Rhone Route

24:00 h
725.07 km
5,023 m
6,108 m
373 m
2,429 m
2,056 m
Start: Andermatt
Destination: Geneva

The Rhone Route runs through the magnificent mountain scenery of the Valais on charming, quiet paths along the Rhone. It leads along the famous palm-lined promenades of Lac Léman and the picturesque Lavaux vineyards and ends at cosmopolitan Genève.

The Rhone Route begins in Andermatt and follows the curving sweep of the youthful Rhone River to Geneva. This route is 350km long and covers very different types of landscape. In Valais the route starts in Oberwald and ends in Le Bouveret, and can be explored in several days. It runs through the magnificent mountain scenery of Valais on charming, quiet paths along the Rhone. It runs mostly downhill with a few ascents. From Brig to Geneva, the route is almost entirely flat and is particularly suitable for leisure cyclists.

Valais/Wallis Promotion

Pavements

Unknown

Street

Asphalt

Gravel

Trail

Best to visit

suitable

Depends on weather

Jan
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Directions

The Rhone Route runs through the magnificent mountain scenery of the Valais, embracing glistening Lac Léman. After treeless Alpine pastures in Urserental, there's a perspiring climb up the Furkapass followed by a heady downhill ride past the melting ice towers of the Rhone Glacier. Through Goms, the wide, sunny high-level valley of the young Rhone. Flower-filled fields and the aroma of resin accompany you almost to Brig, the main town of Upper Valais. The main valley widens, sun heats the mountain flanks. Before the lively towns of Sierre und Sion, an unruly section of the Rhone widens out; the Pfynwald nature reserve on a huge detritus mound. The Dents du Midi dominates the mountain scenery in the lower Rhone Valley. A world of orchards and vineyards. Lac Léman, a small silver sea, surrounded by snow-capped peaks and the vineyard landscape of Lavaux and La Côte. Along the shores, the towns of Vevey, Montreux, the Vaud metropolis of Lausanne, then Nyon and cosmopolitan Geneva.

Tour information

Stop at an Inn

Equipment

We recommend: bicycle in excellent working order, helmet, gloves and bell, clothing suitable for the weather (always carry a waterproof), food and drink.

Directions & Parking facilities

If you are coming by car, it is about 10 minutes’ drive to Andermatt after you exit the motorway at Göschenen.

Follow the car-park routeing in Andermatt.

To reach Andermatt, rail passengers take the Gotthard Interregio train that travels to Göschenen every hour. In Göschenen catch the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn to Andermatt.

Additional information

View this tour on SwitzerlandMobility:

N°1 : Route du Rhône

Literature

Tour description (SwitzerlandMobility)

Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author

Discover the different castles and fortresses along the route: the Stockalper castle in Brig, the castles of Valère and Tourbillon in Sion, the castle of Saillon with its impressing tower or the Chillon castle at the lake Geneva are worth a little break. For the comfortable bike riders we recommend a visit at one of the numerous wineries where you can taste different wines of Switzerlands biggest wine region.

Safety guidelines

Strictly respect the Swiss traffic rules. Please note that you are running the tour at your own risk and all liability is refused. Please be considerate to plants and animals. For your own safety, wear an helmet every time you ride a bike. Emergency numbers: 144 Ambulance / 117 Police / 1414 Helicopter Rescue (Rega). When planning, take into account participants’ fitness level and ability. All riding is at one’s own risk.

Map

SwissTopo Maps 1:50'000: 255 Sustenpass / 265 Nufenenpass / 264 Jungfrau / 274 Visp / 273 Montana / 272 St. Maurice / 262 Rochers de Naye / 261 Lausanne / 260 St. Cergue / 270 Genève Swiss Activity Map: National map with SwitzerlandMobility routes to scale 1:275'000

Event

Place of interest

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