That depends on your personality and your motivations. If you don’t like groups, or if you are planning an adventurous honeymoon, or if a small group of buddies are looking to re-connect, then the Independent Tour option is a good choice. Those doing an independent tour should be comfortable with navigating and changing a flat, otherwise no special skills are required.

The group dynamics: you meet new people, ride with others, share drinks, stories and insights at the end of the day.
The services are also different: the guided tours include all but two meals, special events, certain train rides and boat cruise, mechanical support, luggage van, airport pickup and expert guides.
Otherwise the bikes, route and hotels are the same, with a few exceptions: The independent Challenge Tour does not go through Wengen, but stays on Lake Brienz (near Interlaken).
Also, the independent Challenge and Lite finish in Arbon, (just down the road in Rorschach) and also stay at another hotel. (Our hotel in Rorschach is only open for large groups)
Finally, on Day 4 of the Lite Tour. We normally put our independent guests in a very nice hotel in the center of Murten to give them time to explore the medieval city. Our guided tour stays in a chateau outside of town, which can be a little isolated if you are not in a group. However, we can put you here if you request it. You will find pictures of hotels with descriptions for each day of the tour on the website.

If arriving in Geneva by air, you'll get a free transport ticket inside the luggage terminal and take the train from the airport to Geneva main station (one stop) and from there our hotel is a 30 second walk. An information packet and cellphone will be waiting for you at the hotel reception, and we'll have made plans to meet at a pre-determined time to do your bicycle fitting and go over the materials.

We work with a transport company which will move your luggage from stage to stage. The company requires you to have your luggage at the reception at 9 a.m. and delivers the luggage to your hotel by 5:30 p.m., and often before.

Yes. Each rider is allowed one piece of baggage. If it is a family tour and a discount is applied, then two children must share a suitcase. The baggage must be standard size luggage (all dimensions not to exceed 62 inches) and the bag should not weigh over 50 pounds (23kg).

No problem. The hotel in Geneva will keep it in storage for you, or we will store it at our facility in Geneva for you to pick up on your return.

Bike Switzerland offers luxury without pretension. Our Standard Tour hotels are all normally 3 or 4 star quality, typically Swiss and located in magnificent settings. We realize that your accommodations are an extremely important part of your experience and we've gone out of our way to find some great places to stay. For our independent tours we try to use the same hotels as we do in our guided tours. This is not usually a problem, but when we are unable to do this, we always find you a hotel of the same quality.

There are several possibilities: use ours or bring your own. Our 21-speed Swiss BMC hybrids have smooth tires on 26 inch wheels and are built to handle our route's terrain. Our bikes come with a handlebar bag,pump, tube, repair kit, bottle cage, bell and spd compatible pedals. You'll see few bikes this nice on the road.
We also understand that many cyclists are attached to their own bicycles. It is normally possible to fly your bike from the United States or Canada as a piece of luggage, so long as it is properly packed. Check with your airline to see if there is an extra charge. If you do bring your own bicycle, we'll assemble it and make adjustments at no extra charge. Cyclists bringing their own bicycles do not receive a discount on the price of the tour.
Cyclists should also be aware that we encounter around 50 kilometers of gravel on the Lite Tour and the Challenge Tour. This gravel is hardpacked and easy to manage, but not suited for road bikes. One piece of advice that guests often give future riders: "Leave your bike at home. Bike Switzerland's bikes are great for the itinerary".
The Jura tour is on bike paths and quiet roads and so more suitable for road bikes. We will therefore be using BMC road bikes.

Some riders choose to bring their own seat for optional comfort. Otherwise, our bicycles come with double sided pedals (flat on one side and SPD on the other), so riders not comfortable with these pedals (or using another system) may bring their own.

If you’re doing an independent bicycle tour, then you’re expected to be able to repair a flat and make the kind of minor adjustments which may be needed on a week long ride. That said, all of your bikes are completely cleaned and serviced after each ride, so there shouldn’t be any problems. In the event of something more serious (for example, a bent rim resulting for a fall), give us a call and we will direct you to the nearest bike shop and even call a taxi for you. In this unlikely event, you would assume the costs of repairs, etc..

You'll certainly take a wrong turn or two, but you'll be fine. You'll have a bicycle GPS system, a set of maps, a telephone and the route is sign-posted at almost every turn.
But I don't know how to use a GPS. That's fine. You may not even use it. However, we'll be spending 2 or 3 hours with you the day before the briefing to make sure you feel comfortable with the GPS, maps and itinerary.

That's fine. You may not even use it. However, we'll be spending 2 or 3 hours with you the day before the briefing to make sure you feel comfortable with the GPS, maps and itinerary.

We have an entire document devote to our GPS which can be found here.

We'll send you a complete packing list 4-5 weeks before your ride. As for your bike gear, we supply handlebar bags, seat-post bags, lock, repair kit, pump and bike tools. If you plan on coming back through Geneva, we can also loan you a helmet.

No, they do not. A cheap meal in a restaurant will cost around 20 francs. Most of our hotels have a restaurant which offer a ½ board option and this is usually around 30 Chf. We can inform the hotels that you are planning to take ½ board and you would pay the hotel directly before checking out. A more lavish meal outside the hotel with several courses and a bit of wine or beer will cost around 50 francs.

Yes. If you're doing the Challenge Tour, we can store your bicycle in Interlaken and reserve your hotel in Wengen which is right on the hiking paths of the Jungfrau region. The cost of this is 150 Chf per person and includes the train tickets to Wengen, bike storage, bike rental and hotel.

Yes, you can can days in the middle of your tour for 250 Chf per couple, or 200 chf per person in singles. Extra nights in Geneva are 200 Chf for a double room and 180 for a single room.

You'll drop it off at the train station and it will be shipped back to Geneva. No worries.

The following conditions apply:
• Children must share a room with their parents.
• There must be at least one adult for each child on the trip.
• Children must share suitcase with their parents, or two children must share one suitcase for luggage transfers.

Yes. We can arrange special discounts/prices beginning with groups of 5 adult riders.

We're small group of educators living in Geneva, Switzerland. Our goal is to help cyclists discover Switzerland. We work in close collaboration with local Swiss authorities and establishments to provide our guests with an authentic Swiss biking experience.

 

“Lite Tours”, two “Challenge Tours” and one “Jura Tour”

The Lite Tour has eight days of riding with a day off for hiking. The itinerary will take you across the entire country and covers around 450 kilometers with no real climbing, (We stick to the meadows and valleys with the mountains always nearby.)

We begin in Geneva and end in Rorschach. The itinerary crosses Switzerland from west to east on national bikes routes.

We'll cycle along rivers, lakes and through many small villages. The itinerary was designed for cyclists with some bicycle touring experience, but who would prefer to have time left at the end of the day for relaxation and some sightseeing. All overnights are spent in interesting villages.

The Challenge Tour has 7 days of cycling with a day off for hiking in Wengen. The itinerary will take you across the entire country and covers around 600 kilometers.

There is approximately 5,000 meters of climbing on this tour, which means that cyclists should expect some good climbs on most days.
We'll encounter many lakes and forests on this route and when you do climb, you'll always be rewarded with stunning views and deep vistas.

The itinerary was designed for experienced cyclists who would like to push themselves with a bit of climbing. Although the distances do not seem long on paper, cyclists should keep in mind that the climbs, paths and changing scenery and terrain will make a 85 km day seem more like a 120 km day.

Of course, our support vehicle and train system will be nearby in case you encounter difficulties. We overnight in villages, cities and the countryside on this tour.

The Jura Tour goes through the Swiss and French Jura mountains. This tour has 9 days of cycling with one day off in Basel for rest and sightseeing.

The Jura Tour's itinerary is a loop. We begin in Geneva and go north to Basel on the Swiss side, and then return south to Geneva on the French side.

The route is approximately 700 kilometers (435 miles) with almost 7,000 kilometers of climbing.
It's a difficult itinerary with lots of elevation. Only experienced cyclists who enjoy long days of cycling should register for the tour.

For western Europe, the jura is an isolated region and sparsely populated, so all of our overnights are in small hotels and auberges in villages or the middle of the countryside, with the exception of our day off in Basel.

Lite Tour: You will be ready for this tour if you have ridden at least 700 kilometers in the year of the tour. You should feel comfortable on the saddle for 3 to 4 hours a day and for at least an hour at a time.

We don't expect you to be a super athlete…if you are an athlete, then it will be an enjoyable walk in the park. However, you should definitely be a proficient cyclist: this means feeling at ease on a bicycle (balance, riding technique, etc)…it may sound silly to say all this, but every year we have people on our rides who are not completely comfortable with a bicycle. If you're new to riding a bicycle, then a week-long cycling vacation is not a good idea.

Although relatively flat, there are some small, but long grades and so you should also be prepared to do a bit of climbing. Nothing too serious, but you should incorporate hills into your training. If you haven't done a multi-day bike tour before, then at a minimum do a few 40-60 km rides on consecutive days.

Challenge Tour: You should plan on having at least 1,000 tough kilometers under your belt by the time you begin the tour and feel comfortable on the saddle for 6 hours a day and for at least 90 minutes at a time.

You should be athletic and feel very comfortable on a bicycle. If you're a serious athlete of any age, then the tour will be enjoyable and not too difficult. If you're in all-around good shape, then the tour will be a Challenge and that's fine ! You shouldn't consider doing this tour, however, if you're not fit and don't enjoy pushing yourself.

Riders should be prepared for some short, but steep climbs throughout the day. If you're not used to climbing, then incorporate some into your training. You should also definitely try to do some multi-day rides into your training so that your legs know what 7 days of biking feels like.

Unless you're a professional cyclist, you won't think that the ride is easy.
We designed the Jura Tour for our former cyclists who wanted something even more intense than the Challenge Tour. So, if this is your first tour with us, maybe consider doing “The Challenge” first ?

That said, anyone who would like to do the tour should be in excellent shape and ready for lots of climbing. Unlike the other two itineraries, there is no convenient train transport to get you up and over the humps.
You'll need to do the whole day every day and there is no guarantee of perfect weather. Of course, there is the support vehicle in case of an emergency, but it is not meant to be a sag wagon on this tour.

Riders should also keep in mind that we'll be biking for 9 days, (with one day off in the middle), so all cyclists on this trip should know what a week of hard cycling feels like. We don't mean to scare you ! Riders who are fit and ready will have an incredible experience cycling through some of the most pristine countryside in all of Europe.

No problem. Non-riding spouses will have a wonderful trip: riding the train, hiking the hills, shopping in the villages and relaxing at the hotel. We do give non-riding spouses a discount, but we do offer them a special train pass which allows them to buy ½ price tickets for their entire trip. Take a look at “Non-riding Spouses” in our document library .

There are several possibilities: use ours or bring your own. Our 21-speed Swiss BMC hybrids have smooth tires on 26 inch wheels and are built to handle our route's terrain. Our bikes come with a handlebar bag,pump, tube, repair kit, bottle cage, bell and spd compatible pedals. You'll see few bikes this nice on the road.

We also understand that many cyclists are attached to their own bicycles. It is normally possible to fly your bike from the United States or Canada as a piece of luggage, so long as it is properly packed. Check with your airline to see if there is an extra charge. If you do bring your own bicycle, we'll assemble it and make adjustments at no extra charge. Cyclists bringing their own bicycles do not receive a discount on the price of the tour.

Cyclists should also be aware that we encounter around 50 kilometers of gravel on the Lite Tour and the Challenge Tour. This gravel is hardpacked and easy to manage, but not suited for road bikes. One piece of advice that guests often give future riders: "Leave your bike at home. Bike Switzerland's bikes are great for the itinerary".

The Jura tour is on bike paths and quiet roads and so more suitable for road bikes. We will therefore be using BMC road bikes.

If you're a cyclist with an extra tender tush, you may consider bringing your own saddle (without seat post).

You'll find a packing list in our document library.

Yes. In Europe, you will seldom see a cyclist on the road without one. We can supply you with a helmet for the tour at no charge, so there is no need to bring your own.

Our tour goes by various train stations 2-4 times each day. Riders would therefore be able to take the train should they want to shorten the day's mileage. During the orientation, guests will be shown how to put their bikes on the train and how to purchase tickets.

Guests are responsible for paying for their own train tickets. If travelling in a group, your guide may pay for everyone's tickets. In this case, (s)he will keep the tickets and you will be expected to reimburse him/her at the end of the trip. Guests taking the train to make a "half-day" should expect to pay 20 to 35 Chf per ticket.

Although most participants come with a friend or in small groups, we do encourage solo-travelers to join us since the camaraderie will allow you to make friends fast.

If you come alone, you will need to pay a 600 Chf supplement for a single room. Upon request, we will try to find you a same-sex roommate, but we cannot guarantee that this will be possible.

Go to the "Sign up" page to begin the process. You'll choose the tour, fill-out an on-line application, and pay a 600 Swiss Franc deposit to reserve a space on our ride. If you are going through your bike shop or bike club, your deposit should be paid through the individual in charge. Otherwise you can reserve your trip with a check.

Credit cards are accepted through our site.

You will be notified by email or telephone when your payment is received.

The balance for your trip is due three months before Day One of your trip. Again, the balance can be paid by check, credit card or bank transfer. Your balance should include any extras that you'll be needing (insurance, extra night in Geneva, etc.)

Once we receive your final balance, we will send a packing list and general information about our tour.

If you change your mind three months before Day One of your trip, you will receive a full refund on your deposit minus 300 Swiss Francs. For example, if your tour begins on August 3rd, you would need to cancel your tour on or before May 3rd

Should you decide to cancel, and if there is a waiting list, Bike Switzerland will simply transfer your tour to a different person(s) of our choice and there will be an administrative charge of 100 Swiss Francs. If there is not a waiting list for your ride, we will apply the following refunds.

1. Each person cancelling more than 90 days before Day One of the tour will forfeit 300 Swiss Francs of their deposit.
2. Each person cancelling 61-90 days before Day One of the tour will forfeit their deposit.
3. Persons cancelling 31-60 days before Day One of the tour will receive a refund minus 50% of the trip price.
4. Persons cancelling 30 days or less before Day One will receive no refund.
5. In order to avoid loss of funds, riders may choose to transfer their ride to another person of their choice for an administrative fee of 200 Chf. Such a transfer must be made at least 30 days before the tour unless special permission is granted. Bike Switzerland reserves the right to refuse any such transfer if the participant substituted is deemed unacceptable for any reason.

 

 

Yes. Bike Switzerland is not liable for bodily injury or property damage as a result of (but not limited to) participants' physical exertion. Bike Switzerland is also not liable for property damage or bodily damage as a result of forces of nature; travel by plane, train, auto, bike, boat or other transportation. Bike Switzerland is not liable for accidents caused by consumption of alcoholic beverages; civil unrest; terrorism; breakdown of equipment; high altitude; lack of or limited access to medical attention in remote locations; and the adequacy of medical attention once provided. Bike Switzerland is also not liable for expenses not specified as included in the trip, but which may be required to get to or from a trip start or end. Bike Switzerland reserves the right to make route and hotel modifications as necessary for the comfort and safety of participants. Bike Switzerland may take photographs or make film records of its trips for promotional and commercial use, as well as approving such use by third parties without financial remuneration.

Again, Bike Switzerland believes in being very clear about policy so that there are no eventual misunderstandings. For this reason, please note the following:

• Participants arriving late or leaving early receive no refunds or rebates unless agreed upon beforehand.
• Single supplements are considered as part of the trip price and are therefore subject to cancellation fees.
• Bike Switzerland reserves the right to make route and hotel changes if necessary.
• In the very exceptional case of Bike Switzerland cancelling a trip due to low enrolment, participants will receive a full refund of all payments received to date.

Participants must sign the Release of Liability form and the Assumption of All risks and Arbitration Agreement.