Eastern Swiss Lakes

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW: This tour was led in 2014 & 2017 and had excellent reviews. It follows rivers and lakes riding from Zurichsee to the Rhine River before exploring Bodensee (Lake Constance) for 4 nights in Germany and Austria. We briefly visit Lichtenstein before continuing in Switzerland along Obersee, Walensee and Zurichsee before a short climb to the shores of Zugersee. Finally we visit Vierwaldstattersee before returning to Zurichsee. There are 4 2-night stays during the 14 nights of the trip, so we can cycle, hike or boat to interesting sights around each town. 

RIDE RATING: The ride is rated 1A! with an average daily distance of 34.4 miles and average elevation gain of 953 feet. There are 5 days with distance that exceeds the rating with 40.8, 42.8, 36.8, 39.1 and 36.7 miles of riding. There is one day of riding that exceeds the rating with 1955 feet of climbing over 36.7 miles. The longest day is 42.8 miles. There is no required riding in Konstanz, Bregenz, Weggis and Rapperswil, as we are in those towns 2 nights. Participants must be comfortable using maps with route sheets and following bike path signs.

DESCRIPTION: The ride takes us from Zurich through the medieval towns of Schaffhausen and Stein am Rhein to Bodensee (Lake Constance, the largest lake in the German-speaking world). Riding around Bodensee we visit Swiss towns, as well as the German towns of Konstanz, Friedrichshafen and Lindau, and Bregenz in Austria. We ride through Liechtenstein on our way to tour small Swiss towns along Zurichsee, Walensee, Zugersee and Vierwaldstattersee (Lake of Lucerne). We also visit the charming but lesser known Swiss rose town of Rapperswil-Jona, the beautiful town of Zug and small holiday resort of Weggis. Terrain is mostly lake shore and rolling hills with very limited climbing. Our overnights are in Dubendorf (Zurich), Schaffhausen, Konstanz (Germany, 2 nights), Bregenz (Austria, 2 nights), Treisen (Liechtenstein), Weesen, Zug, Weggis (2 nights) and Rapperswil (2 nights). We ride on lightly traveled country roads and paved and some unpaved cycle paths, with minimal distances on city streets and busy roads.

Highlights include ferry rides across Bodensee, Vierwaldstattersee and Zurichsee; cable car and rack rail train rides; hiking in the Alps; the Rheinfall, the largest volume waterfall in Europe; small medieval towns with painted Baroque house facades including Lindau and Stein am Rhine, which are among the best preserved medieval towns in the German-speaking world; Rapperswil-Jona's wooden bridge, the longest in Switzerland; and Weggis, the ‘Riviera’ of central Switzerland with easy access to Lucerne and Mt. Rigi.

WEATHER: The temperatures average from the low 40s at night to daytime temperatures reaching the high 70s inland and low 50s to high 60s along the lakes (Zurich 41 to 77; Konstanz 51 to 68). Weather extremes could be 10 degrees colder or warmer. Average rainfall during this period is about 2 inches. Riders should always expect the unexpected and be prepared for any weather.

LODGING & MEALS: The accommodations are 5 3-star hotels and 4 4-star hotels. Daily route reviews before our group dinners will include a glass of wine, beer, soft drink, juice or water with a small snack. Drinks at dinner are normally extra. We use your Preferences in your Profile to try and accommodate your special medical and dietary needs. In order to provide you with some meal choices we ask hotels to serve two main dishes to each couple. If you receive one dish and prefer the other, you may trade with others. Very few hotels allow a group to order off the menu and some insist on serving only one main dish. Participants are asked not to wear jeans, shorts or t-shirts to group dinners.

LOGISTICS: The tour begins in Dubendorf at 6:00 PM on September 14 and ends in Dubendorf after breakfast on September 28. Bike boxes will be stored at our hotel in Dubendorf. Dubendorf is located on the tram line between Zurich Airport (ZRH) and downtown Zurich. Detailed instructions will be provided.

COST & ADMINISTRATION: In addition to the $100 non-refundable BAC Fee the estimated cost is $2900 per person (at exchange rates of $1.10 per Swiss Franc and $1.30 per Euro) double occupancy for 14 nights including 9 dinners, 14 breakfasts, social hour refreshments, luggage van, maps, route sheets, bike box storage and sightseeing information. Good quality bike rentals are not available. The initial deposit is $1400 and the second payment, $1500, is due November 1, 2018. Tickets for boats, cable cars and sight seeing are not included in the cost. Electronic versions of maps and route sheets will be sent, and participants are expected to print their own copies of them. GPS tracks will be provided for those who want them, but it is up to the rider to know how to use his or her GPS before the trip begins. We will have a van driver whose primary role will be to transport luggage and supplies. While the van will be available to assist with any emergencies, it will not serve as a sag vehicle and participants are expected to complete each required ride day. Depending on currency rate fluctuations, there could be an additional payment a month or so before departure.

SINGLES & SOLOS POLICY: We welcome single participants with roommates but we do not take solos due to room limitations. The Ride Directors will introduce and assist singles to find roommates, but singles must make their own rooming decision. Singles who sign up without a roommate will remain on the wait list until they have found one.​

CANCELLATION POLICY: The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the cancelling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the cancelling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for a single supplement fee charged by the hotel. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY: Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

SIGN-UP: To submit a request to join this ride use the "links" displayed above this Ride Description. When you are accepted, the Ride Leader will move you from the Waitlist to the Pending List. At this time you will receive an email notification to login to the BAC website to sign the release of liability form and pay the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee and the initial tour deposit of $1400 by credit card. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. To contact the Ride Leader, "click" the name at the top of this Ride Description.