Practical tips
Essential gear for your adventure
- Gravel bike with robust, wide tyres (at least 45 mm recommended). A tubeless setup is advised for puncture resistance and comfort.
- Waterproof bikepacking bags with a solid frame attachment and minimal play (as trails can be very bumpy).
- Appropriate clothing for cycling according to the season (be aware that temperature variations in Switzerland can be significant, even in August). Don’t forget gloves.
- Waterproof layers and comfortable shoes, as some sections may require hike & bike.
- Bike maintenance and repair kit, such as a pump, spare tubes, chain lube or wax, and a repair kit.
- Food and hydration, including energy bars, dried fruits, and several bottles.
- Light camping equipment if you plan to bivouac, including a tent, sleeping bag, and mat.
Tips for bikepacking in Switzerland
1
Respectful cycling practice is essential. You will often share the same trails and hiking paths with pedestrians. It is important to enjoy nature with mutual respect and to avoid frightening hikers with our sometimes heavily loaded bikes.
2
Many fountains are found along the route. In Switzerland, if nothing is indicated on a fountain, it means the water is drinkable and safe to consume.
3
Switzerland is both a postcard landscape and a very clean country. It is rare to see litter in towns, villages, and even less so in nature. This is largely due to the civic-mindedness of its citizens. It is essential to behave in the same way during your bikepacking adventure.
4
Weather is a key factor. Especially in the mountains, conditions can change very quickly and thunderstorms can be violent. The MeteoSwiss app (iPhone or Android) is the reference to install, offering a very accurate weather radar.
5
Navigation apps. The route and all scouting were carried out using Komoot, which is very accurate in Switzerland. The free SwissTopo app (iPhone and Android) is also an excellent reference with very detailed maps.
6
Switzerland is an expensive country. Restaurants (at least 20–25 CHF for a simple lunch), hotels (around 100 CHF, slightly less in guesthouses), and food (a baguette costs 2–4 CHF) are all costly. Two major supermarket chains, Migros and Coop, are present even in small towns and allow you to buy food and drinks at more reasonable prices (the baguette at 2 CHF!).
7
If you need to stop your adventure. Switzerland is extremely well connected by public transport. Train stations are often close to the route, and if not, the PostBus can take you to the nearest station.
Little guide for English speakers
The challenge will take you through four linguistic regions: French-speaking Switzerland (Romandie), German-speaking Switzerland (with dialects more or less close to standard German), the Grisons (Romansh), and Ticino (Italian).
Although Romansh is rarely spoken, you will inevitably have to communicate at some point in the other two languages. Here is a little guide to help you get by during your challenge.
| English | Français (Suisse) | Deutsch (Schweiz) | Italiano |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjour | Grüezi / Grüezer (suivant les régions) | Buongiorno |
| Goodbye | Au revoir | Adieu / Uf Wiederluege | Arrivederci |
| I am lost | Je suis perdu | Ich bi verlore | Mi sono perso(a) |
| Can you help me? | Pouvez-vous m’aider ? | Chönd Sie mir hälfe? | Può aiutarmi? |
| Where is the town of … ? | Où se trouve la ville … ? | Wo isch d’Stadt …? | Dov’è la città di … ? |
| Do you have a place to eat / sleep? | Avez-vous de la place pour manger / dormir ? | Häted Sie no Platz zum Ässe / Schlofe? | Avete posto per mangiare / dormire? |
| Where is the supermarket? | Où se trouve le supermarché ? | Wo isch de Supermärt? | Dov’è il supermercato? |
| Where can I repair my bike? | Où puis-je réparer mon vélo ? | Wo cha-n-i mis Velo repariere? | Dove posso riparare la mia bici? |
| I am cycling across Switzerland | Je fais du vélo à travers la Suisse | Ich fahre Velo dür d’Schwiz | Sto facendo un giro in bici attraverso la Svizzera |
| Is it dangerous? | Est-ce que c’est dangereux ? | Isch das gfährlich? | È pericoloso? |
| Do you have water? | Avez-vous de l’eau ? | Häted Sie Wasser? | Avete dell’acqua? |
| Can I fill my bottle? | Puis-je remplir ma gourde ? | Cha-n-i mini Fläsche fülle? | Posso riempire la mia borraccia? |
| How much does it cost? | Combien ça coûte ? | Was chostet das? | Quanto costa? |
| It is too expensive | C’est trop cher | Das isch z’teuer | È troppo caro |
| It is cheap | C’est bon marché | Das isch günschtig | È economico |
| Where is the hostel / campsite? | Où est l’auberge / le camping ? | Wo isch d’Herberg / s’Camping? | Dov’è l’ostello / il campeggio? |
| Can I pitch my tent here? | Puis-je planter ma tente ici ? | Cha-n-i da mini Zält ufstelle? | Posso montare la mia tenda qui? |
| I need a doctor | J’ai besoin d’un médecin | Ich bruuche en Dokter | Ho bisogno di un medico |
| This is an emergency | C’est une urgence | Es isch en Notfall | È un’emergenza |
| I am allergic to … | Je suis allergique à … | Ich bi allergisch uf … | Sono allergico(a) a … |
| Thank you very much | Merci beaucoup | Vilmal Dank / Merci vielmal | Grazie mille |
| My pleasure / You’re welcome | Avec plaisir | Gern gscheh | Con piacere / Prego |
| Excuse me | Excusez-moi | Entschuldigung | Mi scusi |
| I don’t (really) speak Swiss German / Italian | Je ne parle pas (bien) suisse-allemand / italien | Ich cha nid (guet) Schwiizerdütsch / Italienisch | Non parlo (bene) lo svizzero tedesco / l’italiano |
| Do you speak French? | Parlez-vous français ? | Schwätzed Sie Französisch? | Parla francese? |
Note: English is spoken fairly widely in Switzerland, so you can usually make yourself understood in this language.