Cycling from the Glaciers to the Palm Trees
Switzerland! Expect chocolate, cowbells, st. Bernard dogs, glaciers, thin air, cablecars and mountain views. We are in the garden of the Inn river, that’s the translation of the name of this Valley: the Engadin or Engaidina in the local Raeto Romansch language, one of the four official languages of this little jewel of a country. With its high peaks and clear blue or green mountain streams and lakes, this is the Toblerone Country to the max.
The names of the villages we cycle through make our hearts sing: Celerina, Pontresina, Guarda, all Raeto Romanisch, spoken in a way that sounds like Italian.
With a short stop in Austria in one of its charming alpine villages, we cross the border once more and enter Italy, cycle along the lakes, along the river Adige, originating in this region, and ending at the Adriatic Sea, close to Venice and the Po Valley. Strong german influences here until we reach the Trentino. Loads of apples and lush green. The area has a great climate, enough rain, loads of sun, pleasant temperatures. Alpine crisp, with great bike paths and bike stops.
In the end, we will stay in one of the charming villages at Lake Garda, overviewing the harbour and terraces from our hotel window. And have that must-do boat ride to the other ports.
Like to explore more: look at the option to continue to Verona and visit its Roman Arena!
Or travel earlier: visit Zermatt and book the Glacier Express, a beautiful train ride in panorama wagons across the Swiss Alps. It should for sure be on your bucket list!
Or join a bike&barge tour from Mantua to Venice and approach Venice by boat! Magnificent!
Well now: buy a piece of Swiss Chocolate (like Toblerone), have a glass of wine and start dreaming about this!
Done dreaming? Let’s start planning your perfect tour! We are ready!
NEW this year: we can arrange a transfer from MUNICH to St. Moritz on the day of arrival!
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Day-to-day
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Arrival at Morteratsch
A mountain train will take you from Sankt Moritz to Morteratsch. Our hotel is right at the station, very remote at the foot of the Morteratsch Glacier. The water runs wild and gives you the perfect noise to sleep like a baby in your mountain lodge style hotel.
We will welcome you at the end of the day and have a great welcome dinner.
If you decide to arrive earlier, you will already receive a mountain pass, giving you free access to public transport and all cable cars of the Engadin region!
We also offer the option for a shuttle from Munich Airport, Germany, to the hotel Morteratsch. A nice ride through Southern Germany and the Inn Valley to the Engadin Valley. A stop for lunch will be held, the ride will take around 5 to 6 hours. Extra costs depend on the number of guests booking this.
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Morteratsch- Sils im Engadin - St. Moritz - Morteratsch
We start our day with a short transfer to Sils im Engadin. We will do the bike fitting and take you on our first ride. Along the lakes, we approach St. Moritz. Rich and famous people love it, and we would like you to have a peek into the shopping street and be thrown back in the days of the grand hotels. Hotel hospitality was born here, and many winter sports were invented and started here. Old grandeur all over the place. Like to stay here longer? You can get on the train back to the hotel from here! Or how about continuing the cycling back to the hotel? We like to take a cable car up to Muottas Muragl to have a mindblowing look over mountains, glaciers and seas. Wow…what a day.
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Morteratsch - Pass Bernina (2330 m.)- Diavolezza - Zuoz (-Zernez)
Now that we are here, we might as well “do” a real mountain pass. 12 k of slow but steady climbing will get us there. No big deal on an e-bike, a challenge on a regular bike. Take your picture on top and be happy going back down. Halfway we stop to get on a cable car and have coffee at the viewingpoint of the Morteratsch Glacier. Another part of downhill awaits us. Then we cycle quite relaxed along the Inn River in the direction of Zernez.
For those of us who had their share of climbing, the tour ends in Zuoz. We can hop on a train to our hotel in Zernez. Those who like another challenge and do some more mountain bike style ride: let’s continue along a forest path that goes up and down along the foot of the mountains.
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Zernez-Guarda-Scuol-Nauders
One of the most challenging days of biking today…to our standards.
We are in the mountains, and although we are not climbing them to the top, we are on some climbs here. First we start getting out of Zernez and following the river to Lavin, where we will start climbing on a quiet gravel road up to Guarda. For those who are not into the climbing, alternative shuttle will be offered from Zernez. Guarda is just so gorgeous we simply have to go there. It’s known for its Engadiner style houses and farms.
Second part of the day, after lunch, will be to continue through Ardez and Ftan, both again at villages on the hills, so it is still more than moderate cycling here. Our reward is not only to see these lovely villages and have great views, but also the 3.5 km decent down to Scuol. From Scuol we take 2 busses to get to Nauders in Austria for a good alpine night of sleep.
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Nauders - Reschen - Schlanders
For those who definitely like to get some more uphill: cycle to the Reschenpass, we are already almost there! 7 km of steady moderate climbing will get you there. Or the bus does 😉
We enjoy a coffeebreak at the lake site and start on this perfect bikepath down into the Vinschgau (South Tirol). We are in Italy here, but you wouldn’t immediately notice this, as the language is still predominently German. Apples grown here as far as you can see and our path takes us through them.
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Schlanders - Merano
Seems like an endless gorgeous cycle path following the river, and crossing the orchards and then we see the end of our valley, the town of Meran below, and hairpin curves in a cyclepath going down. Certainly a grand way of entering the South Tirol region. We will be in Meran rather early to enjoy an afternoon in this Italian city, with its old inner city dating from the middle ages, also showing belle epoque buildings.
Would you like to visit the Meran Therme (Spa) ?
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Meran - Bolzano- South Tirol Wine Road-Kalterersee-Ora/Auer
After the bussling city we cycle along the Adige River down to Bolzano and enter the bikepath along the vineyards from there. A great combination of apple orchards and vineyards are the lush green scenery we cycle through. Let’s picture another lake in it and here is our picture perfect paradise.
All we need is a bit of sunshine and a bike and this is bike heaven. Some up, but mostly down hill.
In Neumarkt we will find another historic village with scraffito and arches. Our hotel is part of it, yet a very modern and stylish twist.
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to Riva del Garda!
On our last day of biking we are heading for our last stop on the tour in Riva del Garda. It’s gelato and pizza all over the place now, this is a touristic area, has been for many decades already. For a lot of the Europeans, living in the more northern countries this was one of the first holidays outside of their own country. I still remember the markets where they sell glassware, baskets, cloths. It was mesmerizing to walk around there as a child! Let’s see if this magic is still around!
Our hotel, in the centre of the harbor, will be a perfect spot to relax . We will have a farewell dinner tonight at the hotel.
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Riva del Garda boattrip to Bardolino?
On this last day of our trip, it’s up to you! We would suggest a boat trip to one of the other lovely villages and find one of the many local markets. But there is more to explore!
As a post-trip, we recommend going to Verona. But there are many more options. Cities like Florence are easily reached by train.
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That's it: time to leave or prolong your stay
After breakfast, it’s Arrividerci Bella Riva del Garda!
Photos
Accommodations
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Lovely mountain lodge hotel at Morteratsch
At the foot of the Morteratsch Glacier we will find our mountain refuge, well, a bit better than that! Crispy clean rooms with all we need await us. The hotel can be reached by the local mountain train that either climbs on to the pass Bernina or takes you down to Pontresina and St. Moritz.
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Hotel in Zernez
Another family run hotel is our second hotel on the tour.
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hotel in Nauders
In Austria we will stay in one of the many hotels in this little mountain village. Although the winter is the high season for places like this, a lot of guests who like to hike and bike will be there. Expect a typically alpine style hotel and enjoy the Wiener Schnitzel! Servus!
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Hotel in Schlanders
At the centre of this little village
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Hotel in Meran
For a change, we will stay close to the bustling heart of Meran to enjoy some city life and a lovely evening on a terrace or some shopping…Let’s enjoy the Italian lifestyle here. Hotel Flora offers an outdoor swimming pool!
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Hotel in Ora/Auer
Another hotel with still a German/Áustrian name! It depicts the history of the region that has been part of Austria in the past.
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our destination at Riva del Garda
A lovely hotel with outside dining in the centre of the pedestrian area, close to the waterfront.
Included on this 10-day trip:
- 3-star hotels in Morteratsch ( 2 nights), Zernez (1 night), Nauders (1 night), South Tirol area (1 night), Meran (1 night), Trentino area (1 night), Riva del Garda (2 nights)
- continental breakfast (buffet style)
- luggage and SAG service by our van + trailer or touring car
- 5 out of 9 dinners
- picnic lunches on cycle days
- snacks, drinks, and fruit for all cycling days
- The bike tour guide and a Van driver/tour manager
- all transfers during the tour by van, bus or train
- cable cars and trains in Engadin
- helmet, pannier and waterbottle
Not included:
Single room: + € 380,– (2024)
E-bike recommended: € 290 euro,– (2024)
Regular bike € 160 euro,–(2024)
Shuttle from Munich Airport to Morteratsch
Entrance fees for museums, monuments, etc.
Travel and cancellation insurance
Miscellaneous beverages and expenses on excursions.
Gratuities for Guide and Van driver.