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RhB Viadukt am Albulapass
Palpuogna See bei Bergün
Römerbrücke im Binntal Glacier Bike Tour
Dem Gletscher entgegen

Here you will find answers to the most important questions about the Glacier Bike Tour.

Route

What are the seasonal times for the Glacier Bike Tour?

The season for the Glacier Bike Tour depends on the snow conditions, as the tour passes over three Alpine passes: Albula, Oberalp and Furka. These are closed in winter but can be bypassed by train. Consequently, the season runs from around the beginning of June to October.

Can the Glacier Bike Tour be done in May?

The start and end point of the tour are at 1800 metres and all the passes are over 2000 metres. May is rather early for the Glacier Bike Tour. It depends mainly on the weather and temperatures in April and early May. If it is still snowing and cold, the passes could still be closed and there could still be isolated snowfields on shady northern hillsides above 1500 metres. The experience is beautiful (with spring in the valley bottom and winter on the passes) but rather cold and not everything is rideable.

Is it still possible to do the Glacier Bike Tour in early/mid-October?

The Glacier Bike Tour can still be ridden in October. However, some passes may already be closed. However, these can easily be bypassed by train. In October, warm clothes and good planning (weather, snow line) are very important.

What is the best time of year for the Glacier Bike Tour?

The ideal season for the Glacier Bike Tour runs from the beginning of June to October. The best conditions are generally found in July and August, when all three passes are safely rideable and the alpine landscape is at its most spectacular. In June and October, cold temperatures and snowfields on the passes are possible – those setting off early or late in the season should pack warm clothing and keep a close eye on the weather forecast.

Can the Glacier Bike Tour be shortened?

Yes, the tour can be customised and only 3 or 4 days of the entire tour can be completed, different variants can be booked via Eurotrek or individually adapted. Ambitious riders can also combine some of the stages, for example stages 6 and 7. With 53 stops along the route, the train is a good option for shortening some of the stages.

How can I find out if there are any closures or diversions on the route?

The closures and diversions are regularly updated on the national platform SwitzerlandMobility.

Is it possible to travel part of the route by train?

Yes, the Glacier Bike Tour runs continuously along the Glacier Express with 53 stations - so you can also use the railway in between if necessary. If the offer was booked via Eurotrek, the individual train passages are not included in the price.

Are there clear signs along the way or do you need a sat nav/smartphone?

The route is not signposted as such, but for the most part runs along signposted SwitzerlandMobility routes.

Note: Depending on the platform, a GPS track may have deviations of +-15% in altitude metres and distance

Is the Glacier Bike Tour accompanied?

No, the tour is self-drive, but when you book the package via Eurotrek, you get access to the navigation app, the GPS data and a road book with all the details of the route. This means you can easily complete the tour on your own. However, bike guides in Graubünden, Uri or Valais can be contacted to accompany you.

Can the Glacier Bike Tour also be travelled without a package?

Yes, you don't necessarily have to book the Eurotrek package and can plan and travel individually.

How does luggage transport work?

Luggage is organised when booking the package via Eurotrek and transported from hotel to hotel so that only the equipment for the day's stage has to be taken on the bike. It is also possible to book only the luggage transport via Eurotrek without the overnight stays.

Is the Glacier Bike Tour also possible without an e-drive?

Yes, the Glacier Bike Tour is in principle possible without electric assistance – however, it was specially developed for e-bike tourers. The stages are planned for a battery capacity of 625 Wh. Riders without motor assistance should not underestimate the climbs: the Furka Pass alone involves more than 1,000 metres of continuous elevation gain.

You can also simply customise the tour to your desired length on Komoot or simply shorten it by train.

Is the Glacier Bike Tour feasible on a gravel bike?

The tour can also be done on a gravel bike. On stage 2 to Bergün, the descent is technical but can be bypassed on the road. As some of the climbs are steep and long, we recommend a mountain gear ratio of 40 / 52. Stage 10 to Zermatt is also a long and demanding climb.

Can the Glacier Bike Tour also be downloaded in the opposite direction on Komoot?

The Komoot track can be downloaded here as an entire route and customised. To do this, use the menu item "Edit copy" and "Open copy in planner".

Can the Glacier Bike Tour also be started in Zermatt and finished in St. Moritz?

The route can also be travelled in reverse. In this case, you can't follow the published Komoot route 100%, as we rode it from St. Moritz to Zermatt (stage 2 and 3 in particular have steep climbs in the opposite direction).  We did not cycle the route from Zermatt to St. Moritz.

What options are there for returning to the starting point by bike?

The easiest way to return from Zermatt to Chur is by regional train via Andermatt. This allows you to look back on your trip or cycle individual sections.

A separate ticket must be purchased for your bike (daily bike ticket) if it was not rented through Eurotrek and is being returned in Zermatt.

The SBB timetable shows when restrictions apply to bikes.

Here you will find all the information you need about transporting bikes on the various railways:

The Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz can also be booked without a bike; seat reservations are mandatory.

How long does the Glacier Bike Tour take?

The Glacier Bike Tour consists of 10 stages from St. Moritz to Zermatt. With a daily riding time of 3 to 4 hours, there is plenty of time to explore the culture and cuisine along the way. If you ride the entire tour in one go, plan for 10 to 12 days. If you have less time available, you can book the Glacier Bike Tour West (4 days / 3 nights) or the Glacier Bike Tour East (8 days / 7 nights) – both variants are available via Eurotrek.

How much does the Glacier Bike Tour cost?

Our partner Eurotrek offers the Glacier Bike Tour in three variants:

  • Glacier Bike Tour West – 4 days / 3 nights: from CHF 865.–

  • Glacier Bike Tour East – 8 days / 7 nights: from CHF 1'545.–

  • Glacier Bike Tour – 12 days / 11 nights: from CHF 2'429.–

The price includes overnight stays with breakfast, daily luggage transport, the navigation app with GPS data, and a SwitzerlandMobility Plus subscription for one year. The tour can also be planned and ridden entirely on your own, without a package.

Can I book the Glacier Bike Tour directly?

The Glacier Bike Tour can be booked directly with our partner Eurotrek in three different versions.

Which mountain passes does the Glacier Bike Tour cross?

The Glacier Bike Tour crosses three of Switzerland's most iconic Alpine passes:

  • Albula Pass (2,312 m a.s.l.) – Stage 1, between St. Moritz and Bergün

  • Oberalp Pass (2,044 m a.s.l.) – Stage 7, between Disentis and Andermatt

  • Furka Pass (2,429 m a.s.l.) – Stage 8, between Andermatt and Ulrichen

All three passes are closed in winter but can easily be bypassed by train – the route runs continuously along the Glacier Express with 53 stations.

Equipment and riding skills

Do I have to bring my own bike or is that included?

The tour can be completed on your own bike (mountain bike, e-mountain bike, gravel) or, if you book via Eurotrek, you can also hire an e-mountain bike.

Which e-bike should I take on the Glacier Bike Tour?

Here you can get an idea of an ideal bike.

What equipment do I need for the tour?

The packing list for the tour can be found here.

How difficult is the Glacier Bike Tour?

The Glacier Bike Tour runs over gravel, asphalt and occasionally narrow paths through alpine terrain. The level of technical difficulty is low for experienced mountain bikers, but high for classic touring cyclists. You should therefore have mountain experience and feel comfortable on sometimes steep dirt tracks and narrower paths. The tour was specially developed for e-bike tourers who want to combine a sporting experience with the enjoyment of nature and culture.

Is the Glacier Bike Tour suitable for beginners?

The Glacier Bike Tour is not a beginner's tour. With 370 km and 9,500 metres of elevation gain across three Alpine passes, it requires solid mountain experience and good physical fitness. Those who have never ridden in alpine terrain should consider shorter multi-day tours first. Ambitious e-bike beginners with a good basic fitness level can opt for the shorter variants (Glacier Bike Tour West, 4 days) and shorten the route at any time by train.

Overnight stay

Are the hotels predefined?

When booking the package deal, the hotels are included and pre-defined and already booked by Eurotrek; for other hotel requests, this can be customised individually when booking with Eurotrek.  The category is at least a 3-star hotel and, if possible, a hotel with the "Bike Hotel" label.

We have included a tip for each stage and links to the hotels in the region for the individual variant.

Can you simply book overnight stays while travelling?

The accommodation tips per stage, see example stage 1. In St. Moritz and Zermatt, are recommended to be booked in advance. Otherwise, except in July and at weekends, bookings can also be made en route.

Is it possible to bivouac on the route?

We recommend the official campsites, as the legal situation in Switzerland is not standardised. However, restrictions may apply depending on the canton or municipality. In addition, free camping is expressly prohibited in certain protected areas or is not possible due to trespassing bans. Further information can be found at this link (German).

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