Gottardo Bike - Stage 2: Airolo - Olivone (SwitzerlandMobile 65)

The spectacular crossing of the main Alpine watershed, from Andermatt to Biasca. The Gottardo Bike route includes the famous Gotthard Pass, the solitary plateau of Piora, and the sunny Blenio Valley.

The Gottardo Bike route combines spectacular high-altitude landscapes with a nice lesson in Swiss history. The Gotthard Pass has been one of the main north-south transit axes for centuries. The underground is a maze of bunkers, evidence of its military role during World War II; various sections of the route are old military access roads.

The contrast with the Piora Valley further south could not be greater: nature reigns here. The pleasant plateau with its two alpine lakes lies in a rugged high mountain environment. Lake Cadagno also boasts a unique phenomenon in Europe – the lack of mixing between surface waters and deep waters – and is known to scientists around the world.

The descent into the Blenio Valley takes place almost entirely on the old Lukmanier road. In the Middle Ages, until the rise of the Gotthard, the Lukmanier Pass was the main north-south connection. Sparsely frequented, it is one of the most beautiful Alpine passes in Switzerland. The section up to Olivone crosses wide larch forests, very green plains, dense fir woods and is considered one of the most beautiful in upper Ticino. Gottardo Bike - Discover the full route