By bike and by panoramic train

Day 1: Arrival in Lucerne

You will meet your guide in the afternoon at the hotel reception in Lucerne. We discover this magical place nestled in a magnificent mountain setting on the shores of Lake Lucerne during a guided walk through the city.

Day 2: Two lakes, William Tell and the mountains - approx. 44 km

We embark on a morning boat trip across Lake Lucerne to Weggis, where the stunning views of the panorama leave us in awe. As soon as we arrive in Weggis, we hop onto our bikes and swiftly make our way to the renowned "Hohle Gasse" passage, which is steeped in the legend of William Tell. We ride around Lake Zug to the picturesque town of Zug and Arth-Goldau. The oldest cog railroad in Switzerland, the Arth-Rigi-Bahn, takes us to the top of the Rigi, the "queen of mountains". The fantastic view extends from the Black Forest to the highest peaks of Central Switzerland: Mönch, Eiger, Jungfrau... It is here, at high altitude, where we settle in the hotel. We end the day peacefully by listening to anecdotes about the Rigi.

Day 3: Ticino - approx. 29 km

The cogwheel train takes us back down the mountain. We then board the Wilhelm-Tell-Express and let ourselves be driven south on one of the most beautiful scenic railroads in Switzerland. In Faido, in the Valle Leventina, we get on our bikes and ride downhill. A grotto, one of the typical Ticinese open-air inns, welcomes us for lunch. The dark green chestnut forests of the valley accompany us to Biasca. During a guided tour, we will admire the frescoes of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. Then it's just a short train ride to Locarno.

Day 4: Lake Maggiore - approx. 31 km

We transfer by train to Bellinzona. Our adventure commences with a guided tour of the town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its three fortresses. The city's affluence is evident in the grandeur of the imposing bourgeois houses with their charming arcades. Our journey continues with a leisurely bike ride downhill, leading us towards Lake Maggiore. Following a delightful picnic by the lake, we proceed along the picturesque lake promenade to Ascona. The meandering old town, once a hub for artists, is nestled at the base of the famed Monte Verità, and entices us for a leisurely stroll. We cycle back along the lake, under the palm trees, to Locarno. We now have time to stroll individually through the most beautiful city in Ticino, nestled along the lake.

Day 5: Dream valleys - approx. 28 km

In the morning we cycle through Valle Maggia, the most photogenic valley in Ticino. We ride down the valley slowly. The steep slopes are lined with green forests. The rustici, the typical old Ticino farmhouses, cling picturesquely to the slope. The Madonna delle Grazie church in Maggia is worth a stop, then at Ponte Brolla we board one of Switzerland's railway legends, the Centovalli narrow-gauge railroad. We cross 82 bridges, some of which are vertiginous, and a magnificent mountain landscape to reach Zermatt. Here, at the foot of the king of the Swiss mountains, the Matterhorn, the heart and soul of Switzerland are truly united. After dinner, we walk through the small town of Zermatt, entirely pedestrian (2 nights).

Day 6: The Matterhorn!

The towering summit of this mountain represents the quintessential Swiss Alpine experience - a lone peak enclosed by 37 peaks exceeding 4,000 metres in height. For once, we park our bikes to relish the grandeur of the high Alps. As an alternative, hiking with a guide to the Riffelalp is an option. The panoramic view of the Matterhorn's distinctively beautiful cone is particularly mesmerising from that vantage point.

Day 7: Glacier Express and Via Mala - approx. 38 km

In the morning we board the Glacier Express. This train embodies the Swiss railway legend. Its scenic route is considered one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. It takes us through a landscape of Alpine wonders to Thusis. The highlights of this journey are certainly the Furka Pass, the Rhone Glacier and the canyon of the Rhine Valley near Flims. Once in Thusis, we cycle to the spectacular Via Mala, which we will see up close with a guide. Then we ride along and over the Rhine to Chur. Our hotel awaits us in the heart of the beautiful old town of Chur.

Day 8: Departure

At the break of dawn, we part ways at Chur's train station.