BIKE ACROSS SWITZERLAND CLASSICO Ability Level: Intermediate / Duration: 8 days / 7 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION Bike Across Switzerland ITINERARY OUTLINE Trip Essence / Page 2 A lush and lovely lake to lake journey Daily Itinerary / Page 3-5 The natural beauty of Switzerland is not taken for granted by the Swiss, and Arrival & Departure / Page 6 because of their respect for nature, they have designed and maintained a very / Page 6 sophisticated system of hiking and cycling routes throughout the country. Bike Information Terms & Conditions / Page 7 The tour passes through eight of Switzerland’s 26 cantons and provides unmatched natural beauty, insight into the political and historical foundations, Reserve Your Space! / Page 7 and an up close and authentic experience of Swiss contemporary culture. Because most of this tour is on bicycle paths or designated bike routes, we are not only utilizing, but also contributing to the sustainability of the Swiss philosophy of human powered travel. We are excited to be guest/hosts in this beautiful country as ambassadors to help promote this way of life. Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 1 BIKE ACROSS SWITZERLAND CLASSICO Ability Level: Intermediate / Duration: 8 days / 7 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION TRIP ESSENCE TRIP DETAILS Ability Level • Experience the true meaning of ECO and BIO • Intermediate • Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Bern and Lavaux wine Summary of Daily Distances country • Day 1: 10.5 miles • Day 2: 49 miles • Ride through many quaint Medieval towns, and through valleys and • Day 3: 45 miles lake regions • Day 4: 42 miles • Day 5: Optional rest day/19 • Enjoy spectacular views of the Berner Oberlander Alps, including the miles • Day 6: 53/60 miles Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau • Day 7: 43/46 miles • Day 8: Au Revoir! • Get absorbed into the French speaking cantons of Fribourg and Vaud Optional extra loops available • Taste the cheese of Switzerland: Gruyère WHAT’S INCLUDED • Use of a carbon road bike (see page 6 for details) • Service of local, professional guides throughout the program • Ciclismo jersey and water bottle • All accommodations • All breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 7 dinners • 1 wine tasting, 1 beer tasting and 1 chocolate demo/tasting Have something else in mind? • Itinerary available as a private tour or... • Daily cycling clinics & one-on-one coaching • Create a custom itinerary with help from our experienced • 2 guided visits: Lucerne, Bern travel consultants! • Transfer on last day to the train station Contact Us 1-800-866-7314 [email protected] Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 2 BIKE ACROSS SWITZERLAND CLASSICO Ability Level: Intermediate / Duration: 8 days / 7 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION DAY 1 Highlights LUZERN LOOP Today we meet in the lobby of our hotel at 12 pm for introductions and a light lunch followed by our bike fitting and an afternoon ride. Our ride will Daily Mileage - 10.5 miles take us around the outskirts of Luzern and along some of the lakeshore. Before dinner we’ll meet a local guide for a visit to the town. Riding Terrain - Flat with a few short, steep climbs; elevation Our prime location, nestled in the heart of the “Old Town”, boasts one gain 525 ft. of the city’s trendiest restaurants, with a unique bar, lounge and riverside terrace, a stunning view of the Reuss River. Hotel - Hotel de Balances • Location: Lucerne • Duration: 2 Nights • www.balances.ch Meals - L, D DAY 2 Highlights Today we ride at the lakes Imensee and Luzern circum-navigating the Rigi LAKE LUZERN LOOP peak, one of the pioneering mountains of Alpine tourism. It includes the construction of the Vitznau-Rigi Railway, which went down in history as Daily Mileage - 49 miles Europe’s first mountain railway. We pass through many historic areas, one Riding Terrain - Rolling with of which is where Switzerland established the Old Swiss Confederacy, with a few climbs (1-3 km long). some help of the legendary William Tell, a folk hero from the area. Elevation gain: 2,945 ft We’ll stop for lunch in Brunnen where the lakes Vierwaldstättersee (Lake Hotel - See Day 1 Lucerne) and the Urnersee (Lake Uri) meet. Once a popular place for royalty in the 19th century, today it has the hustle and bustle of many travelers. Meals - B, D Riding back to Lucerne we’ll have many panoramic views of the Alps, riding along what is also known sometimes as the “Riviera of Central Switzerland.” DAY 3 Highlights This morning we leave Lucerne for Interlaken. We’ll ride on the eastern LUCERNE TO flanks of Mont Pilatus (2119 m) to the Alpnacher and Sarner “Sees” (lakes) on INTERLAKEN our way to Interlaken, located between lake Thun and Brienz. Sarnern is the capital of the Oberwald canton. The Sarnen town and lake lie at the base 45 miles Daily Mileage - of the Giswilerstock peak. We’ll take a short detour to Brienz at the foot of the Brienzer-Rothorn (2350 m) and see one of its streets the Brungasse, Riding Terrain - Rolling with some climbing. Biggest climb which was awarded the “most beautiful street in Europe”. As we arrive in from Lucerne Lake over the Interlaken we behold the dramatic views of the Bernese Alps, including Brunigg pass. Elevation gain: three famous mountains: the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. 3,945 ft The hotel is centrally located directly on the main street and just next to Hotel - Hotel Interlaken the Japanese Garden and the 2 churches. Within just a few minutes walking • Location: Interlaken distance you will reach the East train station, shopping possibilities, the • Duration: 2 Nights Congress Center and a wide range of restaurants and cafés. • www.hotelinterlaken.ch Meals - B, D Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 3 BIKE ACROSS SWITZERLAND CLASSICO Ability Level: Intermediate / Duration: 8 days / 7 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION DAY 4 Highlights INTERLAKEN TO BERN We leave Interlaken today and the Brienzersee and ride along the Thunersee. We’ll ride through this lake region with spectacular views of the Daily Mileage - 42 miles Bernese Oberland Alps. Later we ride through Thun a medieval town on the western side of Thunersee. We finally arrive in Bern which has been for 30 Riding Terrain - Rolling with a years a UNESCO World Heritage site. Today the Swiss capital still enchants few longer climbs (2-4 km long). its visitors with its charm and diverse attractions and events. In the early Elevation gain: 1,945 ft evening we’ll have a guided visit of the town and then you’ll have free time to take advantage of all Bern has to offer. Hotel - Hotel Bellevue Palace • Location: Bern Hotel Allegro is a 4-star city hotel with views of the beautiful Bernese Alps. • Duration: 2 Nights The warmest welcomes and first-class service await you. Many rooms and • www.bellevue-palace.ch/en suites offer fine views of the historic old town and distant Bernese Alps. Meals - B, D DAY 5 Highlights Take the day off to visit the Paul Klee Museum, Albert Einstein Museum or BERN: OPTIONAL REST/ the Bear park (the bear is the city’s icon, and both are celebrated “icons” of RIDE the town). Or stroll or shop on Europe’s longest “covered” promenade. Daily Mileage - 19 miles The optional ride in the area around Bern, or take a tram and walk to see the Berner Oberland’s spectacular Alp peaks in the morning. Riding Terrain - Rolling. Elevation gain: 950 ft Hotel - See Day 4 Meals - B, D DAY 6 Highlights Today we’ll pass through Fribourg, the educational and cultural border BERN TO GRUYERES between the German and French-Swiss border. Its historical importance starts from the Neolithic period. It has a great important history of churches Daily Mileage - 53/60 miles and Monasteries (Franciscan, Cistercian and Augustinian). We’ll follow the Riding Terrain - Hilly; elevation Saane/Sarine river, then the Lac de Gruyères, with moments of spectacular gain: 4,135/5,045 ft views of the Berner Oberlander Alps. Hotel - Hotel de Gruyeres Gruyères is not only famous for it’s cheese, but is a gem of a medieval • Location: Gruyeres village. Situated in the green pre-alpine foothills, the small village surrounds • Duration: 1 Night the famous castle which has mysterious origins. • www.gruyereshotels.ch Located at the Ruelle des Chevaliers (Knights street), shortly before the Meals - B, D town’s entrance, the Hôtel de Gruyères is easily accessible and provides a fantastic view of the medieval town and Mount Moléson. Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 4 BIKE ACROSS SWITZERLAND CLASSICO Ability Level: Intermediate / Duration: 8 days / 7 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION DAY 7 Highlights GRUYERES TO MORGES Leaving the Canton of Fribourg we’ll ride through the pre-alpine area taking in all the views of the Swiss and French Alps and fertile lands of the Haut Daily Mileage - 43/46 miles Gruyere. We’ll then enter the terraced vineyards of Lavaux above Lake Geneva. Beautiful scenery from Mont Pelerin onto the small silver “sea” of Rolling with a Riding Terrain - Lac Léman. Astounding views of the lake, the vineyards, and the Alps. few short climbs; elevation gain: 2,090/2,990 ft Morges, a small town on Lake Geneva, faces the majestic Mont-Blanc and is one of the most picturesque ports on the lake of Geneva. Hotel Romantik Mont Hotel - Blanc au Lac The legendary hotel built in 1857 on the lakeside of Morges is located in a • Location: Morges perfect setting opposite the majestic Mont Blanc, the picturesque area and • Duration: 1 Night the friendliness of the team will make your stay most enjoyable.