Alpine Altitude

Austria & Switzerland

Alpine Altitude

Austria & Switzerland

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13 Day Self-Guided Tour

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Self Guided Austria: Alpine Altitude|13|13|5895|4995|4195

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Traverse the soaring hairpins of Austria and Switzerland's finest high alpine passes. Glacial grandeur meets switchback thrills.
If zooming round twisties and hairpins along cobbled mountain passes in the beautiful snowy Alps are your thing then this tour is absolutely for you. We ride some exquisite roads, and stop off at places of historical and cultural significance throughout this tour, so it’s a true delight for riders and pillions alike.
  • Self Guided Tour
  • 13 Days
  • 2000 miles
  • Folkestone, UK
  • HIRE BIKE AVAILABLE
BEST TIME TO GO

July to September

Your tour starts with a night in Folkestone, on the south coast of the UK, so you're ready to take the Eurotunnel to Calais the next morning. The next day you'll ride cross country through picturesque northern France along the Route D’Epinal to your nights stop on the edge of the Lorraine National Park. From here you make your way to the first historical point of interest at Verdun, you can visit the memorial and walk around the battle site made famous in the first world war. You then ride into eastern France before crossing the border into Germany via the beautiful Vosges mountains.

The afternoon’s ride brings you into the Black Forest region and to your second night’s stop near Baden Baden, here you can rest up and get ready for the first famous road of the trip in the shape of the B500, this stretch of tarmac has long been coveted by bikers looking for long sweeping roads that run from bend to bend. Sure not to disappoint, it will have you wanting to ride it over and over again.

Ben Spear, Trip guide
Ben Spear, Trip guide

Norway is often the trip people are most suprised by. Just how dramatic the scenery and empty the roads are. Come and join me in August and experience a beautiful country with tremendous twisty roads.

The Magnificent Austrian Tyrol

From one kind of beauty to another you leave Germany and head into Austria through the foothills of the beautiful mountains of Tyrol to your base for 2 nights near the historic town of Zell am See. Here you have a day off with the choice of a ride out to the famous Grossglockner high alpine road, the highest surfaced mountain pass in Austria or a day trip to the Eagle’s nest- Hitler’s summer retreat in Berchtesgaden. You then leave Zell am See continuing west to the awe inspiring Swiss Alps.

The Swiss Alps are one of the world’s most famous biker havens and its not difficult to see why with endless hairpins and breathtaking beauty they bring bikers back here year on year and on this tour you ride five of the greatest mountain passes in Switzerland. Take on the St Gotthard pass with its famous cobbled hairpins, get in touch with your inner 007 on the Furka pass immortalised by the car chase in Goldfinger then ride the giddy heights of the Grimsel pass at an elevation of 7,100 feet and the Nufenen at 8,130 feet.

See if you can track this cow down on the B500!

See if you can track this cow down on the B500!

Glacier waters of the Tyrolean Alps

We come back down through the mountains and valleys past crystal clear lakes into the Vosges region again via the Routes des Cretes the very scenic road often cited as one of the best scenic drives in France. We continue riding North through the Vosges the following day before heading to Charlons en Champagne near Reims for your penultimate night's stop.

Your last adventure on this tour comes with a visit to the GP track Reims-Gueux, the disused track was the second location of the Grand Prix, several Formula one races and the MotoGP. The route takes you on the old track riding past the old pits and grandstand before heading towards Calais for your final night, ready to cross back over to the UK and on to home the following morning.

The Grossglockner, epic Alpine passes, 007 and beautiful picturesque towns these are a few of our favourite things! Come and set the hills alive with the sound of your motorbike!

Contact me about this tour

Tour highlights

The B500 in the German Black Forest: All the roads in the Black forest are steep and twisty and the B500 is no exception. A road that consistently features in the top ten biking roads in the world, its many twists are curves along the forest ridge are exhilarating.

Grossglockner High alpine road and glaciers: At 2,500 km above sea level the Grossglockner boasts 36 unforgettable elegant hairpins sure to delight any rider!

The Eagle’s Nest in Berchtesgaden: The Kehlsteinhaus is a remnant from third-reich era Germany, Hitler’s alpine summer retreat. It’s a fascinating destination for any history buffs amongst the group, as it was the location of many Nazi government meetings and on at least 12 occasions a holiday spot for Hitler.

'Excellent!! 5* Fantastic trip with heaps of great memories that will last a lifetime, everything from the routes to the daily banter was superb. Can’t wait to get away again.'
Andy B

St Gotthard pass: This pass consists of 37 cobbled (but well layed!) hairpins, sheer drops and steep curves on a dry day it's a biker’s dream.

Furka pass: The Furka pass needs no introduction to any James Bond fans. Immortalised by the Aston Martin DB5/Ford Mustang car chase in Goldfinger this road is as exhilarating as it is picturesque.

Neufenen pass: The second highest paved pass in Switzerland and featured in Adventure Bike Rider’s eight best mountain passes to ride before you die the Nufenen pass is an exquisite mix of hairpins and breathtaking views of the Bernese Alps.

Grimsel pass: This traffic free pass boasts landscape that is almost lunar, with granite rock formations, huge reservoirs and barren mountains.

Route des Crêtes in the Vosges Mountains: A real jewel in the Vosges mountains the Route des Cretes has twisties and sweeping bends to really get your blood pumping!

Douaumont Ossuary WW1 war memorial at Verdun: The battle of Verdun claimed the lives of 300,000 soldiers, and the Bishop of the area wished to give them a ‘decent burial’. The Douaumont Ossuary houses a Necropolis which shelters the bodies of 16,142 known French soldiers, and the Ossuary which houses the bones of roughly 130,000 unknown French and German soldiers.

The Eagle’s Nest in Berchtesgaden

Hootvox
99.7 % Overall
100 % Would recommend

Speak to a tour specialist to start planning your holiday….

Speak to a tour specialist to start planning your holiday….

Tour Map / Itinerary

Full Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival Day

Spend your first night in Folkestone, ready to cross the Channel early the next day. If you're renting a bike, you'll collect it from near London earlier this day before riding to Folkestone.

Day 2 288 Miles

A day’s cross country ride through northern France riding along the Route D’Epinal to our hotel at the edge of the Lorraine National Park.

Day 3 211 Miles

You enter Germany via the Vosges mountains. The afternoon brings you into the Black Forest region and then on to your hotel near Baden-Baden.

Day 4 221 Miles

You ride B500 which takes you through Bavaria and on to your hotel on the border with Austria.

Day 5 137 Miles

Continue into Austria today through the foothills of the Tyrol to your base for the next 2 nights near Zell am See.

Day 6 Explore Day / Rideout Day

Either ride the Grossglockner high alpine road, or take a day trip to the Eagle’s nest in Berchtesgaden, Hitler’s summer retreat.

Day 7 225 Miles

Leave Zell am See and continue west through Austria towards your next challenge, the Swiss Alps.

Day 8 90 Miles

Ride some amazing mountain passes today to find your hotel for the next 2 nights, which is a lovely traditional place surrounded by Swiss peaks.

Day 9 110 Miles

Tackle 5 of the greatest mountain passes in Switzerland. The St Gotthard pass, the Furka Pass, the Neufenen pass and the Grimsel pass.

Day 10 170 Miles

Ride to the Vosges region of France via the Route des Crêtes to your overnight stop.

Day 11 216 Miles

Ride north through the epic scenery of the Vosges before heading up to the Champagne region.

Day 12 191 Miles

Hearty breakfast, a visit to a disused GP track outside of Reims and then onwards to Calais for the last hotel of the tour.

Day 13 Departure Day

Cross back over into the UK via the Eurotunnel then ride on home full of new and exciting memories! If you're renting a bike, you'll return it to near London on this day before making your onward journey.

What's included
If you select motorcycle rental, insurance and breakdown cover is included.
12 nights’ accommodation in high-quality hotels.
Channel tunnel return trip from Folkestone to Calais (if Folkestone isn’t convenient for you, please get in touch as other crossings can be arranged, as mentioned in the Q&As below).
Excellent breakfast each morning.
Full use of all hotels’ leisure facilities.
Detailed route plans and maps.
GPS routes (Garmin / Tom Tom).
Detailed daily itinerary including sights and suggested coffee / lunch stops.
What's not
Fuel.
Toll charges.
Admission charges.
Occasional hotel parking charges.
Meals and drinks.
Travel/Breakdown insurance covering repatriation back to the UK.

Full Pricing

Bike Option Single Rider Price
(Total for 1 rider, 1 bike)
Rider & Passenger
(Total for 2 riders, 1 bike)
Two Bikes, Shared Room
(Total for 2 riders, 2 bikes)
Own Bike £5895 £8390 £9990
HD Ultra Limited £9795 £12290 £17790
HD Street Glide £9795 £12290 £17790
/BMW K1600 GTL £9015 £11510 £16230
BMW R1250GS £8495 £10990 £15190
BMW R1250RT £8495 £10990 £15190

Rental prices calculated based on 13 rental days (minimum required for this tour). All prices are total.
For this table, the "Two Bikes, Shared Room" prices assume rental of two of the same model, which isn't required and in some cases may not be possible.
All bikes come with luggage included. Top boxes and GPS can be rented, subject to availability, for an additional charge.

Back to Build Your Package

Common questions about this trip

Can I get a different crossing on this trip?

Of course, many of our clients cross by ferry from further north. If you would like to do this and make your own way to the hotel on the first night just let us know in the comments section of your booking form and we will deduct the cost of the Eurotunnel crossing from your booking.

When is the best time of year to do this trip?

May to September as a rule although as late as October can work with a dash of luck. This trip crosses a number of high passes and the usual opening times are below. Be aware that even in August some of these can close at short notice due to adverse weather conditions. There are always ways round these passes but worth bearing in mind when planning the best dates for your tour.
Grossglockner: Beginning of May to the end of October.
Swiss passes: Mid May to October

Are the speeding fines as scary as I’ve heard in Austria and Switzerland?

In a word, yes. However the only place you really need to keep an eye out is in the small towns with low limits (20/30 kmph) and the extra vigilance needed here is more than made up for by the world class riding that their passes offer.

More information
For general information on planning and preparing for motorcycle trips including what to pack please see our Prepare for your trip section.
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