The start in Riffenmatt is typical of the tour. The small agricultural village nestles in the lovely rolling countryside in the back of beyond, a bit like the Gantrisch tour of kings, which initially leads through dense forests intermingled with luscious meadows and past the old moor baths up to Eywald. In winter, a small ski area is in operation here and there are far too few like it, fitting perfectly into a region such as the Gantrisch.

For us, Eywald is the starting point of the second part of the ascent. A good 550 meters in altitude are to be conquered until we reach the highest point of the tour, just below the peak of Pfyffe mountain. The downhill ride begins for real at the Horbüel Pass, located a little further down.

You now follow a great single trail down the mountain ridge towards Plaffeien, take a right at lower Halstätt Alp and follow the trail back into the dense Gantrisch forest. Finally, you pedal along a small road back to Horbüel. It’s fair to say that you meet a lot more cows than humans on the Königsroute in the Gantrisch region, which perfectly sums up this satisfying and peaceful mountain bike route.