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Black Forest self guided motorcycle holiday

Black Forest self-guided motorcycle-tour where deep valleys, thick forests, flowery meadows and B500 awaits you.

The Black Forest self-guided motorcycle-tour is one of our most popular holidays. It is a perfect choice for a short break, a first trip abroad, or a season opener. Only one thing is more synonymous with the Black Forest than the Black Forest gateau for a biker. Of course, it is the fantastic biking roads and one road in particular more than any, the iconic B500.

The Black Forest region holds some of the best biking roads in Europe, if not the World. However, the famous Black Forest High Road appears to have more biking honey pot effect than any other. This epic road draws more bikers with a sweet tooth for riding than any other area in Germany. B500 runs from the Roman spa town of Baden-Baden all the way to the Swiss border. Although it is the most popular, there are many other equally exhilarating and equally rewarding roads to ride. Most of the routes run through an idyllic combination of forests, meadows, valleys, and hills. But this tour is attractive to British bikers because it’s relatively close to the UK.

You can easily explore all four corners of this beautiful region from your comfortable hotel. Without any doubt, the scenic highlight of this trip is the marvellous Lake Titisee. The lake’s crystal clear water and waterfront promenade make it high on the priority list on any visitor’s list. Furthermore, it is just the place to treat yourself to a slice or two of Black Forest gateau.

During your stay, you may take a ride to the tranquil mountain lakes Mumelsee and Schluchsee. In the past, Mummelsee was a place of many tales and legends. They featured water nymphs and an underwater king. However, nowadays, the lake is also a top-rated biking destination and a convenient coffee or lunch spot.

Another day trip will take you to Triberg, where you can visit the highest waterfall in the Black Forest. The town is also home to the World’s largest cuckoo clock.

The open-air museum in Gutach is dedicated to the region’s folklore, history, customs, and culture. The museum shows how people lived, worked and socialised throughout history. While you are there, why not pop next door and have an exciting downhill toboggan ride?

And finally, you might wish to add one more country to your tour log. In that case, a visit to Schaffhausen waterfalls is a must. As an extra bonus, you can go on a boat trip. Or you can also take a short walk to the magnificent Laufen Castle. Many viewing platforms offer spectacular views of the waterfall as well as the river Rhine. This ride to Switzerland is undoubtedly highly recommended.

As with most biking journeys, the destination’s primary impressions usually don’t come solely from riding. To a great extent, they also come from what happens alongside riding. Besides biking, food, tradition, culture, and history play a significant part.

The Black Forest is the land of delicious cuisine and fascinating history, as well as welcoming people. Deep valleys, thick woodlands, flowery meadows, and timber farmhouses give the impression of a kids’ bedtime story. During this fantastic journey, you’ll write your own biking story that would match any of the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tales.

For more day-to-day information about the Black Forest self-guided motorcycle- tour / self guided motorcycle holiday, please spend some time studying the below tour itinerary.

PLEASE NOTE: On rare occasions, the itinerary might slightly change depending on hotel availability.

Watch the self guided motorcycle holiday video.

To extend the Black Forest self-guided motorcycle-tour / self guided motorcycle holiday, please use this link: Austrian Tyrol

If you require a motorcycle rental for the Black Forest self-guided motorcycle-tour / self guided motorcycle holiday please get in touch with our partner, RoadTrip.

Please visit our Facebook page for up-to-date information regarding the Black Forest self-guided motorcycle-tour / self guided motorcycle holiday.

When to go:

May to September

Price

Includes

5 nights b&b accommodation
4 evening meals
Return Eurotunnel crossing
GPX routes
Trip check list
Daily itinerary
Suggested tourist attractions
Emergency services numbers

Excludes

Countries:

France, Germany, Luxembourg

Motorcycle rental:

Available

Book now:

Tour highlights

3*** and 4**** hotels with leisure facilities
Traditional gourmet evening meals
Lake Titisee
Lake Mummelsee
Triberg waterfalls
Open air museum
B500
Laufen castle - Switzerland
Schaffhausen waterfalls - Switzerland

Day by day tour itinerary

Day 1 – Folkestone to Champagne Region (France) (Approx. 250 miles)

Today, your Black Forest self-guided motorcycle-tour starts. You’l ride through rolling vineyards, green woodlands, lush green pastures and peaceful villages. Appreciate exquisite gastronomy and world-class wines of the Champagne region. All this sounds fantastic. However, before you get to do any of that, you will need to get there first. The best and the quickest gateway will be to catch an early channel-tunnel crossing (or ferry).

By around midday, you’ll come off the motorway at Reims and pick up some lovely country roads. Both Épernay and Sézanne are convenient places to stop for a break or a short walkabout. Épernay’s majestic Champagne Avenue is considered as the epicentre of Champagne making. It is one kilometre long and has a total of one hundred kilometres of wine cellars. It’s not a bad place to kick off your holiday.

Sézanne is another town conveniently located for a pits stop. It has a nice cobbled town square with a water feature, Norman church and a café. It also has a cash machine which seems to be frequently used by our clients.

By late afternoon you’ll be in your hotel with a glass of bubbly admiring the sunset over the surrounding woodlands.

"Visitors to France - especially from certain Anglo countries - have a bad reputation for making everyone around them listen in to their conversation, whether they like it or not. And… the point is???"

Day 2 – Champagne Region to Black Forest (Germany) (Approx. 240 miles)

This morning, your Black Forest self guided motorcycle holiday continues. One of the best things about riding in France is that even the smallest of the country roads have an excellent tarmac. So it is not a big deal if you miss a turn or don’t have a detailed route planned. You can just set your GPS to avoid motorways and enjoy the ride. There are several waypoints you can use that will keep you pointed in the right direction.

As you set off, you’ll head towards the Charles De Gaulle Memorial, Langres and Vesoul. On our guided tours, we usually have our first stop at the Charles De Gaulle museum in Colombey-Les-Deux-Eglises. The memorial is visible from a great distance due to the staggering 44 metres high Cross of Lorraine.

The restaurants and cafés on the French side might not be consistent with their opening times. Therefore we usually have our lunch at a petrol station restaurant when we cross to Germany. By then, it will be mid-afternoon and just about the right time to take the quickest route to your hotel. It is situated in the heart of the Black Forest and has a great selection of German beer.

"At 80 letters, the longest word ever composed in German is "Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft." It means, the "Association for Subordinate Officials of the Head Office Management of the Danube Steamboat Electrical Services." It makes you wonder how long this word gets after a few beers"

Day 3 – Free day (Approx. 100 miles)

You have two free days to explore this wonderful part of Germany. You will be staying in an area where regardless of the direction you take, you are likely to end up somewhere nice. Today there are several options you might consider.

The open-air museum in Gutach and the next door toboggan ride make a good combination. Please spare some time for a toboggan run next door. More often than not, it was an absolute highlight of the entire tour. B500 is one of the best biking roads in Europe. And setting Lake Mummelsee as one of the GPS waypoints always works.

Visits to the ski resort of Feldberg and Triberg to see the waterfalls, as well as Lake Schluchsee, make a great ride too. And finally, Titisee is just down the road from your hotel. It is sort of German answer to Windermere. It is a great place to take a stroll around and perhaps catch a boat ride on the lake. But make sure you don’t leave before you have a slice or two of the delicious Black Forest gateaux.

If you park your bike on the train station car park, there are designated lockers for bikers. So you can store your helmets and extra bike gear while you are in the town. How good is that?

"Black Forest gateaux contains several layers of chocolate, whipped cream and cherries in between. However, it also contains plenty of cherry liquor. So remember NO CAKE EATING AND RIDING!!!"

Day 4 – Free day (Approx. 150 miles)

If you wish to tick one more box and visit one more country on your Black Forest self guided motorcycle holiday, then take a ride to Switzerland . The River Rhine waterfalls are in Schaffhausen. The town itself is part-in Germany and part-in Switzerland.

The Rhine Falls are Europe’s largest waterfalls and a popular biker destination. You can take a short walk to Laufen Castle and take some stunning photos of the waterfalls from one of many viewing platforms. You can also go on a bumpy boat ride that will take you to the waterfalls’ base.

If you are still feeling adventurous, you can climb a small rocky outcrop right in the middle of the falls. Boats usually operate from April to October, with most boats departing from the bank on the Rhine River’s right-hand side.

The whole trip can be made off the motorways, so you will not have to purchase the Swiss vignette. And also, there are plenty of dedicated motorcycle bays making parking very easy.

IF YOU THINK THAT TWO FREE DAYS IS NOT LONG ENOUGH IN THE BLACK FOREST YOU CAN ALWAYS EXTEND THIS TOUR.

"Smoked bacon, ham and sausages are some of the favourite German delicacies. You can really smell the flavour when you pass through a town with a smokehouse. You smell them here… you smell them there… you smell smoked sausages everywhere"

Day 5 – Black Forest to Luxembourg (Approx. 250 miles)

Today’s ride is truly a nice little special treat. It can be almost perceived as one last slice of the delicious Black Forest gateau.

It is a comfortable, enjoyable journey, but it is still worth departing earlyish. It will allow you extra time to stop more often and explore. You’ll ride some great country roads surrounded by rolling hills, green fields and forests. It is a beautiful relaxing day that will give you plenty of time to take it easy and enjoy your journey towards Luxembourg.

As an added bonus, you can include a section of the famous B500 – Schwazwaldhochstrasse. This will allow you to ride this fantastic road twice on this tour. The lay-bys and rest places offer some of the best vistas of the German as well as French countryside below.

The rest of the journey will be a combination of nice country routes, faster dual carriageways and some motorways.

Your hotel in Vianden will welcome you with a comfortable room and a delicious evening meal. It also has a well-visited bear garden. Time permitting, take a cable car to the castle. It is definitely worth a visit.

"Unlike at home, where lunch is often a fifteen-minute break spent eating a sandwich, in Luxembourg lunch holds great importance and lasts forever"

Day 6 – Luxembourg to Folkestone (Approx. 250 miles)

On your last day of the tour, you’ll travel through rolling hills and green pastures of the Ardennes. Eventually, you’ll join the motorway that will take you to Calais to board your afternoon channel crossing.

Please note due to more favourable fuel cost; it is worth topping up in Luxembourg.

We hope you had a great Black Forest self-guided motorcycle-tour / self guided motorcycle holiday with RideWithUs. And we also hope to see you again soon. Until next time ride safe.

"For a biker to awaken in a different place every day is the ultimate goal in life"

What our customers say

“Great biking holiday once again. We have now been two years in a row and plan to do another one next year. Thank you. Keep up good work.”

Karen, Jess, Brenda & Gemma

UK, 2015, 2016