12 Day Italy + France Western Alps: Langhe, Route des Grandes Alpes - Premium Guided Motorcycle Tour

Overview

Milan - Alba - Courmayeur - Stresa - Bellagio - Milano, Italy; Menton - Guillaumes - Barcelonette - Annecy, France

Highlights

• Starts and ends in Milan
• Ride through the vine-covered hills of the Langhe
• Go up the Ligurian pre-Alps and descend down to the seaside on the French Riviera
• Take the Route des Grandes Alpes over lesser-known passes
• Day tour dedicated to the northern lakes all the way to Lake Lugano, Switzerland
• Explore the Northern Lakes
• 11 nights accommodation
• Italian guide leading the way on his own bike

Itinerary

1. Day 1: Meeting in Milan

   You meet in the afternoon at the hotel in Milan. You go and pick up the rental bikes, if any. Right after you’ll have a briefing to give everyone a few simple rules for a greater safety for all. Finally before dinner you’ll begin to build the group through a typical Italian aperitivo. - Included meals: dinner

2. Day 2: Milan, Italy - Alba, Italy (215 km / 134 miles)

   You set off in the morning with a stretch on the motorway just to leave Milan and the flat Po Valley behind you, before starting the real fun with a fantastic motorcycle tour lulled by the gentle curves amidst the vineyards and UNESCO World Heritage landscapes, wandering through medieval villages such as Barolo, Monforte d'Alba... and their world-famous wineries. - Included meals: breakfast, dinner

3. Day 3: Alba, Italy - Menton, France (215 km / 134 miles)

   You continue through the vine-covered hills of the Langhe before riding up the Ligurian Pre-Alps and descending down to the seaside on the French Riviera, at the base of the Alps, for the night. - Included meals: breakfast, dinner

4. Day 4: Menton, France - Guillaumes, France (200 km / 124 miles)

   Today you begin your Alpine ride along the Route des Grandes Alpes over lesser-known passes until you reach the spectacular hairpin bends of the Col de Tourini and then descend and enter a spectacular canyon with 200-meter-high walls and finally up again the canyon crest. - Included meals: breakfast, dinner

5. Day 5: Guillaumes, France - Barcelonette, France (295 km / 183 miles)

   You start by crossing the Parc du Mercantour and continue climbing up to the highest pass in Europe, then down again to visit a delightful village entirely made of stone, followed by the Cayolle pass and its juicy roads. - Included meals: breakfast, dinner

6. Day 6: Barcelonette, France - Annecy, France (270 km / 168 miles)

   A succession of at least ten spectacular passes, among which the lunar scenery of the Col d'Izoard and the high altitude scenery of the Col du Galibier, will take you inside the Parc du Massif des Bauges to the shores of Lake Annecy and its beautiful medieval city. - Included meals: breakfast, dinner

7. Day 7: Annecy, France

   Rest day on the lake to devote to the wonders of the medieval city of Annecy. - Included meals: breakfast

8. Day 8: Annecy, France - Courmayeur, Italy (200 km / 124 miles)

   You set off again towards Italy over the juicy passes of the Route des Grandes Alpes and finish with the challenging hairpin bends of the small St Bernard pass to get back to Italy in region Piedmont, that lead you to your final destination, one of the most charming ski resorts in the Alps, Courmayeur in the Aosta Valley. - Included meals: breakfast, dinner

9. Day 9: Courmayeur, Italy - Stresa, Italy (250 km / 155 miles)

   Back in Italy, a wonderful day awaits you on the roads of the upper Piedmont region, which between scenic roads and natural reserves will take you to the threshold of a fairytale castle, an impressive fortress and two sacred mounts (Unesco site), before landing on the shores of Lake Orta and finally Lake Maggiore. - Included meals: breakfast, dinner

10. Day 10: Stresa, Italy - Bellagio, Italy (190 km / 118 miles)

    You set off from the shores of Lake Maggiore for a day tour dedicated to the northern lakes that will take you all the way to Switzerland, to Lake Lugano. Climbing on top of the mountains between Lake Lugano and Lake Como will offer you the most fascinating 360-degree views of the area before reaching Lake Como for the night. - Included meals: breakfast, dinner

11. Day 11: Bellagio, Italy - Milano, Italy (190 km / 118 miles)

    After the first part of the morning dedicated to wandering among the famous villas along the lake, you take the road of the legendary San Pellegrino pass, which will lead you to your last stop, the beautiful Unesco site Bergamo and its secrets. Back in your first hotel in Milan after dropping off the rented motorcycles, you worthily conclude your motorcycling holiday together with a lavish farewell dinner. - Included meals: breakfast, dinner

12. Day 12: Farewells in Milan

    You say your goodbyes after breakfast. They are at your disposal to organize for you the extension of your holiday in Italy as you wish. - Included meals: breakfast

Ride Details

Terrain

Tarmac road

Bike

personal or rental bike (Italian Ducati, Aprilia, Guzzi, BMW, Harley Davidson, or Kawasaki)

Daily rides

190 - 270 km / 120 - 170 miles

Riding gear

not included

Meals

1 Typical Italian welcome aperitif the first day, 11 buffet breakfasts, 10 complete dinners

Accommodation

You will spend 11 nights in 4-star hotels. You will stay in a shared double room in charming and classy hotels in central / panoramic locations.

Food

All meals are chosen à la carte by the customer, no fixed menu.

Getting There

The tour starts with gentle curves through the landscapes of the rolling hills of the Langhe, Roero, and Monforte (Unesco world heritage site) and reaches the French Riviera, where the Alps meet the sea. From there, the adventure continues on the legendary Route des Grandes Alpes and in the Mecantour National Park, exploring the Italian-French Alps up to the Mont Blanc. You will ride through the m