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Self Guided Tours

Self-Guided Black Forest and Vosges Tour

A 7-day self-guided motorcycle tour of the Black Forest and Vosges on dates you choose. Hotels, Eurotunnel and GPS routes are all arranged, so you just ride.

B500-Black-Forest-Germany

7-Day Self-Guided Motorcycle Tour of the Black Forest & Vosges

Tour at a Glance

📍 Duration:
7 days / 6 nights

🏍️ Total Distance:
Approx. 1,400 miles (2,250 km) including optional ride-outs

🗺️ Countries:
France, Germany, Belgium

🧭 Tour Style:
Self-guided – ride at your own pace

🏔️ Highlights:
B500 Black Forest, Vosges Mountains, Route des Crêtes, Grand Ballon, Lake Constance, Baden-Baden

🛣️ Iconic Roads:
B500 Schwarzwaldhochstraße, Route des Crêtes, D430/D431 Vosges Mountain Roads

🏛️ Historic Sites:
Verdun WWI Memorial, Circuit de Reims-Gueux, Chimay Circuit

📲 Navigation:
GPS route files emailed and printed daily guide posted before departure

💰 From:
£1,495 per person

📅 Dates:
Your choice – any start date May to September

📞 Support:
Phone and tour WhatsApp group

Choose Your Dates

Why Choose Our Self-Guided Black Forest & Vosges Motorcycle Tour?

This self-guided Black Forest and Vosges motorcycle tour gives you a week of Europe’s best riding without fixed departure dates or a group to keep up with. You pick the week, we plan the route and book every hotel and crossing, and you ride it your way. Over seven days you’ll take on Germany’s legendary B500 Schwarzwaldhochstraße, the hairpins and sweepers of the Vosges Mountains, the Route des Crêtes and the climb to Le Grand Ballon, the highest point in the Vosges at 1,424m.

Everything is paid for in advance, so there are no vouchers to juggle and nothing to sort out on the road. Before you leave, we email GPS files for every day and post you a printed daily guide that matches them, complete with coffee stops, lunch suggestions and the sights worth stopping for. It’s ideal for riders and couples who want the freedom of travelling independently, with the reassurance that a route has been ridden and refined by an experienced tour team.

How Your Self-Guided Tour Works

1

Choose your dates
Pick any start date between May and September and complete the booking form.

2

We book everything
Your Eurotunnel crossing and all six nights of hotels are booked and paid for in advance.

3

Receive your tour pack
GPS files are emailed and your printed daily guide and packing list are posted before departure.

4

Ride with backup
Call us or message your tour WhatsApp group if you need advice while you’re away.

TOUR DATES

Choose Your Own Dates – May to September

Tell us your preferred start date on the booking form and we’ll confirm availability and book your hotels and crossing.

Read reviews from previous riders  |  View our trip reports

Rolling Black Forest hills near Freiburg on a self-guided Black Forest and Vosges motorcycle tour

Your tour starts as you roll off the Eurotunnel at Calais and head south-east towards Reims. Make time for the old Circuit de Reims-Gueux, where the grandstands and pit buildings still line the road that hosted motorcycle racing until the early 1970s, before your first night in Châlons-en-Champagne.

Day two takes you east across the Moselle and through the Lorraine National Park into the northern Vosges, where the hairpins and long sweeping bends begin in earnest. Cross the Rhine into Germany and settle into your hotel near Baden-Baden for two nights. Day three is yours to plan: ride the quieter roads of the Black Forest, head south to Lake Constance, Europe’s third-largest lake, or park the bike and spend the day in Baden-Baden’s thermal spas.

On day four you ride the B500, the Black Forest High Road and a bucket-list road for riders across Europe, with smooth tarmac, flowing curves and wide views across the forest. From there you cross back into France and ride the Route des Crêtes through the southern Vosges to your next two-night stop.

Day five’s suggested ride-out covers the best of the Vosges, including the climb to Le Grand Ballon at 1,424m with views over the Haut-Rhin and Grand Est. Ride as much or as little of it as you like, and finish the day with the views from your hotel.

Mountain lake below Le Hohneck on the Route des Crêtes during a self-guided Vosges motorcycle tour

Heading north on day six, you pick up the Route des Crêtes once more before crossing the Lorraine National Park. Your daily guide includes an afternoon stop at the Douaumont Ossuary at Verdun, one of the most moving WWI memorials in Europe, before an evening on the banks of the Semois River in Belgium.

The final day keeps you off the motorways for most of the ride. Cross the Ardennes, stop at the Chimay Classic Road Circuit, which is still raced today, and ride through the Avesnois Natural Park before the last leg back to Calais and the tunnel home.

Tour Highlights Summary

Three Countries: France, Germany, Belgium
Iconic Roads: B500 Schwarzwaldhochstraße, Route des Crêtes, D430/D431 Vosges mountain roads
Mountain Highlights: Le Grand Ballon (1,424m), Vosges hairpins and sweepers, Black Forest ridgeline
Historic Sites: Circuit de Reims-Gueux, Verdun WWI Ossuary, Chimay Classic Circuit
Optional Extras: Baden-Baden thermal spas, Lake Constance ride-out
Flexibility: Choose your own dates, ride at your own pace, stop wherever you like
Perfect For: Independent riders, couples, small groups of friends, riders short on time

Guided or Self-Guided?

Prefer to ride with a tour leader, enjoy group meals and have someone else handle the navigation? The same route is also available as a guided Black Forest and Vosges motorcycle tour on set dates. Choose self-guided if you’d rather pick your own week and travel independently.

Choose your dates and ride this unforgettable 7-day self-guided Black Forest and Vosges motorcycle tour.

Self-Guided Black Forest & Vosges Motorcycle Tour – Frequently Asked Questions

How does a self-guided motorcycle tour work?

You choose your dates and we do the planning. We book and pay for your Eurotunnel crossing and all six nights of hotels in advance, so there are no vouchers to carry and nothing to arrange on the road. Before you leave, we email your GPS route files for every day, a daily guide that matches them is posted to you, which includes a suggested packing list. Then you ride the route at your own pace, stopping wherever you like.

Can I choose my own dates?

Yes. You can start the tour on any date from May to September. Just add your preferred start date to the booking form and we’ll confirm availability and book your hotels and crossing. Booking early gives the best chance of getting your preferred dates, especially in July and August.

What’s in the tour pack?

Your tour pack is the same one our guided riders receive. It includes GPS files for each day’s route, a daily guide that corresponds to those files with coffee stops, lunch suggestions and sights along the way, and a suggested packing list. It’s sent to you before departure so you have time to load the routes and get familiar with them.

Do I need to be good with a sat nav?

You’ll need to be comfortable loading routes and following them. The GPS files work with Garmin and TomTom devices and with smartphone navigation apps. If you’re new to route files, our sat nav set up guide walks you through the process, and we’re happy to help before you leave. The daily guide also describes each day’s route, so you’re never relying on the screen alone.

What happens if I have a problem while I’m away?

You can call us, and every tour has its own WhatsApp group so you can get advice quickly while you’re on the road. We don’t run a dedicated 24-hour helpline, so you must have your own European breakdown cover and motorcycle travel insurance. This is a requirement of our terms and conditions, and our insurance and breakdown guide explains what to look for.

What’s the difference between this and the guided tour?

The route and hotels are the same, but on the guided Black Forest and Vosges tour you ride with a tour leader on set dates and two evening meals are included. The self-guided tour costs less, lets you pick your own week and gives you complete freedom over when you set off.

Are meals included?

Breakfast is included every morning at all hotels. Lunches and evening meals aren’t included on the self-guided tour, which leaves you free to eat wherever you like. Your daily guide includes lunch suggestions along each day’s route.

Can I ride the tour as a couple or with friends?

Yes. The self-guided format suits couples and small groups of friends particularly well, as you can set your own pace and plans. We offer rider and pillion pricing, and pricing for two riders on separate bikes sharing a room. If you’re planning a larger group, get in touch and we’ll check availability.

Can I do the tour as a solo rider?

Absolutely. You can choose a single room or a twin room option. Riding solo on a self-guided tour means you set the pace entirely, and the WhatsApp group means help and advice are only a message away.

Is this a good first European motorcycle tour?

Yes. France, Germany and Belgium have excellent roads and facilities, daily distances are manageable at around 180 to 230 miles, and the two free days let you take a break or ride as much as you like. You’ll ride iconic roads like the B500 and Route des Crêtes without the complexity of high Alpine passes. If you’d like more support on your first trip abroad, the guided version of this tour may suit you better.

What type of motorcycle do I need?

Any reliable, well-maintained motorcycle is suitable. We generally suggest 500cc or above, although modern adventure scooters such as the Honda ADV350 are also capable. Your bike should be roadworthy, recently serviced and fitted with luggage for a week away. Our bike preparation guide covers tyres, brakes, chain and fluid checks before departure.

Can I use a different crossing?

Yes. If you’d prefer a ferry or a different crossing, tell us in the comments section of the booking form and start the tour from the first night’s hotel. We’ll deduct the Eurotunnel cost from your booking.

More Questions About Self-Guided Touring

  • What’s the weather like? Generally warm from May to September, but the Vosges and Black Forest can bring rain and thunderstorms, so pack waterproofs and layers.
  • Is motorcycle parking included? Yes, hotel parking is included.
  • Do I need to carry hotel vouchers? No. Everything is booked and paid for in advance.
  • Do I have to ride the free-day ride-outs? No. Days 3 and 5 are completely optional.
  • Will there be motorway riding? Very little. The routes avoid motorways for most of the tour.
  • What currency do I need? Euros for France, Germany and Belgium. Cards are widely accepted, but cash is handy for coffee stops.
  • Can I extend the tour? Yes. Contact us to discuss adding extra nights before, during or after the tour.
  • Can pillions join? Yes. Daily distances are comfortable and the scenery is superb from the back seat too.

Have more questions? Contact us – we’re happy to help plan your self-guided Black Forest and Vosges adventure.

Plan Your Trip