Swiss Alps Backcountry
Alpine Mtb adventure from Brigg to San Moritz

This is our ultimate goal… we are working on a route from the Mont Blanc which follows on from the Haute Route, Chamonix to Zermatt trip, heading north east through the Swiss Alps, the Dolomites and continues further east to the Julian Alps with the Slovenian Triglav summit in sight!


The second stage of this epic Alpine crossing starts at the Simplon Pass on the Swiss Italian border near to Zermatt and heads to the very chic village of St. Moritz in the foothills of the Rhaetian Alps, under the impressive glacier covered Piz Bernina summit at 4049m..

First we ride in the Upper Swiss Valais with its typical Germanic style villages and dream singletracks. We dip a toe into Italy through wild, steep sided valleys to finish in St. Moritz the capital of the Engadine region of Switzerland. Nestled at 1800m, this beautiful village shows influences from its nearby neighbours, with the Italian and Austrian borders close by… but more importantly for bikers, next door in Italy is the legendary Livigno valley!

We offer you a unique challenge on this stage, designed for experienced, fit bikers, with long ‘carry bike’ sections and technical descents, this trip is for those who love wild mountains and unlimited untamed raw singletrack !

With fifteen valleys and more than twelve mountain passes over 2000m to cross we head east… A beautiful region with the influences of three countries making for a memorable ride, a physical challenge and giving the motivation to keep the pedals turning all the way to Slovenia!

INCLUDED

ALPSMOUNTAINBIKE cycling jersey 7 nights accommodation all meals from dinner on Saturday of arrival to breakfast Saturday of departure picnic lunches Professional guiding luggage transfer to evening accommodation (inc. mountain refuge) Pick up and Drop off at Geneva airport return transfer to Geneva airport on Saturday of arrival/departure

NOT INCLUDED

Flights/Travel etc Expenses of repair and maintenance of bikes Cancellation/medical insurances and repatriation costs Lifts passes in Saint Moritz Bike hire Alcohol and extra drinks All that is not included/understood in the heading 'Included'.

Warning: This itineray is given for your information and may be changed at the discretion of the guide depending on the weather conditions, physical ability of clients and the trail 'options' we decide together.

The Schedule : arrival Saturday

DAY 1 of arrival (Saturday) : ‘Meet and greet’ at Brig train station, in the Swiss Rhône valley for your first night in Switzerland!

DAY 2 (Sunday) : Early morning start with a transfer to the Simplon Pass, next to the Italian border and under the glacier of the Monte Leone (3553m). Our first singletrack leads us along a balcony trail towards the small village of Rosswald overlooking the Swiss Rhône valley. A wild track 90% rideable right to the Saflishpass at 2484m offers an incredible panoramic view over the numerous 4000m summits between Saas Fée and Zermatt and into Italy. The atmosphere is wild and alpine!

A short descent on a barely visible trail through a mountain pasture and a short climb leads us to a real goat track above the Binntal valley. The narrow, technical descent to the isolated village of Binn is fantastic way to end the day on a fun rolling trail to make anyone smile !

Ride distance: 35km Uneven positive: 1100m Uneven negative: 1100m Physical difficulty: 3/5 Technical skills: 3/5


DAY 3 (Monday) : We climb the Binntal valley again to the village of Fald at 2409m on a jeep track, followed by a 500m/1 hour ‘carry bike’ section allowing us to reach the Albrunpass at 2409m taking us closer to Italy. Another short 15 minute ‘carry bike’ section enables us to place our wheels on a superb trail crossing alpine pastures at over 2000m. A 350m climb via the Passo del Muretto at 2347m offers an epic varied downhill into the Valle Antigorio where after a long day we will be refuelled with delicious Italian cooking !

Ride distance: 42km Uneven positive: 1700m Uneven negative: 1450m Physical difficulty: 4/5 Technical skills: 4/5

DAY 4 (Tuesday) : After a short transfer we attack the day with a long jeep track climb bringing us to the magnificent lake and valley of Val Toggia and on towards Passo di Giacomo at 2313m to return into Switzerland. The balcony trail of Val Bedretto is a fluid mix of singletrack and jeep track leading us down to the village of Airolo where our minibus awaits to transfer us, avoiding 900m of hard climb. We climb alongside Lago Rittom to climb to Passo del Sol at 2376m. We are alone in this wild landscape! We descend the Valle Santa Maria passing by a balcony trail to finish on a technical singletrack with tight turns all the way to Olivone. Another memorable alpine day !

Ride distance: 45km Uneven positive: 1500m Uneven negative: 1500m Physical difficulty: 4/5 Technical skills: 3/5

DAY 5 (Wednesday) : A transfer allows us to eliminate some climb but with another short 15 minute ‘carry bike’ section we arrive at the Scaletta refuge. Crossing the high altitude Plan de la Greina plateau at 2300m under the Greina Glacier and the Piz (3124m) offers us the sensation of solitude in the mountains which we rarely find these days! A second short ‘carry bike’ section to cross the Passo Diesrut then descend into the Val Lumnezia with its manicured rolling green pastures dotted with beautiful small wooden chalets.

Ride distance: 37km Uneven positive: 1600m Uneven negative: 1700m Physical difficulty: 4/5 Technical skills: 3/5


DAY 6 (Thursday) : From Vals we climb along the Peil valley, closed off by the Fanelhorn Glacier near the isolated Valserberg Pass at 2504m, on a trail which is 85% rideable. The descent into the RheinWald near Nufenen screams a technical challenge at us of 1000m of downhill! At the end of the valley at the Sufner Lake we can make the most of the blissful calm before taking the epic singletrack overhanging the Rhein Gorges which allows us to enter into the Val Ferreira. Two more hours/800m of climb, to reach the top of the valley where we will spend the night at 2000m!

Ride distance: 47km Uneven positive: 1700m Uneven negative: 1500m Physical difficulty: 4/5 Technical skills: 4/5

DAY 7 (Friday) : The day starts with a 400m ‘carry bike’ section on the trail to the Stallerberg Pass at 2578m!! The view from the summit makes this hard start to the morning worthwhile and the incredible downhill to Bivio is the cherry on the cake! A second rideable climb to Lunghin Pass at 2645m puts us on the high altitude plateau of St. Moritz with its three beautiful lakes. Facing us is majestic glacier encrusted summit of the Piz Bernina (4049m). The singletrack descent is very technical and yet also magical and few would be capable of riding it all! The challenge is set… We finish this mythical trip riding alongside the Silser, Sylvaplana and Champfer lakes and finish the day in St. Moritz with a well deserved beer !

Ride distance: 35km Uneven positive: 1600m Uneven negative: 1800m Physical difficulty: 4/5 Technical skills: 4/5

Day 8 : departure day (Saturday) : Group dispersion. Possible transfers to Chamonix and Geneva.



NB: this tour is run with a minimum of 4 clients. Lunches on Saturday of arrival and Saturday of departure are not included, but can be arranged at an additional cost.

Dates 2020
From June 13th to 20th From June 20th to 27th From June 27th to July 4th From July 4th to 11th From July 11th to 18th From July 18th to 25th From July 25th to August 1st From August 1st to 8th From August 8th to 15th From August 15th to 22th From August 22th to 29th From August 29th to September 5th From September 5th to 12th From September 12th to 19th From September 19th to 26th From September 26th to October 3rd From October 3rd to 10th From October 10th to 17th
Level
MORE INFOS


Physical
difficulty
  • You are a mtb fan and ride 3-4 times a week at least for 2 hours non stop or more.
  • You can ride at intense pace for short periods (15 minutes)
  • You are able to cope with longer anaerobic efforts( 3-5 minutes).
  • You are comfortable with cycling more than 5 hours at steady pace per day.
  • you are able to climb 1 hour non stop.
  • you do not mind riding in rain if it occurs.
  • you are able to climb more than 1000 meters (3000 feet).
  • vertical ascent a day over 5 days including hike-a-bike sections ( more than 10 minutes).


    Technical
    difficulty
  • You are experienced and have ridden in a lot different situations ( dust, gravels, rocks, roots, mud, slippery terrain) and different types of singletracks.
  • You can go down a drop above 30 centimeters (about 1 foot).
  • You rarely walk uphill or downhill.
  • You are not afraid of steep singletracks uphill and downhill
  • You like the technical challenge and you would like to improve your skills.
  • You can cope with tight corners while downhill with rock and roots.
  • You can ride along a technical descent for at least 30 minutes.
  • You are confident in riding with little exposure.
  • YOUR BIKE
  • The best option is to ride on your own mountain bike, as it is familiar to you.
  • PLEASE NO XC bikes or short travel bikes (below 130mm)
  • A full suspension bike with at least 130 mm of front and back travel is required.
  • You need to have big grippy tires front and back, minimum 2.3 solid casing.
  • Possibility of renting a full suspension bike from 365 euros a week in the local sports stores (list on request).
  • Distance : 295 km - Ascent : 8600 m - Descent : 11000 m
    Duration8 days: arrival on saturday , departure on saturday
    7 nights accomodation
    6 days riding
    Saturday to Saturday
    Terrain
    From easy to very technical singletracks (some very technical) 'rocky and rooty' trails.
    Several hike a bike sections
    Location
    Starts in Brigg and finishes in Saint Moritz Switzerland
    Accomodations and food
    7 nights accommodation in hotels (based on double occupancy twin bedrooms). Each accomodations has a secure bike storage, bike-washing facilities, a bar with fresh beers ( there are important things in life! Dinners are 3-courses and each hotels can cater for specific dietary requirements ( veggy, vegan, gluten intolerant etc...), please let us in advance if you have specific diet.
    Lunch
    Our gourmet sandwiches are now reknown as we love to prepare some " deeluxe" lunch for fill your biker's hungry stomchs! So we provide a different sandwich freshly prepared everyday with delicious bread ( organic or whole wheat when possible) and local specialities. In addition we propose unlimited acces to trail snack and fruits!
    Pick up / Drop Off / Meeting point
    The closest international airport is GENEVA / Switzerland, about one hour transfer from Brigg, the town where you are going to meet the guide an driver. The pick up and drop off from / to Geneva airport are NOT included in the price of the trip. Please let us in advance your flight details. You will meet your guide and driver in Brigg. Please do not assemble your bike before you have arrived in at the hotel you'll stay in on saturday evening. Dependding wich trip you ride , you can leave your bike box safely at the hotel and find it back on friday.
    Lodging
    7 nights accommodation in a mix of hotels
    (based on double occupancy twin bedrooms)