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Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour Review

Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour
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.

Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour

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.

Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour
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.

Related: Edelweiss Bike Travel 2025-26 Catalog Now Available

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.

Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour
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.

Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour
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!

Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour
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.

Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour
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.

Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour
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.

Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour
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.

Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour
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.

Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour
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. 

Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour
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.

Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour
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.

Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour
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.

Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour
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.

Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour
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.  

Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour
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.

Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour
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.

See all of Rider‘s international touring stories here.


Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour Kevin Wing Contributor Headshot

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.

The post Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour Review appeared first on Rider Magazine.

Source: RiderMagazine.com

Adriatic Moto Tours 2025 Brochure Now Available

Adriatic Moto Tours

Start planning your dream motorcycle vacation with Adriatic Moto Tours. Their 2025 brochure is now available and will inspire your next adventure.

With 20 years of experience, Adriatic Moto Tours (AMT) specializes in guided and self-guided motorcycle tours, as well as rentals. Conveniently based in Slovenia — the heart of Europe — AMT’s headquarters is the perfect launch point for exploring Central and Eastern Europe, the Alps, the Balkans, the Adriatic Coast, and the Mediterranean. See links below for Rider‘s reviews of several AMT tours.

Adriatic Moto Tours
AMT: French Riviera to Barcelona

In 2025, AMT is introducing an exciting new Mediterranean tour: French Riviera to Barcelona. Along with immersing you in the region’s rich cultural and historical heritage, this tour will take you on some of the most thrilling roads through the Pyrenees, French Alps, and Provence.

Following its great success in 2024, AMT is continuing its Norway Tour in 2025. Norway offers an awe-inspiring landscape with pristine, open roads — a true destination of superlatives. Two tours are already sold out for 2025, and the third is filling up fast.

Adriatic Moto Tours
AMT: Norway Tour

AMT’s fleet includes the latest models from BMW, Suzuki, Ducati, Yamaha, and Honda.

Order your 2025 Adriatic Moto Tours brochure today.

Check out Rider‘s reviews of other AMT tours:

The post Adriatic Moto Tours 2025 Brochure Now Available appeared first on Rider Magazine.

Source: RiderMagazine.com

IMTBike Motorcycle Tours 2025 Calendar Now Available

IMTBike Motorcycle Tours 2025 Calendar

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.

IMTBike Motorcycle Tours 2025 Calendar

Rider‘s Editor-in-Chief, Greg Drevenstedt, will be joining IMTBike next month on the Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour, Oct. 12-21, 2024.

Check out Rider‘s reviews of other IMTBike tours:

The post IMTBike Motorcycle Tours 2025 Calendar Now Available appeared first on Rider Magazine.

Source: RiderMagazine.com

Adriatic Moto Tours Celebrates 20 Years

Adriatic Moto Tours
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
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.

Adriatic Moto Tours
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
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
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
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.
  • South of Rome and Sicily, a 15-day tour that explores southern Italy and the island of Sicily.
Adriatic Moto Tours
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.

The post Adriatic Moto Tours Celebrates 20 Years appeared first on Rider Magazine.

Source: RiderMagazine.com

Join Rider EIC Greg Drevenstedt on the IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour

IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour
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.

IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour
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.

IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour
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!

Register for the IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour

IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour
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.
IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour
You’ll enjoy exotic north African scenery on the IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour.

IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour Daily Itinerary

  • Day 1: Arrival at Málaga
  • Day 2: Malaga – Rabat
  • Day 3: Rabat – Marrakech
  • Day 4: Marrakech – Ouarzazate
  • Day 5: Ouarzazate – Todra Canyon – Erfoud
  • Day 6: Erfoud rest day
  • Day 7: Erfoud – Fez
  • Day 8: Fez rest day
  • Day 9: Fez – Ceuta
  • Day 10: Ceuta – Málaga / Flight home

Read detailed daily itinerary for the Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour

IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour
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.

Related: IMTBike Southern Spain Andalusia Tour Review

IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour
You’ll ride through the high-walled Todra Canyon on the IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour.

Included in Tour:

  • Airport pickup on the first day of the tour
  • Overnight accommodations in carefully selected 4- and 5-star hotels and boutique riads
  • A delicious evening meal featuring Moroccan specialties
  • Complete buffet breakfast every morning
  • New model BMW motorcycle fully equipped with three BMW cases
  • Tour handbook (normally about 70 pages – very comprehensive) and highlighted map
  • Expert multilingual guide on a motorcycle
  • Multilingual guide in support vehicle which will carry your luggage, any oversized purchases you make, or even a passenger or two
  • Tour souvenirs

Related: IMTBike Essence of Northern Spain Tour Review

IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour
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.

Register for the IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour

IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour
This could be you on the Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour!
IMTBike 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.
IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour
Ride a camel over the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert on the IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour.

The post Join Rider EIC Greg Drevenstedt on the IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour appeared first on Rider Magazine.

Source: RiderMagazine.com

Join Rider Magazine on Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour

Edelweiss Bike Travel Grand Alps Tour
The Alps are world-famous for their endless curving roads and motorcycle-friendly culture. The Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour will allow you to experience the best of them.

Take a motorcycle trip of a lifetime with us on the Edelweiss Bike Travel Grand Alps Tour. Join Rider contributing photographer Kevin Wing on this 15-day tour through Austria, Switzerland, France, and Italy. The Alps have some of the best motorcycle roads in the world, and this tour has been carefully created to include beautiful scenery, overnight stays at charming alpine villages and towns, hundreds of hairpin bends, and some of the highest passes in the Alps.

Edelweiss Bike Travel Grand Alps Tour village
Old-world architecture and charming villages are some of the many highlights of this tour.

The tour starts in the town of Seefeld in Austria’s state of Tyrol, then heads through Austria, stopping one night in the village of Galtür, and then into Switzerland, with a stop in Andermatt, a village in the Swiss Alps. The tour travels west through Switzerland and into France at Chamonix, a town at the foot of the famous 12,000-feet Aiguille du Midi. In France, the tour circumnavigates the snow-covered mountain of Montblanc with a stop in Briançon, the highest city in France and the second highest in Europe.

Edelweiss Bike Travel Grand Alps Tour Kevin Wing
Professional photographer and long-time Rider contributor Kevin Wing will be on this tour July 21 to Aug. 3.

After France, you’ll head into Italy with stops in Aosta, Lago Maggiore, Livigno, and Collalbo. The tour spends a rest day in Collalbo in the Dolomites before passing back into Austria to the skiing town of Kaprun. After 15 days of some of the best riding in Europe, the tour concludes back in Seefeld.

Related: Edelweiss Bike Travel ‘Southern Italy Delights and Twisties’ Tour Review

Included in the price of the tour are all overnight stops at comfortable middle-class hotels, breakfast every day, two picnics, 11 dinners, motorcycle rental, third-party liability insurance, a tour information package, tour guides, and a support van for luggage.

Edelweiss Bike Travel Grand Alps Tour lake
You’ll enjoy scenery like this day after day.

Motorcycle rentals available include models from BMW, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, KTM, Suzuki, and Triumph, and pricing for the tour starts at $7,670 for a rider in a double room. Optional upgrades include certain motorcycle models, a single room for $960, the Alps Prep Course for $470, and the Guided City Tour for $460.

Join us on the Edelweiss Grand Alps Tour from July 21 to Aug. 3, 2024. For those who can’t make the first dates, this tour will run again from Sept. 14 to 28. For more information and to reserve your spot on this tour, visit the Edelweiss Bike Travel website.

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Edelweiss Bike Travel ‘Southern Italy Delights and Twisties’ Tour Review

Edelweiss Bike Travel Southern Italy Delights and Twisties Tour Gran Sasso Corno Grande
The Edelweiss Bike Travel “Southern Italy Delights and Twisties” tour took us through Gran Sasso (Big Rock) with Corno Grande, the Appenines’ tallest mountain, stealing the show.

Lying in bed in our darkened hotel room in Morano Calabro, I could hear the loud laughter and music outside. Beneath my open window on the ancient cobblestone walkway of Villa San Domenico, Robin, Shiva, and my wife, Amy, were laughing, singing, and dancing together. Total strangers just a few days earlier, they were now living it up well into the night, despite spending a long day on motorcycles. I had retreated to the room earlier in the evening to jot down my day’s notes and sneak in some much‑­needed rest. But instead, I was laying there smiling, soaking in the joy these people had found in each other’s company. I suppose the multiple rounds of Aperol spritz helped a bit too. 

We were approaching the final days of the Edelweiss Bike Travel “Unknown Italy: Secrets of the Appenines” tour, a new 10‑­day expedition added to the company’s portfolio (starting in 2024, the name of the tour has been changed to “Southern Italy Delights & Twisties”). Starting in Florence in the exquisite Tuscany region, the route traced the Appenines (Appa‑­NEENS), the mountainous spine of Italy stretching more than 800 miles down the center of the country. The tour introduced us to the largely unfamiliar mountainous areas situated between the country’s better known eastern and western shores and cities, revealing secrets of the interior regions, which have been there since the beginning of human civilization yet are still largely unknown to tourists. 

Edelweiss Bike Travel Southern Italy Delights and Twisties Tour

Related: Edelweiss Bike Travel Releases 2024/25 Tour Brochure

Some of these secrets included wonderfully diverse landscapes that transitioned from rugged stone mountains to soft rolling hills and vast plateaus. We experienced deliciously nuanced foods, each homemade and unique to a region’s own crops, creatures, catches, and culture, and we met delightfully distinct people who welcomed us and were genuinely interested in hearing our stories as well as sharing their own (since these aren’t big tourist areas, the residents were eager to engage, even when language was a barrier). 

Although there is a wide socioeconomic range throughout the country, when it comes to beauty, character, history, fascinating people, and utterly amazing food, Italy is rich in every region (we rode through seven out of 20 of them). And while each is impressive on its own, the differences make the entirety even more interesting, more appealing, and infinitely sensational. 

Edelweiss Bike Travel Southern Italy Delights and Twisties Tour
Delicious curves (and food!) are endless on this tour.

Our tour participants were equally diverse and sensational, with folks converging from Turkey, South Africa, Colombia, and all over the U.S. The tour was led by Edelweiss’s energetic and tremendously knowledgeable Domenico, a native Italian and proud son of the city of Naples. He was eager for this fresh opportunity to share the cultural riches and splendid roads of his beloved country, with support from his equally upbeat and capable guides, Michael and Nicolas (aka “Nico”). At one point during a casual group gathering, I stepped back and just listened to the unusual blend of Italian, German, Turkish, Spanish, and a mix of South African and American English dialects as these foreign individuals found common ground and began to seamlessly meld into one harmonious group. 

Edelweiss Bike Travel Southern Italy Delights and Twisties Tour
Yours Trowly, Dane, Domenico, and Graham yuk it up in Amalfi.

Out on the road, we were all moved by what we saw and awestruck by the continually evolving experience as we rode higher and higher into the remotest parts of the Appenine mountains, away from the bustling cities and out to where cows, horses, sheep, and dogs outnumber residents. With so few restaurant options in these isolated parts, the Edelweiss Bike Travel team even assembled an impromptu open‑­air picnic lunch one day amidst the remote hills. 

Edelweiss Bike Travel Southern Italy Delights and Twisties Tour
Italy’s history has deep roots, and photo ops are endless throughout the Appenines.

At one point, we saddled up for a spectacular ride into “spaghetti Western” movie country (any Bud Spencer fans out there?) and on through the hills to the Grand Sasso, the jagged “big rock” that marks the highest point of the Appenines. 

The diversity continued to unfold as more secrets of the Appenines were revealed, one turn after another. We rode deeper into the wilds of the Abruzzo National Park, tracing the meandering contours of the mountains. The scenery evolved dramatically from craggy rock faces to rolling mountain hills to wide open valleys (think Yellowstone) and then into thick, mature pine forests that are home to deer, bear, fox, and other wildlife. A ride along the shores of several tranquil rivers and lakes was thrown in for good measure. 

Edelweiss Bike Travel Southern Italy Delights and Twisties Tour
It seemed every kilometer presented an entirely new and different landscape.

Eventually, as we turned westward, tall mushroom‑­shaped evergreens known as “umbrella pines” indicated we were getting closer to the coast. Sure enough, after countless delicious turns through the hills, the scene opened to reveal the vast Tyrrhenian Sea. 

Related: Edelweiss Bike Travel Best of Greece Tour Review

The Alps were millions of years old before the Apennines rose from the sea. But when they did, they did so with gusto, jutting straight out of the water. Along these coastlines, you won’t find long sweeping sand beaches. Instead, the rock face of the mountain shoots nearly straight for the heavens. And a heavenly sight it is. A plaque at the gateway to Amalfi reads something to the effect of: “When you go to heaven, you will have already been there.” 

Edelweiss Bike Travel Southern Italy Delights and Twisties Tour Polignano a Mare
Built upon the cliffs, the city of Polignano a Mare provides breathtaking views of the crystal blue waters of the Adriatic, drawing sunbathers, swimmers, divers, and motorcyclists to the area.

Contrasting with the quiet, empty backroads was the autostrada to Naples and the mad downtown traffic of a city of 3 million people. Cars, bikes, scooters, and buses battled for the same piece of roadway, each insisting on advancing as quickly as possible, while chic passengers of scooterists nonchalantly perused their smartphones amidst all the chaos and seemingly endless near‑­misses. In motorcycling’s version of a rude shove into the deep end of the pool, riding in this environment can initially be quite shocking. Eventually, it becomes somewhat normalized and manageable, although certainly out of the ordinary for most American riders. The Turkish contingent on this particular Edelweiss Bike Travel tour thought nothing of it – in fact, it may have even been a bit milder than what they were accustomed to back home. 

Edelweiss Bike Travel Southern Italy Delights and Twisties Tour Sulmona
We stopped for lunch in Sulmona, birthplace of Roman poet Ovid.

Just as we became adept at dodging and passing other vehicles in tight spaces, it was back into the open country, where we moved from the Tyrrhenian Sea at the instep of Italy’s boot, tickled the arch at the Ionian Sea, and worked eastward through farm country toward the Adriatic Sea at the boot’s heel. 

Edelweiss Bike Travel Southern Italy Delights and Twisties Tour Apulio
Riding through the agricultural Apulio region.

Our lodging and dining experiences were every bit as diverse, with no two days the same. 

We settled into a spectacularly restored 15th century castle, now a first‑­class hotel with a beautiful view overlooking its gardens and the city of Perugia. The views would be inspiration even for the Masters’ canvases.  

Edelweiss Bike Travel Southern Italy Delights and Twisties Tour Castello di Monterone
Castello di Monterone in Perugia is a 15th century castle restored as a premium hotel. Its accommodations and grounds make visitors feel like royalty.

In sharp contrast to the luxurious castle in Perugia, we stayed two nights in the tiny remote medieval village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio. Once an abandoned 15th century hill town left largely in ruins, it has been brought back to life as a distinctive retreat. The village’s buildings and former residences now form the highly unique Sextantio, an “extended hotel.” With the lodging modernized just enough for comfort and convenience, the space preserves much of the original medieval ambiance. It’s an incomparable experience.  

Edelweiss Bike Travel Southern Italy Delights and Twisties Tour Morano Calabro
We stayed at the beautiful Villa San Domenico in Morano Calabro.

We also maneuvered the bikes up narrow, winding mountain roads to a point high above the Amalfi coast, where we stayed in a luxury hotel built on the edge of the rock face, hundreds of feet above the rocky coast. The view from the balcony of our room was spectacular, and a touch terrifying. 

Later in our journey, we enjoyed 4‑­star modern accommodations and delightful sea‑­sourced cuisine in the ancient city of Matera, where the modern civilities and businesses are mixed in among Roman Empire‑­era structures dating back to 250 B.C. that were, in turn, built upon the remains of cave dwellings that have been there since the dawn of man’s first colonization (and amazingly, were occupied until the 1950s). 

Edelweiss Bike Travel Southern Italy Delights and Twisties Tour Matera
The ancient city of Matera is perhaps the oldest formal settlement in the world.

The thing that strikes me most as I consider the secrets of the Appenines and the unknowns of Italy is that it is a land of great contrasts. It’s the contrast of terrain transitioning from rolling hills to rocky cliffs and from farmlands to dense forests and then on to crystal blue seas. It’s the solitude of riding through the untouched rural hill country and then hurtling through frenzied traffic on the autostrada. It’s dodging buses, trucks, cars, and scooters on dense city streets and then dodging goats and working dogs in farmland. It’s the pure, undisturbed silence of a night in the medieval village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio juxtaposed with the roaring high tide of coastal tourists along the Amalfi coast. It’s the paradox of a thoroughly modern 4‑­star hotel and restaurant built upon a meager ancient cave city. And it’s also the riddle of 18 people from different parts of the world laughing at the same silly “dad joke,” a brand of humor that transcends international borders, as does the deep, eye‑­rolling groan in response. 

Edelweiss Bike Travel Southern Italy Delights and Twisties Tour Lake Trasimeno
After riding to Arezzo and Cortona, where scenes from the film Under the Tuscan Sun were shot, we embarked on a breathtaking ride around Lake Trasimeno. Dane and Vicky pause to enjoy the amazing view.

Back in the Villa San Domenico in Morano Calabro, I eventually drifted off to sleep, strangely lulled by the laughter and singing of dear Amy, Robin, and Shiva in the courtyard below my window. Clearly, I slept soundly because I awoke to Amy sleeping peacefully beside me. I smiled as I thought about all the incredible things we’d already seen and experienced, and I marveled at the dynamics of this diverse group of people. With so much global unrest dominating news headlines, it has been almost surreal to find such peace on this ride. Somehow, amidst a troubled and often unfriendly world, this international group immediately restored my long‑­held but recently wavering belief that people are, by and large, good and kind. And I was reminded that although we are from disparate lands with strange native languages, we are much more alike than we are different. Perhaps that was the biggest secret revealed in the Appenines.

Edelweiss Bike Travel Southern Italy Delights and Twisties Tour
During our tour, strangers from around the world became a tight-knit group of friends.

The Edelweiss Bike Travel Southern Italy Delights & Twisties tour is scheduled to run four times in 2024: May 12‑­23, June 3‑­14, Sept. 28‑­Oct. 10, and Oct. 10‑­13. Prices start at $6,360 per person. For more information, visit the Edelweiss Bike Travel website.

See all of Rider‘s international touring stories here.

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Rolling to the January Jam in Rocky Point, Mexico | Favorite Ride

January Jam Rocky Point Mexico
The U.S./Mexico border is a place of transitional beauty, with various types of international boundary barriers inter-secting the stunning Southwestern landscape. The January Jam was a great excuse to experience it.

January can be a cruel month for motorcyclists. Even in sunny southern climates, chilly temperatures can make extended rides an exercise in discomfort. That’s why I make an annual winter sojourn south to the land of tequila and tacos for some riding and music at the January Jam in Puerto Peñasco – or Rocky Point – Mexico.

After topping off my tank at the lone American border gas station in Lukeville, Arizona, pleasant ambient temperatures mixed comfortably with radiating heat from the cylinders of my BMW GS as I idled in the slow parade at the border crossing. Rumble strips, remote cameras, armed agents, and concrete barriers marked the intimidating border security protocol.

January Jam Rocky Point Mexico

Scan QR code above or click here to view the route on REVER

My anxiety was tempered by the knowledge that I had my ducks in a row. I had purchased my three-day Mexican motorcycle insurance, and I had my passport, registration, and license handy. The camouflaged border agent motioned for me to lift my tinted faceshield and then waved me through. Just like that, I was in hustling, bustling Sonoyta. Men rushed at cars with squeegees, women held up packages of tortillas for sale, and traffic was frenetic. 

I knew what to do in this dusty border town. I kept my head on a swivel and rode below the posted speed limit. Local police cluster by the border and on the southern fringe of town with eagle eyes for tourists who drive like they are still in the U.S. It is not a cheap ticket if you get stopped.

January Jam Rocky Point Mexico
Puerto Peñasco is full of small motorcycles and big murals.

Sonoyta has the colorful, informal vibe of most Mexican towns, but I kept riding south. While the temperature back home in Arizona was hovering in the 40s, I smiled as the reading on my dash indicated 72. Yep, just what the doctor ordered.

Related: Baja Enlightenment: Riding Mexico’s Lower California Peninsula

On Highway 8 toward Puerto Peñasco, I passed dozens of descansos (“resting places” in Spanish), memorials that are intriguing, sobering, and often quite beautiful. They range from miniature concrete shrines to thematic collages. One honored a Dallas Cowboys fan.

January Jam Rocky Point Mexico
Creative descansos line the route to Puerto Peñasco.

I also passed a sign that read “Hassle Free Vehicle Zone.” Uninformed tourists often mistake these signs to mean relaxed traffic and speed rules. Not true, my friends. They just mean fewer paperwork regulations for tourist travel.  

The road from the border to Puerto Peñasco is straight and barren, but there is something to be said for an open-throttle roll through the warm desert in the dead of winter.

January Jam Rocky Point Mexico BMW GS
My BMW GS is perfect for exploring the thriving desert environment.

At the end of this 70-mile stretch, I came upon a group of Mexican sportbikers who were chatting along the dusty roadside. The half dozen crotch-rocketeers waved and saluted as I approached. They were more than happy to pose for a photo for a lone gringo moto-tourist before pulling a group U-turn and roaring back toward the coast. 

Just as Puerto Peñasco/Rocky Point goes by both Mexican and English names, it has two distinct personalities. There is the old town itself, teeming with street vendors, rusted vehicles, and colorful buildings, exuding the character of a traditional fishing village. Street taco stands waft aromatic clouds, and small motorcycles mounted with massive transport containers serve as delivery vehicles. 

January Jam Rocky Point Mexico
A group of Mexican sportbike riders pose for the gringo tourist.

Then there is the new, mostly American-owned resort community in Sandy Beach north of town. Upscale resorts line the blue waters of the Sea of Cortez. What Sandy Beach lacks in traditional character, it replaces with comfort and safety for international tourists. 

January Jam Rocky Point Mexico Sonoran Sea Resort
The Sonoran Sea is one of the beautiful resorts on Sandy Beach.

Both locations served as staging points for my weekend’s activities during the January Jam, which is the brainchild of Roger Clyne, the charismatic front man for Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers. Clyne is an entertainer with a voluminous catalog of great songs and an enthusiastic following in the Southwest and beyond. 

For the jam, Clyne assembles a lineup of accomplished musicians and invites fans to congregate in Puerto Peñasco for three days of music, golf, and general reverie. Music fills the sea air, and tequila flows, especially Clyne’s own premium spirit, Canción, fittingly named after the Spanish word for “song.” 

January Jam Rocky Point Mexico
Fantastic musical acts fill the nights during the lively January Jam festival.

There are daily and nightly concerts at Clyne’s watering hole, Banditos, as well as performances at other venues in Sandy Beach and Rocky Point. We enjoyed the familiar tunes of Clyne’s band as well as David Lowery of Cracker, the Mexican-influenced sounds of The Jons from Tucson, and the lively rock blend of Miles Neilson and the Rusted Heart.

After a weekend of sampling traditional Mexican food, listening to great music, and riding to nearby fishing villages, the time came to head back north. It was over too soon.

January Jam Favorite Ride Resources

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IMTBike Essence of Northern Spain Tour Review

IMTBike Essence on Northern Spain
Riding the ridge near Mirador de la Cardosa, Cantabria, on the IMTBike Essence of Northern Spain Tour.

The landscape of northern Spain erupted with jagged peaks and rolled along lush green hillsides. Farms folded across every nook, and waves pounded the Atlantic coast. Mile after mile of smooth, tight curves were waiting to be savored. The evidence was all around: Northern Spain is a rider’s paradise. 

This past September, I joined IMTBike’s Essence of Northern Spain Tour. Leaving the planning to the pros at IMTBike, I simply arrived with my gear in Bilbao up north in the País Vasco (Basque Country) and enjoyed the ride. Over eight days, I explored new places with new friends, and fabulous riding connected every experience. This tour strung together curvy backroads through vast open spaces, rural pastoral lands, dense forests, and stunning coasts.

IMTBike Essence on Northern Spain
The tour frequently visits Spain’s Atlantic Coast, like here in Colunga, Asturias.

“Essence” tours like this one are new weeklong versions of longer IMTBike tours. Riders who can only get a week off from work can now enjoy full‑­on tours of northern Spain, southern Spain, Portugal, or Morocco with a shorter time commitment.

IMTBike has been perfecting the art and science of motorcycle tours for 27 years. Initially, the focus was the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). Today, it also offers tours of Morocco, France, Italy, and the Alps; exclusive MotoGP tours in Catalunya, Jerez, and Valencia; global tours in Turkey, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and New Zealand; and self‑­guided and custom‑­designed tours.

Related: IMTBike Sardinia and Corsica Motorcycle Tour Review

My fellow tour members came to northern Spain from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Japan, the Netherlands, and the U.S. We all love travel, adventure, and motorcycling – that’s what brought us together – and as always, I enjoyed the experience of meeting and riding with people from countries other than my own.

IMTBike Essence on Northern Spain

Juanan Martin, our tour guide, has graduate degrees in history and travel journalism – perfect credentials for his role. Paulo Murteira, who drove the IMTBike support van, loves off‑­road endurance riding and was a laugh a minute! Both were excellent sources of information, assistance, and insight.

IMTBike Essence on Northern Spain
During a coffee break, our tour guide Juanan reviewed the next section of the day’s ride.

From IMTBike’s garage in Bilbao, Juanan led us to the Cantabrian Mountains and strings of hairpin turns. At Collados del Asón Natural Park, we paused to take in a spectacular panoramic mountain vista. That first day, we traversed five mountain passes en route to Santillana del Mar.

Our night’s lodging was a parador located on a magnificently preserved medieval town square. Paradors are historic, architecturally significant buildings such as former castles, monasteries, and manor homes. Owned by the Spanish government and operated as luxury hotels, paradors preserve these treasured buildings and keep them relevant. We stayed in three of them on this tour.

IMTBike Essence on Northern Spain
This parador in Asturias was formerly the Monastery of San Pedro de Villanueva.

We also grew accustomed to dinner served on Spanish time: 8 p.m. at the earliest and frequently later. Your humble scribe is a big fan of seafood, and our daily menus included locally sourced fish and other delicacies from the North Atlantic, as well as delicious meat dishes, fresh fruits and veggies, and a variety of decadent desserts. No one went hungry.

Related: Iberian Escape | IMTBike Southern Spain Andalusia Tour Review

By the second day, tour members had organically clustered into three groups of four bikes each according to their preferred pace. This unofficial order enabled everyone to ride their own ride. Juanan told me that every tour is its own living entity, with distinct personalities and group dynamics, individual rider skills, weather and seasonal factors, and more. Everyone wanted something different from their tour experience, and Juanan and Paulo were focused on delivering for us all.

Later, we had our first of numerous encounters with livestock in the road. Flat, open expanses of pastureland are uncommon in northern Spain, so cows (and occasionally horses and goats) nibble on grass wherever they find it. They seemed accustomed to the passing vehicles, so I rolled off the throttle a bit and bellowed “Moo!” before motoring past.

IMTBike Essence on Northern Spain
We experienced endless curves through the Cantabrian Mountains.

Spain has the highest average elevation of all western European countries except Switzerland, and the mountains we rode around, over, and sometimes through were highpoints for me. Topping my list for beauty was Picos de Europa National Park. Founded in 1918, it was Spain’s first national park. Today it’s a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and its natural beauty was wondrous to experience while carving great roads on a motorcycle.

While the mountains reminded me of the Alps, the Costa Verde (Green Coast) felt like Ireland. Okay, maybe not the palm trees. Herds of Asturian Valley cattle, the ubiquitous orange‑­colored breed raised in northern Spain, grazed on grassy hills overlooking the ocean. What a completely different scene from the brown plains of central Spain. As cows chewed greenery, surfers in wetsuits carried their boards down to the sandy beach below. Some of Europe’s most popular surfing destinations are here on Spain’s northern coast. I wondered if this convergence of cattle and surfers gave rise to the expression “Cowabunga!”

IMTBike Essence on Northern Spain
Love mountains? This view of Riaño, León, helps one appreciate that Spain has western Europe’s second highest average elevation.

From cliffs overlooking the coast, we headed inland, where entertaining secondary roads wound us through agrarian landscapes past the hilly farms of Asturias. The most common crop appeared to be manzanas (apples), and most homes, even those that weren’t farmhouses, had a lemon tree in the yard. I admired the resilience of farmers here: There was hardly any land you’d call flat, yet orchards were abundant, tucked into every conceivable space. Livestock grazed along the roads here too.

Though the weather in northern Spain was mostly clear, warm, and dry, we rode through a late‑­day rain shower near Oviedo, the bustling capital city of Asturias. On the last stretch to our hotel, it was useful having a guide with local knowledge and a solid plan to lead the group though wet, busy streets to the tight quarters of a downtown hotel parking garage. ¡Bien hecho, Juanan! Well done!

IMTBike Essence on Northern Spain
The capital of Asturias is Oviedo, a beautiful city where we enjoyed a rest day.

That evening in Oviedo, we had dinner in a sidrería (cidery), a pub‑­like establishment where locals gather to drink cider, eat, and socialize. We enjoyed multiple courses of Asturian fare, washed down with sangría de sidra (cider sangria) made from the same variety of manzanas we saw growing on trees. It was an Asturian holiday, and patrons were joyously singing, their enthusiasm enhanced by pitchers of sangria. You don’t have to visit a museum to experience culture.

IMTBike Essence on Northern Spain
An evening walk through Oviedo was a great way to end a riding day. I’ve never visited a prettier city.

IMTBike scheduled a rest day halfway through this tour, but there was an optional lunch run to the seaside fishing village of Cudillero. Juanan led an exhilarating backroads jaunt through dense forest with little evidence of humans. Cudillero is built into rocky cliffs overlooking the Bay of Biscay. The ascending rows of colorful houses reminded me of similar towns I’d seen in Italy. At the edge of town, waves hitting the rocky shore presented spectacular views.

That evening, I decided to explore more of Oviedo on my own while speaking only Spanish. It had been decades since I studied Spanish in school, but after a few days in Spain, the fundamentals were coming back. I managed to buy a gift for my wife and order a fish dinner, celebrating these minor triumphs with una cerveza. ¡Salud!

IMTBike Essence on Northern Spain
The optional ride on the rest day followed narrow roads through deep forests.

Next morning, tour members huddled for our daily riders briefing with Juanan. He emphasized the need to depart the hotel as an organized group – and stay together as we left the city. A major bicycle race called La Vuelta, Spain’s version of the Tour de France, was passing through the area that morning. Juanan explained that the racecourse overlapped our route, and unless we rode through before race organizers closed the road, we’d have to wait. Thanks to this helpful attention to detail from our tour guide, our well­organized group passed by the busy staging area for La Vuelta that morning on a still-­open road.

IMTBike Essence on Northern Spain
Our group enjoyed a break at Puerto de Pandetrave in León.

After coffee, our route cut through Trubia River Gorge, where steep rock cliffs reached up on either side of us. Eventually we gained elevation, riding through the clouds until we poked above them into sunshine. I love when that happens. We crossed Alto de la Corbetoria Pass and then descended in tight curves to the Lena River to enjoy a stretch of easy sweepers to La Llama. The continuous flow of a curvy river road is always special on a motorcycle, and this tour included several of them.

Returning to the Picos de Europa, we relished technical curves and climbed in elevation before a lunch stop at Puerto de San Isidro, an alpine ski resort. At midday in late summer, skiers were notably absent. As our group prepared to move on, I let Juanan know I was going to ride alone for the afternoon. In this rugged and remote region of León, I stopped whenever I wanted to marvel at views of the mountains and lakes against a crystal blue sky. Since I opted for a GPS with routes pre‑­loaded, it was no problem arriving on my own schedule (and well before dinnertime) at that night’s parador lodgings.

To build roads through northern Spain’s mountainous terrain, engineers have designed some impressive solutions. After a mid‑­morning break in Potes, we reached Collada de Carmona Pass, where our mountain descent abruptly came into view. The road went through a hole cut through the cliff. Above the road, multilayer nets of steel mesh were moored onto the cliffside to catch falling rocks and held many they had snared. Then the road twisted down the mountainside, switchback after switchback, to the valley below. The smooth tar continued, snaking through positive camber curves along a meandering river for miles as the next mountain pass grew gradually closer. Up, over, and down again, the grin never left my face. At the next stop, our group of elated riders dismounted and exchanged high‑­fives. What a run!

IMTBike Essence on Northern Spain
Camaleño in Cantabria provided many enjoyable sweepers.

While winding roads with dramatic views earned my top score on this tour, architecture was a notable runner‑­up. The ultra modern Guggenheim museum in Bilbao is a marvel of design, encased in a skin of titanium. In stark contrast, the Sanctuary of Loyola in Azpeitia was a grand example of Spanish baroque architecture. And with its classical civic buildings, elegant parkside homes, and captivating old town edifices, Oviedo was as pretty as any city I’ve visited.

By design, this tour put us on mostly empty roads. But on a warm, sunny afternoon in late summer, it was no surprise to encounter beach traffic along a scenic coastal route. The view of the seaside below was splendid from a gently curving road cut into the cliffside, and the tang of salt air scented every breath I took. A slower pace was fine for a bit.

IMTBike Essence on Northern Spain
Rest stops present an opportunity for riders, each riding at their own pace, to regroup. We did that here at Puerto de Pandetrave in León.

Then we found ourselves riding into the unexpected. An altered traffic pattern sent us into a congested cobblestone pedestrian zone where some kind of celebration was underway. Clearly, this wasn’t the plan. Folks were stunned by the arrival of a dozen motorcycles, but Juanan quickly calmed any concerns. The first few riders managed tight, bumpy U‑­turns, but those farther back were squeezed into an alley. Juanan pivoted several of those bikes 180 degrees on the sidestand – first time I’d seen that technique used on cobblestones – and in short order, we rode off as folks smiled and waved.

Carving more curves through the Basque Country and down the steep hills into Bilbao, our tour came to an end where it began: IMTBike’s garage. We parked our bikes one last time as Juanan poured us a cava toast. Later, over our final dinner as a group, we relived favorite moments of this exciting tour and started planning more adventures.

In 2024, the Essence of Northern Spain tour runs June 29‑­July 7 and Sept. 7‑­15. Prices start at 3,845 euros (about $4,100 USD) for a single rider on a BMW G 310 R and sharing a double room. Larger motorcycles and private rooms are optional. Not included in the tour price are air tickets, lunches, gasoline, drinks, tolls, GPS, personal spending, and tips. Learn more at the IMTBike website

See all of Rider‘s international touring stories here.

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An India Motorcycle Trip from Head to Toe

India Motorcycle Trip
Ullu rests at 14,482-foot Saach Pass in Himalayan Pir Panjal range.

It came to me in the middle of the night, as most great ideas do: I would take an India motorcycle trip, crossing from north to south. My route would take me from the mountains of Ladakh to the valleys of Kashmir, into bustling Rajasthan, over the Western Ghats, and through the wet jungles of the South – a total distance of more than 4,500 miles. I would ride “Ullu,” my 2009 Royal Enfield Machismo 350 with an ongoing tappet issue, and my budget would be only 30,000 rupees (about $360).

See all of Rider‘s Royal Enfield coverage here.

The Northern Portion of My India Motorcycle Trip:

Manali – Leh – Jammu and Kashmir – Dharamshala

The path to Ladakh is a playground of natural beauty. It is also vast, with no mechanics or petrol stations en route.

I waded through rivers that reached my waist in Nubra Valley and coasted down the 21‑­hairpin Gata Loops at breathtaking speed. I reached the moonscape‑­like peak of Wari La Pass, was snowed on at Khardung La, and raced a herd of wild horses as they thundered down More Plains. I rode through a canyon with a sparkling river running through the center and tackled the treacherous 17,586‑­foot Chang La Pass. Ladakh was a dreamscape, and the surroundings changed drastically from fresh landslides to icy lakes to the legendary dunes of Pang. As far as an India motorcycle trip was concerned, I was in paradise.

India Motorcycle Trip
In Ladakh, white-washed monasteries are perched high in the Himalayas.

The dirt road connecting Koksar to Kaza in Spiti Valley was a constant game of temporary fixes for Ullu: shoelaces through the wheel guard, a bungee cord around the exhaust pipe, and a snapped clutch lever repaired with duct tape. The terrain was a bone‑­shaking challenge from start to end, and vehicles littered the boulder‑­strewn paths in various states of breakdown.

India Motorcycle Trip
Smooth, winding tarmac on the Manali Leh highway through Ladakh’s Nubra Valley. (Photo by Haven Lane Photography – @Havensway on Instagram)

Near the border of Pakistan, I steeled myself for two dangerous passes on National Highway 26 from Kashmir between Killar, Khajjiar, and Kishtwar. Both were closing soon due to forecasted snow, and I was determined to cross them off my list. The Cliffhanger was a tricky and dramatic ride on a road carved into a sheer cliff that’s 2,000 feet above the Chenab River.

Related Story from Ellie Cooper: Himalayan Cliffhanger | Riding India’s Death Road

Saach Pass, an endurance ride through deep forest to an ice‑­slicked desolate mesa, was a mix of endless clutch control and precise handling on the downhills. With such tantalizing terrain to explore, it was difficult to leave the North, but the rest of India beckoned me.

India Motorcycle Trip
Between Killar and Kishtwar is the dreaded Cliffhanger, India’s “death road,” which is carved into the rockface 2,000 feet above the Chenab River. (Photo by John Gaisford)

Rajasthan:

Dharamshala – Amritsar – Pushkar – Jaisalmer – Jodhpur – Udaipur 

I detoured into Pushkar to learn how to build a motorbike from scratch at my friend Mukesh’s garage. I spent a week drinking chai with a team of mechanics by the roadside, sharing communal meals on the garage floor, and learning how to replace clutch plates.

Every road from Punjab to Rajasthan was long and uneventful, but I was not so lucky when I started the next leg of my India motorcycle trip.

India Motorcycle Trip
The team of mechanics at Mukesh’s (not shown) garage in Pushkar, where I spent a week learning how to build a motorbike from spare parts.

National Highway 11 toward Jaisalmer was a road of death, and the smell of various animals decomposing in the midday heat carried on the breeze. I saw mirages of great lakes that vanished as quickly as they appeared, and burnt‑­out vehicles lay overturned in the sand. The desert can be a strange place.

India Motorcycle Trip
On the bustling streets of Amritsar, Punjab, a vendor sells panipuri: deep-fried balls of dough filled with potatoes, onions, and spices.

The winter winds on the highway toyed with everyone on the road. I fought against a side wind that buffeted me back and forth with such velocity that I gasped for air under my helmet. Six high‑­speed lorries – massive trucks in formation across two lanes – were inches away from my tires. On that road, it was suicidal to be so close to the edge with pushy trucks and a bullying wind, but I had no choice. I slowed my speed but started to be sucked under the gap between their wheels as my handlebar toggled ferociously with the pressure. I clipped the edge of the sand at 30 mph and went down.

I crawled on my hands and knees toward the bike a few meters from where I had landed on the concrete and hit the kill switch. Ullu received only a broken horn and a buckled wheel. My riding gear saved me from a worse fate, but I still had a dollop of whiplash and a mild concussion.

Jaisalmer was a beautiful place to recover. Determined to see deep desert, I rode out to catch the sunset, going until my wheels sank into endless sand. Later, as I lay back on Ullu’s seat and watched billions of stars in the inky‑­black sky, I reflected on how India is not an easy place to ride, but it was worth every near‑­miss.

India Motorcycle Trip
In Jaisalmer, Ullu and a fellow beast of burden enjoy a late-day respite.

Hoping for a bit of good fortune for the remainder of my India motorcycle trip, I sought out the Bullet Baba shrine on National Highway 65. It is one of 33 million Hindu deities and represents the legend of a local man who crashed into a tree and died and whose motorcycle found its way back to the crash site alone without keys or petrol. Locals flock to the site to ask for safe passage across India’s roads and offer whiskey in return. I visited the holy bike with a bottle stuffed into my backpack.

India Motorcycle Trip
The Bullet Baba shrine in Rajasthan.

The final stop on my Rajasthan tour was Udaipur. I lazily wound through the undulating Aravalli hills of Kumbhalgarh in afternoon light and rode around the famous Rani Road at sunrise to see Rajasthan’s shining lakes. India was changing her look every few hundred miles, and I could not wait to see what the Western Ghats had to offer.

India Motorcycle Trip
Surrounding a small lake is Pushkar, one of the holiest cities in India and a pilgrimage site for many Hindus and Sikhs. This priest is on his way to a Puja ceremony, a blessing that honors gods and deceased loved ones.

Udaipur – Mumbai – Pune – Goa – Ooty – Erivikulam – Munnar 

I entered Mumbai in Western India like a child pretending to be a racer. I was in a tide of hundreds of motorcycles at rush hour, all revving their engines impatiently. Without any warning, signaling, or light change, true to their name, the Bullets sped forward, each one racing the next. On wash day, the air smelled like a bucket of soap suds, and the whole city was brightly decorated.

I headed immediately for Mahabaleshwar, a hill station with luxurious views of the stunning Sahyadri range. With less than 2 liters of petrol after the hills, I bounced along the descent on badly broken road surfaces, glad that I had reduced the air in my tires. I sputtered into Goa on Christmas Day through a blanket of freezing sea mist. My present to my trusty steed was a full service and a week off.

India Motorcycle Trip
Playing in the snow at Khardung La, a 17,582-foot pass.

The roads into Munnar are on every Indian traveler’s bucket list. I chose to ride through five national parks, relishing the gorgeous blue Nilgiri hills on all sides. In beautiful Ooty, I raced down 36 consecutive hairpins on the addictive downhills of the accident‑­prone Kalhatty Road. At one time, tourists were not permitted to ride it due to the complexity and danger of the epic turns.

I reached Munnar, where the oscillating route was full of seemingly endless tight corners and fast bends. It was some of the most perfect motorcycle riding I had ever experienced. Tea leaves were draped over the hills in a lime green patchwork quilt, knitted with care by whichever gods had imagined such a place.

Related: Ellie Cooper | Ep. 67 Rider Magazine Insider Podcast

The Western Ghats:

Munnar – Idukki – Kanyakumari

I dawdled through the coconut plantations of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, fingering the meager rupees left in my pocket and wondering if I would make it to the end. I was almost there, and it was probably because of the heat and fatigue at this point that I began to make mistakes. 

I took a wrong turn and had to explain to a very confused ranger why I was riding illegally in a tiger reserve. Ullu’s ignition cable suddenly came loose in the middle of the jungle, but again I was fortunate; a local reattached it with his teeth for free. Another time, I stopped to admire the view and carelessly knocked my bike keys into a pile of rubbish many feet down, and the whole village came running to help. Eventually, a tiny man with a hooked stick five times as long as he was tall came running to the rescue, grinning from ear to ear.

India Motorcycle Trip
Near the end of the journey, Ellie and Ullu rode through coconut plantations in Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state in India.

It hit me hard when I got to Kerala and saw the sign for Kanyakumari – the city at the southernmost tip of India – that my journey would soon end. Little moments of the trip replayed in my mind, from the icy dreamland of the Himalayas to brightly decorated Rajasthan to the sublime colors of the South. 

At the end of my India motorcycle trip, I sat atop Ullu and patted her tank, watching the sight I had been waiting for: the sun setting into the Arabian Sea. The next morning, sitting at the same spot, I watched the sun rise over the Bay of Bengal to the east.

India Motorcycle Trip
The author and “Ullu,” her Royal Enfield, at Kanyakumari on the southern tip of mainland India, where the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean meet.

Indian roads are a complex machine that operates on courage and trust, and I now understand the absurdity of them in their confusion and chaos. I learned that every breakdown is a chance for a new connection with a stranger; that many bike issues can be fixed with tin cans, rubber bands, or a mouthful of petrol; and that no matter how long the journey might take, there is always time for another chai.

See all of Rider‘s International Touring stories here.

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