Traveler photos

• ★★★★★ Hutch September 10, 2019

  Not what was expected.

  This was our 9th bike trip in Europe, previous ratings and reviews of trips had been pretty acurate. But this trip was not what we expected. We might have a different view if we were in our 20s or 30s so any review submitted should be evaluated with that in mind. The trip was very intensive even with ebikes (our first use of ebikes) and only serious cyclists should forego those. There were many large hills and rough surfaces (30-40% gravel). Sporadic beautiful scenery, but not even close to what we have experienced before. Hotels were all clean and about half were really nice, but several were positioned away from main points of interest and the bike route and since the stopover sites were larger cities they were hard to find (maps to hotels were not detailed, thankfully we had google maps). On the positive side, the bike route is signed very well and we had no trouble finding our way between cities. Finding good stops along the route for lunch/coffee/etc was not as easy as we had experienced on previous trips. In short, we would not classify this route as recreational or recommend it as a family trip.

  What was the date of your tour?

  Aug 2019

  How many tours have you completed?

  11

  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?

  Much harder

  Who is this tour suitable for?

  Solo travelers

  Do you recommend this tour?

  No

  • BikeTours.com staff reply from Chloe September 11, 2019

    Hi Hutch, and thanks for the review. We appreciate your feedback that this tour was tougher and the scenery was different than what you had expected. We hope these details may help inform future clients to make the best decision possible. It seems this tour has intermittently beautiful scenery; we certainly do get spoiled on many tours where it's constantly scenic. We're glad you enjoyed the well-signed bike route and were able to navigate with the assistance of google maps. We're hoping the next one suits you better. Thanks again!

  • 4/5 Value
  • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
  • 3/5 Hotels or boat
  • 3/5 Scenery
  • 4/5 Ease of navigation
  • 1/5 Tour documents
  • 3/5 Local tour company services
• ★★★★★ Dusty August 30, 2019

  Fun Way to See Switzerland

  We enjoyed seeing Switzerland up close. Bike routes very well marked. The little towns were charming. We experienced beautiful scenery and very friendly people.

  What was the date of your tour?

  August, 2019

  How many tours have you completed?

  5

  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?

  As expected

  Who is this tour suitable for?

  Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens

  Do you recommend this tour?

  Yes

  • 4/5 Value
  • 4/5 Included meals
  • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  • 4/5 Hotels or boat
  • 5/5 Scenery
  • 5/5 Ease of navigation
  • 5/5 Tour documents
  • 4/5 Local tour company services
  • 5/5 Route selection
• ★★★★★ kpatout August 21, 2019

  Great trip!

  The biketours.com staff did an excellent job making sure we were prepared for our trip. The route was beautiful and manageable (even for those of us who weren't experienced cyclists). One concern we had was that the directions within a city - to and from the hotels - weren't detailed enough and we needed to use our cell phones and google maps to find the way every time. We were also unable to reach the local tour company by phone after making many attempts. However, biketours.com was able to help us each time we had a question. Overall I would definitely recommend biketours.com and this tour in particular.

  What was the date of your tour?

  August 2019

  How many tours have you completed?

  one

  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?

  Somewhat harder

  Who is this tour suitable for?

  Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens

  Do you recommend this tour?

  Yes

  • BikeTours.com staff reply from Chloe August 22, 2019

    So glad we were able to assist We never tire of helping clients have a great experience. We're delighted to hear you were able to sort out the navigation - even with a few hiccups! Sometimes a phone and google maps are a huge help, especially in a foreign setting.

  • 5/5 Value
  • 5/5 Included meals
  • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
  • 5/5 Hotels or boat
  • 5/5 Scenery
  • 2/5 Ease of navigation
  • 4/5 Tour documents
  • 1/5 Local tour company services
  • 5/5 Route selection
• ★★★★★ DDMac July 27, 2019

  Beautiful trip

  BikeTours provided a great experience for our tour. When we encountered a mechanical problem they paid for the fix of the bike without hesitation. The hotels were very comfortable and well located each evening. One bag did go missing but caught up in time to make the flight out; they were very accommodating in all respects.

  What was the date of your tour?

  July 9 - 16

  How many tours have you completed?

  1

  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?

  As expected

  Who is this tour suitable for?

  Families with teens

  Do you recommend this tour?

  Yes

  • 5/5 Value
  • 3/5 Included meals
  • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  • 3/5 Hotels or boat
  • 5/5 Scenery
  • 4/5 Ease of navigation
  • 4/5 Tour documents
  • 4/5 Local tour company services
  • 5/5 Route selection
• ★★★★★ Ann1 July 24, 2019

  How we experienced the trip.

  Biketour.com is a reliable company and you get a fast answer to your questions. We had though some problems with the co-working German company. When the bikes arrived they were not e-bikes! That was discovered early on because we took some extra nights at the first hotel and the bikes were replaced before the trip began the next day. However we could not use the bikes in town on the first day. One bike had a misplaced saddle but after some repair by the handy man driving it, this was solved too. The luggage was very late 8pm on the first day, it should arrive at the latest at 6 pm; thereafter it worked well. The bikes were very good. Hotel staff always friendly. Beds were very good. Free wifi everywhere. Some problems with missing aircondition during the hot days/nights. Sightseeing: A most beautiful trip through historic towns. Stork village. Rhine falls. The weather in our favor.

  What was the date of your tour?

  July

  How many tours have you completed?

  4

  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?

  As expected

  Who is this tour suitable for?

  First-time bike tourists

  Do you recommend this tour?

  Yes

  • 4/5 Value
  • 4/5 Included meals
  • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  • 4/5 Hotels or boat
  • 5/5 Scenery
  • 4/5 Ease of navigation
  • 3/5 Tour documents
  • 3/5 Local tour company services
  • 4/5 Route selection
• ★★★★★ Stillpedaling June 13, 2018

  Our First European Cycle Tour

  Cycling is a great way to experience central Switzerland, with the Alps in the background and the Aare River alongside us. We took one reviewer’s advice and spent extra days in Interlaken to explore the Lauterbrunnen Valley. The Aare Cycle Path is well marked, but we had some difficulty in the transition from cycle path to city to hotel. All the hotels were comfortable and ideally located for exploring the Old Towns of each city. The boat ride on Thun Lake was wonderfully relaxing and scenic. Don’t miss the storks at Altreu - they are unique. We thoroughly enjoyed our Swiss vacation.

  What was the date of your tour?

  May 15 to May 25, 2018

  How many tours have you completed?

  5

  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?

  Somewhat easier

  Who is this tour suitable for?

  Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens

  Do you recommend this tour?

  Yes

  • 4/5 Value
  • 5/5 Included meals
  • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  • 5/5 Hotels or boat
  • 5/5 Scenery
  • 4/5 Ease of navigation
  • 4/5 Tour documents
  • 4/5 Local tour company services
  • 5/5 Route selection
• ★★★★★ apitzer October 19, 2017

  Cycling in Switzerland is Way more Accessible than you think!

  I went on a portion of this tour from Thun to Bern to Biel/Bienne as a BikeTours.com staff member. The route was super easy to follow, very flat, and almost always on bicycle paths. We covered the daily distance quickly and were rewarded with more time to explore the perfectly-preserved and lively medieval town centers each night. The northern part of Switzerland is on a plateau, so it is not at all like the Alps. I missed the mountain views, but I definitely appreciated the more flat terrain.

  Don't miss the Old City, the Clock Tower, the Rose Garden, or the bizarre, centrally located Kindlifresserbrunnen (German for "Child Eater Fountain") in Bern. Allow time to explore Biel/Bienne's old town. It is smaller than Bern, just as charming, and with a more local vibe. The nightlife in Biel/Bienne was more lively than expected, and there seemed to be a large student population. This is a fully bilingual German-French city. Very unique!

  I visited Konstanz for one day at the end of this tour, and it was beautiful! Very charming, red-tiled buildings dominated the historic district. Be sure to climb up to the top of the Cathedral in Konstanz, and definitely visit the Island of Mainau, which is a beautiful botanical garden.

  What was the date of your tour?

  September 3, 2017

  How many tours have you completed?

  This was my first!

  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?

  Much easier

  Who is this tour suitable for?

  Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens

  Do you recommend this tour?

  Yes

  • 5/5 Value
  • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  • 5/5 Hotels or boat
  • 4/5 Scenery
  • 4/5 Ease of navigation
  • 5/5 Tour documents
  • 5/5 Local tour company services
  • 5/5 Route selection
• ★★★★★ Heidi August 17, 2017

  Fun bike trip through switzerland

  A different and fun way to experience Switzerland. About 90% on dedicated bike paths or bike lanes, which makes it a very safe way of biking. Hotels were mostly very comfortable, but most lacked air conditioning, which would have been greatly appreciated in temperatures of 90plus degree for most of the week.

  What was the date of your tour?

  7/30-8/7/2017

  How many tours have you completed?

  1

  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?

  As expected

  Who is this tour suitable for?

  Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens

  Do you recommend this tour?

  Yes

  • 4/5 Value
  • 5/5 Included meals
  • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
  • 3/5 Hotels or boat
  • 5/5 Scenery
  • 4/5 Ease of navigation
  • 4/5 Tour documents
  • 4/5 Local tour company services
  • 5/5 Route selection
• ★★★★★ Petexter October 10, 2016

  Great all Round trip except for the maps

  Route maps failed at the departure point from the main route to the hotel. Upside: met a lot of very helpful people. Downside: consistently irritating.

  What was the date of your tour?

  Late September

  How many tours have you completed?

  3

  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?

  As expected

  Who is this tour suitable for?

  Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens

  Do you recommend this tour?

  Yes

  • BikeTours.com staff reply from Lindsay Nash October 11, 2016

    Thank you for your 4-star review! We're glad you had a good overall experience, and we're sorry you had issues with the maps. That can indeed be frustrating!

    We're following up now with tour operator about this issue to improve this service going forward.

    Thank you again for taking the time to review your time and helping spread the love of bicycle tourism worldwide!

    Kind regards,
    Lindsay

  • 4/5 Value
  • 5/5 Included meals
  • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
  • 5/5 Hotels or boat
  • 5/5 Scenery
  • 2/5 Ease of navigation
  • 3/5 Tour documents
  • 4/5 Local tour company services
  • 5/5 Route selection
• ★★★★★ Professor October 10, 2016

  What was the date of your tour?

  9/26 - 10/4

  How many tours have you completed?

  12

  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?

  Somewhat harder

  Who is this tour suitable for?

  First-time bike tourists, Families with teens

  Do you recommend this tour?

  Yes

  • 3/5 Value
  • 4/5 Included meals
  • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  • 4/5 Hotels or boat
  • 5/5 Scenery
  • 1/5 Ease of navigation
  • 3/5 Tour documents
  • 3/5 Local tour company services
  • 4/5 Route selection
• ★★★★★ Alpskier August 2, 2016

  Easy Riding Across Switzerland! And Free Water!

  This is my 11th ride with Biketours, and probably, oddly, the easiest! The ride starts in Interlaken and follows the Aare River to Constance, Germany. I'd recommend it for newbies, looking for a great ride. You simply followed the well-posted number 8 Aare River route. It's pretty difficult to get lost. And there are few hills, too. Along the way, you'll ride about 25 miles each day, arriving at a wonderful historic town or city whose Alstadt, or old town, remains perfectly preserved. Unlike most of Europe, wars haven't ravaged Switzerland's land in over 500 years. The medieval centers are unique, and a great opportunity for photographers. On the first day, you take a 3 hour boat ride from Interlaken to Thun, crossing the pristine and aqua-marine waters of Lake Thun, set against the glaciers and jagged peaks of the Alps. I'd strongly recommend that you take the meal plan. It's quite a bargain, trust me. Switzerland is very, very expensive. Make no doubt about that. I got breakfast and a 3-course dinner every night. Some of the hotels were built in the 16th century. If you're looking for Marriots and Holiday Inns, seek elsewhere, nor can you expect air-conditioning, a rarity in most of Europe's hotels. The local tour provider, Radweg Reisen, presented us with brand-new bikes, suitable for touring. Most of the ride follows dedicated bike paths or on gravel roads through forests and farmlands. Here's a top tip: either through Biketours, or through your own effort, get to the start city Interlaken a few days earlier and visits the Alps, taking a train to either Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald. That's what I did. There is no more beautiful valley in the world than Lauterbrunnen. Final thing: Switzerland is expensive, but the water is free! Every town and city features dozens of water fountains. You simply fill up when you need water.

  What was the date of your tour?

  July, 2016

  How many tours have you completed?

  11

  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?

  Somewhat easier

  Who is this tour suitable for?

  Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens

  Do you recommend this tour?

  Yes

  • 5/5 Value
  • 5/5 Included meals
  • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  • 4/5 Hotels or boat
  • 5/5 Scenery
  • 5/5 Ease of navigation
  • 5/5 Tour documents
  • 5/5 Local tour company services
  • 5/5 Route selection
• ★★★★★ John Parsons December 7, 2015

  Can't recommend it

  Food organization poor. Rhine River portion very industrial

  How many tours have you completed?

  1

  Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?

  Somewhat harder

  Do you recommend this tour?

  No

  • BikeTours.com staff reply from Lindsay Nash December 8, 2015

    Hi John, thanks very much for your review. We're sorry to hear this trip did not meet expectations. Since this is a self-guided tour, only breakfast is provided. The rest of the meals are on your own, as is typical with self-guided tours. We're glad to see, though, the higher ratings for the local tour company services and bikes/equipment. Thanks again for your feedback.

  • 1/5 Value
  • 3/5 Included meals
  • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
  • 2/5 Hotels or boat
  • 2/5 Scenery
  • 2/5 Ease of navigation
  • 2/5 Tour documents
  • 4/5 Local tour company services
  • 2/5 Route selection