Global Motorcycle Tours

TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1: 264 miles

Your tour starts as you cross the English Channel via the Euro Tunnel and make your way to the capital of the Loire Valley, Orleans. Your hotel sits directly on the banks of the River and is only a short walk to the town centre. There are plenty of bars and restaurants to keep you occupied and of course if you want to take in a few sights there is the Sainte Croix cathedral and the Joan of Arc statue overlooking the Martroi plaza.

Day 2: 290 miles
Your onward journey now continues through the Auvergne region which is the largest regional nature park in France. This Volcanic area contains no less than four chains of extinct volcanoes. This region is regularly used for the Tour de France and today you will ride a major section of the route as your journey continues to the hotel.

Day 3: 170 miles
Continuing south you get your first glimpse of the Pyrenees but not before you cross the Gorges Du Tarn via the famous Millau Bridge. This British designed bridge towers over the gorge and attracts thousands of visitors a year. It is the tallest vehicular bridge in the world with the supports rising over a thousand feet from the valley floor. Continuing on through the Haut Languedoc national park you ride the same mountain passes used by many top bike manufacturers for testing their latest machines. Your destination today is Carcassonne which is one of the most impressive fortress towns in the world. Built on an outcrop of rock on the east bank of the Aude this historic walled city was completely restored in the 19th century and now stands proudly as the once impregnable stronghold of the Middle Ages. The hotel is just a short distance from the main gates so you are free to explore the castle and town with its many bars and restaurants.

Day 4: 205 miles
Today you pass through the Principality of Andorra and enter the Catalan Pyrenees. This spectacular National Park is a wild and untouched region and contains some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in all of Europe. The Pyrenees are some 300 miles long and form one of the world’s great mountain chains, stretching from the Mediterranean in the south to the Atlantic in the north. Your four star hotel is surrounded by the magnificent landscapes of the Pyrenees and will be your base for the next two nights.

Day 5: (supplied ride-outs 135 -180)
From this base high in the mountains your carefully planned ride-out will enable you to experience not just the Spanish Pyrenees but venture over the incredible Col de Aspin, Peyresourde and Tourmalet in the French Pyrenees.

Day 6: 210 miles
Today as you continue your journey through the Ordesa National Park you arrive on the plains of Navarro and the landscape changes dramatically. The towering mountains now give way to valley roads with sweeping bends and open vistas. Famous for the yearly ‘Running of the Bulls’ your destination is the historic city of Pamplona. Set in park gardens your final hotel is located close to the historic centre and is ideal for exploring the many narrow streets and Taps bars of this vibrant city.

Day 7: 240 miles
Your onward journey continues as you now move to another Regional National Park, the Picos de Europa. The ‘Peaks of Europe’ are a range of mountains approximately 20 miles inland from the northern coast of Spain and form part of the Cantabrian Mountains. The most widely accepted origin for the name is that they were the first sight of Europe for ships arriving from the Americas. With soaring jagged peaks and deep glacial gorges the scenery and riding is fantastic. Your hotel is situated in the heart of the Liébana valley. With fabulous food and an outdoor swimming pool this is a perfect place to unwind and relax.

Day 8: (supplied ride-out 140 miles)
Your supplied ride-out today guides you around the famous ‘Pot’s and Pan’s’ route which surrounds the Picos du Europa National Park. With incredible scenery and almost traffic free roads  the Picos de Europa will reward you with a truly exceptional riding experience.

Day 9: 80 miles
Your final day in Spain sees you leave the Picos via the spectular Hermida Gorge and head for the overnight ferry across the Bay of Biscay back to the UK.

With detailed route maps and GPS coordinates guiding you every step of the way this could just be the self guided tour you have been looking for. The riding in the mountains can as always be challenging but if you are an experienced rider or a competent first timer this tour would be suitable.

INSURANCE
It is recommended that all clients take out appropriate Personal Travel, Accident and Breakdown cover. This is essential for repatriation of yourself and your motorcycle in the event of an accident or medical emergency.