• Duration: 8-11 days • Distance: 1745-2250 miles • Average daily ride: ±5.75hrs

 

Lofty grey peaks, lush green slopes, fragrant woods and crystal-clear mountain lakes... not to mention miles of curving tarmac served by regular, high-quality cafes and comfortable hotels. This is motorcycle touring heaven - these are the Dolomites in Northern Italy and they're easily explored with this tried-and-tested self-guided tour. 

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The basic trip to the Dolomites and back takes eight days. However, the Tour Pack edition comes with three optional daytrips around a base in the mountains, to let you cloverleaf out and see more of the area – expanding the tour to fit with however much time you have. 

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It's worth spending as much time as you can there: this is a place that gets under your skin and into your blood, so you simply can't get enough of them. It has some of the most beautiful biking routes - not in Europe, but in the entire world. And while mountains can throw all kinds of weather up at any time of year, the reality is that summer in the Dolomites is usually sun-drenched and warm, even at the top of the highest passes.

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What’s included on the route? Each day’s route includes recommended places to stop for coffee in the morning and afternoon, with a suggested lunch stop and planned fuel stops (upto 130 miles apart). Tourist attractions along the way are highlighted, so you can pick which to visit. Hotel recommendations are included, too.

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How long is each day’s ride? It's not an Iron Butt Rally but it is a riding holiday, so these are day-long rides: check-out and hit the road by 9-9:30am, to get to the next hotel at 5:30-6pm. That's with stops for coffee and lunch: each day is a full but relaxed ride, suitable for pillions or small groups, as well as experienced tourists looking to discover a new area. Saddle-time rating: six out of 10.

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What are the highlights? Italy's a long way from the UK, so the tour packs in plenty of great riding on the way, through the Black Forest, Bavaria and Austria. The time in the Dolomites includes the famous Sella Ronda route, plus more than 20 other passes. On the sightseeing front there are museums, castles, cable cars... plenty of attractions to make an extended break from the saddle a memorable pleasure.   

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When's the best time to go? Like all mountain tours, you have to wait until the snow melts and the roads open – usually the first week of June. They start to close again by the start of November, but the last weeks of October can be decidedly autumnal… Mid-June to the end of September is good (though August is often busy). For me, September or July are the best months for the trip.  ​

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How is it supplied? Each individual download consists of an interactive eBook of notes plus the GPX file for that ride. The complete tour download and Tour Pack contain individual GPX files for each route plus one interactive eBook covering the full trip. The Tour Pack also comes with printable tankbag notes and a paper map (can't beat a good map!) but these are prepared to order so there may be a slight delay in posting, if I'm on the road when you order the tour.