7 nights | 34 miles/day
Self guided from CHF 1359
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Swiss Lakes by Ebike
7 night self guided bike tour in Switzerland
Beginning in Lake Geneva and finishing at Lake Lucerne, the Lake Route earns its name because of how many lakes the route touches from beginning to end. This route leads through outstanding touristic regions with great sounding names: Montreux, Gruyères, Gstaad, Interlaken, and Lucerne. Whoever completes the Lakes-Route has undoubtedly seen the most beautiful corners of Switzerland.
To make this tour more accessible to all cyclists, we recommend renting an electrically assisted bike for this trip.
Highlights
- Breath-taking views
- Postcard country Switzerland
- Numerous lakes
- Artfully decorated wooden houses of the Simmental
Learn More
Learn more about self-guided tours.
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![Thun Castle Lake Switzerland (photo:daniel_vogel)]()
![Lakes Swiss Geneva Lucerne]()
![Lakes Swiss Geneva Lucerne Biking]()
![Geneva Switzerland (photo:orkch) CC-BY-SA-2.0]()
![Geneva Switzerland (photo:carlitabenazito)]()
![Geneva Switzerland (photo:philipppotocnik)]()
![Lakes Swiss Geneva Lucerne Bike Tour]()
![Switzerland Swiss Chocolate Food (photo:pushpakdsilva)]()
![Geneva Switzerland (photo:pablovelasquez)]()
![Rhone River]()
![Fondue Food Switzerland (photo:angelapham)]()
![Thun Switzerland (photo:hattilacey)]()
![Geneva Switzerland (photo:julienflutto)]()
![Thun Switzerland (photo:ljcoates)]()
![Thun Castle Switzerland (photo:danielvogel)]()
![Thun Lake Switzerland (photo:maxxup)]()
Traveler photos
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Daily program
Day 1: Arrival in Vevey
Stroll along the promenade and enjoy the breath-taking views of the Lake Geneva and the snow white glaciers of the nearby Mont-Blanc massif.
Overnight in VeveyDay 2: Vevey – Gruyère and surroundings (25-31 miles/40–50 km; ascents - 1,969-2,805 ft / 600-855m, descents - 1,640-2,411 ft / 500-735m)
From Vevey, take the rack railway up to the Mont-Pèlerin (ticket not included in tour cost; approximately CHF9 per person, including bike). Tranquil roads lead you to the source of the most popular cheese of Switzerland: the Gruyère, which shares its name with the landscape. A recent symphony of green melancholy, cowbells and customs. Before you head towards the hotel, have a sweet-break and visit the chocolate factory Maison Cailler in Broc (entrance included in tour cost; open hours are daily from 10:00am-5:00pm).
Overnight in Gruyère/surroundingsDay 3: Gruyère and surroundings – Gstaad and surroundings (25 miles/40 km; ascents - 2,411 ft / 735m,
descents - 1,345 ft / 410m)
Postcard country Switzerland: cheeseries, chalets, snowy mountains, cable cars, hotel scent and papercutting. Away from the idyll, the Pays d’Enhaut and the Saaneneland are a magnificent landscape, animated by the haze of celebrity and happy mountain goers.
Overnight in Gstaad/surroundingsDay 4: Gstaad and surroundings – Spiez (31-34 miles/55 km; ascents - 2,411 ft / 735m, descents - 1,345 ft / 410m)
The artfully decorated wooden houses of the Simmental belong to the most beautiful of Europe. The Simme remains a wild river that demands a lot from dinghy riders. Spiez is a water sports paradise on the shore of cheerful Lake Thun.
Overnight in SpiezDay 5: Rest day at Spiez
Spiez is the portal to Grindelwald and to Wengen. The high peaks of the Bernese Oberland can be easily reached by train and a day off at this Lake gives you the opportunity to visit sights like Harder Kulm above Interlaken, Jungfrau Joch, or the lively mountain villages Wengen and Murren.
Overnight in SpiezDay 6: Lake Thun – Lake Sarnen (31-34 miles/50–55 km; ascents - 3,757 ft / 1,145m, descents - 3,937 ft / 1,200m)
You'll transfer by boat from Spiez to Interlaken this morning. On the shore of Lake Brienz there is a steep rise to get to Meiringen where you take the train across the Brünigpass (ticket not included in tour cost; approximately CHF7 per person, including bike). You reach Obwalden: a small Canton, a big Valley, a pre-alpine landscape with scattered villages, flat lakes and long traditions.
Overnight in Lake SarnenDay 7: Lake Sarnen – Lucerne (22 miles/35 km; ascents - 787 ft / 240m, descents - 1,017 ft / 310m)
As soon as you get a glimpse of the Lake of Lucerne the Pilatus is in your path. Bay after bay right to Lucerne, a fixed point for every tourist.
Overnight in LucerneDay 8: Departure or extension
Departure after breakfast.Surface and terrain
Along the totally 16 lakes between Montreux and Horn the route is of course smooth and flat – but between the lakes there are some minor passes to cross.
The tour is mostly on roads and trails, with only 9% of the tour on natural surfaces. E-bikes are recommended to make this tour leisurely and more accessible to all cyclists.
Hotels
These are sample hotels and may vary by availability.
You will be accommodated in select 3- and 4-star hotels
Hotel Astra, Vevey
www.astra-hotel.chHotel Cailler, Gruyère Charmey
www.hotel-cailler.chHotel Ermitage, Schönried
www.ermitage.chHotel La Belle Vue, Spiez
www.labellevuespiez.chWilerbad, Sarnen
www.wilerbad.chHotel Seeburg, Lucerne
www.hotelseeburg.chVisitor's taxes, where due, are not included in the price of the tour. You will pay the tax directly to your hotel reception upon check out.
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: Geneva Cointrin International Airport
Nearest train station: MontreuxTour end
Nearest airport: Zurich International Airport
Nearest train station: LucerneThe journey from Lucerne to Zurich city by train is approximately 1 hour in duration, cost is approximately CHF10-30, and departures are every 30 minutes. There are direct trains from Lucerne to Zurich airport. The duration is approximately 1hr and 15 min, cost is approximately CHF10-20 per person, and departures are approximately every 30 minutes.
Tips on getting to and from your tour
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Dates
Daily: Apr 30-Oct 16, 2022; Daily: Apr 29-Oct 15, 2023
Prices
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Tour package
Per person, double occupancy CHF 1359 High season surcharge CHF 90 Single room surcharge (1 person/1 room) CHF 445 Bike Rentals
Hybrid touring bike, 27-speed CHF 135 Electrically assisted bikes CHF 269 Extra Nights, Lucerne
Per person, double occupancy CHF 119 Single room surcharge (1 person/1 room) CHF 50 Extra Nights, Vevey
Per person, double occupancy CHF 109 Single room surcharge (1 person/1 room) CHF 40 -
Coming soon!
Included services
- 7 nights accommodations in 3- and 4-star hotels
- Breakfast buffet
- Daily luggage transport, limit 2 pieces per person/20 kg per suitcase (a fee of CHF100 per additional piece of luggage will be charged for additional baggage)
- Guidebook and detailed tour documentation
- 7-day service hotline in case of problems or questions
- Boat ride Spiez to Interlaken
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Entrance to Maison Cailler Chocolaterie in Broc on Day 2
Bike rentals
Bikes available on this tour (must be reserved in advance at the time of booking):
- Hybrid touring bikes, 24-speed
- Electric bikes*
*More about electrically-assisted bikes >
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:
Helmet rental is available on this tour; however, we recommend that you bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene purposes.
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Reviews
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★★★★★ Clifford Davis 7 days ago
Epic beautiful tour
This is a great way to get out of the main cities and see some of the most incredible Swiss country. Spectacular lakes and mountains and wonderful towns on every day of the ride. Unless you are a very well trained cyclist accustomed to bigger climbs, go for the ebike option. I didn’t and had to walk some hills. Hybrid bike could have used some maintenance - the front brake pads were nearly completely gone. Also navigating requires paying close attention to the route markers. Do download the Swiss mobility app and be aware of your route throughout your ride. All in all a fabulous trip!
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Brittany Allred 1 week ago
What’s better than perfect?
I can’t put into words how amazing the trip was for us. I felt like we had private, backstage passes to Switzerland. The e-bikes were so fun, the hotels were great, and the views were too good to be true. It’s hard to imagine a trip that will top it.
- What was the date of your tour?
- Sept. 10 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Rob Sudekum 1 month ago
Stunning landscapes
Overall, a super great trip. The route is stunning. Navigating is super easy, just follow the number 9 signs and that’s it. I think the printed maps provided should be rethought, if anything they make life more confusing. The recommended app is better but still not perfect. I think it’d be super helpful if biketours.com provided a few highlights for each day. There is a lot to see along the way. I think the suggestions to take a train in spots because of busy traffic is unnecessary.
Overall, I loved the ride and would recommended it to anyone. Note: we opted for electric bikes and would definitely recommend it.
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Cindy23 September 3, 2019
We can't wait to schedule our next trip!!!
This was a trip of a lifetime. My husband and I have never done a bike tour before, and we were so impressed with Switzerland. It has to be one of the best countries to bike in--they have fresh spring water all over the countryside (see pic), bike route signs that are more visible than the street signs, and views that are absolutely breathtaking. I'm still trying to soak it all in and we went a month ago in July/August. My husband is a professional photographer so we stopped constantly to take pictures. Now on to more details...
We arrived a day early so we could rest and get used to the time change. We decided to fly into Zurich and take a train to Montreaux. We got a hotel right on the water--and it was SO worth it. Montreaux has a walking path all along Lake Geneva and it's just gorgeous. A great way to start your trip.
We brought our own helmets, pedals, and shoes. We figured it would be better on the hills to be able to push and pull. The tour company was willing to let us bring a suitcase and a backpack for luggage transport (we had the extra helmets and pedals). We opted for the hybrid bikes vs the e-bikes. My husband mountain bikes every day. I did about 80% of my training on a peloton stationary bike.
The first day of biking it takes awhile to get used to the bike and the signs. We got a little lost because of detours. We also weren't familiar with the maps provided. We thought we were supposed to stay on Route 9, but day 1 and 2 they had us going on route 59. We didn't realize this until we finally found our hotel the first day. Our luggage wasn't there yet at 5:00 so I highly recommend bringing something light to change in to so that you can shower if you beat your luggage.
Day 2 we basically just did route 59 until it met back up with route 9. The only booklet we had was for route 9 so I wasn't aware that it would be a 3500 foot ascent. We climbed...and climbed and climbed. The bike has plenty of gears though--so I just put it on the lowest gear and balanced going 2 mph. Gstaad was just gorgeous--as was Schoenreid. We LOVED the hotel there. They were amazing. Our luggage wasn't there yet but they greeted us with a warm towel and champagne.
We had a rain delay on day 3, but we ended up getting out by 11 that morning and we are glad we did. We saw some amazing views and only had to go a little over 20 miles--flat miles.
Day 4 we decided to skip the boat to Interlaken and just follow route 9--which added about 10 miles. The 4 lakes you bike along are just stunning. The water color is Caribbean blue! That day is relatively flat other than a pretty long climb up to a gorgeous waterfall. So worth it. We stayed in Wilen, but I would recommend going 2 extra miles and staying in Sarnen. There weren't any restaurants or anything in Wilen. We ate at our hotel--which was AMAZING though. We had a 2 course steak dinner. I've never had that before.
Day 5 we biked to Lucerne. It was a pretty easy day. Lower mileage and pretty flat. We took the advice from a previous review and stayed in Lucerne. I regretted it. It's a nice city--but it was so crowded and over priced compared to the serenity we enjoyed the other parts of the trip!!
Day 6 we started in Lucerne vs Zug which is 100km from Rapperswill. My husband convinced me to bike the entire thing since it was our last day. We did it! It wasn't easy but what a way to go out. The last climb into Lake Zermatt is a giver--but the view at the top of the hill is breathtaking.
We got alot better at reading the signs. Someone gave us a tip at the beginning--if you don't see a sign for awhile, you probably missed one--because there are so many. You definitely need to download maps.me and make sure you download all of the Switzerland maps (6) so you don't end up in an area you haven't downloaded yet when you need it. (day 1 for us!)
There was more of a language barrier than I expected. They spoke french the first day or two and then German. Many people in the country don't speak English; however they always seemed to know what "beer" was. :)
Things would have gone smoother if the travel documents had just a simple bullet point or two rather than an arrow buried in the map. We were so set on Route 9 that a simple note that told us to look for Route 59 here and here would have been really helpful. Every single time I emailed before the trip asking questions, the staff responded quickly. It was great. They are also pretty flexible so if you want to stay in one place vs another or want to spend a couple days in one city--let them know, chances are, they can probably accommodate your request. We upgraded to the Class A hotels and definitely recommend that. We also took everyone's advice and got sandwiches for lunch, so we could stop anytime we needed to. There were quite a few places along the way to grab a quick sandwich though. It seemed like kitchens closed 2-6. Coops will become your friend fast!
We definitely recommend this tour and we plan on possibly doing it again soon!!!- What was the date of your tour?
- July 28-August 3
- How many tours have you completed?
- this was our first
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Grasshopper August 28, 2019
Amazing Trip on an e bike through Switzerland
We really loved this trip. We were very concerned at first as the maps we received were not well marked and the information from the help line contradictory. Then out of the Blue our savior Rudie came along and we managed to hitch onto the group he was guiding. From there all was well. Thank you again Rudie for your help. The guide book was not provided in English. Apparently there are limited editions. The hotels we were booked into went from fantastic to three start ordinary. The bikes were good enough and did the job. I loved this trip and would recommend it but it needs refining ...
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2018
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Traveling Jackie November 28, 2018
Cycling doesn't get more beautiful than this!
I can still hear the cowbells! I thought I knew what to expect coming into this tour, but I completely underestimated almost everything about this trip. The scenery blew my mind every second, the hotels were MUCH better than I realized they'd be (Category A all the way), the hills were steeper, the fondue tastier, and the rejuvenation and "reset" for my well-being... I just didn't even realize how GOOD I would feel just from saying yes to this experience.
I loved it and would recommend making it longer if you can, add a day to the middle somewhere (possibly Lucerne) to allow yourself more time to soak in the beauty that is Switzerland. My only complaint is that it went too fast.
I've been on 3 bike tours and used a hybrid touring bike for each of them (I opted NOT to use an e-bike on this trip). This was definitely the most challenging itinerary I've experienced with a hybrid bike, but I would choose a hybrid again if given the chance to do it again, because I loved the challenge. If you aren't a strong rider, definitely get an e-bike, we are talking about the Swiss Alps!
I also recommend buying a picnic lunch everyday (there is a store called Coop that is found all along the route) because timing your hunger with open restaurants and backcountry trails is almost impossible. And the picnic views are unbeatable.
Also, be sure to download the Swiss Mobility app and I also recommend Maps.me, both work offline and with the two of them we found our way just fine. Definitely choose Category A hotels, don't think twice! Also I would skip Zug and stay in a different town instead. Find more tips and stories from my experience at https://travelingjackie.com/swiss-alps-by-bike/
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
Video: Swiss Alps by Bike: A MUST-DO For Adventure Lovers
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★★★★★ CarleyC November 16, 2018
Outstanding!
I didn't know how much I would fall in love with a trip by bike. In fact, I hadn't even been on a bike in years, but when your friend says "come to Switzerland and bike with me," you go. This region of Switzerland is so very beautiful, it wowed me at every turn. And if I was worried about biking over the ALPS, well, e-bike for the win. An electrically-assisted bike really made this trip for me, since I am not in biking shape. I was able to fly right up those alps with ~almost~ no problems at all (some are pretty steep). I am absolutely in love with the pace of a bike trip. Wind in your face and views all around, but can stop for a scenic vista or a cup of coffee whenever you like. I cannot recommend this route enough. If you are even considering it, just go. You will not regret it.
Having your luggage transported for you every day is great! You just take what you need with you for the day, and when you arrive at your hotel on the other end, your stuff is waiting for you. Also, we had one bad weather day, and we were able to send our bikes with the luggage with no problems, which was a treat. I highly recommend downloading the app of the route, it was very helpful for figuring out where we were at times. All in all, a stellar trip, and I would do the exact same trip again right now.- What was the date of your tour?
- September 30th
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was my first!
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ apitzer October 19, 2017
I went on a portion of this tour as a BikeTours.com staff member from Geneva to Lausanne and Vevey. The Lavaux Vineyards, on the Swiss side of Lake Geneva, are a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site. The wine has been produced in this region since the 11th century. Alpine views and the stunning, clear Lake Geneva are other highlights. This level 2 tour is relatively flat with a few hilly sections up by the vineyards. You can experience Switzerland without having to pedal up mountains, and an e-bike makes the journey even more accessible for all. The Schweiz Mobil national network of cycling paths is well-maintained and clearly marked. In my 8 days of cycling, we were confused about signage only a handful of times. Be sure to plan for lunch or attractions before you begin cycling, as restaurants are generally only open from about 11:30 - 2:00 for lunch and they may not be able to serve lunch at 2:00. We had to do a lot of research ourselves about site-seeing, lunch stops, and directions to each point of interest along the way. Don't miss the Old City in Geneva, the Promenade du Lac with the famous Jet d'Eau (Jet of Water), the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, or Charlie Chaplin's estate in Vevey. The combination of the lake, vineyards, mountains, French-inspired cuisine and culture, and well-marked bike route make this tour a wonderful first tour in Switzerland.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 3, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was my first!
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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