Overview
This seven day cycling Valais Switzerland holiday takes you through extraordinary Alpine terrain. It’s a self-guided odyssey of 370km, staying in three and four-star hotels along the way, with luggage transfers. Starting in Susten and ending in Leuk, enjoy a circuit through the likes of Brig, the Gotthard Pass, Nufenen Pass, Goms Valley and the Haute-Valais villages, as well as Pfyn-Finges Nature Park, this moderate to strenuous journey has stunning panoramic views and challenging cycling. Bike rental costs are not included in the price of this holiday, which is also reachable by rail.
- Legendary mountain passes
- Valais dams
- Gotthard Pass
- Pfyn–Finges Nature Park
- Goms Valley
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Leuk | Round trip Turtmanntal Valley | 90km
Arrival and bag drop in Leuk. Today’s route takes you to to Sierre through Pfynwald. Then back through vineyards to Varen and Leuk, after which things get more challenging. A long climb leads back into the Turtmanntal Valley, but with a stunning descent. Finally, there is one last climb high into the vineyards and a ride over Dala Gorge before ending your day in Susten.
- Cycling for the day: 90km ↑2,860m ↓2,860m
- Accommodation: Relais Bayard or similar
Day 2: Susten – Moosalp – Brig | 68km
After breakfast, leave the Rhône cycling path to climb up the snaking road to the Moosalp Pass. Descend to Visperterminen passing the saffron-growing village of Mund to reach Brig.
- Cycling for the day: 68km ↑1,720m ↓1,790m
- Accommodation: Hotel Ambassador or similar
Day 3: Gibidum Reservoir | 21.5km
The Gibidum Dam and Reservoir is perhaps the least known of the Valais dams, but it’s definitely worth the visit for the amazing scenery and climb. At 1,436m high, the dam entered service in 1969 after five years of construction. It dams the Massa River, into which the Aletsch glacier’s water flows.
- Cycling for the day: 21.5km ↑950m ↓950m
- Accommodation: Hotel Ambassador or similar
Day 4: Brig – Grimsel Pass – Obergesteln | 82km
Today, you follow the course of the vibrant Rhône, taking in the Haut-Valais villages that line your route. After arriving into Oberwald, you have another climb to Grimsel Pass, at an altitude of 2,164m. The pass was, for many years, the key trade route between central Switzerland and Lombardy: Swiss cheese and cattle travelled south, while mules carried wine, corn, rice and olive oil to the north.
- Cycling for the day: 82km ↑2,585m ↓1,890m
- Accommodation: Hotel Hubertus or similar
Day 5: Circular route of Alpine passes | 100km
The most beautiful Alpine passes can be reached quickly from Oberwald. Climb high into the rocky world Nufenen Pass and then career down to Airolo. The following challenging ride up to Gotthard Pass follows a route of many snaking bends. You can relax while descending to Hospental with one more challenge ahead up to Furka Pass. The top of the pass offers views of the Valais and Bern cantons’ summits, with a great cafe to relax at as you take it all in.
- Cycling for the day: 100km ↑3,185m ↓3,185m
- Accommodation: Hotel Hubertus or similar
Day 6: Obergesteln – Leuk | 75-90km
There are two options for the ride back to Leuk. Either you take the easy route along the Rhône to Leuk, or take a detour up into Binntal Valley. Although the ride leads through tunnels, and some of the roads are not asphalted, the romantic village of Binn is well worth the effort.
- Cycling for the day: 75-90km ↑1,280m ↓1,905m
- Accommodation: Relais Bayard or similar
Day 7: Departure
After breakfast, your tour comes to an end.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation in 3 and 4-star hotels. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
*Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included. When no restaurant is available on the route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or you can pre-order packed lunch from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either from the restaurant in your hotel or from restaurants and taverns in the village near your hotel.
Difficulty and terrain
You will mostly ride on tarmac, between the Upper Valais and the Goms there are occasional sections on natural roads that are easy to ride. (Brig – Obergesteln and Obergesteln – Leuk). The ride over the Alpine passes on the fifth day poses a significant challenge in terms of fitness (read more about difficulty grades). We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime.
When to go
This trip is available between mid-June and end-September.
The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Zurich.
By train or bus
- The distance from Zurich Airport to city centre is 12km and the travel time is around 10mins by high-speed train. From there, you can hop on the train to Visp (approx. 2h), and then to Leuk (10min), which is just 2.3km from Susten.
- Paid parking in Leuk: about CHF20.- per week. Payable on site.
- For more information visit Swiss Railways (SBB/CFF/FFS) or the Omio planner above.
Inclusions
Included
- 6 overnight accommodation with breakfast included
- Daily luggage transfers
- Carefully elaborated route
- Detailed travel documents (1 x per room), navigation app and GPS data
- SwitzerlandMobility-Plus subscription for one year
- 24/7 phone support by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinner, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Road bike rental
- Go digital – Discount available for opting out of printed travel documents
Bike rental
Rennvelo Stevens Aspin. A spare inner tube per bike, tyre lever and pump are included, as well as a smartphone holder.
Frame sizes:
- XS = 50cm (body height < 165cm)
- S = 52cm (body height 165 – 175cm)
- M = 56cm (body height 175 – 183cm)
- L = 60cm (body height 183 – 192cm)
Specifications:
- Frame: Aluminium SL 7005 TB
- Front fork: Stevens Full Carbon SL
- Brakes: Schimano Ultegra BR-6800
- Gearshift: Shimano Ultegra RD-6800-GS (2×11 or 3×10)
- Wheel size: 28″
- Weight: 8.5kg
Gallery
