The heartland of Germany is not only home to some of our much-loved childhood fairytales but also some of the finest motorcycling roads and scenery in Europe, a real cultural and riding melting pot brimming over with cobbled streets, magical castles, hairpin bends and a certain infamous black forest.
Self Guided Tour
10 Days
1500 miles
Folkestone, UK
HIRE BIKE AVAILABLE
BEST TIME TO GO
March to October
Your adventure begins with a night in Folkestone, an early crossing on the Eurotunnel the following day, and then a leisurely cruise through France and Belgium towards the picturesque Eifel National Park in the west of Germany. Stopping at the Mohne Dam in the Ruhr Valley, heroically breached by the Lancasters of 617 squadron (the infamous Dambusters) in 1943.
From the Mohne Dam, you ride through the magical, medieval Harz mountains the land of German folklore, home to the wicked witch and dwarfs from the Brothers Grimm tales and onto your base near Colditz. You have a day to tour the castle and wonder at the ingenuity of those famous escape attempts.
From Colditz we ride towards Boppard, stopping off at another site immortalised by the Dambusters - the Eder Dam. We then ride along the Rhine Valley, a visual feast that can only truly be enjoyed in the saddle of a motorcycle, to visit the medieval castles of Burg Eltz and Marksburg. For those who feel the need for speed an alternative is to visit the Nurburgring whether you take your bike for a lap or two or just enjoy the sights and smells of the racetrack it's an experience you'll never forget!
From exhilarating to relaxing you meander along the riverside, through vineyards to Baden Baden, the baths here have hosted famous figures from Roman emperors to Napoleon and are a perfect place to wind down after a day in the saddle.
Medieval Germany at its best
Get your biking bucket lists out! We’ve got one of Europe’s most amazing motorcycling roads to cross off. The B500 has long been considered a motorcyclist’s dream. Riding from Baden Baden through the Black Forest, it delivers on its promise of being one of the best with its scenic beauty and hairpin bends to keep even the most seasoned riders on their toes!
From one iconic road to another its a true biker’s feast as you leave Germany then take on the Vosges mountains in France before heading to your hotel. After dreaming of hairpins, forests and medieval castles it’s time to leave and make your way back towards Calais for your final night with a head full of memories, a face full of smiles and a bike with lots more miles!
From Dambusters to fairy tale Damsels in Distress its a ‘Dam’ heroic roadtrip!
Two “Dambuster” dams of Eder Dam and Mohne Dam: Situated in beautiful countryside are two Dams iconic in recent German history, take a walk over them and see the breaching sites or take a stroll around the lake and enjoy a well earned rest.
Medieval castles: Burg Eltz and Castle Marksburg: Burg Eltz, still owned by the thirty-third generation of the Eltz family offers an insight into the rich and elegant history of a castle that looks fit for cinderella, while Castle Marksburg a short ride away gives an insight into a true fortress.
'What a great trip! Great roads, great company, great organisation… My second tour this year with Magellan Motorcycle Tours. Thoroughly enjoyable ... Well planned routes with a variety of road types to suit all tastes and brilliant having all the routes pre downloaded onto my satnav before I left.'
Paul T
Harz mountains: The Harz region is a proper biker’s playground largely undiscovered by riders outside of Germany. We ride through a fantastic section on our way to Colditz, quiet, traffic free smooth tarmac and not a speed camera in sight!
Colditz Castle: Tour the castle and see the escape routes with a guide. A great way to spend an afternoon for any avid history enthusiasts or for those who enjoyed the series ‘Colditz’ in the 70’s!
If you feel the need for speed, you can skip the castle visit and instead visit this iconic racetrack. A couple of laps may be possible if booked in advance…
The B500 in the German Black Forest: The B500 is consistently listed on the top ten biking roads in the world, and it’s not difficult to see why when you’re on the twists and curves through the forest.
Deep forests and the twisty roads of the Vosges Mountain: Take a ride on a section of the Tour de France course in the Vosges mountains, a well known series of local biker roads in the deep leafy forests makes this as picturesque as it is fun!
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 2243 Miles
Through France and Belgium and on to your first hotel destination in the Eifel Mountain region of Germany.
Day 3170 Miles
Scenic ride through the German countryside, and a visit to the Mohne Dam.
Day 4151 Miles
From the Mohne Dam you ride through the Harz Mountains and onto your base near Colditz.
Day 5180 Miles
You tour Colditz this morning, and then ride back to central Germany.
Day 6170 Miles
We ride towards Boppard, stopping off at the Eder Dam and finish at our next base after visits to either the Burg Eltz and Marksburg castles, or the Nurburgring.
Day 7145 Miles
You then make your way along the riverside, winding through vineyards ending in Baden Baden.
Day 8162 Miles
From Baden Baden, you ride one of Germany’s most famous roads, the B500. Then cross into France and tackle the Vosges mountains towards your hotel in the heart of the mountains.
Day 9360 Miles
You ride north through the epic scenery of the Vosges and northern France to your final night near Calais.
Day 10Departure 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.
If you select motorcycle rental, insurance and breakdown cover is included.
9 nights’ accommodation in high-quality hotels.
Euro Tunnel return trip Folkestone-Calais (if Folkestone isn’t convenient for you do please get in touch as other crossings can be arranged see 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
£4995
£6990
£8390
HD Ultra Limited
£7995
£9990
£14390
HD Street Glide
£7995
£9990
£14390
/BMW K1600 GTL
£7395
£9390
£13190
BMW R1250GS
£6995
£8990
£12390
BMW R1250RT
£6995
£8990
£12390
BMW S1000XR
£6995
£8990
£12390
BMW R1250RS
£6995
£8990
£12390
Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Pro
£6995
£8990
£12390
Triumph Bonneville T120
£6995
£8990
£12390
Honda CMX1100 Rebel DCT
£6995
£8990
£12390
Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro
£6795
£8790
£11990
Ducati Multistrada V2S
£6795
£8790
£11990
Triumph Speed Twin 900
£6795
£8790
£11990
Yamaha Tracer 9 GT
£6795
£8790
£11990
Triumph Tiger Sport 800
£6795
£8790
£11990
BMW F900XR
£6795
£8790
£11990
BMW F850GS
£6695
£8690
£11790
BMW F800GS
£6695
£8690
£11790
BMW F800GS (low)
£6695
£8690
£11790
BMW F750GS
£6695
£8690
£11790
Triumph Tiger 850 Sport
£6695
£8690
£11790
Triumph Bonneville T100
£6695
£8690
£11790
Yamaha Tracer 7 GT
£6695
£8690
£11790
Triumph Tiger Sport 660
£6695
£8690
£11790
Rental prices calculated based on 10 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.
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?
April to September as a rule although March and October can work with a dash of luck weather wise if you don’t mind the chance of a little snow on the mountain peaks!
Grossglockner: Beginning of May to the end of October.
Timmelsjoch: Early June until mid-October.
There aren't any rest days on this tour will I be too tired?
You shouldn’t be no, we have launched this trip in response to demand for a shorter option for riders who only have a week to spare. It’s based on our popular 11 day Harz trip but with a couple of short sections of Autobahn dropped in to help shorten some of the days. There is still plenty of off bike time touring Colditz, the Castles on the Rhine and the Nurburgring.
More information
For general information on planning and preparing for motorcycle trips including what to pack please see our Prepare for your trip section.
