Frequently Asked Questions

Some of our clients have never toured before and probably have a lot of questions about how our trips are conducted, we have tried to answer as many of these questions below but if you have any specific queries either before or after booking do please get in touch and we will do our very best to answer them!

What happens if I break down on a guided tour?

You would be surprised at how few breakdowns occur on modern motorcycles and although we insist that all riders on European tours have breakdown cover for their motorcycles, as you are riding with a group there are always other people on hand to help out and our tour guides can give any assistance required. On tours further afield we often run a support vehicle and all our rental bikes come with breakdown cover as standard, fear not no matter what the situation we don’t leave people behind on the side of the road!

What documentation do I need to take with me?

In Europe all riders will need their passport, driving licence, bike documents, personal and travel insurance documentation, breakdown cover documents, passport and any crossings tickets. On tours outside Europe the requirements are a little different but we provide a full, tour specific list to all riders in their tour packs before every trip.

What do I do if I have special dietary requirements?

Just let us know in plenty of time and we will make sure all the hotels along the route are made aware.

What meals are included?

This changes from tour to tour but full details of what is included on each can be found on their respective tour pages.

What standard of hotels do we stay at?

We don’t stay in cheap or budget accommodation. We only choose the best hotels for our tours; having personally researched each and every one along our routes we choose family-run boutique hotels where possible whilst many others have a range of facilities including swimming pools etc… While quality, comfort, and friendliness is at the top of our agenda when picking accommodation we also always try and choose places with amenities nearby such as restaurants, bars and ATMs where possible.

Are the bikes secure at the overnight hotel stops?

We always try and book hotels with secure parking on all our tours but would definitely encourage all customers to bring along a heavy duty lock just in case.

What should I pack?

The simple answer is probably less than you think! We provide suggested packing lists with all our tour packs as well and tips and tricks for those flying with their motorcycle gear.

Can I extend my holiday?

Yes, of course, in Europe we can arrange different return dates for your ferry/Eurotunnel crossing to allow you to explore more of the continent or country we are visiting. Alternatively, we can arrange an earlier setoff date so you can join us outside the UK if you so wish. For those tours further afield we can arrange extra hire days and suggest some hideouts near the start and end points of the trip.

Can I pay in installments?

We offer an interest free instalment plan on all bookings, just select the option on the booking form and we’ll be in touch to arrange a payment plan for you.

Do we ride every day on the tours?

No, most of our tours are specifically geared to include a rest day every 3/4 days for people to take their time and relax along the way. On most of these rest days, there are ride outs organised but these are optional, you can always just relax in the quaint towns we go through or kick back in the swimming pools etc… at one of the hotels we stay in.

Do I have to ride as part of the group?

No, you can decide where and when you ride, all the tour packs contain enough information to get to each of our destinations, with suggested routes and GPS data to put into your Sat Nav allowing you to ride at your own pace and explore the beautiful scenery we pass through. On occasion some of our trips to more exotic locations may entail riding in a loose convoy with the support vehicle although this is rare and clearly indicated on the tour page if applicable.

I have never toured abroad before. Do I need some prior experience for these tours?

Definitely not, our tours are geared up to be just as enjoyable for novices as for experienced riders and tourers. Obviously, no two riders are the same but you will have to be comfortable with the mileages involved and being in the saddle for at least six hours a day. We make time for plenty of rest stops, coffee and tea breaks etc… and many of our customers also find that the quieter roads we track down are much easier to ride longer distances on.

What information will I receive?

Before all the tours start you will be sent a full tour package with route details, GPS waypoints, daily sights, petrol locations, hotel addresses and contact numbers etc… We also send out a suggested packing list for both you and your motorcycle, documents you require and legal information as well as driving advice for each of the countries you visit.

Do many people book motorcycle tours as solo riders?

Yes absolutely, we get a variety of singletons, pairs and small groups on all the tours and that is one of the best reasons for going on an organised tour, the camaraderie and chance to meet new, like-minded people. Many friendships become long lasting with customers staying in touch and booking together on future tours.

If I book a shared room, do I have a choice of who I share with?

If you book with a partner, friend or as part of a larger group we will always get you in shared rooms together if there’s an even number. If you have booked a single room and would like to share, we’ll be glad to pair you up with a compatible room mate if someone becomes available. When all’s said and done though we all get along on our tours, as we all have a shared passion for bikes and exploring!

Is the Guide always available?

Yes, your guide will accompany you on the whole trip and will be contactable by phone at all times during the day in case of problems or questions.

Do many of your tours get canceled due to lack of bookings?

Definitely not, we have heard horror stories about tours being canceled at the last minute and know how much planning it takes to get ready for a big trip away, booking time off etc… We never have and never will cancel a trip due to lack of bookings.

Why book a Guided Tour with Magellan Motorcycle Tours?

We have many years’ experience traveling and leading tours in nearly 40 countries all around the globe and pride ourselves on creating exciting, culturally immersive and totally unique riding holidays. We are passionate about our aim to run the most comprehensive tours and have honed our itineraries to offer the best roads and sights at a manageable pace. We don’t just race from place to place ticking of vistas and are obsessive about service and making sure all our customers have the tour of their lives. Our dedicated and experienced tour guide will always be on hand to help and unlike some other companies we only stay in the best accommodation on our tours and don’t insist on everyone eating in big discount groups every night allowing you to explore some of the places we visit and really soak up the sights. It’s not just about the destination, our tours are all about the adventures you have along the way.

Is there a dress code in the evenings?

No, not really, all the places we stay are pretty relaxed, we obviously don’t encourage sleeveless vests and baseball caps so having some smarter clothes with you is always a good idea. A few collared polo shirts and trousers or similar will do just fine for times when you’re not in your leathers!

Do you have many women on the tours?

Yes, we are delighted that more and more women are taking up motorcycling and touring in general and we get quite mixed groups of both riders and pillion passengers. We pride ourselves on not being a “boys on tour” type company and as such we attract people of all ages and sexes and make everyone on our trips feel comfortable and part of the group.

Is there a minimum or maximum age for people on the tour?

The minimum age for riders and pillion passengers is 18 but there is no upper limit, while you’re still riding we’re still happy to have you!

Will my motorcycle be suitable?

All bike types are welcome, ideally it would be 500cc or over and able do at least 125 miles per tank refill so that you can keep up with the mileages involved. Having said that we have had plenty of 300cc bikes away and even a few 125s! It should be mechanically sound and capable of sustaining speed and power all day for the full duration of the tour. As far as luggage goes, you don’t need hard expensive panniers to go touring, soft luggage, throw over panniers and tanks bags are plenty good enough (and much cheaper!).

Do you hire motorcycles?

We have a wide range of motorcycles available to hire in all regions for our Guided and Self Guided tours. Just select the dropdown for the bike you want to rent on the tour booking box and we’ll do the rest.

Depending on location we can also arrange:

Airport transfers or Hotel delivery & pickup
Luggage storage facilities
Clothing, GPS, hard and soft luggage hire

Is our money safe?

Absolutely, there always has and always will be full financial protection on your booking.

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 on our financial protection page here.

How do I book a tour?

Fill in the booking form on the website and we’ll come back to you with details of how to pay your deposit. Once we have this at the office we will send you a booking confirmation email detailing the balance remaining and its due date. After the final payment is received, 4/6 weeks before the tour, we will send out all other relevant documentation giving you plenty of time to get prepped before the big day.

What insurance should I get before the tour?

This depends on the location of the tour and whether or not you are on your own bike. We cover this in detail in the tour packs but essentially all riders on their own bikes must have valid insurance for themselves and their pillion riders, travel and medical insurance to cover repatriation of both them and their motorcycle as well as breakdown cover. For those renting a bike then you would just need travel and medical insurance as all rented bikes come with full insurance as standard.

What do we do on rest days?

On most of our tours, we factor in a number of rest days in nice locations. These days are free for you to do what you wish, there is always at least one if not several different organised ride outs for you to choose from to local attractions or you can relax in the town and take advantage of the hotel’s facilities.

How far do we ride each day?

Mileages will obviously vary a lot from tour to tour, some days with more technical roads will be under 100 miles and sometimes when we have a cruising day we can cover over 250 miles but each and every day is designed to be manageable. We suggest leaving between 9am and 10am and you will generally be at your hotel by 5pm or 6pm. We have regular rest and refuel stops built in and always make time for a nice lunch stop somewhere on route. All our route packs will have detailed information on daily mileages and will be sent out to you before the start of each tour.

What age of riders and types of bikes go on the tours?

We have a wide range of ages on the tours from early 30s to 50s, 60s and beyond! All bikes styles and abilities are catered for as all our tours are on tarmac only. Tourers, sports tourers, cruisers, adventure bikes and sports bikes are all welcome!

How many people are on the tours?

Each tour is different but generally, between 10 and 15 bikes, we don’t like to run tours with larger numbers of bikes as we find smaller groups end up having a better time with more of a connection between all the riders and importantly a lot more fun in the evenings!

What does a Guided tour entail?

Your guide will be with you all along the route, helping you check into hotels, providing evening and/or morning briefings and making sure everyone is ready for each day’s ride. We do it differently to most companies in that we encourage people to ride each day at their own pace. We don’t use the marker or drop of system with the guide at the front and everyone racing to keep up, instead, you all have all the stops (coffee1/lunch/coffee2/hotel) loaded into your satnavs. People naturally split off into little groups of three or four bikes and ride different sections of the days together meeting up at coffee and lunch stops. The guide is usually towards the back of the various groups so is always on hand if required during the day not having ridden off to prop up the hotel bar!

Doing it this way allows people to stop more frequently if they fancy, take photos, explore different roads if they like and generally to enjoy the scenery that we ride through as opposed to racing to the destination each night. We have always found this system works best as it gives the riders the freedom to explore places along the way and stop whenever they wish.

This is my first time touring, will I hold the group up?

Absolutely not! These tours are not a race.  When riding with large groups of people there will always be a mix of abilities and this is one of the beauties of group tours. We structure the tours so you can go at your own pace and enjoy the scenery, none of the days have overly long mileages and it is often the case the group splits into several smaller ones over the days as everyone has a comprehensive route pack including suggested roads, GPS points and guidance from the tour leader.

How much experience do I need for one of these tours?

As stated above all our tours have manageable mileages and allow you plenty of time to experience the joys of the ride not just racing from place to place. They are designed for riders of all abilities and with your own tour pack, you can do each day at your own pace. We have had everyone from just passed their test riders to people who have been on two wheels for forty years and all of them have loved the experience.

Do you run support vehicles on these tours?

We run support vehicles on tours outside of mainland Europe to help in case of breakdowns or incidents but in mainland Europe there is little need as the comprehensive breakdown recovery network is so efficient. Our guides are all well versed in getting people back on the road quickly, no matter the location if the need arises.

What does a Self guided tour entail?

Each rider or couple will be provided with a comprehensive tour pack containing suggested routes, GPS points, coffee stops, lunch stops etc… We arrange all of your routes, hotels, crossings and motorcycle rental if needed and a selection of meals so you just need to fuel up each day and enjoy the ride. Our routes have been honed over many years of touring in the various regions we travel through so you are guaranteed to be on the best roads throughout your holiday.

Why book a Self Guided tour with Magellan Motorcycle Tours?

We have many years’ experience traveling and leading tours in nearly 40 countries all around the globe and pride ourselves on creating exciting, culturally immersive and totally unique riding holidays. We are passionate in our aim to run the most comprehensive tours and have honed our itineraries to offer the best roads and sights at a manageable pace. Unlike some other companies, we only stay in the best accommodation and it’s not just about the destinations, our tours are all about the adventures you have along the way.

What happens if I breakdown on my Self Guided tour?

You would be surprised at how few breakdowns occur on modern motorcycles although we insist that all riders on their own bikes have breakdown cover. If you are on a rented bike then this is provided as standard and either way we are of course always available by phone if you need help at any point along the route.

What documentation do I need to take with me?

This varies tour to tour but we provide a full list of all the required documents in your tour pack 4/6 weeks before you travel.

What do I do if I have special dietary requirements?

Just let us know in plenty of time and we will make sure all the hotels along the route are made aware.

What meals are included?

This changes from tour to tour but full details of what is included on each can be found on their respective tour pages.

Are the bikes secure at the overnight hotel stops?

We always try and book hotels with secure parking on all our tours but would definitely encourage all customers to bring along a heavy duty lock just in case.

What should I pack?

The simple answer is probably less than you think! We provide suggested packing lists with all our tour packs and there is also a comprehensive guide under the prepare for your trip section at the top of the page.

Can I extend my holiday?

Yes, of course, in Europe we can arrange different return dates for your ferry/Eurotunnel crossing to allow you to explore more of the continent or country we are visiting. Alternatively, we can arrange an earlier setoff date so you can join us outside the UK if you so wish. For those tours further afield we can arrange extra hire days and suggest some hideouts near the start and end points of the trip.

Can I pay in instalments?

We offer an interest free instalment plan on all bookings, just select the option on the booking form and we’ll be in touch to arrange a payment plan for you.

I have never toured abroad before; do I need some prior experience for these tours?

Definitely not, our tours are geared up to be just as enjoyable for novices as for experienced riders and tourers. Obviously no two riders are the same but you will have to be comfortable with the mileages involved and being in the saddle for at least six hours a day. We make time for plenty of rest stops, coffee and tea breaks etc… and many of our customers also find that the quieter roads we track down are much easier to ride longer distances on.

What information will I receive?

Before all the tours start you will be sent a full tour package with route details, GPS waypoints, daily sights, petrol locations, hotel addresses and contact numbers etc… We also send out a suggested packing list for both you and your motorcycle, documents you require and legal information as well as driving advice for each of the countries you visit.

Do you hire out motorcycles?

We have a wide range of motorcycles available to hire in all regions for our Guided and Self Guided tours. Just select the dropdown for the bike you want to rent on the tour booking box and we’ll do the rest.

Depending on location we can also arrange:

Airport transfers or Hotel delivery & pickup
Luggage storage facilities
Clothing, GPS, hard and soft luggage hire

Is our money safe?

Absolutely! There always has and always will be full financial protection on your booking.

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 on our financial protection page here.

How do I book a Self Guided tour?

Fill in the booking form on the website and we’ll come back to you with details of how to pay your deposit. Once we have this at the office we will send you a booking confirmation email detailing the balance remaining and its due date. After the final payment is received, 4/6 weeks before the tour, we will send out all other relevant documentation giving you plenty of time to get prepped before the big day.

What insurance should I get before the tour?

This depends on the location of the tour and whether or not you are on your own bike. We cover this in detail in the tour packs but essentially all riders on their own bikes must have valid insurance for themselves and their pillion riders, travel and medical insurance to cover repatriation of both them and their motorcycle as well as breakdown cover. For those renting a bike then you would just need travel and medical insurance as all rented bikes come with full insurance as standard.

How far do we ride each day?

Mileages will obviously vary a lot from tour to tour, some days with more technical roads will be under 100 miles and sometimes when we have a cruising day we can cover over 250 miles but each and every day is designed to be manageable. We suggest leaving between 9am and 10am and you will generally be at your hotel by 5pm or 6pm. We have regular rest and refuel stops built in and always make time for a nice lunchstop somewhere on route. All our route packs will have detailed information on daily mileages and will be sent out to you before the start of each tour.

How much experience do I need for one of these tours?

As stated above all our tours have manageable mileages and allow you plenty of time to experience the joys of the ride not just racing from place to place. They are designed for riders of all abilities and with your own tour pack you can do each day at your own pace. We have had everyone from just passed their test riders to people who have been on two wheels for forty years and all of them have loved the experience.