Western Swiss Lakes, Bernese Oberland Lac d'Annecy

† 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 $150 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW
This tour was last led in June 2023. The ride goes from the lake country to the vineyards on the edge of the Juras, along several Swiss lakes and through the Bernese Oberland to the Jungfrau region. It then goes back through the Bernese Oberland, down to the Rhone River, into the French Alps (by train) and on to Lac Annecy before heading back to our starting point. Specifically, the ride takes us from Geneva to a small town on Lac Lehman (Lake Geneva) and then along the shores of Lac Neuchatel with a boat ride to the city of Neuchatel. We continue through Murten to the stunning town of Gruyeres and on to the capital city of Bern. Next we bike through Interlaken on our way to visit the alpine town of Lauterbrunnen. The journey continues through the Bernese Oberland again and heads south to Gstaad and over Col du Pillon to the Rhone River, where we take a train from Martigny to a stop just before Chamonix. We climb a short distance over the Col des Montets before descending to Chamonix (which faces Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Europe) for the night and then ride to the beautiful French town of Annecy. We stay in 5 towns for 2 nights each so we can cycle, hike, paraglide or boat to interesting sights around each town. Highlights include a ferry across Lac Neuchatel, viewing ancient methods of cheese making, hiking in the Alps and a scenic train ride on the Chamonix-Mont Blanc Express.

HEALTH AND SAFETY
The guidelines/directives of the governments in the regions where tours are to take place and those of participants’ home countries must be followed. The most up-to-date country-specific information will be consulted since a disease situation can rapidly evolve. A plan will be developed by the ride leaders and communicated to all individuals.

Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride. The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness as a means to ensure the tour can continue as planned.

We will meet with tour participants 60 days prior to the tour start date using a video conference to discuss as a group how we will proceed if participants get sick. All participants must attend the video conference. You may be required to wear PPE in public, maintain social distance in public and limit social gathering in public depending on whether there is a health outbreak in the area. Tests may be requested. Ideally we would like to consider our group a healthy bubble.

RIDE RATING
This tour is rated 2B with an average daily distance on required riding days of 48 miles and average elevation gain of 2460 feet. There are 4 days with mileage and/or altitude gain that exceeds the 2B rating (59 miles and 2860 feet, 49 miles and 2630 feet, 58 miles and 3430 feet, and 63 miles and 3080 feet), making this a more difficult 2B ride. There are 9 mandatory riding days between hotels. We will ride on lightly traveled country roads and Swiss cycle paths with minimal distances on busy roads. Participants must be comfortable using maps with route sheets and following bike path signs.

CUE SHEETS, MAPS, GPS FILES
Electronic versions of maps and route sheets will be provided, 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.

WEATHER
Expect the unexpected. Weather in Switzerland can be either warm and dry or cool and rainy. Overnight low temperatures typically range from 50-55 and daytime highs from 65-75, but we live in a time of weather extremes. Remember to bring rain gear and check your favorite weather site on the web just before your departure for a long range forecast.

LODGING & MEALS
The accommodations on this trip are mostly owner-operated, very nice 4-star hotels, with a few 3-star hotels and one 5-star hotel.

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 choices at dinner 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 may not wear blue jeans, shorts or t-shirts to group dinners.

LOGISTICS
The tour starts at 6:00 PM on 30 August 2026 and ends after breakfast on 14 September 2026, in Ferney-Voltaire, France, adjacent to Geneva, Switzerland. The pre-ride meeting and dinner will be at the hotel with the meeting beginning at 6 PM and dinner at 7:30 PM. The hotel is about 3 miles from Geneva International Airport (GVA). The airport is located in both Switzerland and France, with exits in both countries. We recommend that you take a taxi from the French side of the airport to the hotel.

We will have a luggage van and van driver. The van's primary role will be to transport luggage and supplies. While it will be available to assist with any emergencies, it will not serve as a sag vehicle and participants are expected to complete the ride each day. Bike boxes will be stored at a storage facility during the tour.

Tandems, e-bikes and rental bicycles are welcome, but riders are expected to bring or arrange for their own bikes. If for some reason you need the van to transport you bicycle, you must be able to lift it into the van unless you're injured. You must also be able to carry your bike up and down stairs for bicycle storage a couple of times. We invite a participant who wants to rent, to volunteer to coordinate rental bicycles for the group. If you're considering an e-bike, please talk with the Ride Leader.

COST & ADMINISTRATION
The estimate cost of $3400 posted above is per person, double occupancy and based on the exchange rates of 1 Euro = $1.10 US and 1 Swiss Franc = $1.15 US.  The actual cost of the trip may change with currency exchange rate fluctuations.  The cost will include 15 nights lodging, plus 15 breakfasts, 9 dinners, luggage transfer, daily route review and local sightseeing information. The initial deposit $1000 does not include the $100 BAC registration fee. Additional payments of $1200 each are due on August 1, 2025 and January 15, 2026. 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.

SINGLES & SOLOS POLICY
Singles are welcome, but encouraged to find compatible roommates and/or riding partners. Ride Directors will introduce and assist singles to find roommates, but singles must make their own rooming decision. We do not accept solos, as the number of rooms available are limited.

CANCELLATION POLICY
The BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour. 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 canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. 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.

INSURANCE STATEMENT
Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses related to accidents, medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected sickness, and repatriation. This coverage applies when touring outside the US and your home country, regardless of your nationality. It will cover you door-to-door for a maximum of 90 days but will expire if you make a side trip not related to the BAC tour for more than 7 days before or after. There is limited coverage for a family member to join a covered person in an emergency. The policy covers the cost of treatment for COVID and other unexpected illnesses, but not quarantine. You should ensure that your vaccinations are up to date. Coverage is subject to a $1000 deductible. 

SIGN-UP
To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the Tour Deposit and the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee by credit card. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.