Introduction to the Swiss Alps

You will be collected from Zurich Airport and transferred to our hotel in Interlaken. The hotel also has parking in case you come by car, and is close to the train station if you want to come by train. We typically go for a late afternoon quick ride along the lake to check the bikes and get introduced to your riding buddies for the week before settling into your rooms and having a welcome dinner and briefing for the week ahead. 

Distance: 62km

Elevation: 1220m

After breakfast we’ll head out up into the hills above Lake Thun which give fabulous views out over the giant Swiss Alps. The climbs on the first day are never too long nor too steep. There are 2 major ascents today, first up is the climb to Beatenberg (8km at 7.5%), which after a quick descent is followed by another 7km climb at around 4.5%. We’ll stop for lunch in Thun before spinning back to the hotel along the lake shore. 

Distance: 80km

Elevation: 1540m

Someone once said riding Grosse Scheidegg is the closest thing to climbing the Eiger as you can do by bike. The route today heads up the valley towards the alpine village of Grindelwald. This is a great place to stop for a coffee before heading up the car-free climb of Grosse Scheidegg. This 10km, 9.1% beast is difficult. Not impossible by any stretch, but the road climbs up via 15 hairpins across rough pastures to the summit right below the 3,692m Wetterhorn. 

You’ll have lunch after the excellent descent to Meiringen (passing the infamous Reichenbach Falls, where Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty tussled before falling to their death in The Final Problem). From lunch the route is flat, taking you along the north shore of Lake Brienz back to Interlaken and the hotel. 

Distance: 100km

Elevation: 2550m

Today is transfer day - but you get to do it on two wheels. And via two classic Swiss Climbs. The monster Grimselpass, and the iconic Furkapass. It will be a long day in the saddle so once we’ve eaten breakfast we’ll be on the road warming up along the lake shore towards Brienz. We pass again through Meiringen before starting the climb proper at Innetkirchen. This is one you really need to mentally prepare for, the 26km at 5.9% will take around 2 hours for most riders. But the beauty really can take your mind off the climbing, riding as you do past 2 glacial lakes before reaching the top (and yet another lake). You’ll have lunch up here at 2,165m before taking on the incredible hairpins of the descent down to Gletsch.

Now all you have in front of you is the Furkapass. With the Rhône glacier almost always in sight the road hugs the hillside before climbing up past the famous Belvedere hotel (where we’ll be on hand to take photos) via 7 hairpins before transporting you over the summit and down to Andermatt and our base for the remainder of your trip. 

Distance: 23km

Elevation: 610m

Today is a rest day of sorts. No big kilometres are on the agenda for today. Very much a recovery climb up the Oberalppass, with an option for those feeling strong to continue to the ‘hidden’ Lai da Cunera on a side ride just over the top of the Oberalppass. Most of the day is devoted to relaxation, massage, and exploring Andermatt. 

Distance: 105km

Elevation: 3210m

Today is the reason for yesterday’s rest day. Today you will ride one of the world’s greatest 3 col loops. Today you will end your trip on a metaphorical and literal high. 

This is the jewel in the crown of the trip. Three 2000m+ passes in the most stunning landscapes with the bonus of the ancient cobbled climb of St Gotthard. There really is little that compares to this loop on a bike.

We head off after breakfast warming up the legs on the run out to the Furka. We’re quickly up above the valley floor and the 11.5k at 7.5% climb is a decent warm up by anyone’s standards. Be sure to save some energy though as there are two more on the menu.

There’s a long, flowing descent back down to Ulrichen where we can grab a coffee and consider what is still to come.

The Nufenenpass is the highest road pass entirely in Switzerland and is often described as the most “extreme” of all the Swiss cols. It is 13.3k long with an average gradient of 8.5%. After the first few kilometers we are faced by a big wall with a road carved out of it. The final kilometer is possibly the most spectacular approach to a summit of any of the Swiss passes, with the Gries lake and glacier above in full view.

We drop down off the pass into canton Ticino, where the air is warm, and the foot of the St Gotthard pass awaits. We have truly saved the best for last. From Airolo we begin the climb of the Tremolastrasse, the incredible cobbled road to the summit. We pass by 38 tightly wound hairpins on the climb, and at the you will marvel at that you’ve just ridden.

A swift descent on a perfectly engineered road (no more cobbles here thankfully) brings us back to Andermatt with a sackful of memories.

Today you can either take the train directly from Andermatt - or you will be provided with a transfer to Zurich Airport.