“Discover the Alps on a different way”
8 Day Alps Adventure Guided Motorcycle Tour in Italy and France
Cesana Torinese, Italy; Jaussiers - Tende, France
Guided Motorcycle Tour Italy and France
Join this motorcycle tour with TwinTrail. You will be covering the Italian / French border through the Alps, from Cesana Torinese to almost the Mediterranean Sea, and back up to Cesana Torinese. In this 6 days of intense riding, you will be doing some of the best paved and unpaved passes (Turini, Bonette, Agnel, Izoard, and Jafferau). The trip is designed for big trail bikes like the BMW GS, KTM Adventure, or Honda Africa Twin.
Key information
- Terrain: mix of paved and unpaved roads
- Bike: personal bike
- Mileage: 1,287 kilometers / 800 miles
- Daily rides: 130 - 264 kilometers / 81 - 165 miles
- Riding gear: not included: helmet, suit, gloves, protection, and hard motorcycle boots
- Meals: all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners
Meet the instructors
Isaac
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Highlights
- Starts and ends in Cesana Torinese, Italy
- Ride the motorcycle through the Italian / French Alps
- Services of one experimented tour leader on the front and another on the back
- Pass through some spectacular paved passes including the mythical Col du Galibier
- Cross the highest paved road in Europe, the La Bonette
- Ride to the base of the tunnel of Parpaillon
- 7 nights' accommodation
Skill level
- Intermediate
6 days with instruction in English
The organizer also speaks: Spanish
Group size: Maximum of 12 participants
Accommodation
You will be accommodated at 3-star hotels in Cesana Torinese, Jaussiers, and Tende.
Program
Day 1 (Saturday, July 13): Arrival in Cesana Torinese
Arrival at Hotel Chaberton in Cesana Torinese. The meeting point for Saturday, July 13 is the Hotel Chaberton in Cesana Torinese, Italy. You will be 6 days by motorcycle through the Alps, so TwinTrail recommends arriving at the hotel using a car with a trailer or a van. Crossing Europe by motorway to reach Cesana Torinese is not a good experience on a motorcycle. If you have the opportunity to use a trailer or a van, you will use your bike only on the place that’s meant to be ridden, on the dirt roads and high mountain passes!
Day 2 (Sunday, July 14): Cesana Torinese - Col du Galibier - Cesana Torinese, 252 kilometers / 157 miles (10% off-road)
Today, you will be riding the circular route leaving and arriving at the same hotel. You will make some simple tracks and cross some spectacular paved passes, including the mythical Col du Galibier, one of the highest in Europe.
Day 3 (Monday, July 15): Cesana Torinese - Jaussiers, 185 kilometers / 115 miles (30% off-road)
You’ll start the descent towards the Maritime Alps on the French side, firstly on a beautiful dirt road with good views and some forest, and then continue on paved roads to the base of the tunnel of Parpaillon, old military pass, and finishing at the hotel in Jaussiers.
Day 4 (Tuesday, July 16): Jaussiers - Tende, 236 kilometers / 147 miles (10% off-road)
Right after breakfast, you will cross the highest paved road in Europe, the La Bonette (above 2,800 meters) to descend a winding dirt road and spend the rest of the day touring nice narrow and high mountain passes, with an interesting end of Col du Turini, a mythical port very close to Nice and part of the old Monte-Carlo Rally. Then, finally, you will arrive at the Tende area where the hotel is waiting for you.
Day 5 (Wednesday, July 17): Tende - Via del Sale - Tende, 130 kilometers / 81 miles (90% off-road)
Today, a very special day awaits you. You are going to cross the mythical Via del Sale, an old transalpine trading road which is converted into a military dirt road at the end of the last century. You can admire some old military forts, taste an abundant meal in a high mountain refuge, and enjoy some marvelous views. You are going to sleep in the same hotel, so today you travel without luggage!
Day 6 (Thursday, July 18): Tende - Cesana Torinese, 264 kilometers / 165 miles (15% off-road)
It is time to go back north towards Cesana Torinese. From Tende, you face the tunnel and go through the Stura Valley, the Maira Valley, Col d’Agnel, Col d’Iizoard, and you arrive at Cesana Torinese through the Montgenèvre. Today is an intense and spectacular day!
Day 7 (Friday, July 19): Cesana Torinese - Colle dell'Assietta - Colle delle Finestre - Monte Jafferau - Colle Sommeiller - Cesana Torinese, 220 kilometers / 137 miles (70% off-road)
This is the ending, but the last day is undoubtedly the best day as you will pass Colle dell’Assieta, Finestre, Jafferau, and the mythical Colle Sommeiller. You will enjoy the highest dirt road in Europe, above 3,000 meters high. Then, you will climb the roof of a military fortification and ride for more than 25 kilometers with several peaks between two valleys, and you will return to the same hotel in Cesana Torinese to get the last dinner all together.
Day 8 (Saturday, July 20): Departure from Cesana Torinese
Last breakfast in the Alps, you pack all the gear and everyone returns home with the vibrant memory of what you have just enjoyed the last 6 days in this European paradise named the Alps. Without a doubt, it has been an adventure that is worth living!
Questions
Do I need experience in off-road?
Yes, some driving experience outside the asphalt is necessary, especially if you ride a big maxi-trail. If you do not have experience, it is necessary that you participate before in a training course and TwinTrail encourages you to make some rides off the asphalt in your comfort zone to get used to driving your bike in the field.
What bike should I take?
The tour, like most activities organized at TwinTrail Experience, is designed for trail or maxi trail bikes. It is not suitable for road bikes or enduro, in the first case because TwinTrail makes many kilometers off the asphalt and the second because TwinTrail also does many kilometers per asphalt. If you do not have a trail or maxi-trail you can rent one.
Do you offer rental bikes?
TwinTrail offers rental bikes. We have BMW F800GS to rent. Contact TwinTrail for more information. Don’t miss this spectacular trip just because you don’t have a bike ready for this!
Alps off-road? That sounds dangerous and/or illegal!
No way! You only circulate through 100% legal, regulated, and open roads to motorized traffic. Even in some, you will have to pay a local toll that gives you access. After years of experience traveling through the Alps, TwinTrail knows the best tracks and the most hidden corners so that you focus exclusively on enjoying the bike, the astonishing landscapes and the peace of mind that everything is controlled, at all times.
Skill level(s) required for this tour: intermediate
Intermediate
- can ride for 3-4 hours
- average riding experience
- little assistance required
- comfortable with extreme curves and leans
- average experience with unsurfaced roads
- steep ascents and descents
Instructors
Isaac Feliu
Isaac has more than 10 years of expertise in guiding motorcycle groups, on and off road. He is a BMW Motorrad Official Off-road Instructor and the founder of TwinTrail Experience.
Location
This motorcycle tour starts and ends in Cesana Torinese, Italy. You will travel to Col du Galibier, Col du Parpaillon, Jaussiers, Col de la Bonette, Col de Turini, Tende, Via del Sale, Stura Valley, Maira Valley, Col Agnel, Col d'Izoard, Montgenèvre, Colle dell'Assietta, Colle delle Finestre, Monte Jafferau, and Colle Sommeiller.
Food
Local and Mediterranean food is served during this tour. Alcoholic drinks are not included.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
What's included
- 6 days of riding
- One tour guide at the front
- One tour guide closing the group
- 7 nights' accommodation
- Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners
- Non-alcoholic drinks
- Medical and cancellation insurance
- Welcome pack
What's not included
- Fuel
- Motorcycle rental (ask if you need one!)
- Tolls
- Alcoholic drinks
- Anything not mentioned on the "What is included?" section
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 40% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 60 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.
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