Alps & Dolomites Grand Tour
July 2025 | 14 Days | Six Countries
Our July 2025 Alps & Dolomites Grand Tour delivered an epic 14-day adventure through six European countries and some of the world’s most legendary motorcycle passes. From the dramatic limestone towers of the Dolomites to the cobbled hairpins of Tremola San Gottardo, from the iconic 48 switchbacks of Passo Stelvio to the famous Andermatt loop linking Switzerland’s greatest passes, this tour showcased Alpine motorcycling at its absolute finest. Despite some challenging weather early on, incredible roads, stunning mountain scenery, and a fantastic group made this tour truly unforgettable!
Day 1: Folkestone to France – A Soggy Start
A rather soggy start to our first day! Fortunately, the rain stopped while we waited to board our train at Folkestone, but unfortunately had started again by the time we reached Calais. Pressing on to our lunch stop with the weather not improving, spirits remained undampened as we continued onto the back roads. The rain finally stopped by mid-afternoon.
A quick photo stop at Reims Circuit—a special moment for motorsport fans—then on to our hotel in Châlons, with the rain starting again as we unloaded our gear. Despite the weather, everyone enjoyed the ride across France on almost empty roads. Fingers crossed for an improvement in the weather tomorrow!
Day 2: Across France to the B500 – Rain Mode Engaged
Our weather requests were not met! Obviously more sacrifices to the weather gods were required. Off across France we headed with wet gear on, smiles behind visors (yes, this is true!), and those with fancy bikes selecting rain mode. At our first coffee stop, there were signs of brighter skies—rain gear and modes kept on just in case.
As we traversed across France with grey skies above us, the rain actually stayed away! We crossed the Rhine at the end of our day before arriving at our hotel right on the legendary B500. Following a great meal and a few beers, we all retired to do our own sun dance for the next day’s travels to Austria. Did it work? 🤔
Day 3: The B500 to Austria – The Sun Dance Worked!
It worked! We had a dry start to the day, if somewhat foggy as we climbed the B500. Still a great road even if visibility wasn’t the best. Coffee stop done, and off across Bavaria we went, with rain staying away for most of the day—well, until we hit Munich, where our “no rain” credits obviously ran out as the heavens opened!
By the time we reached Austria it had dried up again, so we stopped for ice cream—can you believe it?! Then on to our hotel for the next two nights. What would be in store for us tomorrow?
Day 4: Saalbach Rest Day – Grossglockner Closed!
With the Grossglockner closed due to snow and freezing temperatures, that ride-out option was off the list for today. However, all was not lost! Over a leisurely breakfast, the vote was still to go out on the bikes. Your intrepid guide put together a new route, and we all set off mid-morning for an impromptu ride-out.
As we left Saalbach, the weather started to clear and we had dry weather for our alternative route. A few new twisty roads were found, and a great bakery for our lunch stop. With the riding itch scratched for the day, we headed back to the hotel with time to relax before dinner. A great evening was shared with Chris, Tim, Alan, and Dean, who were on one of our self-guided tours—schedules meant they were in the same hotel as us for a couple of nights. They headed off to Switzerland while we headed to the Dolomites the next day. Despite the damp conditions, everyone was smiling and having a great time!
Day 5: To the Dolomites – The Sun Has His Hat On!
Off to the Dolomites we went! With the Grossglockner still closed to motorcycles, we took an alternative route via the Felbertauern tunnel. The sun was slowly putting his hat on as we made our way toward Italy, and by the time we reached lunch, he also had his sunglasses on!
Into the Dolomites and the never-ending twisty roads after lunch. With clear skies and 22 degrees, we had a great end to our day’s ride. Day off or rest day tomorrow? We already knew what the choice would be!
Day 6: Dolomites Rest Day – A Biker’s Paradise!
Well, we already knew what the choice would be today! With the fabulous roads on offer in the Dolomites, of course everyone went for the ride-out. Fueled up and ready to go, we headed off on our looping route, heading away from the madding crowds onto some lesser-used, quieter passes to start our day, stopping for photos and sustenance as we went.
The scenery in the Dolomites is absolutely breathtaking, and the roads are a biker’s paradise. We lost count of how many passes we rode today, but it must have been at least 10! Finishing our day with coffee at the top of Passo Pordoi, we headed back to our hotel with the twisty road itch most definitely scratched. We leave the Dolomites behind tomorrow as we continue our tour, traveling on to Lake Garda for another two-night stopover.
Day 7: Dolomites to Lake Garda – Vineyards and Gelato
Leaving the Dolomites behind, we continued our journey across Italy toward our day’s destination of Lake Garda. We still had a few passes to ride before we started our gradual descent from the mountains. As our altitude dropped further, we traveled along fabulous sweeping roads through vineyards and past small villages perched on the hillside.
We took lunch by the lake with, of course, the obligatory gelato to finish our meal! Continuing on, we headed into the hills to our final coffee stop, which has breathtaking views down onto the lake. Final run to our unique boutique hotel where we’d stay for the next two nights. Ride out or rest day tomorrow?
Day 8: Lake Garda Rest Day – Monte Baldo and 2000m Views
Everyone selected the ride-out option for our 8th day on tour, so fueled up and ready to go for our next adventure! Starting with a ferry ride to get us to the opposite side of the lake, we rode up and around Monte Baldo. Cooler weather as we climbed up the twisty pass took us to our first coffee stop.
Onward to a viewpoint with stunning views down to the lake, which is around 2,000 meters below us. Lunch with yet more spectacular views was followed by a lovely ride back along the shoreline before taking the ferry back across. Off to Bormio tomorrow and the infamous Passo Stelvio to be conquered the following day!
Day 9: Lake Garda to Bormio – Tunnel Convoy!
We were greeted with glorious weather as we departed Lake Garda, riding along the lakeside before we turned off and headed into the hills. The views across the lake as we climbed higher were absolutely stunning—this really is a beautiful place to ride a bike. Coffee by Lake Idro and a mountaintop lunch stop. Today’s ride had it all, with stunning scenery thrown in.
We continued our journey to Bormio, arriving in good time despite the long tunnels leading into Bormio being temporarily closed to allow fuel lorries to pass through due to a landslide on the route they’d normally use. Quite a cool end to the day as there must have been around 100 bikes traveling through the tunnels together in convoy once they were opened to traffic again!
Day 10: Stelvio Pass to Switzerland – Five Passes in One Day!
Off to Switzerland we went, with our first challenge of the day being Passo Stelvio. With an earlier start to miss the traffic, we headed up our first pass of the day. Photos halfway up, followed by a stop at the top for a bit of souvenir shopping, then we continued down the famous zigzags you see in all the photos of Stelvio.
Our next pass, a wonderful sweeping road, took us across into Switzerland and our first coffee stop, which has stunning views back across toward the Italian Alps and excellent hot chocolate. Continuing on, our next pass was the Flüela, where we stopped at the top for excellent goulash soup—yum! Onward again, and our next challenge was the Oberalp Pass with a stop for coffee and cake, before we took on our last pass of the day, Furka. With a nod to 007 at James Bond Strasse and the Belvedere Hotel from the Goldfinger movie, we completed our day. An excellent day’s ride, with more to come tomorrow with the whole Andermatt loop on the menu. Don’t think anyone will be having a rest day!
Day 11: The Andermatt Loop – Six Passes of Pure Alpine Glory!
A day riding your motorbike around some of the Alps’ most iconic passes is hard to beat. Our ride started with a misty run up the Nufenen, with the weather clearing as we dropped down the other side. Our next challenge was the cobbles of Tremola, which was completed in excellent style by all. Onward for cake and coffee at the top.
Susten Pass (excellent goulash soup for lunch), Grimsel, Furka, St Gotthard, and Nufenen—all completed! What a day’s ride we had, returning to our hotel with smiles all round and chat of which was the best pass. We head away from the Alps tomorrow, but still plenty of great roads to be ridden.
Day 12: Leaving the Alps – The Rusty Biker and Colmar
We headed away from the amazing Swiss Alps today, but not before a last run up the Grimsel Pass and the obligatory photo next to the rusty biker. As we climbed, the mist became thicker and thicker, turning to heavy rain at the summit. So a very quick photo stop, then off down the other side with the mist clearing as we dropped down to Meiringen.
As we progressed north through the Swiss countryside, the landscape became softer with rolling hills rather than the dramatic peaks of recent days. Our route took us around Basel and across into France on more quiet back roads. Another great day’s riding ended with a lovely meal in the center of Colmar.
Day 13: Through the Vosges – Slugs in Blankets!
Our penultimate day on tour started with a ride across the Vosges in perfect riding conditions and on smooth sweeping tarmac. Our route took us back to the vast open farmland and deserted roads of the Lorraine National Park that we’d crossed two weeks previously at the beginning of our tour.
Continuing on after lunch, we visited the Douaumont Ossuary Memorial near Verdun—a sobering reminder of WWI history—then on to our last night’s stop on this trip in the lovely town of Bouillon. Evening meal by the river where snails were on the menu for some of the group, or “slugs in blankets” as Mike liked to call them! Last day tomorrow as we head back to Calais and our Eurotunnel crossing.
Day 14: Final Day – Bouillon to Calais and Home
Our final day’s riding on what had been an absolutely epic 14-day journey through the Alps and Dolomites. From challenging weather at the start to glorious sunshine through Italy and Switzerland, from the dramatic Dolomite towers to the legendary Swiss passes, from Stelvio’s 48 hairpins to the Andermatt loop’s six-pass extravaganza—this tour delivered everything we could have hoped for and more.
A smooth ride through Belgium and northern France brought us back to Calais for our Eurotunnel crossing home. What an incredible group of riders who tackled every challenge with smiles, shared every spectacular view with enthusiasm, and made this Alps & Dolomites Grand Tour truly grand. Until the next adventure!
Interested in joining us on a future Alps & Dolomites Grand Tour? Get in touch or view our upcoming guided tours.