Day 1, Friday 31 July

Welcome to Switzerland

Feel free to arrive at any time. Our hotel is located at Geneva airport. We like to make things easy. You are now officially on holiday.

While researching this trip – we learnt a few things.  

Our hotel issues you with a Geneva travel card for the whole time you are visiting.  This not gets you on the trams, trains and busses for free, but also the water taxis. I’m telling you this because you may like to arrive early. Geneva is beautiful. It’s well worth a couple of extra days.  

Coffee. Yes, it’s important. There’s a really good App called European Coffee Trip. I used this in Geneva and found the best caffeine. If you enjoy a good strong NZ or Aus Flat White, suggest you order a Cortado.

You need Swiss Francs rather than Euro’s. Make sure you set up a separate currency on whatever cash travel card you use.

Anyway, getting back to today… Late this afternoon we’ll help put the bikes together (for those not renting) and pop out for a very quick spin. Just to make sure everything is working properly - both bike and person.

Tonight, we’ll crack open a few bottles of champagne. A lot of you will know each other so it's a case of saying hello to old friends and welcoming those who are travelling with us for the first time. We’ll introduce the team and have a chat about the next couple of days.

It really is great to have you here. Thank you.

/ Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Geneva Airport 
/ Meals Included: Welcome Dinner and Champagne (For Kiri)

Day 2, Saturday 01 August

Tour de France Femmes – Stage 1 

Launched in 2022, the race has quickly become a highlight on the UCI Women’s World Tour. In 2025, the event expanded to its longest format yet—nine demanding stages covering more than 1,160 km—and was won by French cycling star Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, making her the first Frenchwoman ever to claim the yellow jersey. No doubt she’ll be back on the start line. 

More importantly – there were 3 Australasians at the pointy end of the 2025 tour.  

Niamh Fisher-Black – 5^th

Sarah Gigante – 6^th

Ella Wyllie – 12th

We are expecting our girls to shine again, and we’ll be there to support them.

Stage 1 starts and finishes in Lausanne. Which is 75km away. On the way we stop at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lavaux. You will have no doubt seen photos of the steep, terraced vineyards with Lake Geneva in the background.   

Getting back to TDFF - we expect the girls to start just before midday and finish at about 3.30pm. It’s a relatively flat 140km.

Our plan is to ride the 75km and catch the race start. It’s our best chance to say hello and wish them all the best. We’ve then got 3 hours to kill. Options are….  

1, Nice lunch and a swim…

2, A little local loop with coffee and a cake. (suggest 25kms)

3, Find a tree. Take a nap.        

We aren’t expecting you to ride back. 150km on day 1 is a bit extreme. It’s a holiday.   

/ Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Geneva Airport 
/ Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner (Lunch is own arrangements) 

Day 3, Sunday 02 August

1km at 11%

Struth, that sounds quite steep.

Yes - Cote de Bougy-Villars is quite lumpy. Even though it’s only 1km long, it could be too tough for the pure sprinters.

The stage starts Aigle (home to the UCI headquarters) and finishes in Geneva.

We’ll again ride from the hotel as the Cote de Bougy-Villars is only 45km away. The good news is - we should be able to ride on closed roads. Being race route we’re expecting everything to be shut down by about 9am. (yes, we’ll have a plan B)

Unlike yesterday – we’re going to make you ride back. (We will have a support vehicle in tow) So, 90km for today.

Navigation is pretty easy. Keep the lake on the right for the first 45km and then on the left when returning. Righto – I wonder who will get lost? Has anyone seen Beth and Kate?    

We’ll stop in Nyon. A charming old town, medieval Château de Nyon, and vibrant lakeside promenade, Nyon offers a blend of history, culture, and scenic beauty.

Nyon is also home to Tête de Course – a fantastic cycling themed café which will be our designated lunch spot. It has some great kit for sale. I wish now that I’d bought 2 t-shirts as I’ve already worn the first one out. That’s how hot they are. They just cost about $300.00. (Joking, not joking)    

Tonight, we suggest heading downtown for dinner. Make sure you go for a walk along the promenade. There’s certainly no shortage of McLaren’s and Lamborghini’s. It’s where the rich and famous hang out and we’ll fit right in.      

/ Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Geneva Airport 
/ Meals Included: Breakfast (Lunch & Dinner are own arrangements) 

Day 4, Monday 03 August

Off to the Alps (Via France)

Stage 3 starts in Geneva before moving into France. The Cat 1 Col de la Faucille (11km at 6.3%) is really the first chance for the pure GC riders to have a good crack. Our goal is to be on top to see them come through.

From our hotel, it’s only 26km. Total climbing is 977m. But, But…. You also descend 977m which pretty much means your day is flat.

One other thing I learnt on my recce trip is how good the Swiss train network is. As you can imagine – they’re very efficient and really comfortable compared to our NZ trains. Rather than make you drive 5 hours in a van, we’ve booked a 3pm train to Brig. It arrives at 5.30pm. Your bikes and some of the team will arrive late tonight.

Our home for the next couple of nights, Brig is a charming alpine town in the canton of Valais, southern Switzerland, nestled at the foot of the Simplon Pass and along the Rhône River. Known for its historic Stockalper Palace, a 17th-century baroque landmark, Brig blends rich history with easy access to stunning mountain scenery.

Thank you Chat GPT… In all seriousness. I really enjoyed Brig when I was there. It’s well worth a couple of nights. Tomorrow is a reasonably relaxed day.

/ Accommodation:  Sportcenter Olympica - Brig
/ Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner (Lunch is own arrangements) 

Day 5, Tuesday 04 August

The Rhône River

OK, the next 3 days are pretty full on. Today is designed around rest. Preparing for the mountains that lie ahead.
Here are your choices…

Personally, when I was in Brig, I took the day off. Wandered. Enjoyed a couple of Swiss Hot Chocolates. Had a nap. Had Pizza for lunch and dinner. This is option number #1.

Option # 2 isn’t actually that taxing.

The Rhone Glacier (Rhonegletscher) isn’t far away from Brig. It’s the source of the Rhone River. One of Europe’s major rivers, stretching approximately 812 km to its delta in the Mediterranean Sea in southern France. What Chat GPT doesn’t tell you is that there’s a fantastic bike path that runs alongside this great river. There’s a degree of flexibility here. We could ride 23km, 31km or 43.5km and then turn around. It’s totally up to you.

Option # 3. There are quite a few climbing options. However, in my humble option – the climbing should wait until tomorrow. If you choose to climb today, that’s fine. But you will also be drug tested. Publicly.     

This afternoon, our hotel offers massage and also heated swimming pools. This is your priority for this afternoon.  

/ Accommodation: Sportcenter Olympica - Brig
/ Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner (Lunch is own arrangements) 

Day 6, Wednesday 05 August

Furka Pass

Ok, Sh*t is about to get real. Ah, the Furka Pass—one of the most legendary cycling routes in the Swiss Alps. Let’s go further – the World.

I can honestly say that the whole reason for visiting Switzerland was the Furka. You would have seen this pass as it featured in films like Goldfinger. If only Bond wore pink and blue lycra. Just imagine how famous it would be.   

Over to ChatGPT very briefly..  The Furka Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps,connecting the cantons of Valais and Uri. Sitting at an elevation of 2,429 meters (7,969 feet), it offers spectacular views of glaciers, alpine peaks, and valleys. The pass is famous for its winding roads, popular among cyclists, motorcyclists, and drivers, and for the historic Furka Steam Railway, a heritage train that runs during the summer.

Here's how our day looks. The first 40km is a very gentle climb - you’re following the Rhone River so that’s how gentle. The next 30km isn’t so gentle. The official (Hors Cat) stats show the climb as 17km at 7%. Total VM is about 1100VM.

Let’s stop at Hotel Belvédère for lunch. (well the restaurant just across the road as the Belvédère is closed) A historic Alpine hotel. It was built in 1882 and expanded in 1890 & 1903 during its heyday. The hotel’s location is right by a dramatic hairpin bend of the pass road, overlooking the Rhone Glacier (though the glacier has since retreated). It gained international fame — by appearing in Goldfinger because of its iconic setting.

The last 20km is all downhill. There’s an amazing section of switchbacks about 10km out from our hotel. Enjoy them. You deserve it.

Andermatt is our home for the next couple of nights. A picturesque Swiss village nestled in the heart of the Ursern Valley, surrounded by towering Alpine peaks. Let’s ride another one of those tomorrow.

Good night….

/ Accommodation:  Radisson - Andermatt
/ Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner (Lunch is own arrangements) 

Day 7, Thursday 06 August

Gotthard Pass

There’s no doubt you will have seen photos of this remarkable road. Tight cobblestone switchbacks which would make the cover of any worthy cycling magazine. Swiss precision at its finest.

By day 7, we’ll know more about you. Who wants more mileage and who prefers quality over quantity. There will be a plan for all.

The Gotthard Pass is one of Switzerland’s most iconic cycling routes. The traditional direction starts from the town of Ticino. Finishing in Andermatt. The reason this is preferred is because it includes the historic Tremola Road, a beautifully preserved cobblestone route that winds through a series of tight hairpin bends, offering stunning alpine scenery and a true sense of cycling history. The climb is 13km at 7%. Reaching an elevation of 2,106 meters.

So, here are your options…

1, let’s call this the cappuccino ride. We’ll drive you to Ticino and you simply ride back over the small hill to the hotel. 27km. 13 up and 14 down. Easy.

2, the latte and espresso ride. We ride from the hotel over the pass to Ticino. Have a coffee. Turn around and ride back. The stats are pretty much double the above. 50 odd km and just over 2000m of climbing.

Whatever you choose – your priority has to be the other side of the pass. Not the Andermatt side. Clear as mud? Good.

Whatever you choose – I can promise a wonderful day. If not, a slightly hilly one. 

/ Accommodation: Radisson - Andermatt
/ Meals included: Breakfast (Lunch & Dinner is own arrangements)

Day 8, Friday 07 August

Pretty much all downhill!!

Not strictly the truth but there is more descending than climbing. Anyway, let’s not worry about the details too much!!

We say goodbye to Andermatt and head towards the relaxing part of our trip. When I say relaxing. I mean flat.

Our home for the next couple of nights is Interlaken. Nestled between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. Interlaken is a stunning alpine town. Known for its natural beauty. Surrounded by towering peaks, including the famous Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. For cyclists, it offers a perfect mix of scenic lake loops and challenging mountain climbs, with breathtaking views at every turn.

How do we get there?

Glad you asked!! There’s one more pass which is pretty much compulsory. Today we ride the Grimsel Pass.

We’re picking there may be some tired legs. If that’s the case, we’ll drive you to Gletsch and start riding from there. The alternative is the reverse ride over the Furka before we start the Grimsel. Hmmm.

Let’s concentrate on the stats from Gletsch. 70km total distance. 900m climbing and a massive 2000m of descending. Boom.

The climb (only 7km) from Gletsch features an average gradient of 6.5%, with long sweeping curves and striking views of glaciers, mountain peaks, and hydroelectric reservoirs. I asked ChatGPT what animals we’re likely to see and it’s pretty much – Marmots, Marmots and Marmots.

Keep an eye open for Marmots.    

At time of writing we are trying to convince the Velo Café to open for dinner. Just for us. It’s run by a Kiwi, so the chances are pretty good. If not, we’ll go to the brewery. Funnily enough, this is also run by a Kiwi….  Coffee and Beer. Who would have thought!!  

/ Accommodation:  Interlaken
/ Meals included: Breakfast (Lunch & Dinner is own arrangements)  

Ps, today’s TDFF stage finishes at the top of Mont Ventoux. It’s important we factor this into our day.

Day 9, Saturday 08 August

Day Off?

Lake Brienz is beautiful. It took me 4 hours to bike around it because I kept stopping for photos. There are numerous cafes dotted around the lake edge. Coffee anyone? 36km and 600m of climbing. Yes, there’s one slight pinch. Anyway, let’s call this the Holiday option.

The Ride option involves another pass.

The Grosse Scheidegg is a classic alpine climb. Offering a challenging but rewarding route through the Bernese Oberland. The ascent stretches roughly 16 kilometers from Grindelwald, with gradients averaging 6–8%, and passes through lush meadows, dense forests, and dramatic mountain scenery dominated by the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.  

While the road is narrow and winding in places, the combination of quiet alpine roads, breathtaking vistas, and the satisfaction of reaching a historic mountain pass makes Grosse Scheidegg a must-do ride for those exploring the region by bike.

At the top is the Berghotel which in 2025 won the competition for Switzerland’s best Hot Chocolate. OK, I made that part up but there are certainly coffee and cake. (Maybe donuts)

Tonight? Probably involves the brewery. Speaking from personal experience. Don’t order an entrée. That’s because the main is massive. Bigger than Big. Save room for the ice-cream shop directly across the road. (also run by a Kiwi and I’m not kidding)       

/ Accommodation: Interlaken
/ Meals included: Breakfast (Lunch & Dinner are own arrangements) 

Day 10, Sunday 09 August

Chill ride…

Our last day together.

It’s a compulsory coffee ride and a swim before we head back to Geneva. Our thoughts are to ride to Thun and then head back from there.   

There is some house keeping that we need to tick off. The rental bikes will all go back today so we’ll need to take the pedals off etc. Those who have their own bikes need to pack them down. We will of course be there to help.

Most importantly – we need to be in front of a TV by about 3pm. It’s the last stage of the Tour de France Femmes. 99kms of pretty much – pure climbing. 4 ascents of Col d’Eze. Each time being 7.5km at 6%. Total VM of 2000m making this stage only the 2^nd Mountain stage for the whole 2026 Tour de France Femmes. Let’s hope our Kiwi and Aussie girls are right in the mix.

We celebrate an Australasian victory by finishing off where we started. With a nice glass of champagne. As we raise a glass to you, let’s have a look back at our trip.

3 stages of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes.

Cycling the UNESCO World Heritage site that is the Lavaux winery region.

Riding along next to the Rhone – near its source.

Furka Pass, Gotthard Pass, Grimsel Pass and possibly the Grosse Scheidegg.

2 days on the stunning Lake Brienz.

Most importantly – meeting some fantastic new friends while exploring a new country.

Cheers to you….  

/ Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Geneva Airport 
/ Meals Included: Farewell dinner

Day 11, Monday 10 August

Le end..   

Our tour finishes after breakfast.

For some it's time to head home, while others will take some time in Geneva or head off to explore other parts of Europe.

Many of you are repeat clients – we really appreciate your loyalty.

To those travelling with us for the first time – we won’t let you down.

Thank you once again for travelling with Ride Holidays.

Look forward to seeing you on another adventure.