recommended route
Rhone Route
Cycling
· Goms
-
Rhone Route bei SierrePhoto: Pascal Gertschen, Valais/Wallis Promotion
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.
moderate
Distance 308 km
24:00 h
1,034 m
3,069 m
2,429 m
373 m
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.
Author’s recommendation
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.
Difficulty
moderate
Technique
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
Col de la Furka, 2,429 m
Lowest point
Morges, 373 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Track types
Asphalt
209.1 km
Dirt road
4.7 km
Forested/wild trail
56.7 km
Path
0.6 km
Road
36.9 km
Safety information
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).Tips and hints
View this tour on SwitzerlandMobility:
Start
Andermatt (2,428 m)
Coordinates:
SwissGrid
2'674'819E 1'158'358N
DD
46.572317, 8.414613
DMS
46°34'20.3"N 8°24'52.6"E
UTM
32T 455141 5157805
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Destination
Geneva
Turn-by-turn 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.
Note
all notes on protected areas
Public transport
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.Getting there
If you are coming by car, it is about 10 minutes’ drive to Andermatt after you exit the motorway at Göschenen.Parking
Follow the car-park routeing in Andermatt.Coordinates
SwissGrid
2'674'819E 1'158'358N
DD
46.572317, 8.414613
DMS
46°34'20.3"N 8°24'52.6"E
UTM
32T 455141 5157805
w3w
///mankind.townhouse.plots
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike
Book recommendation by the author
Author’s map recommendations
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
Equipment
We recommend: bicycle in excellent working order, helmet, gloves and bell, clothing suitable for the weather (always carry a waterproof), food and drink.Difficulty
moderate
Distance
308 km
Duration
24:00 h
Ascent
1,034 m
Descent
3,069 m
Highest point
2,429 m
Lowest point
373 m
Statistics
2D
3D
Maps and trails
- 20 Waypoints
- 20 Waypoints
Distance
km
Duration
: h
Ascent
m
Descent
m
Highest point
m
Lowest point
m
Questions and answers
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Photos from others