Guided
Western Alps
Challenging
Grand Alpine
Bormio to Nice in seven riding days. 1,173 km, 30,671 m of climbing, and the Mediterranean at the end of it.
Day by day.
1
Bormio to Andermatt
Bernina, Albula, Oberalp. A long first day
Overnight
Andermatt
2
Andermatt to Andermatt by the three passes
Furka, Grimsel, Susten, the three-pass loop
Overnight
Andermatt
3
Andermatt to Martigny
Gotthard by the cobbles, Nufenen, down the Rhône
Overnight
Martigny
4
Martigny to Bourg-Saint-Maurice
Grand-Saint-Bernard, Aosta, Petit-Saint-Bernard
Overnight
Bourg-Saint-Maurice
5
Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Briançon
Iseran, Galibier. The roof of the week
Overnight
Briançon
6
Briançon to Barcelonnette
Izoard and Vars, a shorter day on purpose
Overnight
Barcelonnette
7
Barcelonnette to Nice
Bonette, then down to the sea
Overnight
Nice
The ride.
This is the long one. You leave Bormio at 1,225 m and finish on the Promenade des Anglais at 7 m, and on the way you ride Bernina, Furka, Grimsel, Susten, Gotthard by the old cobbles, Iseran, Galibier and Bonette.
The longest day is 239 km. We do not pretend that is short. It is why the group is eight riders, the hotels are good and the van follows with your bags.
We ride the bikes back to Bormio ourselves. You fly home from Nice.
Gotthard by the Tremola
24 hairpins of cobbles, built before cars needed them.
Galibier at 2,642 m
The road the Tour de France made famous.
Bonette to the sea
From 2,799 m to the Mediterranean in one afternoon.
Departures
to
to
to
What the price covers
Included
Bike rental and insurance
Full cover, with the excess shown on each bike
Lead guide and sweep
On comms, first-aid trained
Support van
Your bags, a spare bike, tools and cold drinks
Hotels
Half board, three and four star, picked by us and paid by us
Fuel
Every litre, every day
Pass tolls and ferry fees
Including the ones nobody warns you about
Bike return
We ride it back. You fly home from Nice
Not included
Flights
Into Milan, home from Nice. We book the Bormio transfer
Lunch and drinks
Allow 30 euro a day, Switzerland is Switzerland
Riding gear
Rent a full set for 160 euro
Travel insurance
Required. It must cover motorcycle touring
Before you book
Licence minimum
A
Experience
Three seasons, comfortable at 2,500 m
Group
8
riders at most
Guide ratio
2 guides to 8 riders
Best months
If your plans change
Days before departure against what you get back. Travel insurance covers the rest.
Questions riders ask
How fast is the group?
As fast as the slowest rider enjoys. The lead sets a pace that keeps eight riders together on a pass, and the sweep rides last, so nobody rides alone.
Can I ride without a pillion on a two-up booking?
Yes. A pillion can ride in the van for any day. Tell us at the morning briefing.
What happens if it rains?
We ride. If a pass closes we take the lower road, and if the lightning is close we take the coffee.
Can I bring my own bike?
Yes, on guided tours. Take 15% off the price and keep your own deposit.
Build your price
Which of these will you reach the ground on?
Only the bikes on this tour. Pick one and the price above updates.
Your guide
Tomas Ferrand
Guide, French Alps
Tomas spent eleven years as a mechanic in Briançon before leading tours. Tomas can hear a loose chain from the back of a group, and has.
19
years riding
guided
Col de la Bonette
The highest road of the week, and the Mediterranean smell starts on the way down.
French, English, Spanish
Riders on this tour.
Seven days, 1,173 km, and my bag was in the room every single night. I have ridden the Alps alone for twenty years. I did not know how much of that was logistics.
Marek S.
BMW R 1300 GS
The route numbers were right to the metre, which is a strange thing to be pleased about. Tomas knows where every petrol station is and which ones lie about opening.
Luc D.
Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin
Longest day was 239 km, and they told me so on the booking page. Nobody hid anything, which is why I trusted the rest.
Clara M.
Yamaha Ténéré 700