Italy: Dolomites, Lakes and Alps Trip Report Jul 2023

ITALY: DOLOMITES, LAKES & ALPS – JUL/AUG 2023
17 riders head off to Italy via France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Belgium.  Lee Wiiliamson reports on the tour.

Day 1
We all meet at Stop 24 Services, 17 in total, quite a big group with Australians and Americans.  Admin taken care of, making sure everyone has the routes and crossing references and we’re good to go, heading for the tunnel.  Looking forward to a great day’s riding.  First coffee stop at Air de Rely, motorways on for now to get us across to France and then, after lunch, some great open roads take us to Reims.  A few beers and a welcome dinner sees the end of day one.

Day 2
Following breakfast and the morning brief, we leave Reims for Baden Baden.  Rain was forecast, but luckily held off all day.
First stop for coffee was in Bar-de-Luc, followed by some lovely twisting roads to the vibrant town of Port a Mousson for lunch.  All along the way you’re reminded of the sacrifice of so many by the memorials and war graves.  In between coffee and lunch, a few visited Jeepest at Ménil-aux-bois, an amazing collection of fully working American WWII vehicles and museum.  Leaving France and crossing the Rhein into Germany, it’s been a long day, all set for a few beers and evening meal in the wonderful Gasthaus Auerhahn, perfectly positioned for tomorrow’s trip on the B500.

Day 3
We leave Baden Baden with much excitement as today we’re riding the legendary B500. A lot of the group haven’t ridden it before, so the first time they get to see this fantastic road.  Some are treated to a Magellan Guide magical mystery tour, an alternative route which takes your breath away, truly magical.
We stop for coffee in Freundenstadt and find the most amazing cake shop, rude not to…
The afternoon sees us crossing southern Germany through forests and winding country roads towards the foothills of the Dolomites.
Finally arriving at our hotel for the night in Fussen.  Everyone agrees, the best day so far…you just wait for tomorrow!

Day 4
Today we rode in 3 countries and on the famous and fabulous Timmelsjoch Pass, made up of 60 spectacular bends.  Having ridden up the short side we stopped at the Mountain Top Motorcycle Experience, had lunch but also visited the museum.  Just breathtaking to see so many unique old and new motorcycles in one place, in immaculate condition.  It’s not long before the older generation were reminiscing about the bikes they had…or wish they’d had!
After lunch we rode the bends…despite being a Friday, it wasn’t too busy, just perfect, dropping us down into the Italian Province of South Tyrol.  A short ride then took us to our hotel for the night, the Panorama Hotel in Penegal.  Stunning views.  This tour just gets better and better, tomorrow we get to see the lakes…

Day 5
A shorter ride today, weather perfect, taking in fabulous roads, breathtaking views, mountains and through old towns and villages as we make our way to the lakes and the furthest east we get to on this tour.  Lunch was on the quayside, as we’re now in the land of gelato, it had to be done.  The last 20 miles or so are along the side of the lake, just stunning.  The ride ended at the wonderful Hotel Adria, where we were met by our host Erminio, and a glass of Prosecco for everyone.
Tomorrow is a free day to do what we want, rides are planned, trips are being organised, I can’t wait.

Day 7
After yesterday’s restful interlude, today we left the hotel Adria in Lake Garda, Italy, and headed over the legendary Stelvio Pass into Switzerland.
An early start as the day was planned for about 6 and half hours riding, added stops, and it was about 10 hours.  Starting off along the shores of the majestic Lake Garda and then winding our way up into the mountains, via the beautiful Lake Iseo to climb the Stelvio Pass in Italy.  Stopping at the top for lunch before descending the Umbrail Pass into Switzerland.  If that wasn’t enough, we then crossed the Flüela Pass, before more sublime roads to our hotel, the Bellevue in Flims. After a busy day, we all met for a cold one and something to eat, any early-ish night calls after all the excitement.  Tomorrow may just be better, even more passes…

Day 8
We left Flims in the rain which was on and off until the first coffee stop, pretty much sunny all day after that.  Today is Switzerland’s national day so the roads were fairly clear…to start with!  Today’s adventure contained 7 passes, the Sustenpasse, Oberalpasse, Obergoms, Neufenen, Grimsel, Tremola/Gotthard and the Furka.  Each one slightly different, but all excellent roads to ride.
After lunch, some took the opportunity to ride the Reichenbachfall Funicular to the waterfalls and see where Sherlock Holmes met his end…so I’m told.
Then it was back onto more passes to end the day at the Astoria Hotel in Ulrichen, lots of chat about the day and smiley faces at evening meal tonight.

Day 9
Today our destination was La Bresse in France.  The day started with the sublime Grimsel Pass: what could be better.  We then rode through the foothills of Switzerland, taking in the amazing scenery, mountains, lakes and cows.  After all the passes of yesterday, it was a nice change to ride the sweeping bends of the low country.
Most of the tour arrived in Langnau for lunch, a great morning had by all.  We rode on to the afternoon coffee stop, finding the most amazing cakes, but we’ve not long had lunch we say, who cares we say…
And then it became very different. Riding up to the Grand Ballon, we were tested to the max with torrential rain, gale force winds and visibility down to near zero.  Certainly a talking point once everyone was safe and sound in the hotel, our Australian friends said they’ve never ridden in conditions like it.  Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Day 10
Time flies when you’re having fun! , the last tour day before we head for the tunnel.  We started the day wishing a member of the tour Happy Birthday, many happy returns Richard.  Leaving La Bresse, we climbed briefly up into the Vosges, but quickly down again, onto nice open sweeping roads heading for Epinal and coffee through the Northern French farming plains, passing acres and acres of sunflowers, which were just spectacular.  Lunch was in the walled town of Dommartin les Toul, with our own special table…they must have known we were coming.  We then made our way to the Verdun War Memorial and cemeteries, a very poignant reminder of sacrifices made and a huge loss of life.
On to the hotel in Libramont Chevigny, for a final gathering and farewell meal courtesy of Magellan.  The group and tour has been great.  As we say our goodbyes, it’s sad to see the tour come to an end, but as with all Magellan Tours, friendships have been made and people will stay in touch to ride together again.  In fact future tours are being booked already.
We go again soon, loads of destinations, have a look at

We’re sure you will have been inspired by this trip report, so why not ask us about upcoming dates so that you can experience it first hand?