Boutique motorcycle tour · 9 days · max. 5 riders per guide
Route des Grandes Alpes
From Lake Geneva
to the Mediterranean
Nine days of guided motorcycle touring on the Route des Grandes Alpes, from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean and back over the passes, with time for curves, culture and cuisine.
Duration
9 days plus the evening before
Group
max. 5 riders per guide
Meals
Full board
Distance
approx. 1,600 km from Évian
Difficulty
Challenging
CHF 4,990 per rider
CHF 7,490 with a pillion
Scenes from the tour
12 photos · Click to enlarge
Since 1937, a road has run from Lake Geneva over the Alps to the Mediterranean.
The Route des Grandes Alpes starts at kilometre zero in Thonon-les-Bains and ends at the kilometre zero plaque in Menton. In between lie 16 to 21 passes, depending on how you count, among them the Iseran, Galibier and Izoard. It grew out of old military roads and was finished with the road over the Iseran.
For nine days the view keeps changing: hairpins above the tree line in the morning, glaciers and old fortresses along the way, and on the fourth day the Mediterranean. Paulina’s stories carry history with us like a thread over some of the highest passes in the Alps.
After a rest day by the sea we take a different way back: along the Route Napoléon to Castellane, through the Verdon Gorge, via Susa and Aosta and finally over the Great St Bernard into Switzerland. We chose the hotels for every stage ourselves. You ride; we take care of the rest, from fuel to admission tickets.
Who this tour is for
- Couples, with a pillion or on two bikes, who want to share this journey
- Solo travellers who don’t want to share a room, but don’t want to ride alone either
- Anyone who has had the Route des Grandes Alpes on their list for years and doesn’t want to plan it themselves
- Experienced riders who enjoy nine days in the saddle
The route
France → Italy → Switzerland
approx. 1,600
km in total
3
countries
9
days
100 %
tarmac
Day by day
Click a day for details
On Friday evening you make your way to Lake Geneva at your own pace. We meet at the hotel near Évian-les-Bains and get to know each other over dinner, so that we all set off well rested on Saturday morning. Dinner and the night are included.
Overnight: The journey begins somewhere you’d happily stay longer: a manor house from 1911 above Lake Geneva, set in the middle of a golf course. The rooms are furnished in country-house style, elegant and quiet. We have dinner in the resort’s restaurant, which cooks with produce from Savoy. On Saturday morning we ride off right from the front door.
On Saturday morning we ride out from the hotel together, first to kilometre zero in Thonon-les-Bains, where the Route des Grandes Alpes begins. Then Dominik leads us into the mountains. On the Col des Aravis stands the little chapel of Sainte-Anne, with Mont Blanc across the valley. Later the land opens out and goes quiet. On the Cormet de Roselend you ride across a high plateau where hardly anyone else is on the road. By evening in Bourg-Saint-Maurice you have four passes behind you, and this is only the beginning.
Overnight: After the first riding day we roll into our hotel’s garage in the middle of Bourg-Saint-Maurice, right at the foot of the Iseran. Inside it is so quiet you’d hardly believe you’re in the centre of town. Over dinner we sit together and go back over the first four passes.
Today we go right to the top. Beyond Val d’Isère the road climbs hairpin by hairpin to the Col de l’Iseran, the highest road pass in the Alps. Up there the air is cool, and you know you’ve achieved something. A photo at the pass sign is part of it, of course. On the other side lies Bonneval-sur-Arc, a mountain village of slate roofs, officially listed among the most beautiful villages in France. In the Maurienne we stop at the Redoute Marie-Thérèse. The Kingdom of Sardinia built five fortresses here to keep France out, and not one was ever attacked. Up on the wall, Paulina tells us why. In the afternoon we cross the Galibier, and at the Lautaret the glaciers of the Meije lie before you.
Overnight: Tonight you sleep where most people only come by day: behind Vauban’s fortress walls, in the heart of Briançon’s old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our small boutique hotel on the Grande Rue is, to us, the loveliest in town. In the evening we stroll through the lanes to dinner. By then the day visitors have gone, and the fortress is ours.
Beyond Briançon we climb to the Col d’Izoard, and the higher we go, the quieter it gets. At the top stands an obelisk to the mountain troops who built this road at the end of the 19th century. On the south side we ride through the Casse Déserte, nothing but scree and rock pinnacles as far as the eye can see. On the Col de la Cayolle the road winds through a gorge and larch forests, a place where you happily take your time. In the evening we reach Beuil, and tomorrow we’ll be by the sea.
Overnight: In Beuil we’re welcomed by a host family who make you feel at home straight away. As soon as the bikes are put away, we’re out on the terrace with an aperitif, looking far out over the green hills. Later we have dinner at the hotel, and the mountain village falls completely quiet.
Today we head for the sea, but only after some truly lovely bends. The Col de Turini is usually Monte Carlo Rally territory. We take the hairpins at a gentler pace, with Dominik setting a rhythm everyone enjoys. And then, after the last pass, the Mediterranean suddenly lies before us. In Menton we stop at the kilometre zero plaque, where the Route des Grandes Alpes ends. We leave the big coastal cities aside and finish along the Corniche d’Or, beside the red rocks of the Estérel, all the way to our hotel by the sea.
Overnight: Deliberately not in Nice or Cannes: for two nights we stay right on the beach near Saint-Raphaël, central yet quiet. After four days in the mountains, a few steps out of the hotel and you’re standing by the sea.
After four days and around 800 kilometres over the Alps, the bike can stay put today. Go for a swim, have a coffee by the harbour or head over to Cannes or Nice. Or simply lie on the beach and enjoy a rest day by the sea. Whatever you feel like. Tomorrow we take a different route back into the mountains.
Overnight: Second night in the same hotel. No packing, no alarm.
Today we head back into the mountains, on the very road Napoleon took north in 1815 after returning from Elba. Via Grasse, the town of perfume, we follow the Route Napoléon to Castellane, where the Verdon Gorge begins. The road runs high along the rim of the gorge. Up to 700 metres below flows the Verdon, its water so green you keep looking down. Our destination today is Digne-les-Bains.
Overnight: In Digne-les-Bains we stay at a hotel with a pool and garden, a few steps from the thermal baths of this old spa town. After the Verdon Gorge, it’s just the place to unwind.
Today we cross into Italy for a few hours. After the Montgenèvre everything changes a little: the language, the villages, the coffee. In Susa stands an arch that King Cottius had built for Emperor Augustus more than 2,000 years ago. Why a king would rather be Rome’s friend than its enemy, you’ll hear right in front of the arch. In the afternoon we climb to the Mont Cenis, where a large lake lies at the top of the pass. From there we return to France and ride down to Val-Cenis.
Overnight: In Termignon a couple runs our mountain hotel. After the long riding day the sauna is waiting, and later we eat by the fire. From the balcony you look out into the Vanoise National Park.
Today the circle slowly closes. You already know the Iseran; this time we ride it from the south, and the hairpins feel familiar. Then it’s into Italy one last time, for a break in Aosta, where the facade of a Roman theatre stands in the middle of town. And then comes the last great pass of the tour, the Great St Bernard. Up at the hospice we’re back in Switzerland, and Paulina tells us how Napoleon crossed the pass here.
Overnight: Most people ride over the pass and keep going. We stay up top and sleep in the renovated inn right next to the hospice, which has taken in travellers since the 11th century. Once the last cars have gone, the pass falls silent. Over a Valais dinner we all sit together one last time. With a bit of luck, the St Bernard dogs are still up there too.
The last morning on the pass is cool and still, and at breakfast you realise the journey is nearly over. One last descent, down into the Rhône Valley and over the Col des Mosses into the Gruyère region, where the pastures are green and the houses are built of wood. In Gruyères, below the old castle, we get off our bikes together for the last time. Nine days ago we met at Lake Geneva; after a last lunch together, we say goodbye like old friends.
End of the tour: on Sunday after lunch in Gruyères. Nine days, three countries, around 1,600 kilometres. Fuel, hotels and food are included in the price, and there’s no bill to settle afterwards. From Gruyères, everyone rides home under their own steam.
A riding day with us
Times are approximate. Each day follows the stage, the weather and the group.
Morning
Breakfast at the hotel.
9.00 am
At the bikes. Luggage on, a short briefing on the stage. We ride off at 9.15 am.
around 10.30 am
Coffee stop. Somewhere worth it: a viewpoint, a village, the top of a pass, a sight.
around noon
Lunch. Regional food, included. Time to talk, not just to eat.
Afternoon
The second half, at the same rhythm. Bends and, depending on the stage, a stop somewhere with a story. We tell you what lies behind it. Photos wherever the view is worth it. Just before the hotel we fill up together, fuel included, so we can head straight off in the morning.
around 5.00 pm
Arrival at the hotel. Park the bike, shower, time to yourself until dinner.
7.00 pm
Dinner, everyone at one table. We talk about the day and about tomorrow. Food and water are included; other drinks are on you.
The first and last days are different: we start at the meeting point and finish at the end point. You’ll find both in the questions below.
Is it right for your riding?
Not sure? Tell us briefly how long and how much you ride, when you last rode, your longest day in the saddle and what makes you unsure. We’ll give you an honest view of whether the tour suits you.
Relaxed
Beginners
Easy
Some experience
Moderate
Regular riders
Challenging
Experienced riders
Very challenging
Very experienced riders
Relaxed
For beginners, returning riders and those who like to take it easy. Pulling away, shifting, braking and riding normal bends safely is enough. Wide roads with good visibility, hardly any hairpins, a calm rhythm.
Easy
For riders with some routine. Riding bends cleanly and feeling relaxed in a group. More bends and the first hairpins, stress-free overall.
Moderate
For regular riders. Confident cornering including hairpins, good vision and braking control. Winding, with climbs and some narrower sections.
Challenging
For experienced riders. Taking hairpins uphill and downhill precisely, with smooth throttle and brake control. Many tight hairpins, narrower roads, long riding days.
Very challenging
For very experienced riders looking for a challenge. Technically confident even on tight, steep sections and in changing conditions. A very high density of hairpins, demanding days, little time to recover.
What to bring
Motorcycle and documents
- A motorcycle fit for touring, with servicing up to date
- Tyres with enough tread for the whole tour
- Swiss motorway vignette, if you arrive via the Swiss motorway
- ID card or passport
- Valid driving licence. A learner’s licence is not valid in France.
- Vehicle registration document
- Vehicle insurance with a valid Green Card
- Motor third-party liability insurance covering every country we ride through (France, Italy, Switzerland), plus accident or health insurance with cover abroad, and breakdown and repatriation cover abroad.
- CH sticker on the motorcycle. It is compulsory in France and Italy; in France the coat of arms on the number plate is not enough.
Gear
- Full protective gear is compulsory with us: helmet, motorcycle jacket, motorcycle trousers, gloves, sturdy motorcycle boots
- Waterproofs and a warm layer for the tops of the passes
- Required in France for rider and pillion: reflective stickers on the helmet, CE-marked gloves and a hi-vis vest. Carry the hi-vis vest in Italy too.
- In France, headphones and in-ear buds are banned. An intercom is only allowed with speakers built into the helmet. In Italy, headphones in both ears are banned.
- First-aid kit (to DIN 13167)
Not sure your gear is up to it? Message us beforehand.
What’s included
Included
- A single room for every rider, no single supplement. With a pillion it becomes a double room.
- Full board: breakfast and dinner every day, lunch on riding days
- Coffee stops on the way and water with meals
- Fuel for the whole tour
- 9 nights in hand-picked hotels: a manor house from 1911 on Lake Geneva, a boutique hotel inside the fortress of Briançon, two nights by the sea and the last night beside the hospice on the Great St Bernard
- Local specialities planned along the way
- Two tour guides, MWZ/SAM certified
- Route planned by us
- Admission to the planned sights
- Tolls, pass and road charges
Not included
- Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks
- Lunch on the rest day
- Travel to Évian and home from Gruyères
- Anything you order beyond the planned meals
- Wear and tear and insurance for your motorcycle
- Personal travel and breakdown insurance
- Personal extras
Full board, including water with meals. The planned meals and coffee stops are paid for. Soft drinks, wine and beer, and anything else you order, go on your own bill.
For pillions
The view from the back
You see more from the back. We stop where it’s worth it: at viewpoints, for coffee, in places with a story we tell you. Culture and cuisine are half your tour. You share the double room, join every meal included in the tour price, and we know you by name, just like the riders.
What the tour costs with a pillion is shown in the price box.
On this tour
You ride the whole route with us, from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean and back over the Great St Bernard. On the rest day on the Côte d’Azur the bike stays put. Nine days with lots of passes are demanding at the back too, so talk it over together beforehand to make sure it suits you both. In France the same rules apply to you as to the rider: reflective stickers on the helmet, CE-marked gloves and a hi-vis vest.
Full protective gear is compulsory at the back too: helmet, motorcycle jacket, motorcycle trousers, gloves and sturdy motorcycle boots. Under 18, you ride with your parents’ consent. Children face a minimum age that varies by country.
What you’re paying for
Six points that make the difference
Comparing prices only makes sense if you compare like with like. Many operators quote the price for a double room and charge a single supplement. With us, the single room is standard. The six points below make up the rest of the difference.
Same region, different approach
Motos & Wonders
often elsewhere
Group
Max. 5 riders per guide. We know every guest, not just their motorcycle.
Larger groups, split into subgroups depending on numbers
Guide
Always us, MWZ/SAM certified
Often volunteers, paid in board and lodging
Accommodation
Chosen for location, food and hosts, hand-picked and vetted by us
Booked on availability and price
Meals and fuel
Full board incl. water with meals, fuel for the whole tour
Usually half board; lunch, drinks and fuel at your own cost
Route planning
Planned by us
Each guide rides their own route, only the hotel is shared
Experience
Sights and good food built into the plan
Riding comes first, the rest is optional
Ride with us to the Mediterranean
Max. 5 riders per guide. The deposit secures your place. We email you the invoice for the balance; it is paid by bank transfer up to 30 days before the tour starts. If you book after that, the full amount is due straight away.
Per rider, single room
CHF 4,990
With a pillion, double room
CHF 7,490
Deposit on booking
CHF 500
Full board, water and fuel included, except lunch on the rest day.
Runs with a minimum of 3 riders
Available dates
3–12 September 2027
We confirm the tour will run by 5 August 2027
Frequently asked questions
Three things. First: max. 5 riders per guide, which means we can stay in hotels with eight, ten or twelve rooms where a large group simply wouldn’t fit. Second: we don’t ride back the same way, but through the Verdon Gorge, via Susa, Aosta and the Great St Bernard. And third: Dominik and Paulina guide the tour themselves. Whoever answers you today will ride over the Iseran with you in September.
Tell us briefly how long and how much you ride, when you last rode, your longest day in the saddle and what makes you unsure. We’ll give you an honest view of whether the tour suits you.
We meet on the evening of Friday 3 September at the hotel near Évian-les-Bains on Lake Geneva. That’s where the tour begins: on Saturday morning we set off together, first to kilometre zero in Thonon-les-Bains. Arrive with a full tank; from Saturday morning, fuel is on us. The tour ends on Sunday 12 September after lunch in Gruyères. We’ll send you the hotel’s exact address before the tour.
So that everyone is well rested on Saturday morning and we can set off from the hotel together. You arrive on Friday at your own pace, and over dinner we get to know each other before the first stage. Dinner and the night before are included.
The route is surfaced throughout. What we can’t promise are local conditions: a pass may be closed, roadworks may divert us, a storm may make a road impassable. In those cases we find a suitable alternative. If that means a short unsurfaced stretch, we tell you beforehand and ride it together.
Everyone carries their own luggage on their bike. We recommend a top box, side cases or bags.
With waterproofs on, we ride as normal. On the high passes it can get cold even in September, so pack a warm layer. In extreme conditions we adjust the day’s route or take a break. Safety comes before the plan.
Yes, and very welcome. Your single room becomes a double, and your pillion gets everything you do: hotels, full board, admissions. With a pillion the tour costs CHF 7,490.
Yes. Every rider has a single room included, but you can also share a double room. Let us know when you book and we’ll sort it out with you personally.
We plan stops in places like Menton, Susa and Aosta, plus a whole rest day by the sea. Even so, at around 200 kilometres over the passes, the stages are full riding days. If you mainly want to rack up kilometres, we’re probably not for you. If you want to experience a region, we are.
Because we see the single room as part of the tour, not an extra. After a day over the passes not everyone wants to share a room, and we don’t want to make that something to negotiate. The price shown above is the price for your own room.
What counts is the day your written cancellation reaches us:
Up to 60 days before the tour: handling fee of CHF 30, the rest is refunded
59 to 30 days before: the CHF 500 deposit
29 to 14 days before: 50% of the tour price
Less than 14 days before, or if you don’t turn up: 100% of the tour price
Instead of cancelling, you can name a replacement up to 7 days before the tour starts, provided they meet the requirements to take part (handling fee CHF 30). If we cancel the tour, we refund all payments in full within 14 days. We also recommend cancellation insurance.
The full terms are set out in our terms and conditions.
Breakfast and dinner are included. Lunch is deliberately left out, so the day is entirely yours.
Still not sure it’s the tour for you?
Tell us what’s on your mind, whether it’s pace, ability, vehicle or programme. We’ll give you an honest answer, even if that answer is «better not this one».
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