Mountainbike: Glacier Bike Tour

The lovely lake landscapes in the Engadine valley are a magnificent opener to this tour. The first stage takes you through Albula, where you can observe otherwise shy Alpine animals, such as marmots, in their natural habitats. With the most wonderful views of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Rhaetian Railway and an exciting destination at the end … the Glacier Bike Tour definitely starts with a bang!

The Bike Kingdom – the largest uninterrupted biking area in Grisons – is on the agenda for the second stage of the Glacier Bike Tour. Before you even get here, though, there’s no doubt you’ll have already checked a range of records, landmarks and experiences off your list.

From almost 2,000 metres above sea level down into Graubünden’s sun-kissed orchard and through the tiny town of Fürstenau, you eventually arrive in Thusis – one of Medieval Europe’s most significant transit towns. It’s here where you’ll spend the night.

Up to the highest heights, from the convergence of  the Albula and Vorderrhein rivers and on to where the the Vorderrhein and Hinterrhein rivers also converge. This stage leads along an isolated path over the Heinzenberg ridge west of Thusis, through wide meadows, pastures and forests and on to the (highly recommended) mountain inn.

This stage of the tour leads into one of the most impressive landscapes in the Alps. From the spectacular Rhine Gorge, through old villages and Walser Alpine landscapes to Ilanz, the first town on the Rhine.

The Glacier Bike Tour leads through the Surselva today, from the Rhine town of Ilanz to the monastery village of Disentis. The route climbs gently but steadily along the river, but you won’t find it boring or monotonous at all – the route is just as varied as the countryside and culture you’ll experience along the way.

The origin of the Rhine, a change of canton and a rollercoaster of altitudes await you on the Oberalp Pass. This stage leads into the wild landscape of the second pass on the Glacier Bike Tour, into the next canton. Uri and Andermatt await you on the other side.

The Furka Pass is 2,429 metres above sea level and, on the way there, you’ll pass by the smallest village in Switzerland and find traces of Sean Connery, who lived in this area during the filming of ‘Goldfinger’ in 1963, and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe as the trail snakes along. From its highest point, the route leads to the glacial world of Valais and the source of the river Rhône.

After the sparse but nonetheless stunning scenery within the Furka Pass comes the picturesque landscape of Goms. From Ulrichen, the route descends through riverside forests, deserted valleys and old mountain villages to the warm Valais vineyards.

The Grand Finale! From wine to ice cream, from the warmth of Valais to Switzerland’s famous landmark … the final stage towards the Matterhorn is a more than 1,000-metre trail, leading steadily uphill from Brig and through the Mattertal valley.