Touring Center Dolomites - DTC2601
Every Edelweiss tour stars with Welcome briefing, here at Hotel Bemelman, everything was set for exciting week. But just shortly before that we used an exciting MotoGP race for our first meeting, and immediatelly we saw we share one passion - Motorcycle riding, meeting new people, and of course enjoy the local cousine :). After exciting race, tour guides Harald and Jure introduced to everyone whats in the store for the week, made an important safety briefing and then made 16 customers very happy by handing them motorcycle keys. Welcome dinner followed and the journey started.
The morning drizzle did not change the mood, everyone was excited to start riding and Harald and Jure prepared a nice warmup with a particular highlight of the day - Passo Mendola. Soon the rain gave way to first sunshine and day turned out in more then predicted. We were stunned by green scenery, unspoiled nature topped by spectacular mountain views topped by fresh snow. After Mendola pass we climbed even higher to have lunch on viewing point at top of Monte Penegal. View was blocked as we climbed higher then the fog that was still rising, but it made the scenery somehow special. After lunch more twisty roads lead us to circle round Bolzano and return to hotel.
Morning coffee, Harald and Jure looking at the sky, another beautifull day.....the information on phone said Timmelsjoch, the high Alpine pass bordering Italy and Austria opens today at 07:00 for the first time in 2026!!! They cleared the snow on the road just for us :). But thats just the highlight, with pleasure on the way we will take more passes. We rided first Passo Pennes 2200m, then stopped to walk in old town of Vipiteno, and then re-energized rided Passo Giovo....Time for lunch, we stopped at Tirolian hero's Andreas Hofer birthhouse and had an incredible lunch. The calories were burned immediatelly as we climbed over 2400m to put one foot in Austria. Another amazing day.....what's next?
Today everything worked out in our favor. After morning briefing, clouds spreaded and sun showed our way while we saw a complete fresh layer of snow on the mountains. This is it, said Harald, this is the day! Soon after leaving the hotel we started to swing our bikes left, right, left, right....toward heart of Dolomite mountain range, and what better way to reach it then a pass after pass....Passo Erbe, Passo Valparola, Passo Giau, Passo Fedaia.....we can go on and on. No need to explain more, look at the pictures, can it be better? No traffic, no worries, no stress, just pure pleasure.
Today we checked many riders bucket list - we set out to Sella Ronda, the famous circle of 4 passes, Sella, Gardena, Pordoi, Campologno. Due to weather prediction we planned to 'just check in' on Sella and get back. Well weather prediction was correct, snowflakes started and magical atmosphere only encuraged us to do more then just check and circulated Ronda despite the snow!
On our last day we wanted to have a coffee at Italians biggest Lake and to drive the famous canyon road Strada de la Forra. Unfortunatelly weather prevented us to do the full route, so after another snow ride over Monte Bodone we stopped for a delicious Pizza and returned back in direction of hotel. Last day - a farewell dinner was planned, and it was a special one. Local cusine with special mrenu and special live music including 'Yodeling' by hotel owner herself. Everone made the tour safely and a real friendship has grown in this group. It is why it was hard, but we had to say goodbye....nevertheless we opened a new bucket list to check for 2027 - Andalusia - Motorcycle Touring at its best! Wanna join us? Goodby and safe riding everyone!