Why Magellan

Magellan is a specialist and independent motorcycle tour operator setup and run from the UK, established out of a desire to provide something different to those wanting to tour on their motorcycles and enjoy a fantastic motorcycle holiday.

Felix, our founder and lead guide, got the bug whilst touring Mongolia on his motorcycle. On returning to the UK he setup Magellan to create a community where like minded bikers of all abilities could come away knowing that all background arrangements would be taken care of, that a guide would be there on hand 24/7 to support them but where they were also free to do their own thing, ride at their own pace and experience the trip on their own terms.

Magellan’s Guided and Self Guided holidays are known for their camaraderie and relaxed style, we make touring easy, safe and enjoyable and you’ll make friends whilst away that last a lifetime.

Multilingual, first aid trained guides with extensive travel experience on all tours

Our guides come from all walks of life but share one thing in common, a passion for motorcycling and travel. They are experienced advanced riders and first aid trained, many are multilingual and all of them get a real kick out of watching our clients bond and share the wonderful adventures that we organise year on year.

Stay in special places

We research the accommodation along the routes and select only the most interesting and special places to stay. From breathtaking views to local cuisine, with Magellan you get a true feel of the country you’re visiting.
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Upcoming Tours

Leisurely pace of touring with multiple stops and rest days for off bike activities

We very rarely venture onto a motorway and our days are all about 5.5/6 hours in length which means you can take them at a leisurely pace and enjoy the scenery you ride through. We include several rest days on each tour in interesting locations where there are off bike activities offered from walking tours and Segway trips to camels rides and more, although rideouts are also arranged too for those that can’t get enough saddle time!

High quality hotels with character on all tours

We take our hotel choices very seriously and try to choose family run boutique hotels and places with some character where possible, with many having a range of facilities including swimming pools and spas. In more remote locations where choice is a limiting factor then at a minimum it would be a 3 star hotel with ensuite facilities but the vast majority are quite luxurious, some outlandishly so!

Always here to help

We are pleased to offer a variety of flexible payment terms across all our tours to help you spread the cost of your next trip. We also offer the option for most nationalities to pay for their tour in their home currency.

The most comprehensive tour packs in the industry removing the hassle

Our tour packs contain copious notes on each day’s ride as well as maps and pre-programmed GPS routes for SatNavs. These take you from your hotel in the morning to an AM coffee stop, lunch and then a PM coffee stop before ending at that night’s hotel. We also include packing lists, pre trip setup info and lots more in the weeks leading up to each trip.

New rider or experienced rider, we’re open to all ages and abilities

Our customers come from all walks of life and have ranged in age from 25 to 85. We aren’t a “boys on tour” outfit and one of the many great things about a Magellan tour is the number of Ladies that we have come away, both on their own bikes and as pillions. Newer or less confident riders are also supported and encouraged throughout, indeed there is no better way to improve your riding ability and confidence (whether you’re a new rider or a ROSPA/IAM member) than spending 10+ days in the saddle on totally traffic free beautiful roads in the company of other like minded bikers

5 Star rated and industry leading rebooking rate

People who travel with Magellan tend to come back time and time again. Our rebook rate currently stands at around 70%. With many people having done 8 trips or more, one of the big things we have to cope with is coming up with enough new tours and routes each year to satisfy our growing band of regular riders, so that they don’t run out of fresh destinations!!

Relaxed and informal touring style but fully supported the whole way

On our Guided trips we don’t insist that the group rides together, our guides “lead from the back” and so are always there if people have a problem during the day. All riders get the opportunity to split into smaller groups and to explore under their own steam. You are of course welcome to ride with the guide at any point but by providing detailed routes with all stops in Garmin and TomTom formats, both regular and veteran riders can easily go on a tour with new riders and no one ever feels under pressure no matter what pace they like to ride at.

Total financial protection on all bookings

Before parting with your money for a holiday it’s very important to ensure that it will be safe. Here at Magellan we believe our client’s peace of mind comes first and as such we are proud to go over and above in protecting you and your monies while complying in full with the 2018 Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations. Find out more here.

Make friends and become part of a community

Our trips are well known for being great places to make new friends that you’ll not only see year on year on other tours but also meet up with for rideouts in the UK once you get back. Magellan has an active facebook group where past, present and future riders chat about trips, what they’re up to and ask for as well as offer advice on a range of topics.

We’re always happy to share our knowledge, experience and industry contacts

Over the years we have amassed a wealth contacts within the biking industry and our tour packs include a range of discount vouchers for everything from bike gear to training schools and riding experiences. If you’re looking for kit advice chances are one of us has used whatever specific item it is your looking at and we’re always happy to share our thoughts to make your touring life easier. We may even be able to get you a little discount off your next purchase!

Rental bikes available on all tours

We can provide motorcycle hire for clients on all Guided & Self Guided trips. For tours leaving from the UK you can choose from a range of modern Touring, Sports Touring and Adventure bikes as well as Harley Davidsons with collection from the South East of England (near London). For trips departing from other locations in Europe or our tours in different world regions we also offer rental bikes with full insurance. Each tour has a different range of bikes available depending on location, just click the drop down on the relevant tour page for full info on what bikes are on offer.

Magellan are a Global Rescue Safe Travel Partner

Emergencies happen even to the best prepared adventurers, when they do Magellan rely on Global Rescue. They are the support team of choice for many of the world’s leading expedition organisations and government agencies including NASA and National Geographic. Their team of medical and security experts — staffed by doctors, paramedics, consultants, special forces veterans and Air Force rescue specialists – are just a call away to provide 24/7 medical and travel advisory services, field evacuations and security extractions to our riders when needed most.