OVERVIEW: This tour was led in 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2024 and received excellent reviews. There are four 2-night stays during the 14 nights of the trip.  We can cycle, hike or boat to interesting sights around each town. The tour follows rivers and lakes from Zurichsee through the medieval towns of Schaffhausen and Stein am Rhein to Bodensee (Lake Constance, the largest lake in the German-speaking world) for 4 nights in Germany and Austria. Riding around Bodensee we visit Swiss towns, as well as the German towns of Konstanz, Friedrichshafen and Lindau, and Bregenz in Austria. We visit Lichtenstein for 1 night before continuing in Switzerland along Obersee, Walensee and Zurichsee before a short climb to the beautiful town of Zug on the shores of Zugersee. From Zug we pass by Lauerzersee and Schwyz, the town from which Switzerland got its name and coat of arms, to the small holiday resort of Weggis on Vierwaldstattersee (Lake of Lucerne). We then visit the charming but lesser known Swiss rose town of Rapperswil-Jona on the return to Zurich. Terrain is mostly lake shore and rolling hills with limited climbing. Our overnights are in Dubendorf (Zurich), Schaffhausen, Konstanz (Germany, 2 nights), Bregenz (Austria, 2 nights), Vaduz (Liechtenstein), Weesen, Zug, Weggis (2 nights) Rapperswil (2 nights) and the last night in Dubendorf.  We ride on lightly traveled country roads, mostly paved and some unpaved cycle paths, with minimal distances on city streets and busy roads. Participants must be comfortable using maps with route sheets and following bike path signs.

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.

HEALTH AND SAFETY: Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride. Should someone's health become compromised and the group’s health and safety placed in jeopardy, a plan will be developed by the ride leader(s) and communicated to all individuals. 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.

RIDE RATING: The ride is rated 1A! with an average daily distance of 34 miles and average elevation gain of 948 feet. There are 5 short hills, approximately 0.2 mile each, where the grade exceeds 8%. Required riding days that exceed the 1A rating are:

      Day  2 – 41 miles, 1025 ft elevation gain
      Day  4 – 43 miles, 460 ft elevation gain
      Day  8 – 39 miles, 1425 ft elevation gain
      Day  11 – 36 miles, 1900 ft elevation gain

CUE SHEETS, MAPS, GPS FILES: Electronic versions of route sheets will be provided, and participants are expected to print their own copies of them. RideWithGps tracks with maps 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: The temperatures average from the low 50s at night to daytime temperatures reaching the high 70s inland and low 50s to high 60s along the lakes (Zurich mid 50s to low 70s; Konstanz 45-48 to 68-70). Weather extremes could be colder or warmer. Riders should always expect the unexpected and be prepared for any weather.

LODGING & MEALS & HAPPY/SOCIAL HOUR: The accommodations are five 4-star hotels and four 3-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 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 may not wear jeans,  shorts or t-shirts to group dinners.

LOGISTICS: The tour begins in Dubendorf at 6:00 PM on June 3 and ends in Dubendorf after breakfast on June 17. 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. 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 as sag vehicle and participants are expected to complete each required ride day. Tandems and e-bikes are welcome. Bike rentals are not available.

COST & ADMINISTRATION: In addition to the $150 non-refundable BAC Fee the estimated cost is $3900 per person (at exchange rates of $1.30 per Swiss Franc and $1.20 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. The initial deposit is $2000 and the second payment, $1900, is due November 1, 2026 Tickets for boats, cable cars and sight seeing are not included in the cost. Depending on currency rate fluctuations, there could be an additional payment  before departure.

SINGLES & SOLOS POLICY: Singles are welcome and 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 is limited.

EU EUROPEAN TRAVEL INFORMATION AND AUTHORIZATION SYSTEM (ETIAS) TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION: ETIAS will not be implemented until about 6 months after the EU completes its Entry/Exit System (EES), an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals. The EES is anticipated to be functional sometime in 2025, but that is also uncertain. The ETIAS process will require short-term travelers to apply online, pay a small fee (€7 – roughly $7.40) and then wait up to 96 hours for applications to be approved. The authorization is good for a three-year period or until the traveler’s passport expires – whichever comes first. Unlike the ETA, ETIAS will not be required for a layover as long as you remain within the airport's international transit area and do not leave to enter the country itself. For all of these programs, airlines will be required to notify passengers of requirements in enough time in advance of their flights to complete the process. BAC will continue to update members as the things change.

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. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the canceling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPATION 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 the Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and cleanup. 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 might have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

INSURANCE STATEMENT: BAC maintains two insurance policies: a) United States, and b) Foreign (all other countries). Both the U.S. and Foreign policies are considered secondary policies to your personal medical insurance policy. They are subject to a $1000 deductible and may not cover all expenses related to an accident. Copies of the current policies are located under the “Docs” tab on the BAC website.

Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. While touring in the U.S, the BAC insurance includes coverage for injuries due to accidents during the bike trip. Members’ personal insurance will need to cover medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected illness (i.e. treatment for unexpected illnesses, including Covid, are not covered).

While touring internationally, i.e., outside of the U.S., BAC maintains Foreign accident insurance to assist with expenses related to accidents, medical emergencies (including sudden and unexpected sickness), and repatriation. Insurance will apply door-to-door for treatment and travel for a maximum of 90 days overall. Coverage extends to a limited period spanning the published BAC trip dates, allowing for side trips occurring before and after the BAC ride; the limitation period is 7 days before or after the published BAC trip dates. The policy covers the cost of treatment for Covid and other unexpected illnesses, but not quarantine.

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. There is an $85.00 domestic ride fee and $150.00 international ride fee. 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.