Cycling holidays The big Bern loop

Luggage drop-off in Bern. You’ll quickly leave the quiet old town behind you and explore the cow pastures, as well as the forests and small suburbs surrounding the city of Bern. The tour can either lead you through the small villages along the river Emme or over picturesque hills as you press on to today’s destination – the small town of Langnau im Emmental.

Two of Switzerland’s most famous regions await you today, as the tour takes you from the Emme Valley and onto the Bernese Oberland. The route to the Aare Valley is slightly hilly, but comfortable to negotiate, and it’s in Münsingen where you’ll finally reach the river Aare.

Take a pit stop on the shores of the Gerzensee and marvel at the magnificent views of the Bernese Oberland’s snow-capped peaks. Thun, a lively little town on the shores of the lake of the same name, is your destination and boasts pretty little canals and narrow lanes.

After you’ve checked out some of the better-known names, here’s an insider tip for you that, even here in Switzerland, not everyone’s heard of … the Gantrisch Regional Nature Park. This hilly pre-Alpine area is the perfect spot for a cycling tour. The route passes sizeable farms and the village of Guggisberg, with its charming main square, awaits you on your arrival.

Today’s stage takes you across the Sense river and into the French-speaking region of Switzerland. The medieval town of Fribourg is the perfect place to indulge in a classic Swiss cheese fondue. Luckily, you can work off this calorific meal right away, as the second half of today’s stage begins immediately afterwards.

It takes you past the Schiffenensee lake and on to the village of Murten where, if you’re still hungry, you can try a slice of Nidelkuchen. This savoury speciality can only be found in this part of Switzerland.

After a short detour to the banks of the Aare, this stage takes you up to the Frienisberg plateau, which is the perfect spot for indulging in a moment of reflection and gazing in wonder at the nearby Bernese Oberland peaks.

In this stage, you cycle along traffic-free roads surrounded by the most magnificent mountain landscape. Eventually, you’ll pass through the Bremgartenwald forest, which is only a short ride away from Bern old town. Once you arrive in Bern, it’s time to collect your luggage and depart.