Austrian Tyrol and Swiss Alps
Friday 16th July - Sunday 25th July 2010
| 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 (longest day 314 miles) |
| 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
I am a great believer in the adage of "if it's not broken, don't fix
it", and for me, this tour works so well that we intend to run it again
in its present form for 2010.
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 in the beautiful Kauner valley 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 sports 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 its 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 16th July (90 miles) Today, you will
make your own way to Dover, where we take an early afternoon channel
crossing, before riding a short distance to our first night’s stop
in Northern France.
Day 2: Saturday 17th 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 18th 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.
Passing through the principality of Liechenstein, we enter the Vorarlberg
region of Austria and arrive at our hotel which will be our base for the
next 3 nights.
Days 4 & 5: Monday 19th - Tuesday 20th July We
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 a tremendous
choice of routes to ride, all offering 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 fairytale castle
that has provided inspiration for countless storybooks, and a Disneyland
castle.
Day 6: Wednesday 21st July (230 miles) Time
to leave Austria behind, but the holiday is far from over, as we head westwards
for a marvellous day’s ride over the Furkha and Grimsel passes
- some of Switzerland's finest - before arriving at our next base in the
beautiful mountain village of Grindelwald.
Days
7 & 8: Thursday
22rd - Friday 23rd July (free days) There
are lots to see and do around this popular mountain village - our hotel
is conveniently situated close to the railway station - so, should
you fancy a day off from riding, there is the option to relax, take
one of the many trains, and enjoy some of the dramatic, and
certainly most memorable, mountain scenery in the whole of Switzerland. Nearby
cable cars will whisk you to the mountain tops, where you can enjoy
exceptional panoramic views and sip cocktails in the revolving Piz
Gloria summit restaurant, featured in the James Bond film On Her Majesty’s
Secret Service.
If you prefer to keep your feet on the ground and are keen to ride,
there's the odd Swiss Pass or two to enjoy as well!
Day 9: Saturday 24th July (314 miles) Today, we
must leave the mountains behind, as we make our way back to an overnight
stop in mid-France.
Day 10: Sunday 25th July (248 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
a 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 quality, 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 location for visiting the numerous scenic
view points. Your
stay at the hotel includes use of the nearby leisure facilities. 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 channel crossing |
| * 9 Nights’ en-suite accommodation |
| * 9 Buffet Breakfasts |
| * 7 Evening Meals |
| * Full use of hotels' leisure facilities |
| * Maps and route notes as appropriate (Garmin
routes available) |
| * Services of experienced Tour Guides |
Not included
Tolls (Vignettes) for Switzerland/Austria (approx £27 / £4) |
| Tour Cost |
|
| Two persons, one bike, shared room |
£895 each |
| One person, one bike, shared room |
£955 each |
| One person, one bike, single room |
£998 |
| 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 recommend Gold Cover
Insurance Services Ltd, a company that have specialised in travel insurance for
many years and is used by many Motorcycle Tour Operators.
GOLD COVER INSURANCE
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