“Swiss cities remind me of the kid at high school who’s great at sports, has perfect hair, the best girlfriend, and the teachers all love him.“
Rick Steves
Imagine gliding along a river path with the Swiss Alps rising on both sides of you, the trail ahead smooth and flat, no cars in sight, and the next charming village just a few kilometers away. That is the everyday of this tour — and it’s possible because Switzerland is the only country in the world with officially designated and marked inline skating routes. The paths are signed, maintained, and designed specifically for skaters (and bikers). You’ll never need to navigate or find your way. You just skate or bike.
Over seven days, you’ll explore Lake Constance, the vast, shimmering Bodensee shared by Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, where you’ll skate and cycle one of the most beloved active travel routes in Europe, passing waterside cafés and small harbors with hundreds of fellow skaters and cyclists for company. Then you’ll move through the beautiful Alpine Rhine Valley — a lush corridor alongside the Rhine as it descends from the Alps — that carries you through farmland, medieval town centers, and the kind of real Swiss daily life that most tourists never see. Tucked between the two: an overnight in Vaduz, the tiny, charming capital of Liechtenstein — a principality most people have never set foot in.
What makes this more than a skating and biking trip is what surrounds you as you explore. You’ll sleep in a 600-year-old castle hotel on the shores of the lake, explore an Alpine village where traditional yodeling and cattle processions are still living traditions, wander the beautifully preserved medieval streets of Altstätten, and finish the week in the spa town of Bad Ragaz — where thermal waters discovered in 1240 still flow from the mountain rock, and a spectacular gorge walk is waiting on the final morning. The skating and biking is outstanding. Everything else is authentic Switzerland.
For Bicyclists
This tour is designed as an inline skating tour. It is open to all bikers and is especially suited to bicyclists looking to accompany an inline skater. E-bikes are also available for anyone looking to try out a bike tour, with the extra confidence gained from the electric assistance.
Your Guide
Cyril Vidergar originally found his guiding fit leading backcountry, big wall climbing, and canyoneering trips. In the last decade, Cyril has focused on long-distance endurance and multi-day adventures from ultra marathons to hut-to-hut gravel and single track bike routes in Colorado and Utah, as well as the Triple Bypass road ride and self-supported bikepacking across Colorado. He’s as much of a cycling expert as you’ll find anywhere!
Culture & Cuisine
One of the great things about Switzerland is that it is so international. The country has four official languages (German, French, Italian, and Romansch) and this is reflected in the Swiss attitudes and cuisine. The food is upscale, the hotels are clean and well run, and the people are extremely hospitable.
You probably know that Switzerland is known for its cheese. Varieties like Emmental, Gruyère, and Raclette are staples of Swiss cuisine. Cheese fondue and raclette, where cheese is melted and served with accompaniments, are beloved traditional dishes. Switzerland is also well known for its chocolate, world-famous for its quality and taste. Swiss chocolatiers produce a wide range of chocolates, from milk to dark, and it’s a must-try for visitors.
The Swiss embrace an outdoor lifestyle, with hiking, skiing, and mountaineering being popular activities. This love for the outdoors is deeply ingrained in the culture and has influenced fashion, design, and leisure activities.
It is the skating and biking that makes this tour what it is. We use one designated national skating route and three regional ones, picking and choosing the best options. The paths are mostly flat, almost entirely car-free or with very few cars, and generally smooth pavement. Plus, the routes use rural roads as well as bike paths. This means there is constantly something to view around the next turn. For bikers, you will have the choice of biking the skating paths (which make for easy riding) or taking longer rides up into the surrounding hillsides.
Setting Your Expectations
We believe this location is one of the best skating and biking locations in the world. Most of the paths are flat, smooth, and car-free. But any time you skate seven days in a row traveling from town to town, you will come across small hills, rough patches, and the occasional busy road. Overall, we think you will love it.
Details
- Dates: August 8 - 14, 2027
- Cost Per Person: $4,200
- Single Supplement: $900
- Private Tour Minimum: 8
- Activities: Skating & Bicycling
- Guide(s): Cyril Vidergar
Difficulty
Intermediate (Skating) or Easy (Biking)
This is an intermediate, fairly easy tour for inline skaters. You should be comfortable on your skates, competent in braking, and able to easily skate six or eight miles at a time. For bikers, you will find this tour very manageable, with few hills, smooth riding, and low or no traffic.
Other Info
-> The single supplement provides you with a double room for single occupancy.
-> Bike rental is an extra $250 for the tour or $375 for an e-bike. The bikes are comfort bikes, which are sufficient for this tour.
-> We are not able to rent bikes for skaters on an as-needed basis as we don't have the ability to transport bikes in our vehicles.
Talk to Our Team: 888-758-8687
I Have QuestionsTrip Highlights
- Skate or bike along the Rhine River, one of Europe's most important that also creates the beautiful flat valley we enjoy on this tour
- Walk the ancient streets of Bad Ragaz, Werdenberg, and Altstätten
- Skate or bike along the Bodensee (Lake Constance) on the round-the-lake tour that is the second most popular bicycle route in Europe
- Experience the fascinating Swiss culture in this region not known as much to North American travelers
- Stay a night in Liechtenstein, potentially adding a new country to your list!
DAY 1
We'll meet after lunch at our hotel on the shores of Lake Constance. After picking up bikes for those who are cycling, we'll head out on an excellent stretch that is smooth, straight, and totally free of cars. Our destination is the small town of Arbon, situated on the water, where you can enjoy an afternoon coffee or treat. After returning to our 800-year-old castle hotel, we'll have time to relax before meeting up for a Swiss wine tasting and dinner at the nearby Hotel Schloss. Distances: 8.5 or 17 kilometers
DAY 2
The highlight of today is that we get to skate and bicycle on the famous Bodensee route around Lake Constance (the Bodensee in German), which is the second most popular bicycle tour in Europe. You will never be on your own, as we will pass and be passed by hundreds of cyclists. Today's route is an out (and back if you wish) route that parallels the lake the whole way but takes us through cute towns and past waterside cafes on our way to the city of Kreuzlingen. In the afternoon, you'll have time to explore Bodensee on your own, or you can enjoy a drink from the hotel terrace with views of the water before meeting up for dinner at Mole Restaurant. Distances: 21, 42, or 115 kilometers
DAY 3
Today, we head into the Rhine Valley, and you have choices: You can hop on a train to the town of St. Margrethen and skate or bike from there to our next home base of Altstätten. For a medium route, you can catch the train to Oberriet to get started. Or, for the full "marathon route" (designed by the Swiss government to be flat, smooth, and with very few turns for those in training for a skate marathon), you can skate or bike the whole distance from Romanshorn. Today's routes reveal much about real life in Switzerland: farmers in their fields, school kids on their playground, families barbecuing in a local park, and Swiss ladies shuffling home from the store. Our final destination of Altstätten is a lovely stop, renowned for its beautifully preserved medieval and baroque town center. Tonight is yours to explore and find dinner on your own. Distances: 18, 31, or 60 kilometers
DAY 4
We get a break from skating and biking today to dive deeper into the Swiss Alps we are surrounded by. We'll catch a quick train and bus combo to Appenzell—synonymous with the most beautiful Swiss traditions, of yodeling, cheese, seasonal cattle processions, and traditional dances. We can take a cable car up the mountain and enjoy a hike, or wander through town and marvel at the magnificently decorated houses and living craftsmanship of this village. We'll enjoy dinner together tonight in the hotel restaurant in Altstätten .
DAY 5
Today we skate or ride deeper into the Rhine Valley, headed to Buchs, where we'll take a break for a tour of the Werdenberg Castle. There are multiple distance options today, with all routes leading across the border into Liechtenstein and the town of Vaduz, a charming, compact capital sandwiched between Austria and Switzerland, and known for its stunning mountain scenery. You'll have time to enjoy the Städtle pedestrian area that features a mix of modern architecture, cafes, and museums before we enjoy the regional influences with dinner at Made in Italy.
DAY 6
The route today is a lovely meander along the Rhine River, point to point from our hotel in Vaduz to our hotel in Bad Ragaz, where we will finish out the tour in this tranquil and picturesque spa town, world-renowned as a wellness destination. We'll have an optional excursion to the Tamina Gorge, a 450-meter-long narrow canyon where the rock walls rise roughly 100 meters high, and will make our way to a cave-like grotto where the 36.5°C thermal spring water discovered in 1240, gushes out of the rock. We'll walk back along the turquoise Tamina River through dense woods, with views of the massive Taminabrücke bridge overhead, passing several small, cascading waterfalls, and return to Bad Ragaz in time for our final dinner together at the hotel. Or, skip the walk and make a visit to the Tamina Therme (warm thermal baths) with its six indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna, and wellness treatments available (optional). Distance: 19, 34, or 49 kilometers
DAY 7
This final morning we'll skate or ride from Bad Ragaz along town bicycle paths, a paved trail on the Rhine River dike, and small farming roads, to and from the wine-growing village and former marketplace of Malans, before skating, biking, or catching the van back in time to return our bikes, pack up and say our goodbyes.
Book this TourTrip Accommodations
NIGHTS 1 & 2 >> HOTEL SCHLOSS / ROMANSHORN
The Hotel Schloss, translated as Palace Hotel, is exactly what it offers: a 600-year-old palace recently renovated into a three-star hotel. Situated just above the Bodensee (Lake Constance) and right next to a church founded in 779 (making it over 1200 years old), you will have plenty of history at your doorstep. You will also appreciate the balconies overlooking the town and the terrace with winds blowing off the lake.
NIGHTS 3 & 4 >> SONNE HOTEL / ALTSTÄTTEN
The Sonne Hotel is located steps from the historic center of Altstätten, which you can enter through the old town gate still standing. After skating all day and wandering around the village streets, you will appreciate the recently-remodeled sleeping rooms of the hotel and the outdoor terrace where you can sip one of the local wines.
NIGHT 5 >> HOTEL VADUZERHOF / LIECHTENSTEIN
Situated in the heart of the Principality of Liechtenstein and only 5 minutes by car from the Swiss Rhine Valley motorway. In the more than 170-year-old building, you can spend the night steeped in history!
NIGHT 6 >> HOTEL SCHLOSS RAGAZ / BAD RAGAZ
Bad Ragaz is a swanky resort town at the foot of the mountains and the Hotel Schloss (castle in English) Ragaz is a spa hotel just outside the center. We have rooms in the actual palace and you can choose to walk to one of the mineral bath spas for which the town is named if you wish.
Book this TourArrival & Departure
What's Included?
- Two Zephyr guides, with a third guide added if necessary.
- Double occupancy lodging is included. If you are coming on a trip solo, you have two options: 1) Pay the single supplement to receive your own room. 2) Ask us to try to find you a roommate of the same gender to share a room with; if we are not successful you will be charged the single supplement and receive your own room.
- All breakfasts and all but one dinner are included. Gratuity for these meals is also included. In general, we leave lunches open so that you have time to explore and enjoy the local flavors en route.
- All your transportation is included once you meet your guides on the first day, except for the occasional optional transport by local train.
- NOT INCLUDED Bicycle rental, beverages, desserts, lunches, gratuities to your guides, personal expenses, and travel to and from the destination.
Weather
The average high temperature in August is a pleasant 74 degrees. It does rain in the area all year long, with the summer months often seeing the wettest days—hopefully less in August, but be prepared!
Physical Activity
This is an intermediate, fairly easy tour. For inline skaters, any time you plan to skate through Europe for seven days in a row there will be some rough spots, small hills, and other obstacles. You should be comfortable on your skates, competent in braking, and able to easily skate six or eight miles at a time. For bikers, since our route selection is designed with skaters in mind you will find this tour very manageable, with few hills, smooth riding, and low or no traffic. If you are a cyclist looking for more mileage, there is plenty to be had and we will provide suggestions for that each day.
Extending Your Stay
There is so much to do in Switzerland and you are so close to other countries it is hard to choose! One option would be to fly into Zurich and out of another airport; Munich, Milan, and Geneva are all relatively close by train. We can also highly suggest spending time in the Alps. You could easily extend your stay at the end in Bad Ragaz and spend a few days hiking from there.
Type of Person Who Will Enjoy This Tour
All inline skaters of intermediate level and above and bikers of any level will enjoy this tour!
Changes to Your Itinerary
While everything under “What is Included” will remain the same, the actual restaurants, hotels, and activities listed in our itineraries are subject to modifications. Changes that are out of our control are common – a restaurant closes or loses its awesome chef, a winery changes its visiting hours, a hotel gets remodeled, a road or trail undergoes construction. You are entrusting us to create an outstanding vacation for you and so it is possible we may take the liberty of making necessary changes (even at the last minute, during the guides’ scout trip) to the itinerary that will improve your overall trip experience. If there is any one experience that is going to make or break your trip, please discuss this with us in advance! We will attempt to keep our website itinerary as current as possible and communicate any major changes with you in the weeks prior to the tour.
Related Blog Posts
The Perfect Skate Tour Location
September 11, 2019
Is Rollerblading Making a Comeback?
May 3, 2019
3 Misconceptions about Group Travel
June 21, 2012
I'm Interested!
Ready to book this trip? Click here to head to our registration page.
Not quite ready to sign up yet, but you are interested in staying in touch about this trip? No problem, we can add you to our "Interested" list. This means we will follow up with you via email or phone as we get closer to selling out the trip to see if you are ready to make a decision to book or not.
Please note this does NOT mean we are holding a spot for you on the trip. In order to hold your spot, you will need to pay a trip deposit.
More Information
I'm interested in this tour and want more information. Get in touch with us.
Plan a Private Tour
Looking to book this itinerary as a private tour? Complete our private tour inquiry form to get started.