The Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana is the host and starting location for a new e-bike tour from specialist guiding company, e-Alps.
Exploring the UNESCO Aletsch Glacier, the largest in the Alps, and taking in remote Alpine villages along the way, this 4 night and 5 day trip is fully guided and inclusive of accommodation and food.
Cycling routes range from 30 to 50km each day on a mixture of single track and off-road trails, all on e-mountain bikes which can be rented if required. Riders would be expected to have a minimum technical level that can handle single track with some steep sections and at least two years of mountain biking experience. Fitness levels need to be a minimum of level 2 out of 4, which states 4-6 hours of riding a day for someone that exercises 2-3 times per week for at least 30 minutes.
Day one starts off in the mountain resort of Crans-Montana following a cable car ride to the Plaine Morte Glacier at 3,000 metres, before long single track descents towards Leukerbad.
Pierre-Henri Mainetti, Sales Manager of Crans-Montana Tourism and Congress, said: “It’s wonderful that this new tour is starting in Crans-Montana. With 177kms of mountain bike trails reaching from 500 metres to 3,000 metres in altitude and the extensive bike park, there’s more than enough to keep groups occupied for a longer stay if they chose to do that. When you book accommodation in Crans-Montana it also includes the Explorer Card, providing free access to the cable cars with bikes. This is a real bonus, even for e-bikes as it’s a great way to access the mountain and gain altitude”.
Maxence Carron, co-founder of e-Alps, said: “Joining two of the most iconic glaciers in the Alps together during an off-road e-bike adventure is an incredible new way to discover perfectly preserved destinations”.
The Glacier Haute Route e-bike tour took place through the summer of 2020 with 3 separate departure dates: From 19 to 23 August, 26 to 30 August and 09 to 13 September.
Cost: CHF 1490 per person (approx. £1,260), including 4 nights full-board accommodation, certified Swiss Cycling Guide, 5 days riding. E-Bike rental costs CHF 300 for the duration.
e-Alps expects to repeat the guided e-bike tour of the Swiss Alps in Summer 2021.
About e-Alps
Founded in 2018 by Maxence Carron and Adrià Mercadé, both Certified Swiss Cycling Guide’s, they organise e-biking trips within the Valais region of Switzerland, including the e-Haute Route Chamonix (France) to Zermatt and the Family & Friends Haute Route. The Glacier Haute Route is new for 2020.
About Crans-Montana
Crans-Montana is a chic and stylish all-year-round mountain resort located in the Valais canton of Switzerland (French speaking), around two hours by train from Geneva Airport.
The resort is part of the Best of the Alps group (bestofthealps.com)
Sitting on a high plateau above the Rhone Valley and facing south, the views from Crans-Montana are spectacular, especially from higher altitudes where it’s possible to see Mont Blanc in the west, through to the Matterhorn and way beyond to the east. During the winter, the skiing is well suited for intermediates, with a wide range of blue and red runs, but there’s excellent beginners areas as well as some more challenging slopes for experts, including some interesting off-piste and ski touring terrain. During summer, the resort is a haven for both road cyclists and mountain bikers as well as hikers and adventure seekers. Accommodation is varied, with a strong luxury element including several 5* hotels and a spread of 3* and 4* options as well as self-catering apartments and B&B’s.