Overcome jet lag / rest day

No riding today, just relax and overcome your jet lag or explore nearby. There is so much to see and do in and around Geneva that some will want to contiune sightseing although this day is really intended for those who travelled far to overcome any jet lag with a restful day before the tour begins.

If you go sightseeing just bear in mind that we shall collect the bikes late afternoon so that we can get off early tomorrow morning.

Please be back at the hotel by 17:00. This will allow you time to inspect your motorcycle, familiarise yourself with the controls and ensure any riding gear reserved for the tour is a comfortable fit.

Annemasse to Praz de Lys circuit ~ 60 miles / 100 km ~ 2 hours riding

Riders are requested to return to the hotel by 16:00 so that they can be issued their motorcycles. Then to help acquaint riders with their bikes we take an evening ride up to Le Praz De Lys where you will have views towards Mont Blanc. There is a nice restaurant here where we stop for dinner before riding back via Bonneville to Annemasse.

Annemasse to Grindalwald ~ 270km / 145 miles ~ 6 hours riding

We depart the hotel near Annemasse taking a leisurely ride of about 45 minutes heading to the Spa town of Thonton-Les-Bains where some might want to ride on the funicular railway towards the shore of Lac Leman (also known as Lac de Geneve/Lake Geneva) after a brief stop e press onwards through the Abondance valley to Chatel and over Morgins Pass to enter Switzerland where Lac Morgins and later the Dents du Midi (teeth of midday) mountain range offer spectacular views. We take a stop for a light refreshment at Morgins.

As our route progresses through parts of the Parc Naturel Gruyere and we enter more challenging roads with the first collection of hairpin bends just east of Morgins then nice twisty roads with a few sections of hairpins as we make our way to the Col de la Croix and Pillion as we progress to Gstaad where we break for lunch.

From here we have nice twisty roads all the way to Interlaken then we head up the Eiger to Grindalwald where we end the day.

Grindelwald to Sarnen ~ 190 miles ~ 304 km ~ 6 hours riding

We descend from Grindelwald to Interlaken before traversing the north shore of Brienzersee to the medieval town of Meiringen into the Aare Canyon and across the Grimsel Pass where we take our first refreshment break of the day.

The route continues to cross the Furka Pass then past the Rhone source glacier, before descending to Andermatt where we loop back towards Meringen this time via the Susten Pass taking a brief stop at Himmelrank (Paradise corner) where there are views to Gadmen Canyon. We later break for lunch at Innrtkirchen.

The route continues past Lungerersee and onto the Glaubenbielenpass to end the day at Sarnen.

Sarnen to Bad Hindelang ~ 175 miles / 280 km ~ 5 hours riding

Today we do some lake hopping leaving the shores of Sarnensee we pass Wichelsee to reach Alpnachersee and the three lakes that comprise Vierwaldstattersee, Luzernersee and Kussnachtersee followed by Zugersee before we stop for a break at Obersee.

The road twists all the way to Bedensee / Lake Constance passing through many villages and towns along the way. We break for lunch at Bregenz.

We cross the border into Germany to join the western end of the Deutsche alpenstrasse as we make our way east along one of the world great driving routes ending the day at Bad Hindelang where the hotel has good leisure facilities and shall be our base for the next two nights.

Bad Hindelang circuit ~ 112 miles / 180 km ~ 3 hours riding

Some might want a day of rest whilst others will be itching to get back on the bike and so today, we have a shorter journey for those who want to ride.

The route takes a loop crossing into Austria and back to Germany through some great twisty roads and into resorts popular during the ski season. There are several dead-end roads we can ride for those wanting to extend the journey, but the route is good as it stands and allows time to enjoy the hotel leisure facilities.

Bad Hindelang to Davos ~ 175 miles / 280 km ~ 5.5 hours riding

We begin by riding the latter part of yesterday%92s circuit in reverse crossing over to Austria and continuing as far as Elmen where we join the Hahntennjoch a high Alpen pass (1894m/6214ft) which is also referred to as Bschlaber Landesstrasse. We shall of course stop for photographs and take a light refreshment at Imst before continuing south to the Italian border.

After descending from Hahntennjoch, we take a short refreshment break at Nauders, a charming Austrian town. The music bar here is a great spot for an evening BBQ (I know you love a BBQ!), but today we%92ll keep it brief and light.

Turning south, we re-enter Italy and ascend the legendary Stelvio Pass (2758m/9048ft), one of the most iconic mountain roads in the Eastern Alps. With 60 hairpin turns, 48 on the northern side, it%92s a bucket-list ride for many motorcyclists. We%92ll stop for lunch at the summit and enjoy the dramatic views.

Next, we cross into Switzerland via the Fuorn Pass (2149m/7050ft), also known as Ofenpass. This scenic route traverses the Swiss National Park and offers chances to spot wildlife, including the occasional brown bear. Historically, the area was known for ironworks (Fuorn means furnace), and there%92s a caravan selling snacks%97perfect for a short break.

Finally, we head north to the Fl%FCela Pass (2389m/7838ft) in the canton of Graub%FCnden, traditionally considered the boundary between the Albula and Silvretta Alps. Connecting Davos with Susch in the Engadin valley, the pass features stunning alpine scenery and picturesque lakes like Lai da la Scotta and Lai Nair. Though dating from 1867, the paved road offers a thrilling ride with twists and turns popular among motorcyclists.

Davos to Locarno ~ 160 miles / 256 km ~ 5 hours riding

Turning to the southwest we leave Davos heading to Alvra when we change course to the southeast over the Albulapass to La Punt Chamues then onwards reach St Moritz where we take a brief stop.

Continuing in a southerly direction we pass lakes Champfer and Silvaplana before deviating west over the Julier Pass then north passing Lake Marmorera and loosely following the course of the Albula river to Thusis then south to the Sufnersee where we break for lunch a little further on at Splugen.

The final leg of this route takes us over the San Bernardino pass and the Strada del Piana to Misos and onwards to end the day at Locarno and a hotel overlooking Lago Maggiore.

Locarno to Susa ~ 182 miles / 291 km ~ 6 hours riding

The journey begins heading westerly along the course of the Melzza river that flows into the northern end of Lago Maggiore until Santa Matria Maggiore where we follow the Melzzo Occidentale upstream to the Toce that also flows into Maggiore near Feriolo. We follow the Toce to Gravellona Toce where we take brief rest stop.

Our route then progresses further south to Lago d%92%92Orta where we deviate west towards Varallo then south following another river, the Sesia towards Borgosesia and onwards to Biella where we break for lunch.

We will now be heading towards Turin taking our final rest stop just north of the city before turning west to Susa where we end the day in a boutique hotel created within an 800 year old religious order building.

Suas to Annemasse ~160 miles / 256 km ~ 5.5 hours riding

Departing Susa, we cross the border near Lac du Mont Cenis to enter France and take our first break at Gli%E8res-Val-de-Borne.

Continuing north, we cross Col de l'Iseran (2,764 metres (9,068 ft)) the highest mountain pass in France and the highest paved pass in the Alps. Later we pass the Lac du Chevril reservoir and onwards to Tignes, located on the banks of the Is%E8re, where we%92ll stop for lunch. There are several dining options, from bar snacks to pizza places.

Heading north-west, we travel on quiet backroads close to the French/Italian border and make a brief stop at Lac de Roseland. There%92s a lovely photographic opportunity at a small chapel on the lake%92s banks.

Deviating north-westerly to Beaufort, a major cheese-producing area in the Auvergne-Rh%F4ne-Alpes region, we then continuing north to reach Les Frumiers for a short refreshment break (choose your parking carefully%97the whole town is on a slope!).

As we make our way across many of the lesser-used narrow roads in the region, you%92ll catch regular glimpses of Montblanc, the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe (15,774 ft), to the east. Being a Sunday, we may encounter groups of cyclists, especially on steeper sections. The day ends with a scenic journey along minor roads to return to the hotel near Annemasse.

Homeward bound