Do you prefer sweet or savory? Hiking and cycling tours are not only a great way to get away from it all and keep fit, they also work up an appetite in a very natural way. At Feuer und Eis Touristik, we find that there is hardly a better feeling than sitting down to a well-earned meal after an extensive journey on foot or by bike. This article is dedicated to the question of how best to satisfy the “wanderlust” — including particularly tasty route recommendations from our portfolio.
The hunger to travel…
…a feeling that I’m sure everyone knows: you’ve been on your feet for a while or have been cycling for several hours through forests, mountains or along lakes, then suddenly the moment comes when your body demands to be rewarded with something. You usually feel it not only in your stomach, but also in your head — the need to eat something that nourishes both your body and your soul.
Appetite for something hearty or sweet?
Depending on the route and weather conditions, what we feel like eating usually changes too: While a crunchy, hearty snack with cheese and sausage tastes great at a summer picnic in the mountains, there’s nothing better than a piece of chocolate or an energy-rich muesli bar for a quick break in between when it’s too cold or too windy to take the time to feast.
Hearty meals such as sausages, cheese, fresh bread or a warm, homemade risotto are among the classic choices for dinner on multi-day hikes. Especially in cool weather, a warm meal is the ideal treat after a long hike. But a sweet Kaiserschmarrn pancake with stewed plums, apple sauce or compote and a hot chocolate with plenty of cream also fills the body’s energy reserves — and is not only popular at Christmas time, but all year round.
Practical tips for the right food from the Feuer und Eis Touristik guides?
When choosing the right food for a longer trip, there are a few things to consider. After all, you don’t just want to be full, you also want to be able to continue your journey well-fed. Here are some tips from our guides:
- Don’t forget your drinks! Drinking enough fluids is just as important as eating. Exercise dries out the body, so always have enough water or unsweetened tea with you. If you fill your thermos with warm herbal tea in the morning, you will usually still enjoy a warming sip at lunchtime. If you prefer something sweeter, opt for fruit tea
- Light and compact: Food that takes up little space in your rucksack is ideal. Energy bars, nuts or dried fruit are perfect for hunger pangs on the go.
- Durable and resistant: If the journey takes longer, the food should not spoil too quickly. Especially in hot temperatures, hard-boiled eggs, cheese or smoked sausage are a safe choice.
- Fresh and simple: For shorter stages, fresh sandwiches with vegetables, cheese or cold cuts and fresh fruit such as an apple or pear are a quick and nutritious option.
Travel and feast: Regional pleasure hikes are in vogue
What makes hiking and cycling tours so popular is the opportunity to discover regional specialties. If you are hiking in a particular area, it is part of the experience to enjoy the local dishes that the region has to offer in a local inn or a rustic mountain hut after the tour. Be it a spicy Kaiserschmarrn in the Alps or a hearty lentil soup in the Franconian forests.
Two particularly tasty routes?
While the cycle tour “Piedmont — Paradise for Gourmets” offers culinary highlights of Italian cuisine in the midst of the breathtaking wine landscape, the “Chocolate Tour” takes participants into the sweet world of Swiss chocolate and impresses with unique experiences and flavorful discoveries.
Piedmont — a paradise for gourmets
This cycle tour by Feuer und Eis Touristik takes you through one of Italy’s best-known and most diverse regions, famous for its excellent wines, fine truffles and culinary delights. This tour is a true paradise for gourmets and travelers who want to enjoy the rolling hills of Piedmont and the impressive mountain panorama. On this tour, be sure to include a visit to wineries and a wine tasting to discover the variety of Piedmontese wines, a tasting of the famous white truffle from Alba (a town that smells unmistakably of Nutella, made from hazelnuts from the local bushes) and a meal in a typical trattoria.
Schoggi Tour — The sweetest cycle tour in Switzerland
This cycle tour by Feuer und Eis Touristik is a true paradise for anyone with a passion for chocolate. On this tour, you have the opportunity to experience Switzerland from a completely different perspective: through the delightful journey of chocolate. From the origin of the cocoa beans to the finished, finest Swiss chocolate, you can learn all about the art of chocolate making. The highlights of this tour include visits to chocolate factories and tastings. Of course, the picturesque Alpine landscapes on this route also leave a sweet aftertaste. This tour combines the pleasure of the finest chocolate with the impressive landscapes of Switzerland.
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