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Self Guided Motorcycle Tour to Italy and Switzerland
Join our self guided motorcycle tour to Italy and Switzerland. Explore some of the most beautiful Alpine Lakes... relax, ride and be merry.
The self guided motorcycle tour to Italy and Switzerland takes you to the three most beautiful European Alpine regions.
This fantastic eleven-day-long journey includes comfortable hotels with safe parking, visits to famous tourist attractions, meandering biking transit routes, exhilarating mountain passes and relaxing days off the bike.
Describing the flawless beauty of the Italian and Swiss lakes can be pretty challenging. Yet, as soon as you arrive, you’ll instantly understand why so many pay annual biking pilgrimage here.
You’ll start immersing in stunning Alpine views, the Mediterranean climate, glorious Italian food and the typical Italian hustle and bustle of the Italian Riviera with Lake Garda.
However, you must get there before you get a chance to experience the ‘la bella vita’. Your transit route will take you via the Belgian Ardennes and Luxembourg, a section of the iconic B500 – Schwarzwaldhochstraße in the Black Forest and the Col de la Schlucht in the Vosges Mountains. You’ll also take a spin along the Julier Pass, Bernina Pass, Passo Forcola, Passo di Foscagno and Passo dell Ballino. And just before you arrive at Limone Sul Garda, you can have a coffee at the glitzy ski resort of Madonna Di Campiglio.
Your free day on the beautiful Lago di Garda comes with a few options. While here, you can explore the town. You can go for a boat day trip and visit several other lakeside towns. A cable car ride will take you to the top of Mount Baldo. In addition, another alternative is to see the world-famous Sirmione’s thermal pools. As well as this, you can also explore some of the many other Roman ruins.
From Lake Garda, you’ll be moving on to the “Monte Carlo of Switzerland”, the beautiful city of Lugano. You’ll also continue indulging in this compelling mix of Mediterranean and Alpine culture, Italian food and wine, but this time with a Swiss accent.
Your passage to Lugano is an easy and enjoyable ride over the Passo Campo, Passo Duron, Passo Del Tonale, a half loop around the shores of Lago di Como and a home straight run along the scenic road that tightly hugs Lago Di Lugano.
The best way to explore this fascinating city is to venture into Lugano’s Old Town centre. Find a table in one of many bars and cafés on the square, relax and enjoy the warm Mediterranean sun, palm and olive trees scent, and perhaps a shot or two of limoncello. And do what everyone around here does: eat, chat and enjoy life.
Simplon Pass, several wiggly little mountain roads and a brief ride along the tranquil shores of Lago Maggiore will bring you to the glistening azure waters of Lake Geneve and the Rock & Roll town of Montreux. Here, “you will, you will rock it” and explore its rich musical heritage and trendy café and bar culture. You can also take a stroll along the promenade lined with numerous statues, including the statue of the Queen legend Freddie Mercury, and visit the renowned Queen Museum and the spectacular Chillon Castle.
You’ll bring this memorable self guided motorcycle tour to Italy and Switzerland to its conclusion with a glass or two of bubbly at Chalons-En-Champagne, the mini capital of the Champagne region. It is a perfect place to say farewell before returning to the UK.
Please study the tour itinerary below for more day-to-day information about the Italian and Swiss-Lakes self-guided-motorcycle-tour.
PLEASE NOTE: On rare occasions, the itinerary might slightly change depending on hotel availability.
For an alternative to the self guided motorcycle tour to Italy and Switzerland, please use this link: Dolomites and Lake Garda self guided motorcycle tour.
If you require a motorcycle rental for the self guided motorcycle tour to Italy and Switzerland, please contact our partner, RoadTrip.
Please visit our Facebook page for up-to-date information regarding our self guided motorcycle tour to Italy and Switzerland.
When to go:
Price
- Rider and pillion £1,795 pp
- Solo rider sharing double room £1,895 pp
- Solo rider single room £2,395
- During August, a high-season supplement is applicable
Includes
- 10 nights b&b accommodation
- 6 evening meals
- Return Eurotunnel crossing
- GPX routes
- Trip check list
- Daily itinerary
- Suggested tourist attractions
- Emergency services numbers
Excludes
- Meals other than those specified
- Admission charges
- Toll charges (vignette)
- Petrol
- Hotel parking
Countries:
Motorcycle rental:
Book now:
- 3*** and 4**** hotels
- B500 - Schwarzwaldhochstraße
- Col de la Schlucht
- Julier Pass
- Bernina Pass
- Passo Forcola
- Lake side town of Limone sul Garda and Riva Del Garda
- Passo di Foscagno and Passo dell Ballino
- Cable car ride to Mount Baldo
- Lugano Old Town
- The statue of the Queen legend Freddie Mercury
- The spectacular Chillon Castle
Tour highlights
- 3*** and 4**** hotels
- B500 - Schwarzwaldhochstraße
- Col de la Schlucht
- Julier Pass
- 3*** and 4**** hotels
- B500 - Schwarzwaldhochstraße
- Col de la Schlucht
- Julier Pass
- Bernina Pass
- Passo Forcola
- Lake side town of Limone sul Garda and Riva Del Garda
- Passo di Foscagno and Passo dell Ballino
- Cable car ride to Mount Baldo
- Lugano Old Town
- The statue of the Queen legend Freddie Mercury
- The spectacular Chillon Castle
- Bernina Pass
- Passo Forcola
- Lake side town of Limone sul Garda and Riva Del Garda
- Passo di Foscagno and Passo dell Ballino
- Cable car ride to Mount Baldo
- Lugano Old Town
- The statue of the Queen legend Freddie Mercury
- The spectacular Chillon Castle
Self Guided Motorcycle Tour to Italy and Switzerland Itinerary
Welcome to the start of Italian and Swiss-Lakes self-guided-motorcycle-tour.
A morning channel tunnel crossing will take you under the water to Calais. From there, you’ll be heading towards Belgium. The first half of the route will be on the motorways, giving you more time to ride the beautiful country roads in the afternoon. A great thing about riding through the Belgian Ardennes is you’ll always have breathtaking views.
The riverside town of Givet is an excellent place to stop for lunch and refreshments and take some nice holiday photos. The town has a lovely square with several cafés and restaurants offering a great selection of traditional specialities.
From Givet, you’ll continue your pleasant ride through the scenic countryside of Belgium towards your hotel.
Today, you continue your Italian and Swiss-Lakes self-guided-motorcycle-tour and travel to the beautiful Vosges Mountains.
In general, it will be a quiet day in the saddle, and it looks like there isn’t much to brag about. However, this is precisely the beauty of touring in Belgium and France. These are some of the very few European countries where you can still experience nearly traffic-free roads and biking solitude.
Your route doesn’t have to include any motorways at all. However, to make quicker progress and avoid some big towns like Toul, you’ll have motorway options available to you if you choose to use them. After the city of Toul, you’ll continue towards the Vosges Mountains, wiggling your way through some of the most eye-pleasing countryside.
Gérardmer is the gateway to the Ballons des Vosges Natural Park, providing a perfect setting to conclude your ride. A sweet and easy climb up the Col de la Schlucht will take you to your destination.
Your comfortable hotel in Munster will welcome you with a cosy room and a delicious evening meal.
On day three of the Italian and Swiss-Lakes self-guided-motorcycle-tour, an early-ish breakfast and departure might work out well to make the most of your ride.
You’ll be heading from one beautiful mountain range to another. Leaving the Vosges Mountains behind, you’ll have two apparent riding options. To avoid big towns like Colmar and Mulhouse, you can descend from the mountains by riding several sections of the famous and twisty local mountain passes: Route des Cretes and Col du Grand Ballon. The passes will take you via a few small ski resorts and traditional villages surrounded by beautiful mountain landscapes, cultivated fields, green pastures and thick forests.
After crossing the Swiss border, hopping on the motorway is the easiest and quickest way to get to Sils Maria. But, providing the weather is good, it is worth riding over the panoramic Julier Pass. The ski resort of Surses has several pizzerias, cafés and restaurants, making it a convenient place to stop, relax and enjoy the stunning chocolate-wrapper Alpine vistas.
Your hotel in Sils will welcome you with stunning views of snow-capped mountains, a comfortable room and a delicious evening meal.
The ride on day four of your Italian and Swiss-Lakes self-guided-motorcycle-tour is short-ish in terms of distance. However, from the riding point of view, it is a big ride with a big heart that never stops giving.
The ride starts with the Bernina pass, Passo di Foscagno and Passo Forcola, and Bormio and Livigno ski resorts. All passes are high mountain passes and come as almost back-to-back ascents and descents in close succession.
The legendary Bernina pass is famous for its car rallies, Glacier Express train and breath-taking alpine vistas. But above all, it is a joy to ride. On the other hand, both Passo di Foscagno and Passo Forcola have tight hairpins, run through several dramatic-looking tunnels/avalanche galleries, and occasionally require increased attention. Also, both passes pass through areas of unparalleled natural beauty, and the stunning scenery alone is enough to make you feel on top of the world.
An enjoyable spin over Paso del Tonale and Passo dell Ballino and an optional coffee break at the famous ski resort of Madonna di Campiglio will conclude your ride.
Today is your day off, and you are free to organise your own agenda. Some popular things to do are various boat trips on the lake. Also, there are endless choices of visits to local tourist attractions. In addition, vineyards, as well as wine-tasting houses, might be more tempting prospects.
The numerous boat excursions are usually the most popular choice. The tours include visits to some of the most beautiful towns, such as Riva del Garda, Malcesine, and Sirmione. A cable car ride will take you to the top of Mount Baldo.
Alternatively, you may opt for a train trip to Verona or Venice. The ‘City of Love’, Verona, is less than forty miles from our hotel. It is a city of myths, spirits and magic. It is also the scene of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
The lagoon city of Venice is a little further down the rail tracks but definitely worth a journey. Venezia is the beautiful city where the Merchant of Venice fought for his wealth. This trip is a unique opportunity to take that ‘always wanted to do’ gondola tour along the maze of narrow city canals.
However, if you fancy a ride, you can go for a spin around three lakes. First, you’ll follow Lake Garda to Salo. Then, next, you’ll traverse to Lago Di Idro. And finally, you’ll head to Lago Di Ledro and return to the hotel.
On day six of the Italian and Swiss-Lakes self-guided-motorcycle-tour, you’ll leave the Mediterranean hustle and bustle of Lake Garda behind and head towards another beautiful lake at the edges of the picture-perfect Swiss Alps.
The suggested route is short-ish but includes travelling through some of the most breathtaking Alpine scenery, stopping as many times as you wish and riding some fantastic biking roads. The entire ride is like travelling through one giant beautiful postcard. It will take you around the snow-capped mountain peaks and through the green valleys dotted with ski resorts and traditional villages.
The short-but-sweet Passo Duron, the trendy ski resort of Madonna di Campiglio and the scenic Passo Campo will provide a thrilling start to your journey. There are many cafés and restaurants along the routes where you can stop for lunch and comfort breaks. The whole experience of the quiet mountain serenity makes it hard not to love motorcycling in the Alps.
On your way to Lugano, your route also includes the legendary Passo Del Tonale. On this section of your route, convenient locations to stop are at the top of Passo Del Tonale and/or Jolly Bar in Edolo.
Your biker-friendly hotel in Lugano will welcome us with a comfortable room and a delicious evening meal.
Today is a good day to park your bike/bikes, relax and enjoy the warm Mediterranean sun. The old town of Lugano is an elegant mixture of Swiss and Italian architecture, with a fantastic scene of cafés, bars, restaurants and food stores.
Parco Ciani is a beautiful lakeside park worth visiting. From the park, you can walk along the Lake’s shores. It’ll take you to the nearby rustic village of Gandria via the Lugano Olive Tree Trail (about three miles from the town centre).
Lake Lugano is a definite highlight of everything to do in Lugano. The Lake is a worthy rival to nearby Lake Como and Lake Maggiore, offering numerous boat trips.
A cable car ride up to Monte Brè is also well worth an effort. The 1000-meter-high mountain top is one of the sunniest spots in Switzerland, affording the spectacular vistas of the surrounding mountains and the city and Lake below.
However, if you fancy a ride, you can go for a self-guided spin over the legendary San Berardino Pass and return via the twisty Splügen Pass. The trip is about 140 miles long and will take most of the day.
You’ll start day eight of your Italian and Swiss-Lakes self-guided-motorcycle-tour by pointing your front wheel towards the iconic Simplon Pass.
Simplon is considered one of the most beautiful mountain passes in the Swiss Alps. On this pass, you will know you’re in Switzerland! It is a perfectly paved road with countless bends and switchbacks. The only distraction will be the fresh mountain fragrance, breathtaking scenery, and distant clanging of cowbells for miles.
Also, the restaurant at the top of the pass is an excellent place to have lunch, relax and take in the breathtaking mountain vistas.
Your hotel in Montreux will welcome you with a comfortable room and breathtaking mountain and lake views.
Your last free day of the Italian and Swiss-Lakes self-guided-motorcycle-tour presents another opportunity to explore another beautiful lakeside town.
The town of Montreux is nestled between forested mountainsides and a crystal-clear Lake Geneva. A walk along the promenade provides one of the real highlights of this trip. It has excellent mountain views, gorgeous floral displays, and numerous sculptures. For rock music fans, there is a wonderfully erected statue of the Queen legend, Freddie Mercury.
Those wishing to continue with the rock tour can also visit the Queen Museum. The Museum is located in the former Mountain Studios in the Casino Barrière de Montreux. The Funky Claude’s Bar is also not that far from the statue. You will find a memorial to Deep Purple and their classic song ♪♫♫♪ Smoke on the Water ♫♪♫♪ here. This legendary item was composed after the famous Montreux Casino burnt to the ground during Frank Zappa’s gig.
To add a historical note to your stay in Montreux, you can visit Chillon Castle. It is a romantic castle on Lake Geneva and one of the most-visited monuments in Switzerland.
If you fancy a ride, you can take a spin over Col des Mosses and return via Col du Pillon. The trip is about 80 miles long.
Today, you’ll be leaving Montreux in Switzerland and heading towards another different in character but equally beautiful destination in the bubbly Champagne Region of France.
Leaving Switzerland behind, you’ll follow rural country roads, main fast routes and some motorways. But most of the route, we’ll be winding through traditional villages, cultivated fields and green forests. The landscapes will gradually become hilly, chalky, and dotted with vineyards.
Your overnight stay will be in one of the most renowned champagne towns in the Champagne region. Your comfortable hotel is located in the city’s centre, surrounded by timber-framed houses and a great selection of cafés, bars and restaurants.
After breakfast, you’ll ride back to the channel tunnel for an afternoon crossing.
We hope this fantastic Italian and Swiss-Lakes self-guided-motorcycle-tour met your expectations and you had a great time with RideWithUs.
Thank you for joining us, and we look forward to hearing from you again soon.
What our customers say
“Totally enjoyed my experience with “RideWithUs” touring this summer, well organised tours with friendly and professional tour guides!”
Paul Callaghan
UK, 2023