Flying around the mountains on an e-bike is fantastic fun: the wind in your hair, beautiful scenery, and enjoyable, gentle exercise. You get all the benefits of cycling without all the exhausting, hard work and buckets of sweat you can expect on a conventional bike ride.
As e-bikes become ever more popular, their availability in our holiday destinations has sky rocketed. In the Lakes & Mountains, where cycling has always been a popular pastime, the resorts are perfectly equipped to welcome e-bikers.
Here are just a few of the perfect destinations for an e-biking holiday:
Kranjska Gora, Slovenia
Cycling is a way of life in Kranjska Gora. Whether it is along gentle pathways or down full on, off-road trails, it is a defining part of the region’s adventurous culture.
The cycling route between the villages of Rateče and Mojstrana in the Triglav National Park is one of the highlights of the area. Passing through Kranjska Gora, the route traces an abandoned railway line. With minimal uphill cycling and plenty of resting places en route, the trail is suitable for cyclists of all abilities. It’s a beautiful journey and perfect for e-bikers.
E-bikes are available to rent locally for approximately €35 per day.
La Villa, Italy
The stunningly beautiful Alta Badia region of Italy is exceedingly welcoming of e-bikers. The area encompasses La Villa and Corvara and has a strong network of cycling paths suitable for cyclists of all abilities, including dedicated e-bike routes.
An excellent e-bike sharing scheme makes cycling in this area of the Dolomites even more accessible. The Alta Badia tourist office have teamed up with the bike manufacturer Pinarello so visitors can pick up the latest e-bikes in one village and drop it off at another. This means you can cycle from Covara to La Villa without having to cycle back uphill again!
A full-days e-bike rental will cost in the region of €38 per adult. Guiding is available on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Paid for locally, the tours navigate the easier routes in the region and last for approximately 2 ½ hours.
Locarno, Switzerland
Offering a near infinite variety of landscapes to cycle through, the attractive Swiss town of Locarno on Lake Maggiore is an enjoyable destination to explore by e-bike. The area provides relaxing cycle routes around the lake as well as more challenging mountain trails.
Visitors to Locarno should take the time to explore the Locarnese National Park Project, which protects a distinctive area of the Ticino region. The project is very easy to explore by e-bike and you’ll encounter medieval villages, artistic enclaves and pristine forests en route.
The e-biking between Locarno and Ascona is another must for any visitor to the region. The picturesque lakeside route will take you along one of the finest lakeside promenades in Switzerland. Ambitious e-bikers will want to continue their journey up the Magic Valley, following the wild Maggia River. A regional cycling route, the path is clearly sign-posted.
You can hire e-bikes from the local tourist office for around CHF 33 per day.
Malcesine, Italy
The beautiful town of Malcesine on Lake Garda is the ideal location for a cycling holiday. The natural beauty of Monte Baldo, which is situated near the town, has long attracted keen cyclists. The mountain has a wealth of trails letting cyclists encounter stunning scenery.
Until fairly recently many of these trails would have been too challenging for novice cyclists. All that changed in 2014 when Monte Baldo became the home of Italy’s first dedicated e-bike trails, the Green Bike Park.
There are now over 100km of cycling trails around Malcesine, and the views from Monte Baldo have become accessible to cyclists of all abilities.
You can explore the mountain bike routes around Malcesine by hiring bikes at the bottom of the Monte Baldo cable car for around €45 per day. Guides to show you the best routes in and around resort are available for between €40 and €60 per day.
Seefeld, Austria
With e-bike rental, charging stations and guided e-bike tours, the town of Seefeld is exceptionally set-up for e-bikers. The local tourist office provides a number of recommendations for routes you can follow on an e-bike.
Route 13 takes cyclists from the centre of Seefeld to the Moserer See lake and back via the famous Wildmoosalm. Make sure you stop off en route at the Möserer Seestub’n mountain restaurant where there is a free e-bike charging station. It is a gentle route and, at full pelt, takes little over one and a half hours to complete.
Slightly tougher is the route between Seefeld and Rosshütte (Route 31). Climbing 580m, the trail may seem intimidating but it’s thoroughly worth it. The Bergrestaurant Rosshütte, at the end of the trail, provides spectacular views over the Seefeld high plateau. The terrace is a great lunch spot, and while you recharge your energy, you can recharge your e-bike too!
You can rent city style e-bikes from hire shops and some hotels for approximately €25 per day, while mountain e-bikes will cost you around €35 per day. Walking maps also show the major cycling routes and e-bike tours can be booked locally.
Rental costs are provided as a guide only and were correct at the time of publication. Third party suppliers provide the e-bike rental referred to in this article. All prices quoted are subject to change.
