Grand Alps Tour / CGA2502
The day started under rainy skies, but there was plenty to look forward to. For those who had missed the Susten Pass yesterday—or simply wanted a second chance—it was back on the menu this morning. At the top, it was noticeably colder than the day before, with snow on the ground and biting temperatures. The thick clouds left little room for views, so we didn’t linger long and descended quickly into the valley. A hot chocolate stop was the perfect way to warm up before riding on. Our route took us through Interlaken, where we enjoyed a delicious Italian meal by the lake, before heading out for more passes. The Col du Pillon and Col de la Croix were highlights we had been looking forward to, and they didn’t disappoint. At the summit of Col de la Croix we witnessed a surprise: a military helicopter exercise. The rotor wash sent water droplets swirling dramatically through the air, an impressive sight none of us will soon forget. From there it was down again for the final climb of the day: the Swiss Col de la Forclaz. This centuries-old trade route led us straight into France, and soon after we rolled into Chamonix. A round in the sauna was the perfect way to close out another unforgettable day.
Today's itinerary includes a round trip that every motorcyclist traveling in Switzerland should experience at least once. A 260 km loop from Andermatt over the Furka Pass, Grimsel Pass, and Susten Pass back to Andermatt, followed by an additional loop over the Gotthard Pass, Nufenen Pass, and Furka Pass back to Andermatt. On the ride over the Grimsel Pass, we make a short detour over the dam wall up to the Grimsel Hospitz Hotel. We continue via Innertkirchen and, on the ascent to the Grimsel Pass, we once again encounter thick fog, but as soon as we are over the top of the pass, we ride into beautiful weather with excellent visibility. For the evening, we tour guides have come up with something special: we go to a really typical Swiss inn and enjoy a Swiss national dish: cheese fondue! None of our guests had tried it before and everyone loved it. The service were incredibly friendly and we will definitely stop here again on our next tour. An absolutely fantastic day comes to an end !
In high spirits, we leave the idyllic town of Pfunds in the border triangle of Austria, Switzerland, and Italy. After a short detour into the Samnaun Valley, we cross the border into Switzerland. We drive through the Lower Engadine with its main town of Scuol, where Romansh is spoken, the fourth of Switzerland's national languages alongside German, Italian, and French and after just over an hour, we reach our first highlight of the day, the Flüela Pass. Via Davos and Landquart, we then head to Murg on Lake Walen, where we have lunch in the beautiful “Sagibeiz.” Afterwards, we drive via Glarus to our second highlight, the “Klausen Pass.” Due to a very dark cloud over the pass, we decide to put on our rain jackets. Unfortunately, practically no one decides to put on rain pants, which we all bitterly regret later. At the top of the pass, we drink one last coffee and take great photos of the valley, where fog is slowly rolling in. Unfortunately, the rest of the journey takes us through the thickest fog we have ever experienced – we drive at 20 km/h with our hazard lights on, and the motorcycle 5 meters in front of us is barely visible. Of course, it now starts to rain and doesn't stop, and we arrive at the hotel soaking wet from the waist down. Luckily, they have a ski boot drying room where we can hang up our clothes. Despite the wet ending, everyone enjoyed the day very much and there was a lot to talk and laugh about over an excellent dinner in the hotel restaurant.
After completing the Edelweiss Riding School in Seefeld, today was all about our first real kilometers together as a group, heading toward Pfunds. To get familiar with each other’s bikes and riding styles, we tackled our first mountain pass: the Kühtai Pass. It’s well known for its reservoir, which is remarkable because it sits so high up in the mountains. Whenever the weather changes, the colors of the lake shift instantly, making it a stunning sight. It was a little chilly at the top, so a coffee stop in Ötz was very welcome. On the way, we had to pause for a small herd of Highland cattle being guided across the road into the meadows. A wonderful little touch of alpine life, and of course, very photogenic. From there we continued to our first real highlight of the day: the Hahntennjoch, sitting at 1,894 meters above sea level. Toward the end of this beautiful stretch the sky began to cloud over, so we took a well-deserved lunch break in Warth. The waiter was convinced our group was supposed to stay overnight at his place and seemed surprised we had “arrived early.” Some confusion followed, but unfortunately, we couldn’t leave the bill for the other group that was actually checking in later that day. Too bad ;-) The silver lining was that the only raindrops of the day fell while we were enjoying lunch, meaning we never had to put on our rain gear. The clouds hadn’t fully cleared by the time we reached the Flexen Pass, so the view was limited to about 50 meters. Still, we managed to ride on safely, continuing via St. Anton to Pfunds, where cold beers and a warm sauna were waiting for us. A perfect way to end our first day on the road!
After arriving at our beautiful hotel in Seefeld, we first unload the motorcycles and park them in the hotel garage. Two of our guests have booked the optional riding training, which is on the agenda today. The focus here is on getting to know the motorcycle and the alpine roads and feeling safe for the upcoming alpine roads. In the evening, there is a welcome briefing, where the participants and tour guides get to know each other and the entire 15-day tour is presented. Over a cozy dinner together, during which the tour guides are bombarded with questions (just kidding), we ended the first day in good spirits and looking forward to the start of the tour tomorrow. Hey Alps – here we come!