Swiss Lakes Cycling

General information:

All of the cycling on this holiday is on narrow country roads (90% of them surfaced), and dedicated cycle paths. This is a one bike holiday with flexible cycling using Switzerland's fabulously easy and efficient rail and bus network.

The holiday contrasts three separate areas in the Jura region around the three lakes of Neuchatel, Biel and Murten.

To the east are the market gardens and agriculture between Aarberg and Murten, both charming and picturesque Swiss towns. To the west you pass through the famous vines of the jura, where you can stop to taste local produce and swim in lakefront beaches along Lac Neuchatel. To the south you pass through the nature reserves and marshlands of Lac Neuchatel's eastern shore - one of the most important natural reserves in Switzerland for bird migration.

Throughout the holiday you can see the snowy peaks of the Bernese Alps in the distance, so there is lots of great scenery and variety to enjoy.

Location:

This holiday takes place on Switzerland's western border with France. Much of the language spoken is French, and there are obvious cultural links with the architecture in Neuchatel and Yverdon des Bains, the hillside chateaux, and the attractive cafe society that prevails throughout the region.

The region is characterised by the three lakes that lie below the Jura mountains. The lakes are called Biel, Neuchatel and Murten, and the holiday route takes in all three during the 8 day tour.

Aarberg and Murten are both charming mediaeval towns, Yverdon is a larger town famous for hot spa baths, and Neuchatel is the largest place we stay - a grand and historic cosmopolitan city. All hotels are very central, with Neuchatel on the waterfront and marina.

Who would this holiday appeal to?

Anyone who is looking for easy countryside cycling with flexible cycling days will enjoy this tour.

Enjoy easy trails on this holiday – the few hills on this tour are flagged up in the day to day cycling notes so you can choose to avoid them if you prefer by taking public transport.

The bike routes are perfectly signposted with burgundy and white cycling signs throughout the tour, and the map we provide is excellent.

The majority of the cycling is on cycle paths and rural roads that carry either no traffic or very little. There are only a very few sections or around 3km or so where you are on gravel rather than tarmac.

Similar to which other holidays?

We think this holiday is similar to Austrian Lakes Cycling, Lake Constance, Holland or Passau to Vienna Cycling

Possibility of non-standard departures?

This holiday is designed to begin every 2 days. It is not possible to begin the holiday on the days in between as the agent is not based in Aarberg.