Switzerland and its mountains have, traditionally, been off limits to all but the most sporting of cyclists. That all changed for our intrepid Fresh Eire Adventures guests with the introduction of our new E-Bike tour in 2019. For those looking for a serious challenge we can of course offer road bikes (with gravel wheels).
Expect lots of yodelling (not from your guides), chocolate, Alpine lakes & valleys, typical Alpine villages, local vineyards & wines, fabulous cheeses as we make our way from our starting point of the capital city of Bern, to the ski station of Gstaad and the town of Lausanne facing the tremendous Lake Leman. We will also stay in the great village of Spiez offering breathtaking postcard landscapes and bring you to the top of Europe! Perhaps you'll hear an alpenhorn player while on your e-bike and this might become a soundtrack to your trip. And, being Switzerland, expect to always know the time!
As with most of our tours, we include 4 dinners with wine/beer (one dinner on your own in Vevey), 3 lunches (with wine/beer), all tastings (Cheese! Chocolate! Wine! Rösties! Vacherin!), all included attractions, full van support, snacks...all the usual trimmings and a few extras along the way. We’ll make sure that you won’t be neutral about Switzerland. The trip begins in Bern and ends in Lausanne.
Let us know your preferred travel dates (starting on a Sunday, ending on a Friday) and we'll do our very best to accommodate you.
Please note that this outline itinerary is subject to minor changes as we must confirm 2024 scheduling.
Itinerary
Day 1, Sunday
Your Fresh Eire Adventures experience in Switzerland will start in Berne where the team will meet you at the famous Zytglogge, a 16th century clock tower, or at the train station depending on your convenience. Please be dressed ready for cycling as we will start riding shortly after we meet. We will take care of your luggage and transfer it to your first hotel where you’ll stay for two nights. While we are enjoying a panoramic view of the city from the top of the tower, your bike will be prepared and then, we’ll have a nice picnic lunch on the banks of the Aar River.
Once fitted to your bikes, and the obligatory safety talk has been completed, we will offer you your first tasting of Bernese wine. We will then be ready to start our first ride of approximately 20 miles, through the Gantrisch Natural Park, to the picturesque city of Thun where you will enjoy a stunning view of the lake.
On this tour both Classic and Deluxe guests stay at the Belvédère Standhotel (in different room categories), which includes a wellness centre and a private lake beach. You’ll have ample time to enjoy your rooms before we meet for our first night Welcome cocktail. We’ll enjoy dinner at the hotel’s gastronomic restaurant where we will part-take in a banquet and discover the “Bacchus vinotheque” – In vino veritas.
Included meals: Lunch, Dinner
Classic: Belvédère Strandhotel & Restaurant (Classic rooms) (4 star)
Deluxe: Belvédère Strandhotel & Restaurant (Superior rooms) (4 star)
Day 2, Monday
Upon rising ater a glorious nights sleep you’ll enjoy a rich local breakfast. Afterwards, we will meet to commence our first full days ride which will be a loop passing the impressive Eiger Mountain and the Massif of the Bernese Alps. Fortunately, our included top spec E-Bikes will make our ride much easier. For those of you who prefer to work a little harder on the hills, you can of course opt to ride one of our carbon road bikes instead.
Midway through our ride we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch at a agriturismo where we will sample some Swiss wines. You’ll return to your hotel by the later afternoon and you can opt to avail of the facilities of the Wellness Centre or simply take in the breathtaking view of the mountains from the lakeshore.
Tonight, we will have a well- deserved traditional and friendly dinner at a local authentic restaurant: a fondue!
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Classic: Belvédère Strandhotel & Restaurant (Classic rooms) (4 star)
Deluxe: Belvédère Strandhotel & Restaurant (Superior rooms) (4 star)
Day 3, Tuesday
This morning is a moving day – we’ll be checking out of our glorious hotel and, after breakfast and mounting our bikes, today’s ride will see us heading in the direction of the prestigious ski station of Gstaad. This is a good test of our E-Bikes as we’ll be climbing! We will cruise through the Simmental Valley surrounded by typical Swiss mountains. After a couple of hours, we will stop at a cheese-making farm and we will have our lunch and sample some wines.
After lunch, we will continue our route to Gstaad where we will reach our charming hotel in the heart of mountains.
Classic option guests will enjoy a night at the authentic Hotel Valrose, while Deluxe guests will stay in the Hotel Valrose. Tonight, we’ll also have dinner in a fine gastronomic restaurant together, a Michelin star affair.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Classic: Hotel Valrose (4 star)
Deluxe: Hotel Valrose (4 star, room upgrade)
Day 4, Wednesday
Today, we continue our travel through Switzerland from Gstaad to the traditional city of Vevey on the banks of Lake Leman. Our trip takes us into the Gruyere National Park, named after the eponymous cheese where we will have a delicious authentic Swiss lunch where you will savour different authentic and local dishes.
Following this outstanding experience, we will continue our ride to Vevey and Lake Leman. Both Classic and Deluxe guests will stay for the following two nights at the same hotels albeit in different room categories. Tonight, you are free to select where you’d like to have dinner. You might want to try one off the many lakeside restaurants or have a relaxing evening in your room and call for room service.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Classic: Grand Hotel du Lac (5 star)
Deluxe: Grand Hotel du Lac (5 star, room upgrade)
Day 5, Thursday
On Thursday, we are leaving the countryside to visit the pretty city of Montreal and gain elevation as we ride through the terraced vineyards en route to Epesses on a glorious loop ride. Wine lovers will particularly appreciate the UNESCO world heritage vineyard terraces along the route.
Once we arrive in Epesses, you will be free to have lunch on your own and your guides will be delighted to make some recommendations.
After lunch we’ll enjoy a wine tasting before returning to our glorious hotel for one final night. You’ll have ample time to enjoy the hotel’s facilities before we meet for our final night cocktail. Tonight we’ll dine together in the hotel's magnificent fine dining restaurant.
Included meals: Breakfast, dinner
Classic: Grand Hotel du Lac (5 star)
Deluxe: Grand Hotel du Lac (5 star, room upgrade)
Day 6, Friday
It will be our last morning together. We will take time to have a nice breakfast before enjoying a flat ride along the lake taking in the breathtaking scenery and many picturesque landscapes. We will be saying au revoir in Lausanne around midday. We will transfer you to Lausanne train station where we shall make plans to eat all the chocolate in Switzerland before we eventually leave the country.
Dates Switzerland
Any start dates available upon request, subject to availability
Prices Switzerland
- Classic US $5,295 pps. Single supplement US$500
- Luxury: US $5,995 pps. Single supplement US$1000
Typically Classic accommodations include 3 & 4 star hotels. Luxury accommodations include 4 & 5 star hotels. In Switzerland we only use 4 & 5 star properties and differentiate between the tour packages only by room category.
Included Switzerland
- Use of e-bike (or gravel road bike) and helmet. More about our bikes
- 4 exquisite dinners & wine
- 3 gourmet lunches & wine
- Admissions to all included attractions & tastings
- Baggage transfers
- Tips for hotels/restaurants
- Healthy snacks, water, full guiding services, support vehicle.
- 5 nights B&B in luxurious 3 & 4 & 5 star hotels and inns (Classic) or 4 & 5 star (Luxury) hotels