Switzerland E-bike Tour Itinerary

 Day One: Lake of Constance
Willkommen in der Schweiz! As your train gently stops in Rorschach on the banks of the Bodensee (Lake Constance), your guides will greet you and help you with your luggage. We hope you are dressed to ride, because we will immediately show you the simple ins and outs of riding your e-bike! This amazing vehicle will carry to you a confidential wine maker in the region who serves beautiful Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. Next to his winery you will enjoy a delicious light lunch before leaving the lake behind and heading for the hills. Make sure you remember to pedal, because your bike will do much of the work! At the top of first rise, we will pass through Heiden, the final home of Red Cross founder Henry Dunant. We can pause in this lovely town, or keep going to our final destination, the incomparable Gasthaus Guph. This hotel commands a superlative view of both the Bodensee and the snow- capped Alps. Enjoy your late afternoon for a peaceful rest or an extra ride before descending into the striking wine-cellar of the gasthaus for an aperitif. Wine aficionados won’t want to leave these hallowed vaults! This evening we will dine at the gasthaus’ restaurant for a spectacular feast.

Meals: Lunch / Dinner
Distance cycled: 15 km with options for more.

Day Two: Rolling Hills of Appenzell
We will meet up after breakfast and head out on our E-bikes for a tour of the Appenzell countryside. The Appenzell region is the most independent in Switzerland; these proud people guard their traditions and history with both zeal and humor – when you see their beautiful landscapes you’ll know why. Along the way, we will stop for a picnic lunch in the town of Schlatt which affords a stunning panorama of the mountains that border one side of the Appenzell and continue to cycle our way in to the town of Appenzell. Here we will explore the village on a guided tour, learning about the Landsgemeidenplatz and the importance of the town’s beautifully painted buildings. Upon returning to the hotel, you will have some free time to spend at your leisure before we meet up for a traditional folkloric dinner at Romantik Hotel Säntis (where we will learn the "Talerschwingen").

Meals: Breakfast / Picnic Lunch / Dinner
Cycling distance: 35 km

Day Three: Discover Appenzell
Today we will hop on our E-bikes for a full day ride through the rolling Appenzell country.  You’ll have a chance to gaze out upon the Alps before arriving in Stein, to stop and visit the famous cheese factory and learn everything about cheese production in this region! (We will also sample lots of cheese as well) We will have lunch here at the Appenzeller Cheese Restaurant. After a sweet and beautiful return by e-bike to Appenzell, you have the rest of the afternoon to enjoy as you see fit.  This evening, we will visit the Appenzeller Herb-Schnapps Distillery. This sweet and slightly bitter aperitif is the perfect start to your own open dinner; your guides will recommend the best restaurants.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Cycling distance: 48 km    
 
Day Four: Appenzell – Lake Zurich
Today, you will ride like a pro, but your e-bike will be doing much of the work!  Leaving Appenzell we will climb high up into the hills to visit the quiet and charming villages in the alpine foothills. You will be so pleased as you power up the rolling terrain with the help of your bike. In the town of Hemberg, enjoy a carefully crafted picnic by your DuVine guide before a stunning descent through quiet forests and fields to Wattwil. Approaching the town of Uznach, your will be struck by the beauty of the Zurichsee (Lake Zurich). Riding lakeside you will see many different waterfowl paddling about the lake, and the occasional fisherrman boating out from his cottage. In the gorgeous historic village of Rapperwil take a moment to visit the Helighüsli, a chapel in the middle of the lake reached by a 840m – long wooden bridge. Or take a moment to enjoy the rose gardens near in town with over 20,000 plants and countless blossoms. From Rapperwil  we will take a short transfer (15mins) to our hotel, the Panorama Resort & Spa.

Meals: Breakfast / Picnic Lunch / Dinner
Cycling distance: 68 km

Day Five: Heart of Switzerland
After a luscious breakfast we will be transferred to the the Pilgrims Village “Einsiedeln”. We will spend some time here exploring the village as well as the famous Baroque monastery here. The monastery, inhabited by very liberal monks, contains the well-known "Black Madonna". From here we will begin our E-bike tour via the ski resort Ybrig and Oberiberg, climbing up to the stunning Ibergeregg Pass for a delicious lunch. Never thought you could do a mountain?  Your e-bike will get you there with a smile! After lunch enjoy the gorgeous descent to Schwyz, the namesake of Switzerland and on to Brunnen on the Vierwald-stattersee (Lake Lucerne). Say good-bye to your bike as you board a boat to take us to Lucerne, and sip a delicious aperitif as we take in the gorgeous views of the lake. Upon arrival in Lucerne, we will retire to our hotel and prepare for farewell cocktails and our last dinner together as a group at the Art Deco Hotel Montana.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Cycling distance:  38 km

Day Six: Hiking Mount Rigi
After breakfast we will take a lovely boat tour from Lucerne to Vitznau where we will board the cog railway. This was Europe’s first mountain railway. From the summit we will enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view across the Alps, of 13 lakes and over the entire Swiss Mitteland through to Germany and France. From the top we hike down half an hour before we get to the Swiss Mountain hut restaurant Chäseren holzhütte. After lunch we will take the cable car to Weggis and then transfer back to Lucerne where your guides will help you to your next destination as you say good-bye to gorgeous Switzerland!

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Hiking: 5kms

E-bike tour participants must be at least 16 years of age.