Gravel means openness – and that is exactly what shapes the long-distance ride Basel–Kleve.

Between the Rhine, the edge of the Black Forest and the Lower Rhine, a route awaits you that flows: long gravel arteries, quiet river dykes, forest passages and endless straights through fields and meadows.

The route is varied but never extreme: no alpine terrain, no root trails, no endless hike-a-bike. Instead you find the perfect rhythm between pace and calm – now rolling briskly along the Rhine, now alone in the mist of the river lowlands.

The line consistently avoids busy roads. At most you cross them briefly before they disappear again and you return to those in-between spaces where gravel unfolds its charm: quiet, wide, unhurried.

Directly in the tracks we embed supply points as POIs – from supermarkets and petrol stations to shelters and bakeries. That way you stay self-supported on the road, but never entirely alone.

For the long-distance ride Basel–Kleve we recommend a robust, comfortable gravel setupthat masters long distances and changing surfaces with confidence. The route is generally rolling, but with its mix of gravel, forest tracks and old dykes it demands as much from the equipment as from the rider.

Wir empfehlen Tyres from 38 mm wide 40–45 mm with good puncture protection are ideal. Wider tyres bring extra comfort on long straights and give confidence when the paths are rough or softened by rain. With pure semi-slicks you’re too uncompromising here – especially on damp forest sections or coarse gravel.

For the gearing you should go for a solid low gear ratio. Steep ramps like those on the low-mountain crossings or at the edge of the Black Forest are short but demanding. A combination of small chainrings and a large cassette preserves your energy reserves and keeps your pedalling smooth even after 400 kilometres.

Rule of thumb: The more versatile your setup, the more relaxed the ride. Basel–Kleve rewards what already held true in the pioneering days – technology that works when it matters.

Start in Basel

The starting point lies in the heart of Basel – between the Rhine, the old town and the edge of the Black Forest. The city is an ideal starting point for a long-distance ride: excellently connected, bike-friendly, cosmopolitan. From Basel SBB it’s just a few minutes to the start area; if you like, you can begin the morning with a view of the Rhine or a coffee in the old town.

Basel is perfectly accessible – by train, long-distance coach or bike.

International trains from Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland run daily. Night trains too, for instance via Zürich or Freiburg, are a comfortable option for a stress-free journey with your bike.

Train + bike – works if you plan it right:

• Direct connections are available from, among others, Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Vienna and Zurich.
• The SBB offers flexible bike carriage on local services; for international trains we recommend reservations best made directly via SBB, ÖBB or Trenitalia, as their booking systems are usually more reliable than Deutsche Bahn’s.
• Nightjet connections (e.g. Vienna–Zürich–Basel or Hamburg–Basel) are ideal for a relaxed journey with luggage and bike.

Alternatively: long-distance coach + bike.

Long-distance coaches (e.g. FlixBus) connect Basel regularly with German cities – bike carriage can be selected when booking. Especially for riders from western or southern Germany this is a straightforward and inexpensive option.

On site:

Basel has a well-developed cycle-path network, numerous bike shops and accommodation geared to cycling travellers. The city itself is part of the Basler Velostrategie and thus a symbol of modern, sustainable mobility – exactly the right place to set off anew on historic trails.

Accommodation in Basel

The accommodation options in Basel are varied – from boutique hotels and simple hostels to campsites right on the Rhine.

As a border city between Switzerland, Germany and France, Basel is perfectly geared to international guests – including with a bike.

On past visits we had very good experiences with the

Hotel Odelya Basel – centrally located, bike-friendly and with a breakfast that makes every bikepacker happy.

Also recommended: the

Hyve Hostel Basel, just a few minutes from
Bahnhof Basel SBB away, with secure bike storage and a relaxed atmosphere.

For everyone who prefers to sleep under the open sky

Camping Waldhort in Reinach (Basel-Landschaft) lies quietly at the edge of the forest, just about 8 km from the city centre.

Large tent meadows, well-kept sanitary facilities and a pleasant, bike-friendly setting make it the best choice for bikepackers.

It is easily reached by bike or tram – and perfect for taking one more deep breath the day before the ride.

Alternatively, the
Camping und Schwimmbad am Rhein in Kaiseraugst – right on the river, with access to the
Rheinradweg EuroVelo 15 and about 15 km from the starting point.

Here you can cool off in the water, eat at the restaurant or simply relax on the bank.

Self-support and overnight stays – Basel–Kleve

The long-distance ride Basel–Kleve is a self-supported ride.

This means: you are responsible for your own food, accommodation and how you take your breaks. Whether you’d rather rest spontaneously with a hammock in the green or check into a guesthouse or hotel is entirely your choice.

The code of such rides, however, provides that overnight stays are not booked in advance from home, but at the earliest en route. So embrace the experience and respond flexibly to the weather, the route and your daily form.

We give you, in the route email , detailed recommendations on rest, food and overnight points along the route – from the simple campsite on the Rhine to the small guesthouse in the Münsterland.

However, we cannot guarantee, that they are available at all times. So make sure to find a suitable place to sleep in good time and keep always a plan B ready.

A few notes on the countries along the route

• In Switzerland and in Baden-Württemberg , wild camping is generally not permitted.
• In Rheinland-Pfalz and NRW it is sometimes tolerated, provided you discreetly and without leaving a trace bivouac – but that is at your own risk.
• Campsites along the Rhine are frequent and usually available at short notice too.

Please remain respectful of nature, local residents and landowners. The spirit of the long-distance ride thrives on Self-reliance, consideration and improvisation.

Kleve – journey home

Kleve is the northern end point of the Basel–Kleve long-distance ride – quietly located, but excellently connected for the journey home with or without a bike.

Whether you have to head back south or roll on towards the Netherlands: from Kleve you can get away easily.

Options for the journey home

• Train (DB / Abellio / NIAG)
  
  Regular regional connections from Kleve central station towards Duisburg, Cologne or Düsseldorf.
  
  From there, there are long-distance and night-train connections in all directions.
  
  Taking a bike on the regional trains is usually no problem – a NRW bike day ticket is sufficient.
  
  👉
  www.bahn.de
• Long-distance coaches
  
  Nearby coach connections are available from Nijmegen (NL) or Duisburg / Düsseldorf.
  
  From there, buses run towards southern Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
  
  Bike carriage is possible with providers such as FlixBus for a surcharge and with a reservation.
  
  👉
  www.flixbus.de
• Continuing by bike
  
  Anyone who hasn’t had enough can, from Kleve, roll flat through the Netherlands – towards Arnhem, Nijmegen or on to the North Sea.
  
  Relaxed cycle paths, campsites and railway stations lie close together.

Finisher party in Meerbusch

After arriving in Kleve, the final leg takes many riders south once more:

On the following day we celebrate together the finisher party at the Cycle Collective in Meerbusch – in a relaxed atmosphere, with cold drinks, music and familiar faces.

📍 Cycle Collective Meerbusch

www.cycle-collective.de

Getting there is easy:

By train from Kleve → Düsseldorf → Meerbusch-Osterath or by bike via the Lower Rhine cycle route (approx. 100 km, flat and pleasant).

Planning tip

Plan a little time buffer in, especially if you’re bringing your bike – bike spaces on long-distance trains are often booked up quickly.

Anyone travelling spontaneously has with regional trains or long-distance coaches usually the greatest flexibility.

And if you want a leisurely wind-down:

Stay a day longer, leave the Rhine behind you one more time and raise a glass in Meerbusch with the Grevet crew.

Beyond the city, the line begins to flow. You follow the Rhine northwards, on farm tracks, quiet dykes and fine gravel arteries.

The route runs through the Markgräflerland, past vineyards and small villages, then on towards the Breisgau. Here you feel the character of gravel riding: an even cadence, quiet rolling, wind in your face.

The region is open, friendly, flat – but never boring. Old river bends, side arms and floodplains keep the route alive. Along the way, many small villages invite you to take a break – bakeries, fountains, shade under old chestnut trees.

The further north you ride, the more the rhythm changes. The route runs over gently climbing forest passages, follows quiet forest tracks and takes you to the edge of the Black Forest.

Here the air smells of resin and damp leaves, the gravel tracks alternate with firm forest paths, and now and then the view opens onto the Rhine – a panorama of water, forests and haze.

If you like, you can Rastatt or Karlsruhe take a short rest, stock up or simply let your mind spin down. The route stays flat but demands endurance: a mental game of steadiness and concentration.

In the region around Speyer and Worms the route merges with the great narrative of the Rhine: cathedrals, bridges, old shipyards, wine towns. Here nature meets industry, the past meets the present.

The route uses old towpaths, former railway lines and quiet side roads. Anyone who rides attentively senses that this section is more than geography – it’s a piece of European cultural history on two wheels.

From the area around Mainz/Frankfurt the picture changes. The route continues to follow the course of the river, but the character becomes more urban. You cross the foothills of the Taunus, passing cities with a long cycling tradition – Mainz, Darmstadt, Rüsselsheim – places where technology, industry and movement were already closely intertwined in the 19th century.

Between the modern glass façades and old industrial plants lies a piece of forgotten history: the Opel-Rennbahn in Rüsselsheim.

It was one of the most modern cycling and motor-racing tracks in Europe – a stage for world records, engine experiments and dreams of speed. Today it is a Lost Place, half overgrown, half preserved – a monument to the transition from muscle power to motor power. Anyone who looks closely can still make out the contours of the old banked curves where Fritz von Opel and other pioneers once did their laps – with petrol in their blood, but with roots in cycling.

Here a circle closes: Basel–Kleve was once a stage for the dawn of cycling technology – and led indirectly into that era in which the bicycle turned into the motor. Today, in the age of the mobility transition, this passage is a quiet commentary:  back to the origin, but with a new awareness.

After that, the route continues over quieter sections along the Middle Rhine. The nights are long, the paths clear, the supply points dense. Petrol stations, bakeries and shelters lie along the route – ideal for night rides or late stages, carried by the steady rhythm of the river.

The closer you get to Kleve, the wider the sky opens. The wind becomes noticeable, the landscape flat and open. Fields, avenues, small villages – a quiet, honest expanse.

Here the Rhine is no longer an Alpine torrent but a broad, calm companion. In this silence lies a power of its own: the calm after days of movement. Anyone who rides early in the morning or at dusk experiences plays of light reminiscent of old paintings – grey, gold, mist, expanse.

The last kilometres lead through forests and fields, then it appears: the Schwanenburg, high above the town of Kleve. It marks the finish – and the symbolic end point of a line that led right across the realm.

What awaits you here is not a podium, but a feeling: arriving.

A place where history, landscape and effort come together.

A glance up at the castle, a deep breath, perhaps a coffee on the market square – and the knowledge: you have accomplished what was already a myth in 1894.

Not far away in Meerbusch, the finisher party is already waiting for you. With a special place for everyone who travels on two wheels: the
Cycle Collective. Here you meet like-minded people and find espresso, tools, stories and the feeling of belonging.