Rhine route by bicycle
| Destination | |
| Rhine river, Switzerland | |
| Key Facts | |
| Dates : 18 - 27 June 2010 Price : 1260 € Group : 5-10 persons Meeting : Disentis. More details upon booking. Difficulty :  |
|
The Rhine route follows this river during 394 kilometers, always in Switzerland, and using cycling paths all the way. The Rhine is the longest European river; its origins are in the Swiss Alps, then it flows north passing small villages, the region known as Heidiland, emptying and emerging from Lake Constance, and finally producing the Rhine falls, the biggest waterfalls in Europe.
Our luggage is transported every day by a minivan, so we cycle with total comfort, without any weight. We sleep in comfortable hotels and are guided by a professional mountain guide.
Itinerary
Day 1
We meet in Disentis and spend the afternoon visiting the town.
Day 2 :: Disentis - Chur :: 64 km
To tell you the truth, the first stage of this tour is a bit complicated. In a distance of 60 km, the Rhine loses 600 meters, and there are not only demanding downhills, but also uphills. But we will have our reward by contemplating the most spectacular gorge that the Rhine forms in Swiss territory.
Day 3 :: Chur - Buchs :: 44 km
Compared to stage 1, today we have a relaxing day. The cycling path follows the river and, before Bad Ragaz, it takes us through the vineyards. This region is known as Heidiland. Johanna Spyri, while spending her holidays in the thermal baths of Bad Ragaz, got inspiration from this region and wrote the Heidi books. Today's destination, Buchs, is just a few kilometers away from Liechtenstein.
Day 4 :: Buchs - Walzenhausen :: 62 km
Today we leave the Rhine River for a few hours to visit the beautiful little town of Alstatten. In the afternoon we join the river again and spend the night in Walzenhausen, the village located just before where the Rhine empties into Lake Constance, and just a few meters from the Austrian border.
Day 5 :: Walzenhausen - Berlingen :: 47 km
Lake Constance is Central Europe’s third largest, and it's shared by Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. In today's stage we cycle along the Swiss side of the lake. If we fancy, we can spend a few hours in Germany, visiting the city of Constance.
Day 6 :: Berlingen - Schaffhouse :: 46 km
From Berlingen to Stein-am-Rhein, Lake Constance gets progressively narrower and narrower, until the Rhine emerges again from its waters. The village of Stein-am-Rhein is certainly worth a visit; many of the medieval buildings are painted with beautiful frescoes. Our day ends in Schaffhouse, the most northern Swiss canton.
Day 7 :: Schaffhouse - Zurzach :: 50 km
A few kilometers from Schaffhouse we find the Rhine waterfalls. With 150 meters wide and 23 meters high, they are the biggest in Europe. The cycling path continues along green fields. In Zurzach we can relax our muscles in the thermal baths of the village.
Day 8 :: Zurzach - Rheinfelden :: 54 km
We cycle 7 km and, on our left we find how the Aar River empties into the Rhine River. From Zurzach to Basel the Rhine River is the natural border between Germany and Switzerland. So, in any moment, we can cross one of the multiple bridges and take a stroll in Germany.
Day 9 :: Rheinfelden - Basel :: 26 km
From Rheinfeld to Basel we enjoy a quiet stage. Half way we can visit the Roman site of Augusta Rauric. Basel represents the end of this adventure, which has taken us along the Rhine River over almost 400 km.
Day 10 :: Basel - Basel :: 0 km
In the morning we visit Basel, this time without our bikes. We then bid farewell until our next adventure together.
Recommend this trip to a friend
Map & profile of the Rhin route
The price includes:
• 8 days bicycle rental
• 9 nights hotel, double room, breakfast included
• Mountain bike guide for the entire route;
• Trip insurance
• Medical insurance
• Daily transport of luggage
The price does not include:
• Airfare (for recommendations, click here)
• Beverages and meals not specified