Switzerland, Austria, and Italy – June 23

Switzerland, Austria, and Italy Video

June, 2023 – Summer days in the Alps! Contact us now for the tour of a lifetime, an adventure that offers spectacular scenery, exercise, food, and fun. High Season hotel prices have raised our costs, but we remain $-hundreds per day less than your typical “bicycles optional” tours.

Perfect for first-timers and experienced riders this flexible 10 day ride showcases Switzerland, Austria, and Italy like no other tour. It can be enjoyed on touring bikes, E-bikes, and ElliptiGos alike. The route flows mostly downhill along the Inn River in Switzerland and the Adige River in Northern Italy. Stunning mountain vistas make our pass climbing worthwhile. Three- and four-star hotels welcome you each afternoon, so this tour is comfortable. But we eschew the coddling that make some “bicycle vacations” so expensive.

June, 2022 and guests on our first-ever summer running of Switzerland, Austria, and Italy tour enjoyed sunny weather and almost zero rain. Depending on the region we’re vititng we try to schedule in the most favorable weeks. Hope you’ll be as fortunate in 2023.
–Ciao! Pete van Nuys

Day 1 & 2. Meet in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
Three hours by impeccable Swiss train from Zurich International, St. Moritz is world famous as a jet-setting winter resort. In late summer it’s an active sports paradise with an idyllic lakeside setting.
We’ve added an extra day at the start so you can hike Europe’s “Continental Divide” (Lunghin Pass) or ElliptiGo up the epic climb to the Romans’ historic Julier Pass. Art lovers, check out the uniquely mystic landscapes of painter Giovanni Segantini in his Museum just down the steet.
Day 2 it’s on our bikes or GOs to for a leisurely ride ’round the lake. There’ll be time to funicular up Moutas Moragl or visit the 11th century village of Pontresina before a group dinner at Hotel Soldanella.

Day 3, 22 mi. Our first day on the road starts with you riding–no kidding– the bobsled run down into the valley of the Upper Engadine. Glacial blue water races beside you as you roll over the cobblestones of picture perfect villages of the Inn Valley. We’ll ride through Samedan with it’s historic Old Tower, La Punt, where you may pause to visit the frescoes in the early Gothic church of San-Andrea. Lunch if you like in the village of Zuoz with stained glass windows in the church of San Luzi. Overnight is in Zernez, the gateway to the Swiss National Park, the oldest in Europe. Drop into the Park Visitors Center to meet Ibex, Chamois, Lynx and other species not roaming our National Parks.

Day 4, 22 mi. We roll downstream through charming Lavin with its character of an old mountain village; detour to the covered bridge over the Inn. Then up to the real Alps and the village Guarda with its spectacular valley views. Honored for preserving its Engadiner heritage, enjoy a snack and be intrigued by its centuries old architecture. Next our first spectacular downhill brings us to Ardez, and another climb high above the valley through forest, over streams, and through alpine pastures– cow bells ringing. Now prepare for an even more amazing descent past the castle Tarasp, swooping into our hotel in Scoul. There our hosts offer fresh meats and game, frequently off the BBQ, not to mention a pool and sauna to soothe those tired muscles.

Ardez, the bottom of our first alpine descent!

Day 5, 40 mi. Today it’s breakfast in Switzerland, lunch in Austria, and dinner in Italy . We spin downstream to Martina on the Swiss/ Austrian border. Then we climb 1,100 feet to Norbertshohe, a popular challenge for touring cyclists on the ancient Roman Claudia Augusta road. Your reward might be Spatzle mit Kase the most mind-blowing mac n’ cheese you’ve ever tasted. Then it’s a quick downhill to Nauder and 400 more vertical to the summit of the Reschen Pass in Italy. A beautiful ride around a lake and the famous Belltower of Lake Resia rising from its glacial waters precedes a satisfying downhill on the Adige River. Celebrate your accomplishments tonight around the dinner table in our hotel in Burgeis. This charming town sits below a 12th Century Benedictine abbey and anchors west end of the lush Vinschgau valley.

Day 6, 36 mi. Your reward today: an all-downhill roll through the Vinschgau, sometimes next to the river, sometimes through fields and orchards. Glurns, an 11th century walled city provides an early excuse to stop for the first gelato of the day and some quality sightseeing. Then on through apple and pear orchards, past castles, trout streams, and medieval ruins. Arrive with a dramatic descent past the Adige falls to Merano.

[Special Note on our Routes: Bicycle Trekking is a tradition in Europe. Featuring “soft adventure,” it attracts families, lovers, and retirees. Historic roads, some dating to pe-Roman times, follow ancient river valleys. We’re roughly following the Inn Radweg and the Radweg Vinschgau , but on our ElliptiGos we steer around longer unpaved sections which tend to run through natural preserves.]

Day 7. Kick back in Merano today, a town famous for relaxing since Roman times. Stroll the shopping streets or ease into the spa for a day.

Feeling adventurous? Join us for the Optional climb up famous Stelvio Pass for lifetime bragging rights. We’ll travel to the base by train, then leave you to seek adventure on this epic ascent, often featured on the Giro d’Italia. Then by train back to Merano to bask in the comfort of our hotel’s own spa– and maybe a well deserved massage.

Day 8, 36 mi . A day of transition, we descend toward the heart of northern Italy’s wine making, along the Weinstrasse (Wine Road) itself. Then leaving the Adige River valley for the afternoon, a converted rail route brings us to the verdant valley of Apianno and Caldaro. Native varietals of white Gewurtztraminer and red Vernatch roll upon the landscape. Wineries and wine shops dot the route. Vino with lunch? But of course. Descending steadily through vineyards and apple orchards we approach the tranquil edge of Lake Kaltern. A final push brings us to the village of Auer and a memorable dinner among its quaint streets.

Day 9, 22 mi. We descend to the bike path along a former railroad line for a gentle ride northward. We hug the river as it winds through a broad valley below the towering Dolomites. These peaks look very different from the Alps where we began our journey. The destination is Bolzano, the small but vibrant capitol of South Tyrol. Italian speaking anomaly in this German speaking state, it has guarded the entrances of two alpine passes since ancient times. Enjoy the mix of culture and commerce strolling its downtown markets. Cars are banned from the city center, it is a pedestrian’s dream.

Day 10. Arrivederci or book an additional night Bolzano. Play tourist in the Messner Mountain Museum, and don’t miss the 5,000 year old iceman, “Ötzi,” in the world famous Archeological Museum. Quality restaurants abound.
If you’re leaving us today, your rental ElliptiGo goes into our van; we turn rental bikes back to their local office. Rail connections to Malpensa airport in Milan are frequent, but can you really pass up a couple days in Venice?

Wandervogel Tours Terms and Conditions, Reservations and Deposits

Reservations can be made via our website with a $200 per person deposit. Payments using a credit card are processed by PayPal

We prefer payments made with a check made payable to Wandervogel BTA and mailed to 2400 Calle Monte Carlo, San Clemente, CA 92672

Deposits are fully refundable through February 28. Thereafter refunds are subject to our cancellation policy below.

Trip prices are per person based on double occupancy. There is a single supplement fee for individuals in a single room.

Once you book your trip, the price is guaranteed

Price covers land costs only; they do not cover air fare or other transportation to and from the trip.

ElliptiGo and Bike Rental fees are not included in the trip price.

Price includes hotels, breakfasts and luggage transfers. Consult the specific trip itinerary for additional items included in the trip price.

Your reservation for our tour is an acknowledgement of full acceptance of our Terms of Service and
Cancellation Policy.

Wandervogel’s acceptance of your registration for this tour is subsequent to your agreement to pay the remaining balance in full.

If you must cancel your tour reservation, your cancellation fee will be determined according to the terms outlined in the chart below.

Exceptions to our cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including but not limited to weather, terrorism, civil unrest, epidemics or the threat thereof, personal, family or medical emergencies or force majeure. There is no refund for arriving late or leaving a trip early.

Cancellation of tour because of travel restrictions for Americans in our tour destination

We will be reviewing the feasibility of operating tours. If the borders are not open for travel 60 days prior to the tour start, or if the trip must be postponed, you will be given a 100% refund of your trip deposit paid less any PayPal fees incurred (3% per transaction).

Cancellation Fees (per person)

Days Prior to Tour Scheduled Start Date

90+ days prior to tour start – 25%

15 to 44 days prior to tour start – 50%

0 to 14 days – 90%

Trip Insurance

We encourage tour participants to consider purchasing Travel Protection plans for your trip.

Trip insurance policies can cover: Airline Tickets, medical emergencies, etc.

Please read: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/trip-planning/travel-insurance

Invoice Payments

Deposits and Reservations can be made via PayPal using a credit card.

All subsequent invoice payments are payable by check, please.

If you prefer to pay your invoice via PayPal using a credit card, a 3% processing fee will be added to your invoice.

Invoice payments are due by the dates listed on your invoice.

Liability Release

Participants are required to sign the Liability Release Form with which they are provided for any event they attend.

$3,200 per person, double occupancy. That’s less than half the fancy-dancy Trek, Backroads, or other “bicycle optional vacation” tours. Price is subject to currency fluctuations and amenity adjustments before departure.Included in the price per person are:
* 9 nights in 3- and 4-star hotels
* 9 breakfasts
* 4 dinners select hotels or restaurants
* Our own van large enough for 10 ElliptiGos plus bikes
* Luggage transfers between hotels
* SOS support en route
* Route finding and leadership on the road
* 10 ElliptiGo 8C’s available first come, first served $249 for the duration of the tour
* Hybrid, road, and E-bikes** available
** Please see our discussion of Ebikes on tour.

We keep our groups small. Space is limited and we expect our 2023 departure to sell out.
Questions? please email petevannuys@cox.net
Or text/call 949 492 5737