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Cycling, Rhein Route
No. of Nights : 09
Cities Covered : Andermatt – Disentis – Ilanz – Bad Ragaz – Vaduz – Walzenhausen – Stein am Rhein – Schaffhausen – Bad Zurzach – Rheinfelden – Basel
Price : CHF 2200
Itinerary :
Day 1: Andermatt - Disentis 34 km
A «comfortable» ride through the pass to start with: the difference in altitude between Andermatt (1447m) and the Oberalp Pass (2044m) is a mere 600m, spread over a distance of 11 km. Shortly after passing the pass summit is the region where the River Rhine originates.
Day 2: Disentis - Ilanz 29 km
The route passes through the Surselva and along the Vorderrhein, downstream for the most part, and yet, this region, where Romansh is spoken, awaits its cycling guests with a sprightly up and down trail. The famous «Swiss Grand Canyon», where the Rhine forces its way through a narrow ravine landscape begins at Ilanz.
Day 3: Ilanz - Chur 35 km
You can also get a first hand experience of this splendid landscape on an exciting rafting tour.
Tip: You can also book the rafting tour through the «Swiss Grand Canyon » (Vorderrhein Canyon) directly through
Day 4: Chur - Buchs (Altstätten) 44 km
The Rhine Route passes through the wine growing villages of the Bündner Herrschaft. A visit to Maienfeld, or «Heidi’s» village could be planned, before continuing past the Rhine Bank towards «Ländle».
Tip: A visit to the amina Springs at Bad Ragaz offers tingling refreshment.
Day 5: Buchs - Wa lzenhausen (RORSCHACH) 62 km
The day begins with an excursion away from the Rhine to the pretty little town of Altstätten.
Lake Constance: a splendid region for cyclists! The route makes a wide loop behind St.Margrethen, passing through the national park of the Rhine delta in Austrian territory. A high point of the tour, quite literally, is the overnight stay at the wellness hotel of Walzenhausen high above Lake Constance: and the train ticket from Rheineck plus bike transportation is included!
Tip: Treat yourself to a Top Class stay in the deluxe rooms of Walzenhausen.
Day 6: Wa lzenhausen - KREUZLINGEN (BerlingeN) 59 km
The bike trail skirts the lake in parts, and passes through the hinterland in others. There are several inviting swimming spots, garden restaurants, boat harbours. The route passes through the city of Constance, runs along the Swiss shore of the Untersee and criss-crosses picturesque, former fishing villages.
Day 7: KREUZLINGEN - Schafhausen 46 km
The route passes through picturesque fishing villages along the Swiss shore of the Lower Lake before reaching the outflow of the Rhine River from Lake Constance at Stein am Rhein. This simply delightful town, a jewel of medieval architecture, deserves a longer visit. Before tackling the last days along the right bank of the Rhine to Schaffhausen.
Day 8: Schafhausen - Bad Zurzach 50 km
Stein am Rhein is located at the point where the Rhine issues from the Untersee. You must make time for this little nugget, before tackling the last stretch towards Schaffhausen. Starting at the Rhine Falls, the mightiest waterfall in Europe, the route passes through fascinating riverside landscapes and fertile territory where even asparagus is grown. The pretty riverside villages of Eglisau and Kaiserstuhl are worth a visit, and at the town of Bad Zurzach, relaxation awaits the cyclist at the pretty hotel «Zunfthaus zur Waag» and in the neighbouring hot springs.
Day 9: Bad Zurzach - Rheinfelden 54 km
At Koblenz, where the Aare joins the Rhine, the latter displays its turbulent currents and rapids, once a source of awe and fear for boatmen. Bu apart from that, the Rhine is mainly harnessed for hydroelectric power in this section, and hence displays a quiet, rather sluggish visage. But the little towns of Laufenburg and Stein-Säckingen make up for this lethargy in terms of liveliness.
Day 10: Rheinfelden - Basel 26 km
It is not just the greenery of nature that makes a cycling tour worthwhile: even a ride through the industrial settlements of the Basel conurbation is absolutely exciting, and provides a change from all that you experienced so far. And as if in contrast to this contemporary picture is the Roman settlement of Augusta Raurica at the city gates of Basel.