Nine tours for road and touring bikes based on Switzerland’s national cycle routes. Also includes tours from Interlaken and three very demanding alpine tours. All routes graded and divided into day stages. With info on itineraries, accommodation and tips for cycling in Switzerland.

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1 The Rhône Route, R1

Route summary

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From/to                     Distance              Climb (m)                   Climb (m)               Grade                     Grade
                                      (km)              with public                without public         with public            without public
                                                               transport                     transport             transport               transport

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Andermatt/                 RB: 309 (0)                420                         RB: 1390                Easy                    Difficult
Genève                       T: 318 (30)                                                T: 1710
Genève/                                                      730                             2710                 Moderate              Strenuous
Andermatt

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Summary of stages (without public transport)

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Stage                           From/to               Distance (km)        Climb (m)              Grade
1                         Andermatt/Oberwald              38                         980                   Difficult
2                            Oberwald/Sierre              RB: 85                   RB: 140               RB: Easy
                                                                     T: 94                     T: 460               T: Moderate
3                             Sierre/Montreux                 92                          20                      Easy
4                            Montreux/Genève                94                         250                  Moderate
Total                     Andermatt/Genève         RB: 309               RB: 1390
                                                                     T: 318                  T: 1710

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Local maps

Swisstopo 1:100,000 Composite
101    Thunersee–Zentralschweiz
105    Valais–Wallis
108    Gruyère–Le Léman

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This route can be cycled in both directions. Our description starts in Andermatt high in the Alps, climbs in a southwesterly direction over the Furkapass and down into the Rhône Valley through Brig, Sierre, Sion and Martigny to reach Lake Léman near Montreux. It then skirts along the northern shore of the lake through Lausanne to reach Genève.

Hard riders looking for thigh-busting excitement will find the trip over the Furkapass amusing, but the rest of the route will not offer them much, unless they climb up into the tributary valleys around Sierre and Sion. They should consider either turning north in Gletsch to follow the start of the Aare Route (chapter 8) over the Grimselpass, or east over the Nufenenpass towards Airolo and the St Gotthard or south in Visp towards Saas Fe and/or Zermatt. More relaxed tourists could consider taking a bus to the Furka Summit or Gletsch, before gently drifting down the Rhône Valley. The official language changes from German to French in Sierre.

Links to other routes

Location                                                           Route/s                                                                To
Andermatt                                                      R2: Rhein Route                                              Chur, Bodensee, Basel
Andermatt                                                  R3: North–South Route                                          North: Luzern, Basel
                                                                                                                             South: St Gotthard Pass, Lago Maggiore, Chiasso
Gletsch                                                            R8: Aare Route                                                       Bern, Koblenz
Aigle                                                        R4: Alpine Panorama Route                            Thun, Luzern, St Margrethen (Bodensee)
Montreux                                                        R9: Lakes Route                                        Gstaad, Luzern, Rorschach (Bodensee)
Lausanne                                                      R5: Mittelland Route                                 Biel/Bienne, Aarau, Romanshorn (Bodensee)
Nyon                                                                R7: Jura Route                                                        Vallorbe, Basel

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Public transport backup

Section                                                               Service                                                      Comment

Andermatt – Oberwald via Gletsch                          Postbus                                                    June to October
Andermatt – Oberwald                                             Train                                                          Tunnel!
Oberwald – Genève                                                 Train   
Montreux – Genève                                                  Ship                                              Spring, summer, early autumn

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