Jura Trail Swiss Cycling Holiday

7 Nights Self Guided - 180 Miles
15th April to 15th October 2012
£725 Per Person Based Upon 2 Sharing

This Swiss cycling holiday starts in the city of Basel, situated on the River Rhine, and finishes in the pretty lakeside town of Nyon, on Lake Geneva. In between, the route takes you along the chain of the Jura mountains.

Basic Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Basel
Day 2 Basel to Porrentruy ~ 39 miles
Day 3 Porrentruy to Saignelegier ~ 26 miles
Day 4 Saignelegier to Couvet ~ 43 miles
Day 5 Couvet to Le Pont ~ 39 miles
Day 6 Le Pont to Nyon-Coinsins ~ 33 miles
Day 7 Nyon - free day (bicycle not included)
Day 8 Departure

What's included:
• Meet and greet at Zurich Airport and transfer to first hotel
• Transfer back to Zurich Airport on Day 8
• Bed and breakfast accommodation in medium class hotels
• 21 gear hybrid/mountain bike with pannier bag, pump, tool kit and lock
• Guidebooks with maps (German text, but the route is well-signed and easy to follow)
• Daily route information in English
• Luggage transfers
• Emergency support

The first section of your cycle ride takes you through the fertile agricultural area of the Leimen valley to reach the town of Porrentruy. From here the Ajoie region leads you to St Ursanne then up to the plateau of Freiberge. The extraordinary marshland landscape here and unusual building designs give the area a unique appeal. Further on you reach the clock-making town of La Chaux de Fonds before a hilly section to Vallorbe. The final day involves a climb past the Lac de Joux to the Col de Marchairuz followed by an exhilarating descent to Nyon.

Grade: Demanding or Moderate if you avoid some of the steeper sections by using lifts

Getting there: Fly to Basel, Geneva or Zurich, then travel by train to Basel. Return from Geneva.

Day 1 Arrive Basel.

Day 2 Basel to Porrentruy.
You are soon away from Basel and into a rural and hillier landscape. The route is never far from the French border and the countryside is characterised by the fertile soil devoted to the cultivation of fields and fruit growing. The tree-lined valley of the small River Lutzel is a delight for the cyclist. ~ 39 miles

Day 3 Porrentruy to Saignelegier.
You start in the Ajoie region, a stretch of land north of the Jura mountain chain. Then it is uphill to Sur la Croix before an exhilarating descent to the valley of the Doubs and on to St Ursanne. Another climb takes you to the Freiberge plateau, but this can be avoided by a short train journey if desired. ~ 26 miles

Day 4 Saignelegier to Couvet.
The Freiberge plateau combines lush grazing pastures, dark conifer woods, the mysterious marshland of the Etang de Gruere and wide-eaved farm buildings to form one of Switzerland's most extraordinary landscapes. Good views can be had as your route passes Mont Soleil before descending to the watch-making and clock-making town of La Chaux-de-Fonds. Another upland area is crossed before reaching your accommodation in Couvet. ~ 43 miles

Day 5 Couvet to Le Pont.
It is another hilly day today as you continue south cycling parallel to the French frontier. In Buttes an alternative is to take a chairlift that takes you and your bicycle to join a high altitude track across the terrace of Les Rasses to Ste Croix and back to the official route at L'Auberson. The last part of today's route from Vallorbe to Le Pont is alongside the Lac de Joux. ~ 39 miles

Day 6 Le Pont to Nyon-Coinsins.
This area with the nearby Grand Risoux is a true gem in the Jura landscape. A climb up to the Col de Marchairuz is rewarded by wonderful views from this quiet and isolated location. Now all you are left with is the pure pleasure of the long descent to Nyon on the shore of the vast Lake Geneva. ~ 33 miles

Day 7 Nyon - free day (bicycle not included)

Day 8 Departure.

View Jura Trail in a larger map