We are always happy to read our guests’ experiences and share them with (future) guests: Björn Ahrndt from Bergparadiese.de did the Allgäu Cycle Tour in August 2024. He has shared his experience and personal highlights with us in this guest article. He describes our services such as the organization of accommodation and luggage transfer as an absolute feel-good package. And finally, he also reveals tips and tricks for anyone planning their next cycling trip.
The longest gravel section of our Allgäu cycle tour is behind us. For a few minutes, we have been rolling along a wide, paved side road. Waldburg Castle before our eyes: it towers strikingly on a towering hill above the village of the same name. Another uniquely beautiful sight on this sunny late summer’s day. After Waldburg, the route continues via Amtzell and a few hills in the direction of Wangen im Allgäu. To the town from which we started our cycling adventure four days ago.
With a good 450 kilometers to cover, you might think we were hardly expecting this virtual finish line. And admittedly, the sporty version of the Allgäu Cycle Tour is quite challenging. With just under 100 kilometers per day and quite a few meters of elevation gain, it really puts your legs and seat flesh to the test. But there is no question of looking forward to the end. The impressions we have been able to gather over the past few days are too beautiful. The different landscapes of the Allgäu are too varied. The individual places through which the 476-kilometre tour leads are too different. And we could happily go on for a few more kilometers.
There are the hilly stages in the northwest. The steeper climbs and the panoramic views of the Allgäu’s main Alpine ridge in the south. And there are the lakes and moors in the eastern Allgäu. From medieval towns such as Wangen or Isny, the route passes through small, dreamy villages to the famous sights of the Allgäu. And then again to very quiet and dreamy places. A journey that has revealed an incredible number of new facets of our homeland, even for us Allgäu locals.
Of course, the bike paths around Sonthofen and through the Tannheimer Valley into the Ostallgäu are a pure delight. But we know them all too well from past day trips. That’s why we’ve identified the most beautiful sections for us in the northern part of the loop. Overall, we can say that the Allgäu Cycle Loop is, in the truest sense of the word, a well-rounded experience for cycling enthusiasts, culture lovers, and nature lovers alike. And with the support of Feuer und Eis Touristik, it was an absolute feel-good package for us.
Not only did we not have to worry about accommodation. Especially the luggage transfer is a great thing in connection with multi-day bike tours. You can take a little more equipment with you and don’t have to worry about every single gram. And on rainy and cool days, which can also happen in the Allgäu summer, you can look forward to the warming extra layer that you otherwise don’t necessarily have to transport from A to B. And you can also look forward to having dry clothes waiting for you when you arrive at the hotel.
This overall package is highly recommended, especially for those who simply want to try out a multi-day cycle tour. Especially as the route is simple and the paths are easy to cycle on. Most of them are side roads and asphalted cycle paths away from traffic. The few gravel sections are not really technically demanding, are wide throughout and have no steep ascents or descents.
For beginners, however, we would not recommend the sporty option, but rather the classic or leisurely option. On the one hand, you have shorter daily stages, but on the other hand, you also have more time to take a closer look at the numerous sights along the route. And also more time to cool off at one of the many lakes on a hot summer’s day. And you can also plan one or two detours in a more relaxed way. For example, Neuschwanstein Castle or the baroque Coloman Church near Schwangau, which are a little off the actual route. As natives of the Allgäu, we have of course visited both places several times. But for those who don’t have the opportunity to visit them every day, they are an absolute must.
By now, Waldburg Castle is already behind us. The climbs through Amtzell and on to Wangen im Allgäu aren’t really challenging anymore. A few scattered, large farms, a few hundred meters along the Untere Argen, whose waters flow into Lake Constance a few kilometers to the south. A few wooded stretches and a few more kilometers across the open, rolling hills of the West Allgäu. Then we pass the town sign for Wangen im Allgäu and ride into the beautiful old town, which we already know well.
Of course we are happy about our past experiences and our performance. And of course we are also happy about the cappuccino we are enjoying on this glorious summer’s day while watching the hustle and bustle in the alleyways. But there is also a little melancholy in the air. Wistfulness that our journey ends here and now, and with it the freedom of the past few days. This freedom was only restricted a little by the route. We determined the time, rhythm and pace ourselves. And perhaps that is one of the greatest experiences we have had, apart from the many adventures. The experience that you can simply slow down and enjoy yourself on a multi-day cycle tour. Especially when you don’t have to worry about anything else.
By the way, we have summarized our experiences and tips for the Allgäu cycle tour in a comprehensive guide: https://bergparadiese.de/radrunde-allgaeu-der-ultimative-ratgeber
Booking reference:
Would you like to experience the Allgäu Cycle Tour for yourself?
The bike tour is available in three different versions: sporty, classic and leisurely — luggage transfer included.
- To the sporty tour: Allgäu cycle tour https://www.feuer-eis-touristik.de/radrunde-allgaeu-sportliche-tour-mg
- To the classic tour: Allgäu Cycle Tour https://www.feuer-eis-touristik.de/radrunde-allgaeu-klassik-tour
- To the leisurely tour: Allgäu cycle tour https://www.feuer-eis-touristik.de/radrunde-allgaeu-gemuetliche-tour