Classic, flexible pace cycling holiday with daily route options in the Swiss Alps. Features five spectacular mountain stages, including bucket list climbs like the Furka, Grimsel, Susten, Oberalp, Lucomagno, and Nufenen passes. Includes cycling the pristine cobblestone Tremola road of the St Gotthard pass and the spectacular Grosse Scheidegg and Lake Brienz loop. Offers full support with optional extra climbs each day. Easy travel arrangements with direct flights to Milan Malpensa. Supported by two customised support vans and two expert guides. The tour is set in Switzerland, known for its breathtaking mountains, pristine villages, and alpine cheese, offering a perfect formula for a road cycling holiday. High passes are concentrated in a small area east of the Eiger, making it a mecca for road cyclists. The holiday offers a Classic route taking in iconic climbs, with options for riders to conquer climbs from both sides. The daily average for the Classic route is 80 km with 2020 m ascent. The Challenge route offers a daily average of 104 km with 2800 m ascent. The holiday emphasizes individual support, allowing riders to cycle at their own pace. Support is provided by expert guides in customised vehicles, offering moral, nutritional, and mechanical support. The holiday starts and finishes in Bodio, in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. Transfers are offered from Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP). The hotel is within easy walking distance of Bodio railway station. Includes a welcome briefing and dinner on arrival day. Day 1 involves cycling the Swiss National Cycling route to Passo del Lucomagno/Lukmanier Pass (1915m), a 41 km climb with evolving scenery, leading to the German-speaking part of Switzerland and the village of Sedrun. An optional challenge route includes climbing to Lai da Nalps (1967m). Day 2 features a climb to Oberalp Pass (2044m), followed by a descent to Andermatt. Riders have the option to tackle the north side of the Sankt Gotthard Pass/Passo del San Gottardo (2107m), including 2 km of cobbles. The Classic route then descends to Wassen and climbs the Susten Pass (2224m), ending in Meiringen for a two-night stay. Day 3 is a day ride from Meiringen, featuring the Grosse Scheidegg (1962m) pass, known for its beautiful setting and the upper section being closed to regular traffic. The ride includes a descent to Interlaken for lunch and a loop around Lake Brienz. The Challenge route includes a climb to Berghaus Männlichen (2223m) from Grindelwald. An easier option allows for exploring the Aareschlucht gorge. Note: For 2027 tours, dinner on Day 3 in Meiringen is not included. Day 4 involves riding the Grimsel Pass (2164m) and Furka Pass (2429m), renowned for their hairpin bends and spectacular mountain scenery. The Grimsel Pass features varied gradients and reservoirs, while the Furka Pass was featured in the James Bond film 'Goldfinger'. The Challenge route includes tackling the Furka Pass from the east. Day 5 features a ride over the Nufenen Pass/Passo della Novena (2480m), the second-highest pass in the Swiss Alps, and the Tremola Road to the Sankt Gotthard Pass / Passo del San Gottardo (2107m), a historic cobbled road. The Challenge route includes an early morning climb of the south side of the Grimsel Pass. The holiday includes 6 nights of twin-share hotel accommodation with breakfasts. 5 three-course evening meals with drinks are included (all nights for 2026). Airport transfers are provided on arrival and departure days at specified times. Photos of the holiday are shared after the trip. Tips for restaurant staff are paid on behalf of the group. Financial protection is provided by ABTOT and ABTA membership. Optional extras include single-occupancy hotel rooms, hire bikes (titanium frame with hi-spec components), spare bike tyres, tubes, and components for emergencies, and CO2 canisters. Marmot Tours x Stolen Goat cycling kit is also available. Not included in the holiday cost are flights, insurance for the rider and bike, spending money for lunches and cafe drinks, dinner on one night in Meiringen, tips for guides, energy gels/powders/recovery drinks, specific bike spare parts (riders should bring their own spare hanger), GPS navigation device and handlebar mount, and bike lights. For hired bikes, riders should bring their own pedals. Weather in the mountains can be highly changeable and extreme, so warm and waterproof layers are recommended. Fitness requirements are manageable for regular road cyclists, with Classic and Challenge route options. Hotels are comfortable 3-star, with one un-starred family-run hotel. Hotels have garages/locked rooms for bikes. WiFi reliability can vary. Laundry facilities are limited, but guides can assist with drying hand-washed kit. Dietary requirements can be catered for with advance notice. Daily timings are generally: breakfast around 08:00, set off 09:00-09:30, lunch 12:00-14:00, return 14:00-18:00, dinner 19:30. Lifts in the support van are available for injured, exhausted, or weather-affected riders. For illness or injury requiring a full day off the bike, taxi to the next hotel is recommended. Riders with rim brakes on carbon wheels are strongly advised NOT to bring them due to the risk of delamination on descents. Riders bringing their own bikes should bring bike lights, a pump, tyre levers, inner tubes, brake pads, a chain link, and a spare rear derailleur hanger. Tools for bike assembly are provided. For non-EU nationals entering the EU, a passport issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least 3 months after departure is required. From 2027, ETIAS electronic travel authorisation will be needed. Travel insurance is essential for all Marmot Tours holidays.
Hotel