Tour Type
Explorer
Riding Level
Active
Location
Meiringen to Andermatt
Duration
5 days | 4 nights
Length
28 - 106 km daily
Climb
900 - 2,500 m daily
Welcome to our backyard. At Grand Tours Project, the Swiss Alps is our home, and we are excited to introduce you to a few of our favorite routes.
Unsurprisingly, the Swiss Alps have some of the most epic climbs in the world, and on our Switzerland Iconic Passes Escape tour, we’ve curated the best of them for one unforgettable adventure. This tour is for the discerning cyclist who wants to experience the very best of the Alps in a short, action-packed getaway.
You will conquer legendary climbs that are a true taste of Swiss alpine riding. From the famously beautiful and car-free Grosse Scheidegg with its views of the Eiger North Face, to the elegant curves of the Susten Pass, you’ll be immersed in a landscape of unspoiled scenery and stunning engineering. The tour culminates with the “king of the passes” on the epic Furka Loop, a trilogy of legendary climbs that includes the challenging Nufenen Pass and the historic cobblestones of the Tremola.
This is your chance to tackle climbs that have captivated cyclists for generations, all while experiencing the quiet roads and dramatic landscapes that make Switzerland a premier cycling destination.
For a longer tour in Switzerland, be sure to check out our Switzerland Explorer tour.
Make it Private
Optional Upgrade
Extension Option
Tour Highlights
Your Swiss Iconic Passes adventure begins with a scenic two-hour transfer from Zurich Airport to our hotel in the charming town of Meiringen. Located in the heart of the Bernese Oberland, this town is famous for the Reichenbach Falls – the site of Sherlock Holmes’ final showdown – and for its claim to have invented the meringue. After settling in, the afternoon is yours to explore. Stretch your legs with a gentle ride along Lake Brienz, or simply stroll through town to visit the falls and enjoy a local meringue.
Today, your incredible journey begins with an ascent of the famously beautiful Grosse Scheidegg, considered one of the top ten alpine climbs. The roads, closed to cars from Schwarzwaldalp to above Grindelwald, offer a peaceful and spectacular ride, where your only “traffic” will be dodging Swiss post buses with their unique musical horns and cows with sonorous bells. As you climb, you’ll be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the legendary Eiger North Face. The descent takes you through the popular alpine village of Grindelwald to the valley floor and Interlaken.
An optional ride will take you into the ‘Tolkienesque’ valley of Lauterbrunnen, where you’ll be surrounded by soaring cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and stunning vistas.
You can begin your ride from our hotel in Meiringen, or take a short transfer to Innertkirchen to start your ascent of the magnificent Susten Pass (2,224 m). The Susten is one of Switzerland’s most scenic passes, famous for its elegant, sweeping curves and dramatic scenery. After conquering the summit, a fast and thrilling descent above the Gadmer river takes you down to Wassen. Your ride then continues through the historic Schöllenen Gorge, where the Reuss River carves its way through steep granite walls. This is where you’ll find the legendary Teufelsbrücke (Devil’s Bridge), a historically significant bridge renowned in local legend for a pact with the devil. The gorge offers spectacular views and a sense of pilgrimage history, before you arrive at your hotel in Andermatt.
Today is a day dedicated to one of cycling’s most famous loops, an unforgettable trilogy of high-alpine passes that begins and ends right from your hotel. Your journey starts with the ascent of the legendary Furka Pass (2,436 m), a climb that offers some of the most iconic views in cycling, including the famous Hotel Belvedere and the Rhone Glacier. After a descent to the Goms Valley, you’ll begin the challenging climb to Nufenen Pass, a wild place and the highest paved road pass entirely within Switzerland. The reward for your efforts is a long descent into Airolo in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino. From there, you’ll tackle the day’s grand finale: the legendary Tremola. This historic, cobblestoned road is a true masterpiece of engineering, with an endless set of switchbacks that will test your legs before rewarding you with a final, triumphant descent back to Andermatt.
All good things must come to an end, and today we say goodbye to the Swiss Alps. On this short but epic Switzerland Iconic Passes Escape tour, you conquered a magnificent collection of legendary alpine climbs, including the sublime Grosse Scheidegg, the Susten, Furka and Nufenen passes, and the unforgettable Gotthard Tremola. We hope the challenge and the stunning scenery have given you a taste of Swiss alpine riding that will stay with you long after you’ve returned home.
After a final breakfast, our team will provide a transfer to Zurich Airport for your journey home.
Extension Option
The adventure doesn’t have to end here. For those looking to extend their escape, we would be delighted to help you customise a longer tour (minimum 4 riders). Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss the options for discovering more of the legendary passes and hidden gems that the Swiss Alps have to offer.
The following is also included:
What’s not included?
