UNESCO Haute Route e-MTB Adventure

Things to know

• What’s included?

  Included:

  • • An experienced MTB guide with extensive local knowledge of the area
    • 5-day UNESCO Haute Route e-MTB adventure
    • Accommodation for 4 nights in charming
    • Alpine hotels
    • Private shuttle van transportation and all lifts
    • All breakfasts, picnic lunches, dinners, and snacks (from lunch on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 5)
    • Mechanical support during the adventure
    • Luggage transfers (choose lightweight luggage)

  Add-ons:

  • • e-MTB rental — $510
    • Single supplement — $680

  Not included:

  • • Flights to Switzerland
    • Airport transfers
    • Accommodation & food on Day 0 and after the adventure
    • Any personal expenses
    • Personal equipment
    • Spare parts
    • Guide gratuities — optional
    • Travel and medical insurance — strongly recommended
• How fit do I need to be?

  This UNESCO Haute Route e-MTB adventure is meant for riders with great fitness and those who’ve been mountain biking for at least 2-3 years. In order to enjoy this adventure, you should feel good after a demanding workout with some high-intensity intervals. You’ll normally ride between 4 to 6 hours per day for 5 consecutive days, and you’ll occasionally have to push your bike over sections where the terrain is too tricky.

  Check out the itinerary for day-by-day distances and elevation changes, but in general, the most you’ll cover within a day is 52 km (32 miles) and gain up to 2,840 m (9,320 ft) in elevation.

  As for MTB experience, you should be confident on all types of singletrack trails and have no problems riding on exposed paths. You’re able to do small jumps and descend on rocky and rooty technical sections. You also clearly know when it’s time to get off your bike and walk through a difficult section.

  For more bike adventures in the Alps, click here!

• What if I’ve never mountain biked before?

  This UNESCO Haute Route e-MTB adventure is not suitable for riders with less than 2-3 years of mountain biking experience. Apart from great fitness, MTB experience is a must.

  You have to be confident on all types of singletrack trails and have no problems riding on exposed paths. You’re able to do small jumps and descend on rocky and rooty technical sections. You also clearly know when it’s time to get off your bike and walk through a difficult section.

• What do I need to bring?

  Personal equipment:

  • • Mountain bike-specific helmet
    • Mountain bike-specific shoes (can also work as hiking shoes)
    • Bike gloves and glasses
    • Knee and elbow pads
    • Waterproof jacket
    • Biking shorts (at least 2 pairs)
    • Long-sleeved base layers (merino wool ideal)
    • Short-sleeved and long-sleeved biking tops
    • Socks (at least 4 pairs)
    • Buff (neck gaiter)
    • Warm down jacket for evenings
    • Hat and gloves
    • Sunscreen
    • Hydration system (Camelback ideal)
    • 20L (minimum) daypack with rain cover
    • A towel
    • A swimsuit
    • Your toiletry bag (including SPF)

  Bike essentials (if you rent the bike with your guides, they will take care of all the equipment):

  • • Bike-specific brake pads (x2 sets)
    • If you use tubeless tires, bring everything needed for repairs
    • Tire repair kit, inner tubes (min. 2), and small pump
    • Chain-specific ‘quick link’
    • Additional derailleur hanger
    • Spare parts unique to your bike (if applicable)
    • Full service, including suspension, must be undertaken prior to the trip
    • Extra battery for the bike
    • Battery charger

  If you’re bringing your own bike, make sure it is full suspension and serviced for maximum enjoyment during the adventure. A second battery is also necessary as the trip stages are long and the Alps are steep!

  Keep in mind that this UNESCO Haute Route MTB tour occurs in the mountains, where the weather is unpredictable. Therefore, it’s important to have enough warm clothes and some waterproof layers—there’s no bad weather, only bad clothes!

• What are the rental bikes like?

  Your guides propose FLYER bikes, usually the model Uproc EVO X 6.10. This is a well-known Swiss brand, and your guides are sure you’ll love them! They’re equipped with a dropper post and 29-inch front and 27.5-inch rear wheels, making them versatile.

  These e-bikes are equipped with flat pedals. You can bring clipless pedals if you wish, but your guides strongly recommend using flat pedals to avoid any issues when unclipping.

  Protective gear is essential for this trip. Over a week, you may fall at least once, and even a single fall can lead to injury. Elbow and knee pads are strongly recommended to help prevent potential harm!

  If you’re bringing your own bike, make sure it is full suspension and serviced for maximum enjoyment during the adventure. A second battery is also necessary as the trip stages are long and the Alps are steep!

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and pricing

  • • The group size for this UNESCO Haute Route e-MTB is usually between 5-10 people with one guide.
    • It takes a minimum of 5 people for this tour to operate, while the maximum number of participants is set at 10.
    • It’s possible to organize private adventures—the minimum number of people is set at 5 participants, and maximum at 10-11. Trips can be customized to your group.
    • If you’d like to have a room to yourself, you can add a single supplement to your booking. If you’re traveling solo and don’t select this option, you agree to share a room with another cyclist. However, if the guide is unable to find a suitable roommate, a single supplement will be forced.

  UNESCO Haute Route e-MTB adventures can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • If you have people older than 60 in your group, please contact us beforehand.
    • Children as young as 14 are able to go on trips. That said, if you have a young rider in your group strong enough to handle sustained climbs (either riding or walking their bike) of hundreds of feet, and rough terrain, then they can participate in the presence of a parent or a legal guardian. Please keep in mind that e-bikes might weigh up to 24 kg (53 lbs).

  If your group has riders under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Getting there and meeting location

  The starting point of your UNESCO Haute Route e-MTB adventure is Crans-Montana in Switzerland. To get there, most people fly into Geneva Airport (GVA). From there, you can take a train or rent a car to reach Crans-Montana.

  Make sure to arrive at least a day prior to the start of the tour—you’ll be starting the tour in the morning of Day 1 so it’s best to arrive in time and be well rested.

• Safety measures and insurance

  We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!

  Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

  Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  Deposits

  You can secure one of the set dates with a 30% deposit upon booking. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.

  Cancellations

  Booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:

  Basic

  • • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
    • For cancellations 90 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a 70% refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 0-89 days before the trip, there is no refund.

  Flexible

  • • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
    • For cancellations 90 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 60-89 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 0-59 days before the trip, there is no refund.

  Super Flexible

  • • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
    • For cancellations 60 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
    • For cancellations 0-59 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.

  Early bird booking

  Want to be the first one to know when we publish new dates or secure your spot well in advance? Select a future month that suits you best and lock in your early bird spot in time with just a 10% deposit. 

  As soon as our guides publish new tour dates, you’ll be the first one to know. We’ll hold your spot for 2 weeks until you choose the date that suits you best. 

  More about how early bird bookings work below:

  • • Only a 10% non-refundable deposit must be paid upon booking, but this deposit can be transferred to any other 57hours adventure in case the dates don’t end up working for you.
    • Once our guides publish new tour dates, we’ll reach out to you so you’ll be the first one to choose from newly released dates.
    • When you pick your date, you’ll confirm your booking by paying another 20% of the total trip amount (amounting to the standard 30% deposit). 
    • Once the trip has been confirmed, the regular cancellation policy (found above) applies.
    • The remaining balance is due 90 days before the trip.