Switzerland Challenge Bike Tour
High-End at High Altitude: Classic Passes in the Swiss Alps
Itinerary
Print Itinerary- Pre-tour
Montreux Pre-Night
Arrive by train to Montreux and check in at the Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic. Located right on the shores of Lake Geneva, the hotel is your entry point to Montreaux’s Alpine charm: pay a visit to Chillon Castle or get your legs ready for the week on a lakefront walking path. The following day, breakfast is included before you’re due to meet your DuVine guides and group—your bike is ready and waiting for a week of Swiss cycling. The amount listed is the starting price and subject to availability.
Inclusions: Hotel, Breakfast
Accommodations: Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic
Price per person in double occupancy: $250
Price in single occupancy: $490To reserve call +1 888 396 5383 or email your Tour Coordinator
- Day 1
The Canton of Vaud
Welcome to the Swiss Riviera: our adventure begins this morning in Montreux, located at the base of the Alps and on the shores of Lake Geneva. Your bikes are waiting at the lakefront, so we’ll warm up on a bike path and drop in at the UCI headquarters in Aigle before the last bits of civilization change gradually into vineyards. Before long, we encounter our inaugural climb—the Col de La Croix—which is a lovely little slice of tarmac that brings us officially into the Alps. Next up: the Col du Pillon. You’ve already done most of the climbing, but our last 3.5 kilometers is at 9%. A descent into Gstaad marks the end the week’s first ride, and we’ll check into our Alpine luxury hotel and home for the next two nights.
Meals: Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Aigle, Ormont-Dessus, Gstaad
Accomplished: 52 miles / 83 km, elevation gain: 7,067 feet / 2,154 meters
Accommodations: The Mansard - Day 2
Gruyère, Gruyère, Gruyère
Here, it’s typical to find cheese at breakfast alongside bread, fruit, and eggs—and that’s because we’re in the birthplace of Gruyère. As any monger will tell you, clean air, green pastures, and fresh spring water are the foundation for exceptional cheese; it happens that they’re also excellent conditions for cycling. Today we make our way through the Sarine river valley until we reach the town of Gruyères, where we’ll sip coffee on the cobblestones, peer up at turrets on the medieval castle, and train our tastebuds on the subtle nuances between Alpine cheeses. Starting to feel a little relaxed? Our climb du jour—the Jaun Pass—will perk you up as the gentle approach through Alpage pastures turns into 10% on the middle two miles. We promise the views from the top will reward your efforts in kind. This afternoon is a perfect opportunity to hit the hotel spa before a charming farmhouse dinner later in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Gruyères, Saanen
Accomplished: 63 miles / 102 km, elevation gain: 6,841 feet / 2,085 meters
Longer Option: 78 miles / 126 km, elevation gain: 8,383 feet / 2,555 meters
Accommodations: The Mansard - Day 3
Gantrisch Natural Park
Leave the valley behind and head east this morning, beginning with a bang on the Mittelberg Pass. The Mittelberg is a classic Swiss climb—if it were in the French Alps, it would be a TDF fixture. But here in Switzerland, it remains a secret so you can climb in solitude. There’s no traffic, just the sound of clanging cowbells and clicking gears. Next, enter the protected roads of the Gantrisch Natural Park where we’ll meet the Gurnigel Pass and ascend to cycling heaven via a section of well-packed gravel near the top. Round it out with a descent into the Thunersee, then cruise for a final few kilometers along Lake Thun to reach our hotel. After check-in, unwind with a swim or sit back and sip a beer overlooking the mountains we just conquered. Dinner tonight is at a lively restaurant on the water’s edge in town.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Broc, Wattenwil
Accomplished: 80 miles / 129 km, elevation gain: 7,756 feet / 2,364 meters
Accommodations: Hotel Schlossberg - Day 4
The Susten Pass
Today kicks off gently with some lakeside riding that follows the curve of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. Just when you thought your legs were getting a break, we approach the Susten Pass—but you’ll be so enthralled by the views of Giglistock and Sustenhorn peaks (plus the perfectly paved road) that you’ll hardly notice the 28 kilometers at 5.7%. After an electrifying descent into Andermatt, take the rest of the day off to get acquainted with this sweet Alpine town or relax at The Chedi before tomorrow’s king stage.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Destinations: Interlaken, Meiringen
Accomplished: 71 miles / 114 km, elevation gain: 10,259 feet / 3,127 meters
Accommodations: The Chedi Andermatt - Day 5
Above the Clouds: Furka, Nufenen, and Gotthard
It’s a good thing we’ve spent the last four days getting into mountain goat mode, because this week is ending on a high note—literally. Our appetizer is the Furka Pass, with 11 kilometers to the summit at an average grade of 6%. At almost 2,500 meters elevation, we’re eye-to-eye with the Rhone Glacier, source of the Rhone river. Gain momentum on the ride down because next is the Nufenen Pass, the second highest paved road in Switzerland that gets up to 10% on some ramps. Finish with the main event: Gotthard Pass. We’ll go via Tremola Road, an old byway built in 1832 with four kilometers of cobbles and 24 unforgettable switchbacks. You’ll arrive back in Andermatt as fresh as a daisy! Tonight we pop the Prosecco—we’ve successfully conquered the Swiss Alps!
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Obergoms, Airolo
Accomplished: 68 miles / 110 km, elevation gain: 10,827 feet / 3,300 meters
Accommodations: The Chedi Andermatt - Day 6
See You Later, Switzerland
Enjoy one last coffee at The Chedi before your guides shuttle you to the train station in Lucerne. From here, it’s an easy connection to Basel, Geneva or Zurich airports, or wherever your adventure takes you next.
Meals: Breakfast
Destinations: Lucerne
DuVine itineraries may be subject to slight route changes, hotel substitutions, and other modifications.
Arrival Details
Airport City: Geneva, Switzerland Pick-Up Location: Montreux Pick-Up Time: 8:30 am
Departure Details
Airport City: Zurich, Switzerland Drop-Off Location: Lucerne Train Station Drop-Off Time: 10:30 am
Arrival and departure details for alternate itineraries and future year departures may be subject to change.
Travelers Take Note
Upon booking this tour, you will be asked to complete a short form. We use this information to ensure all Level 4 trip participants are adequately prepared for our most difficult riding and have proximate cycling experience to the rest of the group.
Due to altitude, weather can change quickly. Expect anything from peak summer heat to hail and snow in a single day, and pack accordingly. Helpful hints about dressing for all climates can be found on our blog.
Please note that e-bikes cannot be reserved for this tour.
Dates + Availability
Inclusions + Details
Accommodations
- Thoughtfully selected accommodations that reveal the true character of the region in ideal riding locations
- Gratuities for baggage, porters, and hotel service
- Luggage transfers
Meals
- Daily breakfasts, all lunches, and 4 cyclist-friendly dinners at our favorite local restaurants and renowned culinary establishments
- Nutritious energy snacks, hydration, and shakes to support endurance and recovery
- Local wines and beer with every meal
Gear
- Colnago V4 carbon road bike with Dura-Ace Di2 groupset and Vision carbon wheelset
- Custom Rapha x DuVine kit
- DuVine Challenge t-shirt, water bottle, and drawstring bag
- GPS with pre-programmed route maps
Support
- Expert bilingual guide with extensive cycling experience and local knowledge
- SAG vehicle that follows the day’s route, offers support as needed, and carries spare gear and snacks
- Pick-up and drop-off before and after your tour from predetermined meeting points
- Laundry service for cycling apparel provided mid-week
- Daily bike maintenance to ensure optimal performance
For technical riding and Europe's classic climbs, only one bike will do: the Colnago V4. This best-in-class bike includes Dura-Ace Di2 shifting and a custom Vision carbon wheelset for a ride that's light, responsive, and unbelievably fun to ride—with design sensibility that looks just as good as it feels on the road. Colnago invested serious research hours and conducted aerodynamic studies to realize the V4's monocoque carbon frame. It's solid yet reactive, with a shorter head tube and longer fork for enhanced rideability—yet it retains the soul of a racing bike. Together, these features make our custom V4s equally well-suited to flat terrain and grueling grades. The Colnago V4 is exclusively available to cyclists on our Challenge tours.