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Italian Dolomites self guided motorcycle holiday

Italian Dolomites self-guided motorcycle-tour. No boring scenery, No fast food, No straight roads… No problemo.

Our Italian Dolomites self-guided motorcycle-tour has it all. It has excellent biking roads and mountains of outstanding beauty as well as great hotels with traditional food. After all these years it is still our best-selling holiday.

If we are to use the musical analogy to describe the Italian Dolomites self-guided motorcycle-tour tour, then Swan Lake would be the most appropriate one. With each passing mile, with each mountain pass, with each twist of the throttle, as this journey grows, it becomes more and more beautiful.

This is a region of vast forests and green pastures as well as flowery meadows and rugged mountain peaks. With its spectacular mountain passes, very few would argue that the Dolomites are the most alluring motorcycling destination in Europe.

The fascination with the Dolomites stems from the mixture of dreamlike nature, welcoming hospitality and exhilarating biking roads. While here, you’ll have the opportunity to ride some of the most spectacular mountain passes. These include the famous Sella Ronda as well as Valparola. Also, Giau, Croce and Passo di Costalunga are great rides, too. If you are after ticking the boxes on this fabulous self guided motorcycle holiday, a more extended day ride up the legendary Stelvio pass will not disappoint.

The ‘Drei Zinnen’ or the three chimneys is by far the most iconic and most photographed image in the Dolomites. However, it also appears to be one of the most popular day trips amongst our clients as well. It includes a visit to the glamorous ski resort of Cortina D’Ampezzo and a ride over the breathtaking Falzarego pass. Furthermore, as a sweet reward for your efforts, you can treat yourself to a slice of cake by Lake Misurina.

South Tyrol is also renowned for its superb hospitality, and your host in Corvara takes exceptional pride in it. The town and your hotel are nestled in the tranquil valley surrounded by the panoramic mountain scenery. The hotel is tastefully decorated in typically Alpine style but with all modern amenities as well as luxury rooms. Its own traditional restaurant serves delicious Tyrolean cuisine with typically Italian theatrical flair. Each evening the master chef will treat you with perfectly formed delights straight from mama’s own recipe book.

Besides motorcycling, the Dolomites contain much cultural interest, from the historic town of Bolzano to the Reinhold Messner Mountain Museum and the Marmolada War Museum. However, perhaps the most famous tourist attraction is Otzi, the ‘Ice Man’. The copper age mummy became a top local celebrity and now lies in a museum in Bolzano.

It would be easy but certainly not fair to dedicate the soul stardom of this self guided motorcycle holiday based only on the Dolomites. Your transit journey starts with a gentle ride through the rolling hills of the Champagne region of France. It continues via the Black Forest and an exhilarating ride along the legendary B500. You will announce your arrival to Italy by a roller coaster ride over the magnificent Timmelsjoch Pass. Finally, you’ll return via the glitzy ski resort of Sankt Moritz and the picturesque countryside of Luxembourg.

You might choose to follow our suggested itinerary and visit some or all of the recommended museums and tourist attractions. Or you might opt to focus more on the mountain passes and riding part. Regardless of which way you prefer, this fantastic Italian Dolomites self-guided motorcycle-tour can be equally enjoyed on as well as off the bike. It is a very unique motorcycle touring holiday, and to fully appreciate it, one visit might not be enough!

For more day-to-day information regarding the Italian Dolomites self-guided motorcycle-tour / self guided motorcycle holiday, please spend some time studying the tour itinerary below.

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

For an alternative to the Italian Dolomites self-guided motorcycle-tour, please use this link: Dolomites and Lake Garda self guided motorcycle holiday.

If you require a motorcycle rental for the Italian Dolomites 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 about the Italian Dolomites self-guided motorcycle-tour / self guided motorcycle holiday.

When to go:

May to September

Price

Includes

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

Excludes

Countries:

France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland

Motorcycle rental:

Available

Book now:

Tour highlights

Biker friendly 4**** hotels with leisure facilities and first class hospitality
Passo di Compolongo
Passo di Castalunga
Passo di Sella
Passo di Gardena
Ski resort of Arabba and Madona di Campiglio
Lake Misurina and Cortina d’Ampezzo
Marmolada - the Museum of Great War
Passo Del Tonale and Bernina pass

Day by day tour itinerary

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

This fantastic Italian Dolomites self-guided motorcycle-tour will start as you board a morning EuroTunnel across the Channel to France. From here to Reims, you’ll make your way by using the perfect French motorway system.

A gentle ride through the Champagne Region will take you to your hotel that sits in the middle of an ancient Forêt D’Orient. Today’s journey is not demanding, so you can take it at a leisurely pace and stop as often as you wish. The first few comfort breaks, fuel and coffee stops are usually at the motorway petrol stations. Once when you get on rural roads, keep an eye out for whatever might be open. Both Épernay and Sézanne are convenient places to stop en route.

On our guided tours, we usually stop at Sézanne. It is easy to park and has a charming town square with a café and friendly atmosphere. It also has a cash point right next door, which proved to be handy on quite a few occasions.

"It is against the law in France to name a pig "Napoleon"

Day 2 – Champagne Region to Black Forest (Germany) (Approx. 250 miles)

The next morning, after breakfast, you’ll continue your Italian Dolomites self guided motorcycle holiday towards the Black Forest. As you’ll be passing by the Mémorial Charles De Gaulle, it will be an excellent opportunity to visit.

You’ll be riding the almost traffic-free country roads that wind through the green pastures and forests. Please note that there might not be many options to stop for breaks and refreshments until you cross the German border. On today’s ride, we normally have our midday meal at the first petrol station restaurant when we cross the border. Around midday or early afternoon, you will cross the mighty river Rhine. And the dark green rolling hills of the Black Forest will start to appear in the distance.

Your traditional family-run hotel near Titisee will welcome you with a comfortable room and gourmet evening meal. If you wish, extra days can be arranged to extend your stay in the Black Forest.

"The World's two largest cuckoo clocks are in Schonach and Schonachbach in the Black Forest"

Day 3 – Black Forest to Austrian Tyrol (Approx. 230 miles)

Continuing towards the Austrian Alps, you will ride your first mountain pass of this tour. Having said that, you will have a choice of two passes, but it is possible to include only one in your route.

The Silvretta High Alpine Road is an El Dorado for motorcyclists and is considered one of the most beautiful mountain passes in Tyrol. However, it is a private toll road, and it requires payment. At the restaurant by the lake, you can have your first slice of strudel.

The Arlberg pass is a beautiful alpine road that offers a parade of twisty curves through stunning scenery. It is also free of charge and another good place to have a slice of strudel.

Also, if you wish, first thing after departing the Black Forest, you can make a diversion to visit the magnificent Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen. Here you can have a drink, walk to Laufen Castle or have a quick boat trip. There is also an allocated motorcycle parking area and toilets.

"In Austria, McDonald's serves beer"

Day 4 – Austrian Tyrol to Dolomites (Italy) (Approx. 150 miles)

Your stylish chalet type hotel in the Dolomites is run by the most glamorous grandmother you’ll ever meet. However, before you get there, you’ll have to face the pleasure of riding the famous Timmelsjoch.

The High Alpine Road leads from the Tyrolean Ötztal Valley to St. Leonhard in South Tyrol in Italy. The pass offers great panoramic views on the Austrian side and challenging hairpins on the Italian side. The pass is also home to the highest motorcycle museum in Europe and a fantastic biker café. So needless to say, ‘another slice of strudel, please.’

From here, you’ll continue with your Italian Dolomites self guided motorcycle holiday over one more pass before arriving at your destination. The Jaufen pass (Giovo in Italian) is a typical little Italian number – often narrow, occasionally bumpy, tight and twisty but always enjoyable to ride. And yet another slice of strudel coming up. But of course, this one will taste much, much better because it’s in Italy.

"Italians claim to have taught the rest of the World how to cook. Agree?"

Day 5 – Free day (Approx. 100 miles)

Your hotel is located in a lively ski resort of Corvara in the heart of the Dolomites. There are numerous mountain passes you can ride from here. The most famous and popular ride is the Sella Ronda.

This route consists of four mountain passes back to back. From your hotel, you’ll immediately start with the Campolongo pass, ride through the pretty town of Arabba and up the Pordoi pass. Continuing, you’ll tackle the Sella pass before returning back to your hotel over Gardena pass. On the Pordoi pass, you can take a cable car to the top of the mountain and enjoy the Dolomites’ stunning views. All passes have many cafés and restaurants to stop for coffee or lunch.

If you fancy taking a day off on your Italian Dolomites self-guided motorcycle-tour, you can change our suggested itinerary and swap day rides around to suit you. Corvara is a lovely little town, and there are plenty of other activities you can do. Just pick up a copy of the tourist information leaflet from the hotel reception, and off you go.

"Pretzels were first made in Italy in 610 by an Italian monk who gave them to children who learned their prayers"

Day 6 – Free day (Approx. 100 miles)

Today is your rest day. It will enable you to take it easy and explore the town. However, if you prefer to ride, a good option is to visit Marmolada, the Great War Museum.

The museum is located on the top of the mountain at an altitude of around 3000 meters. It is only accessible by a cable car from the village of Malga Ciapela near Rocca Pietore. This ride will take you to the heart of the rugged Dolomites peaks. The museum offers interactive multimedia and multisensory tour that demonstrates the way the mountain war was fought. It also shows how the soldiers lived in different weather conditions and at high altitude.

It is possible to see the galleries, walkways, trenches, and various posts outside the museum, following a Little Ferrata. However, this part of the trip might much depend on your level of fitness, personal courage and adrenaline level threshold.

"Italians are known to like complaining. They will complain about football referees, religion, politics, any coffee other than espresso, non Italian weather, non Italian food, non Italian wine, non Italian cars, non Italian bikes, non Italian shoes, non Italian fashion, non Italian dating their sister or someone talking quietly"

Day 7 – Free day (Approx. 100 miles)

In the Dolomites, it is nearly impossible to park your bike and just do nothing. There are so many mountain passes here that it is difficult to choose which ones to ride. However, from our own experience, there is one ride that always stands out and appeals to our customers.

Starting from your hotel, you can take the Falzarego Pass to the famous ski resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo. Cortina is one of the most glamorous and glitziest ski resorts in Italy. But it is also a popular biker destination. Continue to Lake Misurina, loop it around the mountains and rejoin the Falzarego Pass again to ride the second half of it.

Lago Misurina is one of our favourite places to stop for lunch. The Locanda Al Lago restaurant always works for us. It has an excellent Italian menu and serves the best ice cream ever.

Before returning to your hotel, you can stop at Arabba for coffee and perhaps another lunch.

"When McDonald's opened in 1986 in Rome, food purists outside the restaurant gave away free spaghetti to remind people of
their culinary heritage"

Day 8 – Dolomites to Sankt Moritz (Approx. 160 miles)

Leaving the Dolomites, you’ll head towards the Swiss Alps. The entire ride today is one giant zigzag line. It will take you around the snow-capped mountain peaks and through the green valleys dotted with ski resorts and traditional villages.

On your way to the Engadin region, your route includes Passo Del Tonale and Bernina pass. The Engadin valley is one of the most beautiful valleys in the Swiss Alps. It is famous for its traditional mountain villages, strikingly mild climate, proximity to many passes, and the gateway to the Swiss National Park. So it makes it a perfect place for your next overnight destination.

The hotel has everything you need – comfortable rooms, an excellent restaurant menu, safe parking, and above all, stunning 360 degrees mountain vistas.

Convenient places to stop en route are the Jolly Bar in Edolo and the top of both Tonale and Bernina pass.

"The country of Liechtenstein is so small that in 2007, Swiss troops accidentally invaded it after getting lost in a rainstorm"

Day 9 – Sankt Moritz to Black Forest (Approx. 200 miles)

Today’s route takes you over one of the most enjoyable passes in Switzerland. Flüela pass is a high mountain road that will take you to the famous ski resort of Davos. When you reach the top of this magnificent pass, you can stop for a hot chocolate and enjoy the stunning views of Lake Davorsee and its surrounding peaks.

As you continue with your journey, the other good places to stop are Alt Sankt Johan and, if you missed it on your outward journey, the Schaffhausen Waterfalls.

In the Black Forest, you’ll be staying in a traditional family-run hotel just outside Titisee. With the lake, just a short ride away and the streets lined with rows of timber-framed houses makes it a perfect place to spend a few hours before your evening meal. At Titisee, try to park your motorcycle at the train station car park. It has allocated motorcycle bays and a changing room with coin-operated lockers and toilets.

"On the border between Germany and Austria, there is a town called Fucking (pronounced Fooking)"

Day 10 – Black Forest to Luxembourg (Approx. 250 miles)

Following hearty frühstück (breakfast), you’ll head across the rural countryside of Germany and France towards Luxembourg. The ride will be a combination of motorways and country roads. But to keep it more interesting it will include a section of the famous B500 as well as many other scenic back roads.

The good places to stop are Lake Mummelsee and the bakery in Scheibenhardt on the French-German border. Lake Mummelsee is the most idyllic place to have a break and a little wander around anyone can wish for. It also has an excellent restaurant and delicatessen shop well stocked with all sorts of yummy local produce.

The bakery in Scheibenhardt serves the best and the most generous portions ever. One portion of the fitness salad would easily feed a small country.

You’ll arrive at your hotel in Vianden just in time to get ready for an evening meal.

"Luxembourgers speak Luxembourgish, carry out business mostly in French and teach German as the first foreign language in schools"

Day 11 – Luxembourg to Folkestone (Approx. 250 miles)

Today is the last day of this fantastic Italian Dolomites self- guided motorcycle-tour. So one last time, have a delicious breakfast and take a leisurely ride through Luxembourg, Belgium and France back to the UK. Your channel-tunnel will be booked for afternoon crossing.

Thank you for RidingWithUs. We hope you had a great self guided motorcycle holiday and we also hope to hear from you again soon.

"Look for chances to take the less-travelled roads. There is no such thing as a wrong turn"

What our customers say

"I would just like to thank you for organising an unforgettable holiday.”

Ben Sinclair

Oregon, USA, 2018