Slovenia, Croatia and Dolomites self guided motorcycle holiday

Leaving Luxembourg, the second day of your Slovenia-Croatia-Dolomites self-guided motorcycle-tour follows the scenic routes towards the Rhine wine region. As you’ll be crossing several borders, you might split your day into three breaks. A coffee stop in Germany can be followed by lunch in France and another coffee in Germany.

One of the border crossings involves riding over the dam on the river Rhine. This was the first hydroelectric power station built on the Franco-German post-war coalition. It is a masterful fit of engineering. Therefore if you are fortunate enough to be able to park your bike, it is definitely worth seeing.

The rest of the day, you’ll spend riding pleasant country routes that include a section of the legendary Schwarzwaldhochstraße – B500. It is one of the most iconic biking routes, and as a bonus, you can have a coffee at Lake Mummelsee.

If you wish, extra days can be arranged to extend your stay in the Black Forest.

Departing from the Black Forest you’ll continue with the Slovenia-Croatia-Dolomites self-guided motorcycle-tour. Your route will take you to your first destination of the day in Switzerland. The magnificent river Rhine waterfalls in Schaffhausen is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the region.

From here, the Rhine will guide you to the shores of the lake Konstanz. The scenery will change to Alpine, and you’ll be heading towards some major Austrian ski resorts and several mountain passes. Your route will pass through Warth, Lech and Zürs. And also over the twisty Bregenzwaldstraße and the enjoyable Arlberg pass. The road leading from Zürs towards the Arlberg pass runs through one of the most impressive tunnels/galleries. It is a fantastic feat of road engineering affording the breathtaking vistas of the valley below.

Your base in Tyrol will be a traditional chalet-style hotel surrounded by the green pastures and stunning mountain views. You’ll be welcomed with a comfortable room and a traditional gourmet evening meal.

Today is one of longer days on the Slovenia-Croatia-Dolomites self-guided motorcycle-tour. And the proposed route also includes quite a bit of motorway riding as well. Therefore, it would be good to have an early frühstück (breakfast) and leave for Slovenia.

You’ll head deeper into the Austrian Alps, following the route that will take you via the impressive Großglockner pass. Time and weather permitting, it’s worth taking a slight deviation to see the majestic Pasterze Glacier. You’ll have some of the most breathtaking views of the glacier and the surrounding mountain range from the various viewing platforms. And also the restaurant next door serves the best pancakes ever.

With the Großglockner pass behind, you’ll continue towards the Julian Alps entering Slovenia via a short and bumpy Wurzen pass. The hotel is situated only a short stroll from the majestic lake Bohinj. Your friendly host will welcome you with a cold drink, a comfortable room and a delicious evening meal.

PS – On a personal note, if you were looking for that one special place in your life, Lake Bohinj might be the one.

Today you have many choices regarding what to do, and therefore some “serious” decisions to make.

Option 1 – if you prefer not to ride, you may opt to take a walk along the lake to the spectacular Savica waterfalls. On your way there or back, you can take a cable car to the Vogel ski area. On the other hand, if you fancy only a short ride, then visits nearby Lake Bled and Vintgar Gorge will work well too. In Bled, you can visit the iconic island church and the magnificent clifftop castle. And also don’t forget the world-famous cream cake in one of the lakeside cafés.

Option 2 – if you like a challenge, then head towards Kranjska Gora and “swing it around” the fifty cobbled hairpins of the Vrsić Mountain Pass. Your route also includes the ski resorts of Kranjska Gora, Bovec and Tolmin. Just outside Kranjska Gora, with a slight deviation from your route, you can pop to Planica to see one of the biggest ski-flying hills in the world.

A popular biker place to stop for lunch is the Brunarica Slap restaurant just outside Podbrdo. Here you can have fish and chips in Slovenian style.

Today you’ll wiggle your way out of the Julian Alps. And continue your Slovenia-Croatia-Dolomites self-guided motorcycle-tour towards the Istrian Peninsula in Croatia. En-route you can visit the Postojna Caves. The cave system is more than 15 miles long and the only tourist attraction of this kind in the world that operates a mining train to carry the visitors. Postojna Cave is also the only place in the world where one of the most mysterious and reclusive species of subterranean salamander (Čovječja ribica in Slovenian) can be found.

Only five miles down the road from the caves is another famous tourist attraction worth a visit. Predjama Castle is one of Europe’s most dramatic castles. It is the largest cave castle in the world and has an endless network of secret tunnels leading deep into the mountain behind.

In Porec, you’ll be staying in a comfortable seafront hotel. The town is one of the most beautiful in Istria and has a maze of medieval narrow cobbled streets and alleys. With an array of designer shops, jewellers, cafés, bars and restaurants, you’ll have plenty to keep you entertained.

Today is about the halfway point of your Slovenia-Croatia-Dolomites self-guided motorcycle-tour. An excellent way to make the most of your free day is to take a morning ride and visit the Roman amphitheatre in Pula, Citadel in Rovinj and Hum, the smallest town in Croatia. Arena of Pula is the most famous and important monument in Istria. It dated from the Emperor Vespasian time and was once the site of gladiator fights. It is relatively easy to get to, and there is plenty of parking.

Rovinj is one of the most charming citadel towns in Croatia. The old town is webbed with steep cobbled streets, small squares with a tall church tower rising from the highest point. If you fancy a spot of shopping, you can test your bargaining skills with some of the street artists or souvenir sellers.

Hum is one of the smallest towns in Croatia and has a strong Celtic heritage. It houses only seventeen permanent residents. It also has a tavern serving traditional delicacies and a terrace affording the breathtaking views of the peninsula.

On the other hand, if you prefer to park your bike (there is nothing wrong with that), Porec has everything to keep you entertained for a day. The old town has many excellent restaurants, eateries and shops. The jewellery shops appear to be particularly popular. If you prefer to spend a day on a beach, then the Blue and Green Laguna are good options.

This day is the start of the return leg of your Slovenia-Croatia-Dolomites self-guided motorcycle-tour. You’ll leave Croatia, transit a bit of Slovenia, brush the Gulf of Venice and head towards the Dolomites. On your way, you’ll ride some stunning and occasionally challenging mountain passes.

Passo Staulanza is everything you want from the mountain pass. It has countless bends, many places to stop for a break and all-around breathtaking scenery. You’ll continue your journey over Passo di Sant’ Osvaldo and the famous Passo Falzarego.

Your stylish chalet type hotel in Corvara is run by the most glamorous grandmother you’ll ever meet. She’ll welcome you with a big smile, a dollop of local gossip, a comfortable room and a delicious evening meal.

Corvara is surrounded by the most beautiful mountain landscapes. If you have time or prefer to try something different, you can jump on one of the ski lifts. It will take you to heights of over two thousand meters. From up there, you can gaze over the summits of the Alta Badia Dolomites as far as the Marmolada glacier and the tops of the Austrian Alps.

From your hotel, there are numerous mountain passes you can ride. 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 and ride through the pretty town of Arabba and up the Pordoi pass.

Continuing, you’ll tackle the Sella pass before returning to your hotel over the 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 cafes and restaurants to stop for coffee or lunch.

On our guided tours, we usually stop at Arabba for a drink. It is easy to park, and there are always many other bikers from all over the world. Over the years, we had some great encounters with many interesting characters exchanging our biking stories. For a second stop, pending on where the sun is, we usually choose one of the traditional chalet style cafés on either Gardena or Sella pass.

Leaving the lake behind, you’ll point your bike towards Switzerland. Your ride will include Passo del Tonale and Bernina pass. During the summer, Passo del Tonale is covered by green pastures and flowery meadows. But also it is one of the most popular biking roads in this part of the Alps.

In comparison, the Bernina pass is quite bare, but it is a top-rated biking road as well. It also offers the best views of the magnificent Morteratsch glacier. Good places to stop are Passo del Tonale, Edolo, Aprica and Bernina pass. Winding your way through this spectacular scenery, you’ll arrive at your comfortable chalet-style hotel near Sankt Moritz.

Regarding lunch, we usually stop about midday at whichever restaurant we come across, and it’s open. The Jolly Bar in Edolo is a convenient place for a drink, and it’s easy to park. But these places are not gospel, so feel free to stop wherever and whenever you fancy.

Today you’ll be leaving the beautiful Engadin valley and head to France. Your journey will take you to the Vosges Mountains National Park. The Vosges Mountains and the Alsace region are often overlooked as attractive biking destinations. However, once they arrive there, most people would agree that this is a fantastic riding area.

Your comfortable hotel is located in Munster town centre. It will welcome you with a comfortable room and a gourmet evening meal. The first part of your ride will include the famous Julier pass. It is one of the highest as well as the most beautiful passes in Switzerland. It offers some stunning views of the mountains.

But before you allow yourself to be taken by the scenery, watch out for the cows. They tend quite happily sunbathe in the middle of the road. After the pass, the easiest way to get out of Switzerland is to use the motorways. However, even the motorways around here provide an enjoyable riding experience.

Today you will leave the Vosges Mountains and descend into the French countryside via the twisty Schucht pass. You’ll follow the traffic-free rural roads and wind your way towards the Ardennes Nature Park.

Passing through traditional villages and picturesque landscapes, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy this fantastic ride. Time permitting you might opt to stop in Verdun to visit the Ossuaire De Douaumont Mémorial. The museum is dedicated to 130.000 unnamed soldiers who died during the WW2 battle of Verdun.

Regarding the lunch and refreshment breaks, you can pick and choose wherever and whenever you fancy. You will come across many boulangeries, pâtisseries and charming little provincial cafés serving all sorts of traditional treats. This is an easy ride, so take your time, meander and make the most of it. This is also what makes motorcycle touring more fun.

Your hotel for this evening is a converted medieval fort in Sedan. It has comfortable rooms, a fantastic restaurant and a great atmosphere.

Today is the last day of this fantastic Slovenia-Croatia-Dolomites self-guided motorcycle-tour. To celebrate it, have a delicious French breakfast and take one last leisurely ride through the Ardennes region. Allow some time to stop in Givet for one last drink before joining the motorway to take you 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.