3a: European Motorcycle Tour - France / Italy 1st - 9th September
About the Tour
Our 9 day tour starts with riding through the Somme and Champagne regions of France and on to our first hotel situated in the Bourgogne region. We continue to ride further south taking in the Cluse des Hopitaux and part of the Rhone valley on route to the Vercors Regional National Park where we will stay for the next 3 nights.
The hotel we have chosen here has both an indoor heated pool and an outdoor pool with terrace should you wish to relax and absorb the Rhone-Alpes mountain air.
Motorcycling in the Vercors region gives you an opportunity to explore some fantastic roads through the National Park such as the Col de Rousset and Col de la Machine. You can be on the N85, Route Napoleon, within an hour and one of our planned ride out routes whilst staying in this location will take in the N85 to Gap as part of a circular route via the Col de Cabre and the southern reaches of the Vercors.
If you prefer a shorter day on your motorbike you can ride through the Gorges de la Bourne to Pont en Royans and visit the Musee de l'Eau (Water museum) and also see the "Hanging Houses" which appear to be suspended over the River Bourne. Also well worth a visit and within an hour's ride from the hotel, is the Memorial de la Resistance which is set at the top of the Col de Lachau.
On Day 5 we leave the Vercors heading east for Italy via Chamonix and into the Aoste Valley which will be our base for the next two nights. Our hotel location here provides access to both the Grand and Petit Cols du St Bernard, not to mention the Col d'Iseran and Lac Cernis. Whilst our hotel does not have a pool on site, there is an option to take advantage of the thermal baths in Pre-Saint-Didier where you can relax and regenerate yourself with hydro massages and relax in the warm waters at the foot of Mont Blanc.
We head west out of Italy via the Col du Petit St Bernard and take in the stunning scenery of Lake Annecy before climbing into the Jura Mountains for an overnight stay in a chalet style hotel. From this hotel we head north through the Jura region towards the scenic town of Arbois, the birthplace of Louis Pasteur. We use our "Dijon detour route" to good advantage to take us towards the northern boundary of the Bourgogne region for our last night in France. On Day 9 we return to the UK via the Champagne and Somme regions. Our scheduled return crossing on Eurotunnel is mid afternoon Sunday.
Pricing
Price per Person in Double or Twin room (1 bike) : £695
Price per Person Sharing Twin room (2 bikes): £745
Price per Person in Single room : £895
Deposit per person £50
Please note that the deposit is non refundable
What is included in the price
- 8 nights B&B and 7 evening meals
- Route plans
- Tour principals - accompanied ride outs (optional)
- Eurotunnel crossing Folkestone / Calais and return
What is not included in the price
- Fuel
- Meals and Drinks (other than detailed above)
- Tolls
- Entrance to Visitors centres, museums etc.
- Travel Insurance / Breakdown cover
- Secure motorcycle parking charges where applicable (4 hotels have garage parking with a small charge at 2 of these)
Summary of planned destinations (Please note - Road and route variations may occur during the tour)
- Auxerre
- Vercors Regional National Park
- Aoste Valley
- Jura Mountains
- Tonnerre