BICYCLE TOURS & MOUNTAIN BIKING

Lake Constance Cycling

Exploring by bike is by far the best way to travel here: a 300kms pancake-flat cycling path leads from country to country taking in daisy-strewn meadows, billowing wheat fields, Bavarian vineyards and picturesque marinas. This is a region brimming with history too and, en route, cultural highlights include fairytale castles in Meersburg, flower decked palaces in Konstanz and books dating over 1,000 years in St Gallen’s UNESCO library! If you just feel like relaxing, there are sand and pebble beaches dotted all round the lake - and, with a backdrop of snow-capped Alpine peaks reflected in the crystal clear waters, the views are pretty special too!

But it is the flexibility that makes this holiday like no other in Breakaway Adventures’ program. You are provided with fully detailed cycling notes to take you from each hotel to the next. If, however, you wish to shorten, or lengthen your route at any point, you simply hop on the local train or boat – taking your bike with you – and tailor your journey to suit.

Tour Details

Day 1: Arrive in Bregenz
You arrive at your hotel – a historic coaching inn – in the center of Bregenz. Explore the ancient cobbled streets of the old town before dinner on the courtyard terrace.

Day 2: Bregenz to Horn 23km/14mi-37km/23mi
Stunning views of the snow-capped Alpine peaks this morning as you cycle west along Lake Constance’s southern shore before crossing the mighty Rhine delta that straddles the border between Austria and Switzerland. It’s an area of great natural beauty and a refuge for wildlife - keep your eyes peeled for kingfishers in the reeds. Your final stretch takes you in and out of shady oak woods and onto the sleepy lakeside village of Horn where you’ll spend the next two nights.

Day 3: In Horn
Hop on the bus (option to take your bike too), for the 20-minute ride to historic St Gallen - a bustling market town packed with 18th Century merchants’ houses and open air restaurants. Explore the Eighth Century Benedictine Abbey’s fabulous UNESCO library, and then blow the cobwebs away by freewheeling back down to the lakeside. There are lots of swimming possibilities, and it is easy waterfront cycling back to the hotel.

Day 4: Horn to Steckborn 21km/13mi-53km/33mi
Pedalling clockwise around the lake, you’ll soon come to Arbon’s half-timbered houses and 16th Century castle. Continuing on through sweet-smelling apple orchards, you’ll pass numerous postcard-pretty, waterfront villages affording lots of panoramic sun terraces for lunch. In the afternoon, you coast effortlessly between sleepy harbors, the white sails from the boats reflecting brightly on the clear blue waters.

Day 5: In Steckborn
Schaffhausen, a lively German town full of street theater in the summer, is ideal for a day trip. It is great for shopping, and has riverside cycle paths to Schloss Laufen – a tiny castle perched precariously above the tumbling cascade of the Rheinfalls waterfall – the biggest in Europe! If you don’t fancy cycling back, simply hop onto one of the elegant wooden passenger cruisers back upriver to Steckborn.

Day 6: Steckborn to Konstanz 25km/16mi-56km/35mi
Freewheeling south this morning, you’ll soon arrive at medieval Stein Am Rhein with its 11th Century monastery, beautiful frescoed square and lovely chocolate shops! You cross the river here to enter Germany. Over the border, look out for cormorant and red crested pochard in the Hornstaad Nature Reserve. It’s then on to Konstanz – a bustling town and the unofficial capital of the region.

Day 7: In Konstanz
You could easily spend the day exploring the narrow streets of Konstanz: visit the Altstadt, Munster and lively center crammed with quirky shops and museums. Alternatively, hop on a boat to visit Mainau Island’s Palace and landscaped rose gardens. If you take your bike, you can pedal back at leisure along traffic-free lakeside cycle paths.

Day 8: Konstanz to Langenargen 18km/11mi-34km/21mi
It is a short ride through oak forest to catch the 20-minute ferry ride (included) to fairytale Meersburg with its twin castles, steep streets and hillsides of vines. Then, pedalling south, its like stepping back in time as you pass farmers in trilby hats and waistcoats threshing hay in the poppy-dusted wheat fields! A gentle coast through the Eriskirche reed marshes takes you into pretty Langenargen and your marina hotel.

Day 9: In Langenargen
You have some superb wine tasting opportunities on your doorstep today - local Müller-Thurgau wines come from riesling and silvaner grapes for which Lake Constance is famous. Or visit Friedrichschafen’s amazing Zeppelin Museum. The zeppelin was invented here, and the museum is full of fascinating knickknacks, including an original menu and wine list from the Hindenburg!

Day 10: Langenargen to Bregenz 12km/8mi-25km/16mi
Your final day's cycling takes you through peaceful vineyards and cherry orchards en route to lovely Lindau, a gorgeous island village surrounded by cobalt blue waters with long distance views of razor-edged peaks across the lake. Lots of idyllic choices for lunch and then, keeping the lake at your side, a final swoosh takes you back down to Bregenz. It is recommended that you take the cable car up Pfander mountain, (1,050m), for a fantastic vista of your entire route – stand back and soak up the panorama!

Day 11: Depart
You catch the train back to Zurich after breakfast for your flight home.

• Beautifully flat, totally flexible cycling: impeccably signed lakeside paths, poppy-dusted fields, vineyards and cherry orchards.
• Interest-packed routes: Baroque churches, Gothic cathedrals, fairytale palaces, and romantic castles.
• Postcard-pretty villages, half-timbered frescoed towns, café-lined waterfronts and stunning mountain views.
• Four-star hotels throughout; with swimming possibilities every day.

Level of Difficulty:
Longest day 15-24 miles/25-40 km: climbs are either easy, or short get-off-and-push ones. No problems but, in hot weather, be prepared to start early and take it easy.

Independent Tours:
Independent tours allow you to follow any route you choose using maps and detailed notes. Breakaway Adventures suggests routes using quiet country lanes, and going by the places they think are most interesting. There are route options for avoiding hills, and suggestions for detours and off-road explorations.

"Independent" doesn't mean unsupported, though. Local staff will greet you at the train station and take you by mini-van to the first hotel. You'll attend a briefing session, where your Breakaway Adventures representative will fit you with your bike, tell you all about the things to see and do, and help you map out a route if you have a special side trip you'd like to make. During the briefing session, you'll also have a chance to meet any other travelers who are booked on the tour. Although the tours are not intended as a group experience, people often make friends on these independent tours and enjoy the opportunity to meet others - but if you’re not so inclined you're free to travel at your own pace. There are rarely more than six or eight people on any independent cycling tour, so you can be as sociable, or otherwise, as you choose.

On independent tours, you move on between hotels every two days: your luggage is transported for you, so you don't need to carry a lot in your panniers (provided). In-between days are an opportunity for exploring locally, with the help of detailed maps and notes. You can cycle on the off days, or just opt for relaxation!

On independent tours Breakaway Adventure’s staff clean and carefully check every bike before it goes out, so don't expect many problems. If anything does go wrong, your rep come out to your hotel and put it right. And your Breakaway Adventure reps are only a phone call away if you have any problems! They’ll also give you a puncture repair kit. Due to hygiene and safety concerns, cycling helmets are not provided. However, it is strongly recommended that you bring your own cycling helmet.