Bicycle tours by water in Vaud

Craggy limestone cliffs climb to the icy summit of Diablerets, the Col du Pillon below divides languages, the Saane flows to Gstaad, holiday haunt of the jet set. Up through airy coniferous forest to Abländschen below the Gastlosen, the climbers’ mountain.

This escapade starting in Villars-Gryon is made up largely of back roads with moderate traffic. It features a breathtaking vantage point with views of Lake Geneva and the Alps.

The Lakes Route takes you on a trip right across picture-postcard Switzerland. From Lac Léman to the Bodensee, passing 10 larger and smaller lakes and offering stunning views over water in the Alps and Alpine foothills.

From the busy Rhonetal into the craggy limestone Vaud Alps. Over passes to the jet set in Gstaad. The Lac de la Gruyère and old towns of Fribourg and Murten are tempting places to stop. Leisurely finale in Grosse Moos vegetable country to Erlach.

After the Olympic capital of Lausanne, the route leads uphill into the terraced vineyards of Lauvaux. A bracing section but one rewarded by the wonderful surroundings of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. Then follows the descent to Vevey, Montreux and the romantic Schloss Chillon.

Above the terraced La Côte vineyards, below on the lake the market towns of Morges, Rolle, Nyon. Open shore becomes rarer, villas and yachts larger, soon cosmopolitan Geneva greets us with boulevards and its 140m-high water fountain «Jet d'eau».

Past mighty Grandson Castle, alongside Lac de Neuchâtel’s inviting beaches and up to the wide valley basin of the Val de Ruz.

Lac Léman, a small silver sea surrounded by snowy summits and vineyards, e.g. UNESCO World Heritage Lavaux. Along the shores: Vevey, Montreux, and the metropolis of Lausanne, «Olympia City» and nerve centre of the people of Vaud