Austrian Tyrol and Swiss Alps
Friday 18th July - Sunday 27th July 2008
| Duration |
9 Nights / 10 Days |
| Tour Area |
Vosage Mountains / Austrian Tyrol / Swiss Alps |
| Status |
Escorted Tour (E) |
| Accommodation |
3 & 4 Star Hotels - most with Swimming Pools |
| Mileage |
200 - 300 miles per day |
| Approx Tour mileage |
2000 miles |
| Roads |
Combination of Motorway, A, B and Mountain Roads |
| Skills |
Intermediate - experienced rider with continental experience |
Fantastic scenery and fun in the mountains of Austria and the Swiss Alps
This tour was over-subscribed last year, so - at our customers’ request
- we will be running it again in 2008. However, this year, we
are splitting our time equally between Austria and Switzerland.
This tour will primarily suit experienced riders who have ridden on the
continent before. Having said that, we have tried to keep mileages
to a minimum, and with two three-night stops, you can unpack and do as much
or as little riding as you wish.
Our first base will be at in the beautiful Kauner valley is in the
west of Austria, in what’s known as the Tyrol and Vorarlberg provinces. Both
these provinces are perhaps better known as excellent winter sport centres,
but, come the summer, they are transformed into a biker’s playground,
with so many mountain passes to choose from, you won’t know which to
ride first! Some of the better ones you may have heard of already,
such as the Timmelsjoch (2300m), Silvretta
(2036m), or maybe the one recently
voted by BBC’s “Top Gear” as the best road in Europe, the
Stelvio Pass (Stilflersjoch). At some 2765m, and over 40 hairpin bends,
this is one Pass not to be missed.
After 3 nights in Austria, we head westwards and through the wonderful Passes
of Switzerland to a further three- night stop in the Bernese Oberland. Set
in the heart of Switzerland, this area is perhaps best known for a grand
triple-peaked ridge of Alpine giants - the Eiger, the Mönch and the
Jungfrau. At some 4000m, these peaks dominate the valley below with
its beautiful twin lakes of Thunersee and Brienzersee. For our stay,
we will be some 2000m up the mountainside, in the scenic village of Grindelwald,
which is a great centre from which to ride out, or maybe have a day off,
and take the rack-railway which winds its way up through spectacular mountain
scenery to the snow and ice-bound Jungfraujoch. This windswept col, nestles
at 3454m just below the peak of the Jungfrau, and is the site of the highest
train station in Europe.
Tour Format
Day 1: Friday 18th July (70 miles) Today, you will
make your own way to Dover, where we take a mid afternoon eurotunnel crossing,
before riding a short distance to our first night’s stop in Northern
France.
Day 2: Saturday 19th July (290 miles) Refreshed, we continue our
journey across France, following the Mosel river to our next overnight stop
in the Lorraine region. Our hotel tonight is in a lakeland setting
amongst the Vosage Mountains.
Day 3: Sunday 20th July (273 miles) Our journey continues along the
Route des Cretes, before dropping to the flat fertile plains of the Rhein
Valley. After crossing the Rhein, we ride eastwards through the southern
Black Forest and into Switzerland (Vignette required). Passing through the
principality of Liechenstein, we enter the Vorarlberg region of Austria
and arrive at our hotel which will be your base for the next 3 nights.
Days 4 & 5: Monday 21st - Tuesday 22nd July You have two free
days to explore this wonderful part of the world. We will be staying
in an area where Switzerland, Italy and Austria all come together, and the
mountain passes and lakeside roads offer some tremendous riding and stunning
views. If you fancy a day off, this is probably the best biker hotel
in Europe, offering some great leisure facilities including an indoor swimming
pool. The bikes are not forgotten either, with dedicated maintenance
and garaging areas.
Should the weather not be kind, the city of Innsbruck is not far away,
where there are numerous historic buildings to visit, or, alternatively,
the famous Swarovski Crystal World. You may, instead, prefer a gentle
ride through the immaculate Austrian pastures to Fussen in Bavaria. Here
you will see the Schloss Neushwanstein, an archetypal fairy-tale castle
that has provided inspiration for countless storybooks, and a Disneyland
castle.
Day 6: Wednesday 23rd July (230 mile) Time
to leave Austria behind, but the holiday is far from over, as we head westwards
for a marvellous day’s ride over some of the finest Swiss Passes to
the beautiful mountain village of Grindelwald.
Days 7 & 8: Thursday 24th - Friday 25th July (free days) There
are lots to see and do around this popular mountain village - our hotel
is conveniently situated next to the railway station, so - should you fancy
a day off from riding - there is the option to take one of the many trains,
relax, and enjoy some of the dramatic, and certainly most memorable,
mountain scenery in the whole of Switzerland. If you are keen to
ride, there's the odd Swiss Pass or two to enjoy too.
Day 9: Saturday 26th July (203 miles) Today, we must leave the mountains
behind, as we make our way back to an overnight stop in mid-France.
Day 10: Sunday 27th July (309 miles) Being a Sunday, the roads will
be quiet as we travel back across France in time for a late afternoon channel
crossing.
Accommodation
Our accommodation for this tour will be a combination of 3 & 4 star
hotels. After a quick overnight stop, our second night will be spent
at a three star hotel alongside a lake in a small village in the beautiful
Vosges Mountains. The hotel has all of the usual facilities, including
an fantastic indoor swimming pool.
On arrival in Austria, we will stay at a 4 star hotel which is one of a
group of Austrian hotels dedicated to looking after Motorcyclists (of which,
this is probably the best). Set in the valley, below the snow-capped
Kauntertal glacier, its idyllic position offers not only luxury accommodation,
but a great centre from which to tour. The hotel has a large ‘Wellness
Centre’ consisting of sauna, steam room, gym and small indoor swimming
pool. During our stay there, all evening meals are included, as well
as afternoon coffee and cake, and a Buffet Breakfast. Feeling pampered?
Well your bike is not forgotten; the hotel has a special bike garage, powerwash
and fully-equipped workshop.
Your hotel in Switzerland is of 3 star qualities, in the popular tourist
village of Grindelwald. The hotel’s central position means it
is not only close to the village's many shops and restaurants, but a perfect
jumping-off point for visiting the numerous scenic view points. Being
close to the rail station, it is also ideal for either going down to Interlaken,
or catching the fantastic rack-railway up the Jungfraujoch.
| Tour prices are inclusive of the following |
| * return eurotunnel crossing |
| * 9 nights’ en-suite accommodation |
| * 9 buffet Breakfasts |
| * 7 evening Meals |
| * full use of hotel's leisure facilities |
| * maps and route notes as appropriate (Garmin
routes available) |
| * Services of experienced Tour Guides |
Not included
Vignettes for Switzerland/Austria (£19 / £3) |
| Tour Cost |
|
| Two persons, one bike, shared room |
£699 each |
| One person, one bike, shared room |
£755 each |
| One person, one bike, single room |
£855 |
| Deposit £95 |
|
Insurance
On all European tours (including Southern Ireland) we require clients to take
out some form of Personal Travel and Accident/Breakdown cover. This is
essential for repatriation of yourself and your motorcycle in the event of an
accident or medical emergency. We can offer cover through Gold Cover Insurance
Services Ltd, a company that have specialised in travel insurance for many years
and are used by many Motorcycle Tour Operators.
It is not a condition of your tour that you use our insurance; we only
offer this as a service to our clients.
GOLD COVER INSURANCE
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