Last Day: Bike Return and Bern stop-over

Challenge Tour: Riding Day 6-> Lucerne to Rapperswil

Our longest and hardest day — a hundred kilometers from Lucerne to Rapperswil, and worth every one. We roll out flat along the Reuss to Zug, then climb into the hills: past Sattel and across the lonely Rothenthurm moor, and into Einsiedeln with its great pilgrimage abbey (and the best beer in Switzerland). Then one last climb over the Etzel, where the whole of Lake Zurich opens up beneath you before a long coast down to Rapperswil. Want a shorter day? There's an easy out at Zug, and I'll tell you how.

Challenge Tour: Riding Day 4 -> Wengen to Interlaken

Your longest day on the bike — but don't let the ninety-five kilometers scare you. There's only one real climb, the Brünig Pass, and we'll show you three different ways to skip it if you'd rather. The rest is flat: an easy roll along Lake Brienz (or a lazy boat cruise past the famous Iseltwald pier), lunch in Meiringen, a glide down to the lakeside villages of Lungern and Sarnen, and a final stretch beneath Mount Pilatus to one of Switzerland's most beautiful cities. John walks you through every choice — boat or bike, gravel or road, ride or train — plus where to stop for a beer, a swim, and a slice of pie along the way. We finish in Lucerne: the Chapel Bridge, the Lion Monument, and a quiet swim by the hotel as the sun goes down.

Challenge Tour: Wengen Hike

Day three got you to Wengen — now take a breath. No bikes today. John walks you through how to spend your rest day: the two easy hikes he keeps coming back to (cable car up to Männlichen, the ridge walk over to Kleine Scheidegg, and the gentle drop back down through Wengernalp), why a Coop picnic beats the crowded mountaintop restaurants, and whether that pricey trip up to the Jungfraujoch is really worth it. Along the way there's a bit of history on how the railways clawed their way up these peaks, a few notes on Swiss hiking etiquette, a rainy-day plan B if the weather turns, and where to track down a good fondue come evening. Plus one important reminder about your bags before you leave town tomorrow.

Challenge Tour: Riding Day 3-> Gstaad to Wengen

Riding day three takes us out of Saanenland and over into the Simmental, with an optional Gstaad detour for those who want the big valley views. From there it's deep into the boonies: 35 km of gravel through cattle country, past those enormous wooden farmhouses built on Simmental cow money, with a picnic somewhere along the way. We come out at Lake Thun for an easy, flat run down to Interlaken — then it's bikes parked at the Hotel Carlton, a train to the mountains, and a cogwheel climb up to car-free Wengen for the night. Practical tips on tickets, train platforms, e-bike chargers, and where to sit for the best Lauterbrunnen views are all in here. 70 km and 700 m of climbing — let's get started.

Challenge Tour: Riding Day 2 -> Chexbres to Gstaad

Today's 80km takes you up from the lake and into the heart of working Switzerland : pastures, dairy farms, and roads that feel like they were built just for cyclists. You'll stop at the medieval village of Gruyère (yes, the cheese is real, and so is the alien bar), roll through the quiet Intyamon Valley and cross a linguistic border somewhere around Rougemont. The day ends with a chalet-lined valley, a surprise climb to the hotel (sorry !) , and a spa that should be on the cover of a magazine. Around 1200m of climbing — nothing too nasty :)