“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
Switzerland is the only country in the world we know of that has designated and marked inline skating routes. This not only shows the country’s dedication to inline skating and biking but it also means you won’t need a map or directions to follow the routes.
This new inline skating (and biking for those coming with a skater) tour includes two distinct areas of Switzerland – the Rhine Valley and Lake Constance. The Alpine Rhine Valley, known locally as the Alpenrhein, is the lush farming land that runs alongside the Rhine River on its way down from its source in the Alps. The area is mostly flat, slightly downhill in the direction we are skating/biking, and scenic with granite mountains on both sides of the valley.
Lake Constance, or the Bodensee, sits in the middle of three countries, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, with Liechtenstein right across the Rhine River. We can practically throw a stone to the other three countries and even venture slightly over the border to spend a night in the capital of Liechtenstein!
In fact, 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.
But it is the skating 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, meaning 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.
For Bicyclists
This tour is designed as an inline skating tour. It is open to bikers and is especially suited to bicyclists looking to accompany an inline skater. We also have a Switzerland Biking Adventure which is designed for bicyclists. While the short routes are the same easy routes created for skaters, the biking tour includes longer routes up and into the mountains.
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.
Private Tour Info
Want to make this trip even more memorable? Grab your friends and pick a date.
Start planning your private tourDetails
- Dates: July 13 - 19, 2022
- Cost Per Person: $3,700
- Single Supplement: $900
- Private Tour Minimum: 8
- Activities: Skating & Bicycling
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Guides: Aaron Rothfolk, Allan Wright
Other Info: -> The single supplement provides you with a double room for single occupancy.
-> This tour can accommodate bicyclists who plan to bicycle the entire week. Bike rental is an extra 25 € per day or €175 for the 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.
Book this TourTrip Highlights
- Skate or bike along the Walensee Lake with thousand foot high cliffs peering at you from across the water
- Walk the ancient streets of Bad Ragaz, Werdenberg, and Altstätten, three of the lovely towns in which we stay
- Skate or bike along the Bodensee (Lake Constance) with hundreds of other cyclists, as the round-the-lake tour is the second most popular bicycle route in Europe
- Experience the fascinating Swiss culture in this region not know as much to North American travelers
DAY 1
We pick you up at 1:00 PM in Bad Ragaz, swanky spa town located in the upper Rhine River Valley and at the foot of the Alps. After introductions, we will skate and bicycle from our centrally-located hotel using a series of town bicycle paths, a paved trail on the Rhine River dike, and small farming roads. Our destination is the wine village of Malans, population 2,341. With five wineries located in town, you'll have the option to do a little tasting before skating, biking, or catching the van back. Distances: 11 or 22 kilometers
DAY 2
Today we skate and bicycle on Switzerland's Regional Skating Route 53 from Bad Ragaz out to the Walensee, a large lake with towering cliffs looming straight up from the water. Our path first takes us through an idyllic (and flat) agricultural valley before reaching the lake and nestling between the waters and the railroad tracks with fast-moving trains whizzing past us. You'll have the option to take that local train back to Bad Ragaz or do it all via skates or bike. Distances: 22, 31, or 62 kilometers
DAY 3
This morning we start with an optional morning three-mile hike in Bad Ragaz, getting us into the hills with a view of the valley and town below. We'll then skate and bicycle down the Rhein valley paralleling the Rhein River, utilizing mostly small farming and country roads without traffic. Our hotel in the small town of Buchs is situated right next to a lake and a short stroll to the village of Werdenberg with its almost 800-year-old castle and amazing old wooden buildings. Distance: 22 kilometers
DAY 4
We keep moving down the Rhine Valley today, which means even while we meander left and right with the small roads and paths we are imperceptibly but distinctly skating and biking downhill. The interesting thing about the route we are on today is that it reveals much about real life in Switzerland: farmers in their fields, school kids shouting in their playground, families barbecuing in a local park, and old ladies shuffling home from the store with a bag of groceries. All this on paved, mostly flat, and mostly smooth roads and paths. Our destination today is Altstätten, a historic walled village. Distances: 15 or 30 kilometers
DAY 5
Today we finish our time in the Rhine Valley by skating and biking down to the town of St. Margrethen, where you have a choice. You can hop on a train to our hotel in Romanshorn or continue on the "marathon route" which was designed by the Swiss government to be flat, smooth, and few turns for those in training for a skate marathon. Either way, our destination is Romanshorn on the shores of Lake Constance. Tonight we sleep in an 800-year-old palace and can enjoy a drink while looking at sea birds gliding over the water. Distances: 14 or 32 kilometers
DAY 6
We skate and bicycle on the famous Bodensee bicycle route, a four-day tour around Lake Constance (the Bodensee in German) which is now the second most popular bicycle tour in Europe. You will never be on your own as we will be passed by and pass 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 seaside cafes on our way to the city of Kreuzlingen. Distances: 15, 22, or 44 kilometers
DAY 7
On our final morning, we skate and bicycle the other direction along Lake Constance. We have saved one of the best stretches for last, as our path is smooth, straight, and totally free of cars. Our destination is the small town of Arbon, situated on the water, where you can enjoy a morning coffee with the sea breezes. After returning to the hotel, we'll shower, check out, and take the train back to Zurich or wherever your travels take you. Distances: 8.5 or 17 kilometers
Trip Accommodations
NIGHTS 1 & 2 >> 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.
NIGHT 3 >> HOTEL TAUCHER / BUCHS
This small, 14-bedroom, family run hotel in the small town of Buchs is a classic Zephyr Adventures find. It is comfortable yet casual and ideally situated on the shore of a small lake and steps from the ancient village of Werdenberg with its 790-year-old castle.
NIGHT 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.
NIGHTS 5 & 6 >> 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.
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 traveling solo, we will match you with another traveler of the same gender. However, you may pay a single supplement to have your own room.
- All of your dinners and breakfasts 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 July is a pleasant 74 degrees. It does rain in the area all year long, with the summer months often seeing the wettest days, so 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 arrive at Bad Ragaz early 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! We do have the ability to take bicyclists as well but this is primarily for those participating with skaters.
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.
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