Bikepacking in Switzerland: five multi-day gravel bike tours
Ruedi Thomi
Discover new regions of Switzerland and reach the most beautiful lakes and secluded landscapes on multi-day gravel bike tours. Stefan introduces you to five routes.
A multi-day gravel tour in Switzerland is perfect for an extended weekend or a short holiday. Pack what you need and off you go. Jenny introduces you to five multi-day gravel bike tours.
Three-day gravel bike tour in Engadin
Follow the mountain bike route 1 from Scuol to Charltal (stages 1 and 2). Continue to Santa Maria in Müstair via the Pass da Costainas. Head through Val Mora to Lago di San Giacomo di Fraele, where along the lake you’ll change to mountain bike route 32 (stages 3 and 4). Through the Pass da Val Viola you’ll arrive to the Val da Camp. You may have to push your bike in places during this section. Then cycle the last stretch to Pontresina.
Start: Scuol
Finish: Pontresina
Route distance: 125 kilometres
Three-day tour over the Gotthard
On this tour you’ll cross the main Alpine ridge and the lonely Piora plateau. Follow mountain bike route 65 on the way from Andermatt to the south. The Piora plateau is particularly impressive, with two mountain lakes embedded in a rugged, high mountain landscape. The Passo del Lucomagno is considered one of the most beautiful Alpine passes in Switzerland – it’s less well known for cycling, but well worth it.
Start: Andermatt
Finish: Biasca
Route distance: 110 kilometres
Equipment for gravel bikers
Two days on the road in Tösstal
Starting in Winterthur, the Tösstal Höllenritt takes you over almost every high peak in the Tösstal, such as the Bachtel, the Schnebelhorn and the Hörnli. The beautiful views make the strenuous ascents worthwhile. You’ll spend most of the time on tarmacked or gravel roads. During a section on the Schnebelhorn, you might have to carry your bike for a bit.
Start/finish: Winterthur
Route distance: 152 kilometres
Züri Escape: city and nature
You’ll start in the middle of the city, but will be in nature after a few kilometres. The Züri Escape route was put together for the Cycling World Championships in Zurich and is designed to be a self-supported bikepacking adventure. This means that no outside help is allowed: participants must find a place to sleep themselves and provide for their own food and drink. After the official event, the track will be opened to all gravel biking fans. Enjoy moorlands, forests, abandoned tunnels and discover new landscapes on your tour. The route frequently passes farm shops, bakeries and grocery stores, so you can easily supply yourself on the way.
Start/finish: Zurich
Route distance: 400 kilometres
Cycling trip or bikepacking: try before you buy
In our Markthalle Bern and Zurich Europaallee stores, you can try packing your mountain bike, touring bike or gravel bike in order to determine which bike bags you need for your equipment and which fit. There’s also a display bike available, along with the most important equipment, such as a gas stove or sleeping bag. On a test drive with full bags, you’ll notice how your biking changes with the extra weight.
Exploring Gantrisch Nature Park
You can ride along nearly 300 kilometres of forest and gravel trails, along with side roads, in the Gantrisch Nature Park in the Bernese Oberland. Tour 1, the Gürbetal gravel route, takes you from Bern to Thun. On the second day you will continue on route 2, the panorama gravel route, to Schwarzsee lake. While you’re often close to civilisation on the first day, on the second day you’ll enjoy spectacular mountain views. And at the end, a jump into the Schwarzsee lake is worth your while.
Start: Bern
Finish: Schwarzsee
Route distance: 102.4 kilometres
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