How to get to Zermatt after a cycle trip ending in Thusis

Posted by tyler.edward88 on 03/31/19 12:21 AM

In July, four of us will be cycling from Bellinzona > San Bernadino (night 1), > Splugen (night 2) > Thusis.

Without spending a night in Thusis, we are then wanting to go to Zermatt for three nights (before heading to Murren for 5 nights).

Questions:
1. We will be renting road bikes. Thinking of renting them in Bellinzona. Will we have to drop off our rental bikes in Bellinzona or can you think of an alternative to save us time?
2. We are thinking we could take the 2:16pm Glacier Express from Chur to Zermatt. Would you recommend this method?

Posted by Sam

Green Bay

03/31/19 01:13 AM

21150 posts

Through SBB, it looks like you can rent bikes at one station and drop in another. In your case, looks like you will have to continue your journey to Chur for the nearest drop off station. Also, I don't think hi-tech road bikes are on offer, but you can take a look.
https://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/auto-velo/rent-a-bike-high-season.html
You don't need to take the Glacier Express, unless you want to. You have to pay an extra seat reservation fee to ride it. So take a local train to Chur and drop your bikes there. The way without the Glacier Express takes over 6 hours but follows the same line, with changes at Disentis Muster, Andermatt, and Visp. The fastest way is to go back to Zurich the long way, but taking 1 1/2 hours less. It also costs 25% more due to the actual distance traveled.

Posted by tyler.edward88 OP

03/31/19 01:31 AM

37 posts

Hi Sam,

Thanks a lot. Unfortunately, we'll require proper road bikes, and as you say, they don't seem to offer those. That would have been the perfect solution otherwise.

That's perfect—we'll do as you suggest and take the regional trains to Zermatt following the Glacier Express route. I've just found that itinerary on SBB. We'll have a Half Day Card and Saver Day Pass, so not concerned about travel costs.

Posted by tyler.edward88 OP

03/31/19 09:51 AM

37 posts

I just realized I will also need to have my luggage delivered to Chur.

I read that the SBB website has such a service. However, it states the following on the SBB website:

Luggage may only be presented with a valid ticket for the whole route
or a SwissPass GA/Half-Fare travelcard and annual travelcard (GA
travelcard, point-to-point travelcard, Half-Fare travelcard (1, 2 or 3
years), regional travelcard, travel discount for SBB employees, Track
7, inter-regional travelcard).

I will have a Saver Day Pass for the day I turn in my luggage at Bellinzona. Would that be considered a valid ticket or travelcard?

Posted by Sam

Green Bay

03/31/19 11:50 AM

21150 posts

Doubt it, but you can ask this question direct to SBB by using the contact form. They are very good at getting back to you by the next business day.
https://www.sbb.ch/en/meta/contacts/ticket-shop-onlinetickets-mobiletickets.html

Posted by hargita

03/31/19 07:29 PM

10 posts

I can't help with renting a bike, but reading your other topic on getting from Murren to Ortisei I think you should start with Murren and Zermatt and finish the Swiss part of your trip with the bike tour ending in Thusis which will be the closest place to Ortisei. You can get from Thusis to Ortisei easily and much faster than from Murren. Take a train from Thusis to Zernez, bus to Mals, train Mals to Bolzano.