Global Motorcycle Tours

TOUR INFORMATION

Way back in 2015, when we first ran our French Alps and Corsica tour, we relied heavily on the autoroute system to quickly transport ourselves down to the twisty and challenging passes of the Alps. In recent years, however, more riders have requested that we add an extra day at the start of the tour, breaking up the miles to make the journey more relaxed and enjoyable. However, if you prefer a higher daily mileage in order to keep the tour as short as possible this can still be organised.

Although we have reduced the mileages for the outbound leg of this tour, it still features some challenging rural and mountain roads. Consequently, this tour is best suited for riders who are accustomed to these conditions and fully understand and accept what to expect.

This tour utilises the Eurotunnel crossing but alternative crossings such as Hull to Rotterdam can be organised if required but an additional deposit will be required.

TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1: 180 Miles

Your tour starts as you catch the early morning Eurotunnel crossing to France. Leaving the terminal behind, you use a mixture of rural roads and autoroutes to make your way south toward Reims. Located in the heart of the Champagne region, Reims is famous for its striking Gothic cathedral, rich royal heritage, and world-renowned sparkling wines, providing a fantastic place to settle in for your first evening.

Day 2: 260 Miles

Leaving the vineyards of Champagne behind, your route takes you through the quiet, forested roads of the Parc National de Forêts—a great stretch of riding through one of inland France's hidden gems. Continuing south, you make your way to Mâcon, a historic city on the banks of the Saône. Located close to the city centre, your four-star hotel features a panoramic rooftop bar, a swimming pool, and comfortable rooms to unwind after a solid day on the road.

Day 3: 280 Miles

Although today is a relatively high mileage day, a good portion is covered on the French motorway system, allowing you to swiftly cover the distance to the more interesting rural roads of the Parc National des Écrins and onward to the legendary Route Napoléon. Featuring wide, sweeping sections alongside challenging gorges, this famous stretch of tarmac has been voted by many as one of the best motorcycling roads in the world. The end of this fantastic day sees you arrive at your hotel, which is located in the Verdon Regional Natural Park and directly on the Route Napoléon.

Day 4: Ride-out 130/170 Miles

Today you can choose to relax and discover the surrounding area, take to the rapids for an adventurous rafting session down the gorges, or take the suggested ride-out into the French Alps. Alternatively, you may tackle the challenge of climbing the many steps that lead up to Notre-Dame du Roc, which towers 200 metres over Place Marcel-Sauvaire and offers excellent views of the surrounding countryside.

Day 5: 155 Miles

You now head for the overnight ferry to Corsica via the Verdon Gorge. The gorge is a spectacular canyon with walls that rise 2,300 feet from the Verdon River below. Your journey continues as you cross the Sainte-Baume Regional Natural Park to the port town of Toulon, where you catch the overnight ferry to Corsica.

Day 6: 95 Miles

Leaving the port of Bastia behind, you head north on the open, sweeping roads of the eastern side of the Cap Corse peninsula. A completely different riding experience awaits as you cross to the western side of the peninsula: the gentle slopes of the eastern shore are replaced by towering cliffs, switchback curves, and breathtaking views over the Mediterranean Sea.

Day 7:

Today provides a well-earned rest day to relax and explore Calvi at your own pace. You can choose to unwind by the beach, wander through the narrow streets of the historic citadel overlooking the bay, or enjoy a quiet lunch at one of the lively cafes along the marina.

Day 8: 150 Miles

Today you are back on the bike as you explore Corsica's central mountain range. You first ride through the Gorges de Spelunca, followed quickly by the Scala di Santa Regina, whose granite walls are a formidable sight as they plunge to the river far below. This area is dominated by Monte Cinto, which at 2,706 metres is the highest mountain on the island. You continue on deserted mountain roads and cross the Col de la Serra towards the Col de Sorba, which are as challenging as they are picturesque. Eventually you head west, descending from the mountains towards the coast and the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, Ajaccio. Located a few miles south of Ajaccio and just 100 metres from the beautiful Agosta Beach, your modern four-star hotel offers breathtaking sea views.

Day 9 & 10 Ride-Out 75 Miles

For the next two days, you are free to choose your own itinerary. You can relax by the pool, visit the nearby town of Ajaccio, or follow the suggested ride-out included in your tour pack.

Day 11: 185 Miles

Suitably rested, you experience superb views as you cross Corsica via the Col de Verde mountain pass. Once on the eastern side of the island, you have the choice of completing your stay on Corsica with a spectacular ride across the Corse regional natural park or taking the much easier coast road back to Bastia and the overnight ferry back to mainland France.

Day 12: 210 Miles

Following your arrival in Toulon and a short autoroute section, you first cross the Luberon Regional Natural Park before continuing north to climb the hairpins of Mont Ventoux. Not only is this strange, treeless mountain a legendary challenge from the Tour de France, but it also provides panoramic views across the Rhône valley, the Cévennes, and all the way to the Mediterranean Sea and the Alps. Your day ends riding through the Ardèche Gorges, whose impressive limestone cliffs wind back and forth to present spectacular views of the canyon below.

Day 13: 190 Miles

Today sees you enter the Cévennes National Park towards another of nature's wonders, the Gorges du Tarn. The gorge itself drops around 1,600 feet from the limestone plateaus above to the riverbed. To complete the day, you continue under and over the famous Millau Viaduct. This British-designed structure attracts thousands of tourists a year, and quite rightfully so: its central pillar is higher than the Eiffel Tower, making it one of the most breathtaking bridges ever built.

Day 14: 290 Miles

You now continue to the Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Natural Park, which contains four chains of extinct volcanoes that have shaped the landscape and resulted in some excellent biking roads. The historic city of Orléans on the Loire is your final destination, and your hotel is situated directly on the banks of the river. The old town is only a short walk away, where you will find plenty of bars and restaurants. If you want to take in a few sights, the fabulous Sainte-Croix Cathedral is well worth a visit, rivalling some of France's finest Gothic architecture.

Day 15: 265 Miles

Following breakfast, you take mainly rural roads through France before eventually joining the motorway system to Calais and your return Eurotunnel crossing to Folkestone.

INSURANCE
If you have not already secured adequate travel insurance, we strongly recommend doing so as soon as possible.

Travel insurance is vital not only for your time on tour, but also to protect you beforehand against unforeseen circumstances such as personal or family illness, or tour cancellation.

MOTORCYCLE HIRE

We do not hire bikes directly but if you wish to take any of our self guided tours and require motorcycle hire click HERE for detail of companies we recommend.

Just wanted to say thank you very much for a brilliant trip. I am well aware of the amount of hours of planning and organisation that each trip must take you to do. Thank you for your diligence and hard work. The roads were amazing. 

Malcolm & Linda - Corsica 2016

Just a quick note to say thanks for putting together a brilliant tour - really enjoyed it. Fantastic variety of roads and landscapes, it really did cover a brilliant cross section of what Europe has to offer - absolutely great.

Geoff- Slovenia - Croatia 2024