Aare Cycle Route: Along the Jura, Aare, and Rhine Rivers

4.2/5 (12)
8 nights
30 miles/day
Self guided from EUR € 949
Bike tour in Switzerland
Rider Level: Recreational Electric bike tours Primarily bike paths

Aare Cycle Route: Along the Jura, Aare, and Rhine Rivers

4.2/5 (12)

Rider Level: Recreational Electric bike tours Primarily bike paths

8 nights
30 miles/day

Self guided from EUR € 949
Bike tour in Switzerland

Tap above to jump to different sections of this tour

  • Aare Cycle Route

    This tour is no longer available. Please contact us for other tour suggestions.

    The Aare Cycle Route begins in Interlaken on Lake Thun against the backdrop of the Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger mountains and is one of the most well-known cycle routes in Switzerland. You will pass through the Swiss capital of Bern, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the famous Toblerone chocolate is made.

    Cycling along the Jura with its Baroque towns, you will come to the confluence of the Aare and Rhine Rivers and continue up-river towards the Rhine Falls, which you will be able to experience during a spectacular boat trip. The Council town of Constance on Lake Constance is your destination.

    • Cheese fondue, a favorite in Switzerland! Angela Pham:Unsplash
    • Stein Am Rhein, Switzerland. CC:Joachim Kohler-HB
    • Interlaken, Switzerland. SquareLab:Unsplash
    • Konstanz, Germany. DatingJungle:Unsplash
    • Riesling grapes in Germany! LucaJ:Unsplash
    • Stein Am Rhein, Switzerland. CC:Joachim Kohler-Bremen
    • Swiss Chocolates!! Pushpakd, Unsplash
    • Rathaus in Stein Am Rhein, Switzerland. CC:Joachim Kohler-HB

    View more photos

    Highlights

    • Interlaken
    • The Aare-ravine
    • The mountain world of the Berner Oberland
    • Boat trip on Lake Thun
    • Bern
    • Biel/Bienne, famous in the Swiss watch-making industry
    • Omega museum
    • Solothurn
    • Aarau
    • Brugg and Koblenz
    • Rheinfall waterfall
    • Schaffhausen
    • Stein am Rhein with its many fresco-painted houses
    • Lake Constance
    • Constance

    Learn More

    Learn more about self-guided tours.

  • Traveler photos

    • Enjoying the Alps (photo by Dusty)
    • Picnic Lunch in the Lauterbrunnen Valley (photo by Dusty)
    • Many Swans on the River (photo by Dusty)
    • Ice Ceam Spaghetti! (photo by Dusty)
    • Riding Through the Woods (photo by Dusty)
    • Segway Tour In Zürich (photo by Dusty)
    • Kaiserstule, along the Rheintal Cycle path (photo by Stillpedaling)
    • Stork of Altreu (photo by Stillpedaling)
    • Staubach Falls (photo by Stillpedaling)
    • Photo 1 (photo by apitzer)
    • Lake Thun Hillside (photo by apitzer)
    • Bern (photo by apitzer)
    • Spiez (on Lake Thun) (photo by apitzer)
    • Streets of Bern (photo by apitzer)
    • Swiss Chalet (photo by apitzer)
    • Photo 1 (photo by Heidi)
    • Photo 2 (photo by Heidi)
    • Photo 3 (photo by Heidi)
    • Photo 4 (photo by Heidi)
    • Photo 5 (photo by Heidi)
    • Photo 6 (photo by Heidi)
  • Daily program

    Day 1: Individual arrival in Interlaken
    The town between Brienz and Thun Lakes is a popular start for a tour of the Aare ravine the mountain-scape of the Bernese Uplands. A breathtaking panorama of mountains awaits you with views of the Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger mountains.
    Overnight in Interlaken.

    Day 2: Interlaken – Thun – Bern (22 miles/35 km + boat trip)
    You start the day with a pleasant boat-ride across Thun Lake. Sit back and relax and watch the countryside slowly passing by. From Thun, you cycle to Berne, a simple route and well-suited for acclimatizing to the days to come. Goethe thought Berne to be Switzerland's most beautiful town. Today, the old part of the town is world heritage site.
    Overnight in Bern.

    Day 3: Bern – Biel (31 miles/50 km)
    You cycle along the banks of the Aare River and Wohlensee Lake to the bilingual town of Biel/Bienne. The Swiss clock-making industry made this town famous. Find out more in the Omega Museum. Discover the town's many fountains, which are mostly fed by Roman wells.
    Overnight in Biel.

    Day 4: Biel – Solothurn (22 miles/35 km)
    Today's route is short so that you have enough time to spend in the old town or on the lake at the beach. Solothurn is the capital of the canton of the same name and is considered to be Switzerland's most beautiful Baroque town. The number eleven has particular significance here: there are 11 churches and chapels, 11 fountains, 11 towers, and 11 steps.
    Overnight in Solothurn.

    Day 5: Solothurn – Aarau (34 miles/55 km)
    The Aare River, which has by now increased considerably in size, is what shapes the landscape here. Villages, fields and a magnificent castle are on your way to Aarau, which still bears features dating back to the 16th century and from when the town was once the capital of the Helvetic Republic. Walk through the town, and keep looking up! This town is famous for its lovely gables. Be inspired by their painted scenes.
    Overnight in Aarau.

    Day 6: Aarau – Waldshut-Tiengen (31 miles/50 km)
    You cycle along the Aare to Brugg, where you should visit Habsburg Castle. The castle is the seat of the dynasty of the same name which once achieved the position of a true world power. Passing the "water castle" through which about half of the volume of Switzerland's water flows, you cycle on, via Koblenz, to where the Aare flows into the Rhine. The last section takes you to Waldshut-Tiengen.
    Overnight in Waldshut-Tiengen.

    Day 7: Waldshut-Tiengen – Schaffhausen (40 miles/65 km)
    You cycle up the Rhine, passing Rheinau Abbey, which is situated idyllically on an island in the river. The closer you get to the Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen the louder the roar of the water gets. Try out one of the boat trips that take you to the rocks of the Falls and experience the roaring mass of water all around you.
    Overnight in Schaffhausen.

    Day 8: Schaffhausen – Constance (34 miles/55 km)
    In the morning, enjoy a stroll through the canton's capital, watched over by Munot fort. Admire the gables in town: the citizens of the town competed with each other in building gables on their houses. Now, continue cycling upstream to Stein am Rhein, where town square is surrounded by frescoed houses. A good place for a break. Next, you follow the southern bank of Lake Constance, passing pretty fishing villages, to Constance. The old diocesan town was the site for the only Council to elect a pope north of the Alps in the Middle Ages.
    Overnight in Constance.

    Day 9: Individual Departure
    Your cycling tour comes to an end after breakfast- there are good train connections to ensure you arrive home safely.

    Surface and terrain

    The route is mainly along its own special cycle path or quiet regional roads. There are a few hills but the few that do exist are not very steep.

    Because of the more challenging sections, we recommend this tour for young people only in good physical condition.


    Hotels

    These are sample hotels and may vary by availability.

    Overnight stays are in well-kept middle class hotels of the 3-star category with rooms with private facilities.

    Hotel Derby, Interlaken
    www.derby-interlaken.ch

    Welcome Hotel Alpenblick, Bern
    www.alpenblick-bern.ch

    Mercure Plaza, Biel
    www.accorhotels.com

    Hotel Astoria, Solothurn
    www.astoria-solothurn.ch

    Gasthof zum Schützen, Aarau
    www.gasthofschuetzen.ch

    Hotel Waldshuter Hof, Waldshut-Tiengen
    www.waldshuter-hof.de

    Park Villa, Schaffhausen
    www.parkvilla.ch

    ABC Hotel, Konstanz
    www.abc-hotel.de

    Please note any city or visitor's taxes are not included in the tour costs.

    Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.


    How to get there

    Tour start
    Nearest airport: Zurich Airport
    Nearest train station: Interlaken West

    Train connections every hour, duration approximately 2 hours, 1 change, normal price approximately €30

    Tour end
    Nearest airport: Zurich Airport
    Nearest train station: Constance

    An optional transfer by minibus is available back to Interlaken. The trip takes about 2.5 hours and costs €95 per person, including bike. The bus departs from the final hotel on Sundays. You must reserve this service in advance at time of booking.

    You may choose to return by train. Departures are about every half-hour, and the trip is approximately 3.5-4 hours, with 1-4 train changes (approximately €40 per person excluding bike).

    Tips on getting to and from your tour


    Aare Cycle Route

     Tour Photos Dates & Prices 

  • Dates

    Tour is no longer available - please contact us for tour suggestions that are similar

    Off season: Oct 01, 2021 - Oct 17, 2021

    Low season: Apr 18, 2021 - May 05, 2021, Jun 07, 2021 - Jun 10, 2021, Jun 14, 2021 - Jun 17, 2021, Jun 21, 2021 - Jun 24, 2021, Sep 12, 2021 - Sep 30, 2021

    Shoulder season: May 06, 2021 - May 10, 2021, May 16, 2021 - May 16, 2021, May 24, 2021 - May 27, 2021, Jun 06, 2021 - Jun 06, 2021, Jun 11, 2021 - Jun 13, 2021, Jun 18, 2021 - Jun 20, 2021, Jun 25, 2021 - Jun 30, 2021, Aug 22, 2021 - Sep 11, 2021

    High season: May 11, 2021 - May 15, 2021, May 17, 2021 - May 23, 2021, May 28, 2021 - Jun 05, 2021, Jul 01, 2021 - Aug 21, 2021

    Prices

    Tour package

    Per person, double occupancy € 949
    Low season surcharge € 100
    Shoulder season surcharge € 150
    High season surcharge € 200
    Single room surcharge (1 person/1 room) € 269

    Bike Rentals

    Standard touring bike, 27-speed unisex € 79
    Electrically assisted bike € 199

    Extra Nights, Constance

    Per person, double occupancy € 65
    Single room (1 person/1 room) € 95

    Extra Nights, Interlaken

    Per person, double occupancy € 99
    Single room (1 person/1 room) € 139

    Transfer

    Transfer to Interlaken, per person, including bike (departs Saturdays between 9-11am) € 95

    Discounts

    Child, ages 0-5 sharing a room with 2 full paying adults (on base package price) 100%
    Child, ages 6-13 sharing a room with 2 full paying adults (on base package price) 50%
    Child, ages 14-17 sharing a room with 2 full paying adults (on base package price) 25%

    Included services

    • 8 nights accommodation in 3-star hotels
    • Breakfasts
    • Luggage transport from hotel to hotel till Constance, no limit on the number of pieces, maximum weight per piece is 20 kg
    • Comprehensive cycle route description in English with maps (1 set per room)
    • 7-day service hotline in case of emergencies
    • Entrance to Rosgarten museum Constance, 1 coffee included
    • Boat trip to the Rhine Falls rocks
    • Boat trip Interlaken-Thun, including bike

    Please note any city or visitor's taxes are not included in the tour costs. You will need to pay these at hotel reception at check-out each morning.


    Bike rentals

    Bikes available for rent on this tour (reserved in advance at the time of booking):

    • Standard touring bike, unisex 27-speed
    • Standard touring bike, men's 27-speed (5'9" and taller)
    • Electrically assisted bike*
    • 26-, 24-, 20-inch child's bikes
    • Child's trailer
    • Tag-along (trailer bike for child)
    • Bike seat (available at no charge)

    *More about electrically-assisted bikes >

    Standard bikes come equipped with the following at no extra cost:

    • Pannier
    • Handlebar bag
    • Mileage counter
    • Bicycle lock
    • Puncture repair kit

    Pedals:
    The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.

    Helmets:
    Helmets are not available to be rented. We recommend, for safety and hygiene reasons, that you bring your own helmet.


    Tour Company


    Aare Cycle Route

     Daily program Route Map 

  • Route Map

    Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.


    Aare Cycle Route

     Dates & Prices Tour Reviews 

    • 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
      • Enjoying the Alps (photo by Dusty)
      • Picnic Lunch in the Lauterbrunnen Valley (photo by Dusty)
      • Many Swans on the River (photo by Dusty)
      • Ice Ceam Spaghetti! (photo by Dusty)
      • Riding Through the Woods (photo by Dusty)
      • Segway Tour In Zürich (photo by Dusty)
      • 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
      • Kaiserstule, along the Rheintal Cycle path (photo by Stillpedaling)
      • Stork of Altreu (photo by Stillpedaling)
      • Staubach Falls (photo by Stillpedaling)
      • 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
      • Photo 1 (photo by apitzer)
      • Lake Thun Hillside (photo by apitzer)
      • Bern (photo by apitzer)
      • Spiez (on Lake Thun) (photo by apitzer)
      • Streets of Bern (photo by apitzer)
      • Swiss Chalet (photo by apitzer)
      • 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
      • Photo 1 (photo by Heidi)
      • Photo 2 (photo by Heidi)
      • Photo 3 (photo by Heidi)
      • Photo 4 (photo by Heidi)
      • Photo 5 (photo by Heidi)
      • Photo 6 (photo by Heidi)
      • 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

    Aare Cycle Route

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