became a religious center. In the Old Town, you'll find the famed cathedral dating back to the 7th-century. Due to a border anomaly, the German city Constance lies on Switzerland’s land mass, and the Swiss town of Kreuzlingen is only a short walk away.

Sample hotels: 
ABC-Hotel
Apartment Hotel

DAY 9: Departure from Constance/Kreuzlingen.

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Accommodations in 3 star hotels including breakfast. 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:

• 7-speed internal gear hub and back-pedal brakes
• 24-speed derailleur gears and caliper brakes
• Unisex bikes with deep step-through frames for all sizes
• Men's bikes from a body height of 1.75 m
• Anti-puncture Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires
• Hub dynamo
• Luggage rack
• Comfortable saddle

Electric bike

For those who would like to have the support of a motor when they're out and about, these stable and reliable e-bikes are recommended. The e-bike features a deep step-through frame and upright sitting position. The electric support can be added as you need it to assist with longer stretches or hilly sections. The Marathon Plus tires, from Schwalbe, ensure for a safe ride even when your cycling down mountains or riding at high speeds.