bikepacking adventures in Switzerland and Austria

Bikepacking means pure adventure – diverse routes, impressive nature and sleeping under the stars, in a tent, or even in a guesthouse. You have everything you need on your bike for your time out in nature.

In this Collection, we present four exciting, adventurous, but also challenging Tours in Austria and Switzerland. They offer you huge panoramas and breathtaking trails. The lengths vary between 130 and 245 kilometres (81 and 152 mi) with just under 3,000 to 4,350 metres (9,850 to 14,200 ft) of elevation gain. The multi-day Tours are planned in their entirety. We give you suggestions for dividing them into daily stages in the Tour descriptions. We recommend that you take your time and enjoy the tranquility of these remarkable natural landscapes.

The loop around Lake Lucerne offers you an adventurous mix of comfortable, asphalted paths and roads, gravel forest and woodland paths, and trail passages. So, you have a small challenge ahead of you.

The ride from Lake Constance to the pre-alps of Eastern Switzerland is a little more leisurely. Flat plains, but also steep climbs, alternate with outstanding views. The final swim in Lake Constance speaks for itself.

In Austria, we take you to the Zugspitze. Your round trip oscillates between Austria and Germany and takes you past countless lakes, over new and old passes, through river valleys, up into wide mountain valleys and onto alpine pastures. The Tour is approximately 245 kilometres (152 mi) with an elevation gain of 4,350 metres (14,271 ft).

Things get wild in the Limestone Alps. The Kalkalpen National Park offers you adventurous cycling, impressive nature and the opportunity to sleep in a tent and under the open sky. The loop takes you through the most rustic parts of the national park, where you can even encounter shy animals, like the lynx.

All Tours are rideable with a gravel bike or mountain bike. Some sections are certainly challenging for gravel bikers, but the advantage on asphalted sections outweighs this. The lighter the bike, the more comfortable it is. A tire width of 40 millimetres is sufficient. However, you should have a mountain-friendly gear ratio.

It’s important to bear in mind that you need enough storage space for your equipment. Be it spare clothing, equipment, but also a tent, sleeping mat, and sleeping bag. Don’t forget your provisions either. Since lightness, robustness and functionality are required here, we recommend the bike bags of our deuter Cabezon series. A balanced weight distribution and easy handling are important. Three companions ensure this: the frame bag, saddlebag, and handlebar bag. So pack your things, hop on your bike and experience your adventure!

PS: For more bikepacking inspiration, including a travel report on the Eiger Gravel Loop, visit the deuter blog (in German): blog.deuter.com/graveln-mit-gletscherblick-eiger-loop.