The IMTBike Land of Vineyards Tour in Spain and Portugal is a top choice for exploring the heart and culture of wine country. With 28 years of experience in the motorcycle touring industry, IMTBike has crafted this tour to take riders through charming wine regions along once-in-a-lifetime roads.
The Land of Vineyards Tour begins and ends in Madrid, Spain, and has a total timeline of 15 days from start to finish. Riders will enjoy traveling through wine regions such as La Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Rueda, El Bierzo, Douro, and Porto, as well as the area where “Vinho Verde” is produced. Riders will also visit villages, castles, and fortresses of the Castile region.
Beginning in late September, the tour takes place shortly after the “Vendimia” harvest, when wineries feature an amora of freshly pressed grapes and celebrate the harvest. Six cities along the route are UNESCO World Heritage sites and connect to great motorcycling roads through the Iberian Peninsula. Accommodations include first-class historical pousadas and paradors, which are castles, palaces, or fortresses that have been converted into hotels, as well as specially selected local boutique hotels.
Included in the tour are airport pickup on the first day, a gourmet dinner every night except on the two rest days, a complete buffet breakfast every morning, current BMW motorcycles with cases, expert multilingual guides, and a support vehicle to carry luggage and extra souvenirs. The two rest days take place in Salamanca and Porto, two of the six World Heritage cities.
Contributing Editor Eric Trow and his wife will enjoy the 2025 tour from Sept. 20 to Oct. 4, followed by a tour review to be published in Rider magazine and on our website. The 2026 tour dates are scheduled for Sept. 19 to Oct. 3, with some spots still available. Visit the IMTBike website for more information and to book your tour.
Check out Rider’s reviews of other IMTBike tours below, including the Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour, which Editor-in-Chief Greg Drevenstedt and his brother Paul Drevenstedt took in 2024.
This twisty road carves through the Iferten Gorge in Morocco’s Rif Mountains. “Adventure” may be in the name of this tour, but all roads are paved. (Photos by Greg Drevenstedt)
Living in Madrid in my 20s, my Spanish friends raved about Morocco – the food, the architecture, the people, the scenery – but I never made it across the Strait of Gibraltar. When my brother, EIC Greg Drevenstedt, asked me to join him on the IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour, I was anxious to see what all the fuss was about. We’d cover more than 1,400 miles in nine days, getting a full sampling of the country – the coast, rolling countryside, the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara Desert, and cities and villages.
The medina at Djemaa el-Fna square in Marrakech.
Greg and I were joined by our friend Eric Birns, and the three of us flew into Malaga, Spain, where the tour begins and ends, a few days early to shake off the jetlag and eat our weight in tapas. On the eve of the tour, we met our guides and fellow riders for a safety briefing at the hotel.
Our tour was led by Spaniards Chano Lorenzo and Marc Puncernau. Chano was once a member of the motorcycle-mounted Spanish Royal Guard, and he was the first guide hired by IMTBike when the company started in 1997. When not leading moto tours, Marc tests motorcycle tires on- and off-road. Chano and Marc were as amiable as they were knowledgeable.
Our group consisted of 10 Americans, two Guatemalans, and Marco Zepeda from Guadalajara, Mexico, a world heavyweight champion extrovert who charmed everyone we encountered on the tour, including the Moroccan police officers who stopped Marco and me for speeding and would have fined us on the spot if not for Marco’s good humor. After the safety briefing, we all walked to a traditional Spanish restaurant in Malaga and got to know one another over a good meal, a ritual repeated throughout the tour.
We woke before dawn to catch an early ferry. A light rain was falling. I chose the R 1250 GS from a wide selection of new BMWs to ride. It took a few miles to get the hang of riding an unfamiliar bike in a large group. I was also getting reacquainted with riding in the rain and in the dark, two things I typically avoid, but by the time we arrived at the port in Algeciras, I had my sea legs.
Rain is rare in Morocco, but it was a wet autumn last year. We came upon a flash flood on the ride from Rabat to Marrakech.
The Rock of Gibraltar was shrouded in dark rain clouds when we departed. The ferry crossed the strait in about an hour, and Morocco greeted us with sunny skies. Chano and Marc had the border crossing documents sorted, and we went through customs with little delay.
We slabbed it to Rabat, the capital city, and along the way I took note of the ways Morocco is different from home: gas stations with prayer rooms; roadside “fast food” served in an earthenware tagine with crusty flatbread baked in a wood-fired oven; road signs in Berber, a written language unlike any I’ve seen.
Our crew at Tizi n’Tichka, a 7,414-ft pass in the Atlas Mountains, on the ride from Marrakech to Ouarzazate.
Our luxurious resort hotel sprawled along the Bou Regreg River, where colorful wooden fishing boats stood in contrast to the ultra-modern Grand Theatre on the opposite shore. We enjoyed a beer and a dip in the pool as the sun went down, chatted over dinner, and then turned in early to rest up for the next day.
Rabat to Marrakech
Before leaving Rabat, we stopped at the Hassan Tower, the minaret of a mosque left unfinished when its patron died in 1199. Had it been completed, it would have been one of the largest mosques in the world. IMTBike does a good job of combining scenic roads with cultural discovery, and this was one of several UNESCO World Heritage Sites we visited.
Aït Benhaddou is a historic ksar (fortified village).
Outside Rabat, the road got curvy and there was little traffic, so we put the bikes through their paces. It rained lightly throughout the day. Shortly after a mint tea break, we came over a rise to see a line of cars stopped on the road ahead. A flash flood blocked our route to Marrakech. What had been light rain for us was a deluge up in the mountains, and a muddy torrent flowed over the road.
We detoured, only to arrive farther down the same valley where the flash flood was even worse. By the time we returned to our original route, the floodwaters had subsided, leaving the road caked with thick mud but passable.
Steeds of a different breed.
That night we stayed in a golf resort outside of Marrakech because, as Marc explained, the city’s traffic is bonkers. After getting cleaned up, we all jumped into a party van to go to the medina (old city). Even though it was a Monday night, the streets were jammed with vehicles and pedestrians.
The medina, which surrounds the huge Djemaa el-Fna square, was filled with merchant stalls, open-air restaurants, musicians, dancers, shoppers, tourists, families out for a stroll, and kids on mopeds scrolling on smartphones while weaving through the crowd. After wandering around the medina, we enjoyed a delicious dinner of lamb, prune, and almond tagine at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the square.
Having fun in the Erg Chebbi sand dunes.
Marrakech to Ouarzazate
Even in light rain, the road over the Atlas Mountains to Ouarzazate is a blast, with sweepers, chicanes, and hairpins, all well-engineered with good asphalt. There isn’t much of a police presence outside of Moroccan cities, so your pace is limited only by your sense of self-preservation. It was downright cold when we stopped for a group photo at the 7,414-ft Tizi n’Tichka pass.
We then took a backroad through the Ounilla Valley, passing villages that appeared not to have changed in centuries. The recent rains left lots of mud and debris on the road, so I slowed down and stopped often to take photos. We ate lunch, another delicious tagine, within sight of Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO-recognized village dating to the 11th century that has served as a location for Gladiator and other films.
Riding through the Ounilla Valley.
In Ouarzazate, we rode past the big tourist hotels and made our way down a gravel road through a run-down-looking neighborhood, where we pulled into a covered garage that resembled the inside of a barn. Our accommodations were at a traditional Moroccan riad. I was floored as we walked through the carved wooden doors of a nondescript building into a courtyard filled with fountains, colorful tile work, and flowering plants. As we shook off the trail dust, a young woman offered us almond cookies and mint tea from a large silver tray. We took a refreshing dip in the pool and then had dinner in the courtyard under the stars. All the hotels we stayed in during the tour were top notch, but staying at a riad was a uniquely Moroccan experience.
One of the lakes that formed during record-setting rains in the Sahara.
Ouarzazate to Erfoud
Leaving Ouarzazate, one of the bikes’ rear brakes became disabled. The support van contained not only spare tires but also a spare BMW. The bikes were swapped, and we continued on our way. Kudos to IMTBike for being prepared so that unexpected issues don’t derail the tour.
Heading towards the Todra Gorge with the snow-capped Atlas Mountains in the distance, there were long stretches of straight road where I could safely uncork the R 1250 GS. The road got downright serpentine as we neared the gorge, a natural wonder with 600-foot vertical walls that are so narrow there’s barely room for the road alongside the riverbed. We were in the deep desert now, occasionally passing oasis towns of earth-colored buildings surrounded by date palms and small plots of farmland, always with groups of children waving excitedly as we rolled through.
Hold your nose! Cow urine and pigeon feces are used to process leather at this centuries-old tannery in Fez.
Arriving at our hotel in Erfoud, the parking lot was crammed with overlander trucks, side-by-sides, and adventure bikes, many coated with mud. Erfoud is the gateway to the Sahara’s Erg Chebbi sand dunes and attracts race teams, movie crews, and motorcycle tour groups.
Day 5 was one of two scheduled rest days. We slept in and lounged by the pool until heading out to the dunes that afternoon. Standing in the soft sand surrounded by huge orange dunes stretching to the horizon was mind blowing. We had the unique experience of seeing several lakes that had formed in valleys between the dunes following record-breaking rains. Marc and Chano arranged for us to rent quads and side-by-sides, and we headed into the desert following a local guide. Riding up and down those enormous dunes was like riding a roller coaster, and Greg and I laughed and hooted like schoolkids.
If the street signs weren’t in Arabic, you’d think you were in the Alps when riding over the High Atlas Mountains between Marrakech and Ouarzazate.
Erfoud to Fez
Riding out of Erfoud, we had our fill of curves while threading through the Ziz Gorge on the way to the Middle Atlas Mountains. We fed peanuts to monkeys in an alpine forest and rode through Ifrane, a village with chalets that looks more Swiss than Moroccan. Our hotel in Fez is perched on a hillside overlooking the medina, another UNESCO site, which dates to the ninth century and is the oldest continuously inhabited walled city in the Arab world.
We stayed in Fez for our second rest day and toured the medina, a warren of more than 10,000 winding, narrow alleyways lined with vendor stalls offering everything from colorful fruit and freshly butchered meat to clothing, rugs, and leather goods. There are no cars in the medina, so more than once, we had to flatten ourselves against a wall to allow a heavily laden donkey to pass. Our guide, Habib, took us to the shops of several artisans, where we had a chance to test our haggling skills against true experts. The medina is unlike any place I’ve ever visited, a fascinating human beehive that hasn’t changed significantly in centuries.
One of the many maze-like alleys in Chefchaouen, known as the “Blue City.”
Fez to Ceuta
The Atlas Mountains separate Morocco into two distinct zones, with the desert to the south and a temperate Mediterranean climate to the north. The countryside outside of Fez reminded me of southern Spain, with rolling hills and olive groves. In the foothills of the Rif Mountains, the road was scenic and exciting, twisty and uncrowded. We stopped for a stroll and lunch at Chefchaouen, a town sprawled across the side of a mountain with buildings painted various shades of blue.
Our final miles in Morocco were on a coastal road with twisties and views of the Mediterranean coastline. Unlike coming into the country, our border crossing into Ceuta, a Spanish city on a spit of Moroccan coast, took several hours, and we arrived at our hotel after nightfall. This was our last night together, and we enjoyed a delicious Spanish dinner and stayed up late at the bar talking about the sights we had seen and the roads we had ridden.
Marco and Kevin making friends with a couple of locals.
Ceuta to Malaga
Unlike our first ferry trip across the Strait of Gibraltar, we had clear skies for our return to Spain and were treated to beautiful views of the Rif Mountains and the Rock of Gibraltar. Heading to Malaga, we turned off the highway and onto a mountainous backroad for one last session of curves and beautiful views before we arrived at IMTBike’s warehouse. After a toast of cava, we said our farewells and headed our separate ways.
No wonder my Spanish friends love Morocco. It is a beautiful country that honors and preserves its unique cultural traditions while also embracing modernity and tourism. IMTBike’s Morocco Adventure Tour is a great introduction, leading you from one must-see destination to the next, all connected by beautiful backroads. And we didn’t have to plan a thing. The guides and fellow riders were excellent company, and everything ran smoothly. Even when the unexpected occurred, like flash floods or a mechanical issue, Marc and Chano were unflappable. I don’t know if I would take off into the interior of Morocco on my own, but I would do it again with the folks from IMTBike in a heartbeat.
Paul admires the flora and fauna near Marrakech.
IMTBike’s Morocco Adventure Tour will run five times in 2025: March 15-24, April 12-21, Sept. 20-29, Oct. 11-20, and Nov. 15-24. The longer 16-day Magical Morocco Tour also runs multiple times in 2025. For more information, visit the IMTBike website.
Paul Drevenstedt (right) bought his first motorcycle, a raced-hard-and-put-away-wet BMW R90S, in 1997. Inspired by the fun he was having, his younger brother, Greg (left), bought his first motorcycle a year later. They’ve been riding together ever since.
Edelweiss Bike Travel, a motorcycle tour company based in Austria, celebrates its 45th anniversary this year with a special reunion and the inauguration of its new headquarters from July 10-13.
This four-day event takes place in Tyrol, Austria, and will include guided motorcycle tours, the inauguration, and a gala. Participants will stay in a four-star hotel that includes breakfast and organized transportation. Motorcycle rentals with unlimited mileage and full insurance coverage will be available, and e-bikes will be available free of charge. Prices for this event start at $910 per rider in a double room.
Long-time Edelweiss guests can take advantage of special loyalty discounts for the event. Those who have completed five or more tours will get a 5% discount, completing 10 tours gets a 10% discount, 15 tours gets a 15% discount, and 20 tours gets a 20% discount.
In addition to the 45th anniversary event, Edelweiss will be hosting a special tour from July 4-13, starting at the BMW Motorrad Days in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and ending at the reunion. The tour starts with a day to explore the festival grounds in Garmisch with tens of thousands of BMW enthusiasts. The next day, the tour heads into the Alps and to Italy. After two nights in the Dolomites, the tour heads to Livigno for another two nights. There will be a rest day to explore some Swiss passes and ride the famous Stelvio Pass before returning to Tyrol for the reunion.
This tour also includes loyalty discounts: 3% discount for completing five tours, 6% discount for completing 10 tours, 9% discount for completing 15 tours or 12% discount for completing 20 tours. Pricing starts at $6,570 per rider in a double room.
The Alps’ high peaks and deep valleys offer fantastic scenery and variable conditions. Our tour had perfect days, hot days, windy days, and wet days. Here we enjoy a break from the rain atop Austria’s Hahntennjoch.
It’s been 25 years since my first – and only – on-road motorcycle tour with my father, a two-week Edelweiss tour through the Mediterranean Alps. It was the trip of a lifetime, an unimaginable adventure for that lucky 9-year-old kid who found a Honda XR75 in front of the Christmas tree in the late ’70s.
Growing up in Southern California, my friends and I all rode dirtbikes. We thought a big loop was ripping around our campsite in Red Rock Canyon in the Mojave Desert. As I got a little older, I became more interested in chasing waves and pursuing a photography career. Pops spent time on streetbikes, exploring backroads all over the western U.S. and Canada with his sport-touring buddies.
Motorcycles have always been a connecting point with Dad and me: in the garage, on the trails, and on the streets. It continues to this day, even though his riding days are behind him. When EIC Drevenstedt asked if I wanted to go back to the Alps on another Edelweiss tour, my bags were packed before he finished the question.
The 15-day Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour goes through Austria, France, Italy, Lichtenstein, and Switzerland, with 10 riding days and three rest days bookended by arrival and departure days. Highlights include Italy’s Stelvio Pass, which is famous for its switchbacks; France’s Col de l’Iseran, the highest paved pass in the Alps; and Austria’s Grossglockner High Alpine Road.
With curves like these being the norm, the Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour average daily mileage is 150 and the difficulty rating is 4 out of 5.
What makes the Alps so unique is that, in the span of half an hour, you can ride through vertical rock sections with multiple tunnels while viewing alpine lakes, forests, meadows, orchards, and villages and then descend alongside chalky blue glacial rivers to a valley floor surrounded by towering peaks covering most of the horizon. It’s an incredible rush riding a 145-hp motorcycle on roller-coaster roads, sometimes with no guardrails or barriers, nothing but crisp mountain air between you and cliffs that drop into nothingness.
Awesome Austria
The Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour kicked off in the charming alpine village of Seefeld, Austria, not far from Edelweiss’ headquarters in Mieming. Our group of 10 included guides Peter and Franziska, seven riders, and one passenger. Seven of us were from the U.S. and one guy, Bin, was from China. Although Edelweiss rents many brands of motorcycles, we all rode BMWs – three of us on the latest R 1300 GS, three on smaller GS models, and one on an R 1250 RT. The guides set up a group in WhatsApp (a free messaging app) so we could all communicate and share photos.
This road ladders its way up the mountainside to Switzerland’s Grimsel Pass.
After a welcome briefing and dinner on the arrival day, we began our first riding day with a hearty breakfast and then got packed, geared up, and ready to roll. Peter briefed us on the day’s itinerary and advised us there was rain in the forecast. All bikes are equipped with saddlebags and a top trunk for carrying extra layers, raingear, etc.
My nerves were tingling with excitement as we eased out our clutches. I flashed back to my first Alps tour 25 years ago: On the first day, somebody’s improperly attached saddlebag flew off their bike, ricocheted off a rock wall, and exploded, spilling the contents in front of me. That was a freak occurrence, and this time we arrived trouble-free for an espresso stop on a large wooden deck at Kühtai, a ski resort perched on a saddle between two valleys surrounded by towering peaks.
Riding to Switzerland’s Susten Pass was like being inside a 3-D postcard.
The roller-coaster ride began in earnest with a curvy descent into a lush, narrow valley, followed by a climb to a small pass and another winding descent. Next up was 6,214-ft Hahntennjoch (joch means “yoke” in German and is similar to “pass” in English) and Flexen Pass (5,817 ft), where we rode through avalanche tunnels known as “galleries” because they are open on one side.
After an action-packed day of riding, we arrived in Galtür, another Austrian ski village. With a few hours of light left, I rented a mountain bike and pedaled even higher into the mountains. I could hear cowbells but couldn’t see any cows due to low clouds, and I happened upon a beautiful alpine lake. To get back to the hotel in time for dinner, I dropped into a downhill bicycle run that was prepped to perfection, finishing off with a raised wooden roller-coaster feature. What a great first day!
Hotel Belvedere is on the road up to Switzerland’s Furka Pass and was featured in a car chase scene in the James Bond film “Goldfinger.”
The next day we learned that a landslide had closed the Silvretta High Alpine Road, preventing us from visiting Liechtenstein. The situation reinforced the luxury of letting the pros navigate. The guides know the best roads as well as the best ways to detour around obstacles or bad weather, allowing us to focus on the curves and the scenery.
Super Switzerland
We spent the morning navigating deep canyons and postcard-perfect villages in Austria before crossing into Switzerland, where we enjoyed a tasty lakeside lunch atop Flüela Pass (7,818 ft). The weather warmed up, and the route and vistas delivered all the beauty the Swiss Alps are known for. During a mid-afternoon break, the gelato tasted even better because of the scenic location.
Col du Lautaret is on France’s Route des Grande Alpes.
We worked our way toward Andermatt, where we’d spend two nights. Just outside town, a group of motorcyclists were camped in a lush green field, and the photographer in me noted the sun dipping beyond the horizon line of snow-capped mountains. It was getting ridiculous – everything I saw looked like a movie set!
After a night of deep sleep in a cool open-windowed room, I was awoken by the glorious sound of the historic clock tower. It was an optional rest day, but most of us couldn’t pass up another epic day of riding that included five high alpine passes – Furka, Grimsel, Susten, Gotthard, and Nufenen. Ranging from 6,900 to 8,100 feet, they offered dizzying panoramic views, pristine alpine lakes, towering snowcapped peaks, steep-walled granite canyons, and narrow forest roads. Jason from California, Caleb from Vermont, and I chased each other up, down, and around endless switchbacks, all white knuckles and big grins.
Graffiti painted by Tour de France fans near Col du Galibier.
Fantastic France
On our way to France, we summited Furka Pass again, but no one was complaining. It was a warm day spent riding through the wide, lush valley carved by the chalky-blue Rhône River, the previous day’s high passes replaced with boulevards and roundabouts, and the snowcapped mountains replaced by vineyards on terraced foothills. After lunch at a roadside pizzeria, we rode through bustling Chamonix, a famous winter-sports city.
When you get to the top of a high pass in the Alps, you can’t help but smile.
We spent the night in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, a small town near Chamonix that sits at the base of the Mont Blanc massif. We enjoyed a group dinner on the patio of our chic hotel, where our waiter served cheese-wheel pasta to a young couple on a date and an aspiring vocalist sang an eyebrow-raising rendition of “Amazing Grace.” Excusez-moi, monsieur – make it a double!
The next day we took on a series of high passes that are on the Tour de France. We warmed up with Col des Saisies (5,436 ft) and continued to Col de la Madeleine (6,539 ft), where we had a fantastic outdoor lunch. Another great thing about touring with Edelweiss is that they know the best places to eat, eliminating the tourist-trap guesswork.
Celebrating the awesome scenery near France’s La Rosière ski resort on the road to Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard.
After lunch, we continued climbing and descending: Col du Télégraphe (5,138 ft), Col du Galibier (8,668 ft), and Col du Lautaret (6,752 ft). The tops of the passes were covered in graffiti from Tour de France races, where the world’s best bicycle racers pedal their way up steep climbs through a sea of crazed fans, smoke bombs, and waving flags.
Late in the afternoon, we arrived in Briançon, where we stayed at a charming old hotel for two nights. On our free day, Bin and I rented bicycles, him on a pedal-only roadbike and me on an electric-assist mountain bike. Like Tour de France wannabes, we climbed to the summit of Col du Galibier, riding 52 miles with 6,100 feet of elevation gain.
The charming ski village of Bonneval-Sur-Arc was the perfect place to have lunch before riding to Col de l’Iseran, the highest paved pass in the Alps.
The next day, back on the BMWs and happy to trade pedal power for gas power, we rode to the unique and rugged stone ski village of Bonneval-Sur-Arc for a hearty lunch at the base of the Col de l’Iseran, the king of high alpine passes at 9,068 feet. On the climb up to the summit and the steep dive down the other side, we were surrounded by landscape that looked rugged, raw, and untouched, with layered mountain peaks and ridge lines extending to the horizon in every direction.
A highlight of the day was riding through a gallery tunnel with a waterfall crashing over the open side. Being inside the waterfall felt like being in the tube of a wave at Hawaii’s famous Banzai Pipeline. Gnarly, dude! And I wished I was wearing board shorts and flip-flops when we ended our day in Aosta, Italy, where it was 100 F.
Shannon and Jason were the only two-up riders on the Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour, and the dynamic duo loved it all.
Impressive Italy
From Aosta, Franziska led us through the Dora Baltea River valley. We met Peter on the shore of Lago d’Orta, where he had set up a picnic of assorted meats, cheeses, fruits, salad, bread, and cold drinks. After lunch we crossed Lago Maggiore by ferry. I could have spent the entire day exploring the picturesque lake lined with beautiful villages, but we had riding to do. Back on solid ground, we tackled an impossibly twisty and narrow supermoto-style backroad through a canopy of trees. Our day ended back in Switzerland, at a ritzy hotel in the lakeside town of Lugano.
Like many lakes in northern Italy, Lake Como was carved out by glaciers. It’s a haven for the rich and famous, and Moto Guzzi is headquartered in the lakeside town of Mandello del Lario.
The next day we rode back into Italy, and the hits kept coming. Stunningly beautiful Lake Como. Splügen Pass (6,934 ft), a true feat of engineering with a mind-blowing section that has an incredibly compact set of switchbacks. And then an overnight at a modern resort in Livigno, where you could find your zen at the spa or raise your heartrate on a shiny red Ducati mountain bike.
A series of hot days faded in our rearview mirrors, and we welcomed the cooler air. Next on the hit list was the iconic Stelvio Pass (9,045 ft) and its 48 hairpins. Franziska turned us loose for a run to the summit at our own pace. Caleb and I leapfrogged our way through traffic with one focused, calculated pass after another until we found a stretch of open road.
The eastern approach to Italy’s Stelvio Pass includes 48 switchbacks. It’s one of the highlights of the Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour.
Even though it was midweek, there was quite a scene at the top, with rows of interesting motorcycles, food carts, souvenir shops, restaurants, hotels, exotic cars, and heaps of bicyclists. While taking photos from an overlook, we heard the glorious sound of a pair of 2-stroke supermotos ripping up the mountain.
We continued to Gavia Pass (8,599 ft), which had less traffic and nicer pavement, so we enjoyed a better flow. Our group was small and agile, and we attacked each pass like a swiftly moving school of barracuda. We were all impressed by Samantha, Caleb’s mother from rural Vermont, who was holding her own despite having only one year of riding experience.
Riding through Italy’s Dolomites region is an exceptional part of any Alps tours.
Our third rest day was in Bozen. Four of us followed Peter on a half-day loop through the incomparable jagged peaks of the Dolomites. Traffic was light, and the fast sweepers were a nice change of pace from the point-and-shoot curves we’d been riding in prior days. By the time we reached Lavaze Pass (5,932 ft), I was completely sold on the Dolomites. Great roads and fantastic scenery.
More riding in the Dolomites the next day, thank you very much, followed by another outdoor picnic lunch next to the deep blue waters of Lago di Misurina. As soon as we dropped our kickstands, the weather started to turn. Thunderstorms rumbled in the nearby mountains, and it lightly rained during our al fresco lunch.
This is the road to Gardena Pass in the Dolomites, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it offers “some of the most beautiful mountain landscapes anywhere.”
We crossed back into Austria on our way to the Grossglockner High Alpine Road. It was raining when we paid our toll, and soon we were riding into the clouds. It doesn’t rain much in my home state of California, so the conditions were a treat. As we worked our way to the top, I concentrated on smooth lines and inputs as wet rooster tails sprayed off our rear tires.
After riding through a short tunnel near the top, we popped out the other side into a complete deluge. Within seconds I felt water running into my gloves and boots, down my neck, and through open vents. My faceshield was open, and I used it like a visor to see better, rain bouncing off everything and spraying me in the face. Sheets of water ran across the road, but I was more concerned with the pro cameras in my backpack. We all made it down the other side and to our hotel in one piece, and my cameras survived.
Saint Gervais Hotel & Spa, France.
Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow
For the better part of two weeks, we always had days of great riding ahead of us – new roads, new sights, and new experiences. But we had finally come to the final day, and it greeted us with more rain. The highlight was the Zillertaler High Road, a 30-mile panoramic route through the Zillertal Alps. There’s never a dull moment when dodging wet cow pies and manhole covers while trying not to get distracted by the beautiful landscape that’s always trying to lure attention away from the road. In the upper sections, it was like we were flying in a small plane, with time-lapse clouds revealing and obscuring the dramatic mountain views.
We squeezed everything we could out of the last few hours on backroads that connect charming little villages. Swirling in my head were images of all we’d seen and experienced over the past two weeks. Riding some of the same high passes in the Alps that Dad and I rode decades ago opened the floodgates of memories, and sharing the trip’s photos with him when I got home was a special experience.
Enjoying a picnic lunch at Lago di Misurina in Italy.
The Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour was a phenomenal 15-day, 2,000-mile alpine adventure. Top-notch guides, state-of-the-art motorcycles, and an addicting mix of amazing roads, epic scenery, varied cultural experiences, cuisine, and group camaraderie. I didn’t want the tour to end, and I’m already plotting my return to the Alps – but I won’t wait another 25 years next time!
The Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour will run twice in 2025: July 27-August 10 and September 21-October 5. For more information, visit the Edelweiss Bike Travel website.
Contributing Photographer Kevin Wing’s photos first appeared in Rider’s February 1994 issue, for a test of the Suzuki RF600R. He has shot for most major motorcycle publications and manufacturers.
Experience China’s culture and landscape on Edelweiss Bike Travel’s new Fascination Yunnan tour.
Edelweiss Bike Travel has released its full travel program of motorcycle tours for 2025-26, including new tours in China, Mongolia, Spain, and several European regions. Also included in the announcement is an early bird discount for those who register for a tour before Oct. 31 and a catalog on e-bike tours.
The Andalusia tour includes plenty of thrilling, curvy roads.
The new Fascination Yunnan – Ride the Dragon tour takes riders on a deep dive into China’s culture and landscape. The Andalusia tour explores sunny southern Spain through mountains and along the Mediterranean coast. The Adventure Mongolia tour travels through untouched and vast landscapes.
Create lifelong memories on the Adventure Mongolia tour.
Also included in this catalog are four new Destination Yamaha tours, including Gorges and Mountains in Spain; Italian & French Maritime Alps in Italy and France; High Alps & Dolomites through Austria, Italy, and Switzerland; and Provence in southern France.
The Fascination Yunnan tour travels through China.
The program also includes a Mystery Tour for 2026. This tour’s destination is somewhere in Europe, but riders who register won’t know the destination until it’s time for the tour.
Enjoy southern Spain’s mountains on the Andalusia tour.
The early bird discount of $250 is available for guided European tours booked by Oct. 31, 2024. Those interested can use the booking code EBB2025 to access the discount. The early bird discount is also available for Edelweiss e-bike tours using the code EB2025.
The Adventure Mongolia tour includes vast landscapes.
You can request a free print copy or download a digital copy of the 2025/26 Edelweiss Bike Travel catalog through the Edelweiss website. The e-bike catalog is also available in print or digital options.
Check out Rider’s reviews of other Edelweiss Bike Travel tours:
IMTBike Motorcycle Tours has released its full 2025 calendar. Destinations include Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, the Alps, and Morocco along with MotoGP tours and Global tours in Thailand, Japan, and Vietnam. Check out the IMTBike 2025 tour calendar for dates, details, and pricing. Sign up now to lock in IMTBike’s current prices.
Many of IMTBike’s tours feature new and improved routes for 2025, and the company’s fleet of more than 240 BMW motorcycles will be updated with the latest models. Established in 1997, IMTBIKE has been running outstanding motorcycle tours for the past 27 years.
Check out the IMTBike testimonials page to find out what many clients have to say.
Rider‘s Editor-in-Chief, Greg Drevenstedt, will be joining IMTBike next month on the Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour, Oct. 12-21, 2024.
Adriatic Moto Tours is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Company founders and owners Matej and Martina Malovrh are shown in the front row on the far left.
In a milestone year when the American Motorcyclist Association is celebrating its 100th anniversary and Rider is celebrating its 50th, our friends at Adriatic Moto Tours are celebrating 20 years of providing unique motorcycle tours in Europe.
“It all began 20 years ago in a home garage in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, with two motorcycles and three enthusiastic individuals: Matej and Martina Malovrh, along with their good friend, Blaz Zganjar, all of whom are still deeply involved in running the company,” according to a retrospective blog on Adriatic Moto Tours’ website. “Matej had a vision of attracting foreign riders to our neck of the woods, and Blaz and Martina joined him in pursuit of that vision. At that time, very few foreigners knew where Slovenia was, yet we succeeded in attracting a few enthusiastic riders from overseas within the first year. Our primary marketing tool was a $50 webpage.” (You can read the full story on AMT’s website.)
Adriatic Moto Tours: Alps Adriatic Adventure
The company was founded in 2004 as SMTours (for Slovenia Moto Tours), and started with two BMWs, an F 650 GS and an R 1200 GS. The first tour explored Slovenia and Croatia and had three guests from Florida. In 2005, the same year Matej and Martina got married, the company did five guided tours. Tour offerings expanded into other countries, and in 2007 the company’s name became Adriatic Moto Tours.
Through hard work, dedication, and passion, Adriatic Moto Tours grew steadily over the years, adding more bikes to its fleet, more tours to its catalog, and more tour guides, van drivers, and support personnel to its team.
The Adriatic Moto Tours team.
Adriatic Moto Tours now offers 22 unique guided tours in various regions of Europe, including the Adriatic Coast and the Balkans, the Alps, Central Europe, the Mediterranean, and – starting in 2024 – Scandinavia, with a new tour of Norway. AMT also offers self-guided tours, custom tours, and motorcycle rentals from its base in Ljubljana.
Adriatic Moto Tours: Beautiful Balkans Adventure
Adriatic Moto Tours: Reviews
Rider staffers and contributors have reviewed seven of Adriatic Moto Tours’ guided tours, and you can read their reports below.
Beautiful Balkans Adventure, reviewed by Greg Drevenstedt. This 15-day tour explorers the mountains and coast in Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Hercegovina, and includes rest days in Sarajevo and Dubrovnik.
Czech Hungary Tour, reviewed by Bill Stermer. This 15-day tour explores Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, and Austria and includes rest days in Budapest, Krakow, and Prague.
Adriatic Riviera Tour, reviewed by Jenny Smith. This 9-day tour explores the mountains and coast in Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Hercegovina, and includes a rest day in Dubrovnik.
Adriatic Moto Tours: Intriguing Southeast Europe
Intriguing Southeast Europe, reviewed by Jenny Smith. This unique 15-day tour explores countries that aren’t on most travelers’ radar, including Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania, and North Macedonia.
Romania to Istanbul Adventure, reviewed by Jim Horton. This 16-day tour explores Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania, including the world-famous Transfagarasan Road and Transalpina in the Carpathian Mountains.
Sardinia & Corsica – Riders’ Heaven, reviewed by Scott A. Williams. This 9-day tour explores two Mediterranean islands – one that’s part of France, the other that’s part of Italy – that offer world-class curves and scenery.
Western Alps Adventure, reviewed by Greg Drevenstedt. This 9-day tour explores high alpine passes and charming villages in Italy, Switzerland, and France.
Adriatic Moto Tours: Western Alps Adventure
Adriatic Moto Tours: Other Notable Tours
Alps Adriatic Adventure, a 15-day tour that explores the Adriatic coast and the Alps in Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, and Italy.
Tuscany Sardinia Corsica Tour, a 16-day tour that explores the vibrant Tuscany region of Italy as well as the Mediterranean islands of Sardinia and Corsica.
Adriatic Moto Tours: South of Rome and Sicily Tour
Everyone at Rider congratulates Matej, Martina, and the entire Adriatic Moto Tours on a successful first 20 years. We can’t wait to see what you have in store for the next 20!
To find out more about Adriatic Moto Tours, visit their website.
Ride this road in the Atlas Mountains on the IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour.
Ready to visit the exotic bazaars of Fez and Marrakech? Ride a camel on the dunes of the Sahara Desert? Ride the best roads in Morocco, including the Atlas and Rif mountains? Join Rider Editor-in-Chief Greg Drevenstedt and his brother, Paul, on the IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour, October 12-21, 2024.
Rider Editor-in-Chief Greg Drevenstedt (right) and his brother, Paul, will be on the IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour. Paul’s son, Felix, hopes his dad brings him home a fez from Fez!
This 10-day tour includes all the sights you always dreamed of visiting in Morocco. This route is for seasoned riders who want to enjoy rolling green hills, the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, and the mysterious sand dunes of the Sahara Desert all on well-maintained paved roads. You’ll explore casbahs, see oases, and have opportunities to buy hand-made rugs, drink mint tea, and ride a camel! In the evenings you’ll dine on delicious Moroccan cuisine like couscous and tagine.
Make friends with locals on the IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour.
The tour starts and ends in Málaga, Spain, where you’ll spend nights to kick off and conclude the tour. To get to Morocco, you’ll ride along the southern coast of Spain and take a ferry across the Mediterranean Sea.
The IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour is an authentic experience that will leave a lasting impression on you. There is limited space on this tour, so sign up now!
The IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour route covers 1,400 miles on well-maintained paved roads. Rest days are in Fez and Erfoud.
IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour Facts
Start / End: Málaga, Spain
Total Distance: 1,432 miles / 2,306 km
Daily Mileage: 160-220 miles / 250-350 km
Riding Season: Autumn
Total Time: 10 days
Riding Days: 9 days
Rest Days: 2 (Erfoud, Fez)
Breakfast: 9 included breakfasts
Dinners: 7 included dinners
Hotel Overnights: 9 nights
Highlights: Marrakech Djemaa el Fna Square, riding a camel in the Sahara Desert sand dunes, Fez medina tour, Atlas Mountains
Accommodations: First-class 4- and 5-star hotels plus some Moroccan riads (palace homes converted into exotic boutique hotels). All IMTBike lodgings are hand-picked for their quality of service, local charm, and strategic locations.
You’ll enjoy exotic north African scenery on the IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour.
IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour Daily Itinerary
You’ll enjoy a Fez medina tour on the IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour.
IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour Pricing
Base Price: €3,910 (approx. $USD 4,242)
The base price of every tour is calculated for a single rider on a BMW G 310 R and sharing a double room. Passengers, single-room occupancy, and other BMW models incur additional charges.
One of the rest days on the IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour is in Erfoud, the gateway to the Sahara Desert and the staging location for many desert rally race teams.
Not Included in Tour:
Air ticket
Lunches
Gasoline
Drinks
Tolls
Personal spending
Tips
Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Come ride with and get to know Rider Editor-in-Chief Greg Drevenstedt and his brother, Paul, who will be on the tour from beginning to end! Space is limited, so click on the link below to sign up for the tour.
This could be you on the Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour!
Choose from a wide range of BMW motorcycles on the IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour. The entire 1,400-mile route is on well-maintained paved roads.
Ride a camel over the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert on the IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour.
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