There is so much mountain bike riding available in the Rhone valley that we can change the centre-bases for different trips. You could ride this week three times and ride completely different trails each time! The overnight in the Alpine refuge is highly recommended. See below for the detail. Email us for an itinerary specific to your group.
Day 0
Arrival. One timed group pick-up from Geneva airport. You will be driven to your accommodation for the first 3 nights of the week in Unterbach (3 hr approx from the airport)
Day 1
Today you’ll be exploring the fantastic singletrack around the little-known Moosalp. We start the day with some lift assisted fun to take advantage of the beautiful pine needle single track descents that run right down to the valley floor. A double lift takes us back up above our hotel and from there we climb 400m to the top of Moosalp, where the views are breathtaking. Moosalp is one of those hidden gems that are increasingly rare in the mountain biking world. There is an outstanding network of flowing, pine-needle single track that is barely ridden here and we will make the most of it, including another couple of big descents down to the valley floor. After the first climb almost all uphill will be in the cable car and bus. Approx descent 2500m.
Day 2
It’s another day exploring Moosalp. Today you’ll also be dropping off the back, all the way down into the Zermatt valley on one of Jamie’s favourite descents: tunnels and high level exposed wooded single track finishing with 27 super-fun switchbacks! Approx descent 2500m .
Day 3
We’ll start the day with a big, flowing 900m descent down to the Rhone valley floor, riding out of the door of the hotel. In the afternoon you will move on to Fiesch, higher up the Rhone valley – the 2nd centre-base of the trip. There is time for an optional few hours of relaxation in a beautiful thermal bath complex en route. Once we arrive in Fiesch we will have time to start exploring the rarely ridden secret forest single track out the back of our hotel. Approx descent 1500m.
Day 4
You’ll explore the outstanding network of trails around Fiesch, using the almost equally outstanding network of cable cars and trains! After a cable car ride up to Fiescheralp, you’ll make your way down the valley side, picking off the best descents as you go, from Fiescheralp to Bettermalp to Riederalp. All on perfect Swiss singletrack. You’re surrounded by some of Europe’s biggest mountains here and the scenery is breathtaking. Approx descent 3000m.
Days 5
Today, cable-car assisted, you’ll make your way up to one of the most amazing views you’ll ever see – the Aletsch glacier, a UNESCO world heritage site. You take your bike to the mid-station and then it’s an undulating 7km easy climb, through an awesome 1km tunnel, coming out on the lateral morraine of the Aletsch glacier with a stunning view of the back of the Eiger. It’s all downhill from here as you wind your way down to the valley floor on superb singletrack. There will be time this afternoon to explore some more of the descents down into Fiesch. Approx descent 3000m.
Day 6
A big finale today crossing a spectacular col with an immense 2000m descent to the valley floor. We start with a van shuttle to Binn, followed by a 1000m doubletrack climb and 230m of single track to a stunning mountain pass. The fast and flowing descent is more than worth the effort. If you don’t want a big climb there are many more options for lift-assisted riding around Fiesch. Approx descent 2000m.
Day 7
Departure. One timed group departure to Geneva airport.
Optional point-to-point – day 3 and 4
Day 3
We’ll start the day with a big, flowing 900m descent down to the Rhone valley floor, riding out of the door of the hotel. The van will be waiting at the bottom to take us up to the head of the valley from where the only way is up. From here we get back on the bikes and climb through a beautiful landscape on a mixture of road (for a short section), double track and rideable single track to the stunning Grimselpass. Here the turquoise blue waters of the lake contrast perfectly with the white 4000m peaks above it. We have a choice of single track or a scenic road to get to our overnight mountain hotel from where we can soak up some more of the breathtaking view. Approx descent 900m. Approx ascent 1000m.
Day 4
We have a climb to do first thing – 300m of height gain on single track, some of which will involve pushing and carrying as we go over a rocky pass at 2,639m. Again the views are incredible. The first section of the descent is very technical with big rock steps that might be too difficult for some riders. However, as we head down into the high alpine pasture and then the trees, the single track is quite simply sublime. It’s fast and flowing and 100% rideable. It’s a traversing descent, which means it seems to go on and on – lucky for us! When we finally reach the valley bottom we have an easy ride along the valley floor back to our hotel for the next 3 nights in Fiesch. Approx descent 1,300m. Approx ascent 300m.
