Alps - Switzerland

Swiss Alps Traverse: Europe’s Highest Roads Bike Tour

Guided 6 days

A tour for ambitious road cyclists longing for summits and hairpin turns. Switzerland is perfection. Join us on this epic Swiss Alps cycling holiday to discover some amazing roads and push your riding to the next level.

Style
Road cycling
Gain
17,000 m
Distance
650 km
Level
Difficult

Tour overview

SMOOTH ROADS AND SPECTACULAR ALPINE MOUNTAIN PASSES

This Swiss Alps Cycling Grand Climb tour has a lot to offer. Incredibly smooth roads carve through Alpine mountain passes and offer flawless terrain for climbing. With every hairpin bend, discover incredible mountain views, giant glaciers, staggering summits, lakes, pastures and villages.

This 6 day tour crosses Switzerland’s impressive Alps from east to west, starting at Lake Como in Italy and ending on the French shores of Lake Geneva. You’ll cross the main Alpine chain, climb 12 major cols and bask in picture-postcard landscapes.

The cherry on the cake of this tour is the climb up to Grosse Scheidegg. The narrow road winds up under huge rock faces before summiting with a panorama of the big three: Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Discover plunging valleys, experience soaring peaks and taste local delicacies on this truly mind-blowing Swiss Alps cycling holiday.

Start point
Chiavenna
End point
Thonon-les-Bains
See program for full itinerary
Flying in
Milan/Torino
Flying out
Geneva

Flights not included. Direct flights available at lastminute.com

Highlights of your cycling trip

Legendary Cols

Ride and experience legendary cols such as Col du Juan and Col du Corbier, a must for all cycling enthusiasts at least once in their lifetime.

Postcard Vistas

Step into the wonderful postcard world of Switzerland’s Alps and pedal through these breath-taking mountains with magnificent vistas of giant glaciers and staggering summits.

All Meals Included

Discover the delicious Swiss cuisine and taste fresh, local ingredients at breakfast, picnic lunches on the road and generous dinners to refuel at the end of each day.

Tour destination

Swiss Alps

Switzerland’s alpine region is a major part of its natural landscape, offering some of the most dramatic scenery in the world. Mountain tops reach high into the sky and gorges carve out routes for rivers and lakes, making this an incredible setting for outdoor adventure holidays. Cycle along perfectly smooth roads, tackle epic cols and experience welcoming Swiss hospitality, the perfect recipe for a truly unforgettable experience.

Discover More
  • Weather

    The summer climate is moderate with daytime temperatures ranging from 18-28°C, whilst in winter temperatures can drop to -7 °C. Of course, the higher you climb, the colder it gets.

  • Terrain

    Switzerland is famous for its Alpine mountains with sharp climbs and challenging terrain, perfect for demanding training. North of the Alps we find the Swiss Plateau with rolling hills and flatlands.

  • Culture

    Switzerland is incredibly diverse in language and culture, and the Swiss are known for their friendly and welcoming nature, as well as for their love of outdoor activities.

Accommodation during your tour

Comfortable 2-3* Hotels and Guesthouses

Each night we’ll sleep in a different 2 or 3 star hotel or guesthouse along our route, all of which offer a very pleasant stay after a full day of riding. We choose the accommodation based on its location and proximity to the start and end of each route and each location includes secure bike storage facilities so you can focus on some well-deserved R&R.

 

A support vehicle will be assisting us for the entire trip to move your bags and belongings safely between each location.

All Meals Included

This guided tour includes all meals.

Breakfasts, picnic lunches, and dinners from a 3 to 4 course menu are included over the 8 nights. All you need to worry about is what you want to drink with each meal.

We also recommend you bring your favourite energy gels and bars to carry with you for a mid-ride energy boost.

Tour itinerary

Your guide to a perfect cycling tour

Bellinzona - Andermatt
  • Distance
    120 km
  • Altitude gain
    2800 m

The grandiose alpine environment of Val Lucomagno is protected due to its extraordinary geological formations and botanical heritage. This valley is nicknamed “the sun valley” because of its orientation and microclimate. There are another two challenging climbs on the agenda for day 2, so make sure you have rested and have your energy gels at the ready!

 

Highlights:

  • Maria lake at the top of the Lukmanier Pass (Passo del Lucomagno)
  • An imposing cloister village of Disentis in the Romansh Surselva, founded in the 8th century. It contains no less than 14 churches and chapels!

 

Passes of the day:

  • Passo del Lucomagno (1,916 m)
  • Oberalp Pass (2,040 m)

Getting there

Information to help you book your flights and get around.

Any questions about flights and transfers? The Epico team is here for you. Ping us via the chatbot in the corner of your page or send an email to [email protected]

Flying in

Fly in airport options: Milan, Torino, or Bergamo.

When best to arrive: in the evening the day before the tour starts.

Where the tour starts: we meet at 9:00 at Chiavenna townhall.

Transfers: we highly recommend you book optional airport transfers that we offer, this way we can guarantee a seamless and hassle-free travel experience.

Extra nights: we recommend you book an optional extra night in Chiavenna that we offer; the tour starts in the morning and you’ll want to be fresh!

Flying out

Fly out airport options: Geneva.

When best to depart: in the morning the day after the tour ends.

Where the tour ends: in the afternoon in the town of Thonon-les-Bains.

Transfers: we highly recommend you book optional airport transfers that we offer, this way we can guarantee a seamless and hassle-free travel experience.

Extra nights: we recommend you book an optional extra night near the airport that we offer; the tour ends in the afternoon, packing up and transferring takes time.

Tour essentials

What’s included in your cycling trip.

  • 5 Nights Accommodation

    5 nights in 2-3* hotels, double room with en-suite facilities (single room available as an extra)

  • All Meals

    5 breakfasts, 6 picnic lunches, 5 dinners (3 to 4 course menu)

  • Guide and Support

    Trip leader in support vehicle, luggage transfers, and tech support throughout the tour

  • GPS Tracks

    Comprehensive navigation app for smartphones, a detailed digital road book with routes, and GPS tracks

Cycling bottle

What’s not included in your cycling trip.

  • Flights

    Flights are not included in the tour package. Please follow our advice about which flights will be best suited for this tour. Reach out to us if you have any questions about flights.

  • Health insurance

    We strongly recommend that you obtain a dedicated health insurance that covers your sport activities. Reach out to us if you have questions about the insurance.

Extra
Bike rental
From only €275 for the entire trip

It’s not always easy travelling with a bike but fear not, high quality carbon bikes are available for rental for the duration of the tour. To make sure you get the maximum from your bike for your trip, we’ve partnered with some of the best brands in cycling to give you the latest choice of equipment.

With a variety of sizes available, we can ensure your bike fits you perfectly.  All rental bikes are mechanically checked and adjusted before each and every hire so you can have peace of mind that your bike will be running smoothly from start to finish!

An Electric Road Bike is also available to rent.

You can select this option when you proceed to checkout. 

CARBON ROAD BIKE

Fitted to you and in perfect condition

More things to maximise your cycling trip

  • EXTRA
    Single accommodation
    €120 per person for entire trip

    If you’d like a whole room to yourself, that’s no problem. For an extra €120 for the trip duration, you can enjoy the comfort of your own room. Just select this option when you proceed to book your tour.

  • EXTRA
    Airport transfers
    From €140 per person

    Transportation for you and your bike from the nearest airport to the start point and back is available to book for €140 (round trip). You can select this option when you proceed to checkout. Contact us if you have any questions.

  • EXTRA
    Additional nights
    From €190 per person

    The tour starts in the morning and ends in the evening, plus airport transfers take time. We recommend that you fly in the day before and fly out the day after to maximise your trip. You can book these two additional nights for €190 when you proceed to checkout.

Booking options

Choose when you want to travel

Don't see the travel dates you want or have a special request, such as adding a non-rider, please contact us.

  • Guarantee a spot during busy periods
  • Only 30% down payment to secure your place
  • Fair & Transparent Cancellation Policy
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Booking options