Italy and Switzerland Self-Guided Motorcycle Tour

Ten nights to the Italian and Swiss lakes, self-guided, with the routes supplied and the pace set by the rider, on their own bike.

Bastogne and Munster come first on the way out, through the Vosges and over the Col de la Schlucht, then Sils Maria in the Engadine by way of the Route des Cretes, the Col du Grand Ballon and the Julier Pass.

Limone sul Garda follows over the Bernina Pass, with the Foscagno, Forcola, Tonale and Ballino passes and Madonna di Campiglio on the same day, which is a serious amount of climbing. A free day at Garda covers boat trips, the Monte Baldo cable car or a three-lake ride by Salo and Lago di Ledro. Lugano comes next over the Duron, Campo and Tonale passes, with a free day for the old town and the Monte Bre cable car, then Montreux over the Simplon, where the Freddie Mercury statue stands on the promenade and Chillon Castle sits on the lake just along from it.

Ten nights of bed and breakfast, five evening meals and the return Eurotunnel crossing are included, along with GPX routes and the itinerary; fuel, parking, admissions and the vignettes are not. Eleven days self-guided means the free days and the pass choices are entirely the rider’s own, which suits anyone who would rather not ride in a group. The high passes are generally open from late May to October, and the Bernina and the Simplon are among the easier of them in poor weather.