4SA2601 Mediterranean Alps X-Treme
After a long flight, we finally feel the sun of the Côte d'Azur on our skin. The taxi ride to the hotel is long, but as we look out the window, we quickly realize that things are different here. Welcome to France, welcome to Vence, welcome to the Côte d'Azur. Our hotel is perched high above the town in a forest—the perfect place to shake off the jet lag or take a short walk. In the afternoon, we meet up for a relaxed briefing with our guide. Finally, we get the keys to our motorcycles. We’ll figure out how to fit all our stuff on the bikes later. Tomorrow, we’re finally hitting the road.
The time has finally come—our first day on the road. We can hardly wait to get started. This is supposed to be the day of the canyons (french Gorges) and what can we say? The theme of the day fits perfectly. Our route takes us along incredibly winding roads, over mountains, through forests, and across green valleys. Again and again, we encounter impressive rock formations and roads that seem to have been painstakingly carved out of the rock. Turquoise rivers and lakes, as well as small, sleepy villages, keep catching our eye. Tired but happy, we arrive at our hotel in Valberg in the evening. What a start. Can we please have more of this?
The sun is shining, and a cool breeze is still blowing over the mountains. It’s time for us to set off. Today’s ride is all about variety. Faster and more technically challenging sections alternate. From wide, well-maintained country roads to what appear to be paved hiking trails, we’ve got it all. All these roads, however, have two things in common. They offer incredibly beautiful views and plenty of riding fun far off the beaten tourist paths of the region. And so we zigzag through the mountains so as not to miss any of the highlights, no matter how remote. Our destination today is Roquebillière, where a very charming hotel and another magnificent dinner await us.
The sun is slowly but steadily beginning to cast its light over the mountains. A new day is dawning—let’s see what it brings. The day is all about major sporting events. In the morning, we follow in the footsteps of the Tour de France and the Monte Carlo Rally. Magnificent panoramas and roads that are as spectacular as they are varied set the tone for the day. From tight and technical to fast and wonderfully winding, we experience it all. Crossing one of the highest and most beautiful passes in the Alps, we finally reach Italy in the afternoon. A change of scenery and the start of the second half of our tour. Our destination today is a small town called Vicoforte, whose main attraction lies right on our doorstep. Two camera and phone rescue missions later, we enjoy the afternoon and our dinner in a very special atmosphere.
As usual, the new day greets us with bright sunshine. Yesterday, we ventured just a stone’s throw into Italy. Today, we’ll delve deep into the remote hinterlands of the Piedmont and Liguria regions. The routes are varied and, as is typical of Italy, hold a few surprises in store for us—including the occasional mishap. And we thought the roads in France were narrow. An experience you can probably only have here. On our way, we pass countless small villages where time seems to have stood still. Small churches and countless chapels along the roadside keep catching our eye. When we finally reach the coast, the bustling traffic around Genoa seems like something from another planet. The view of the Mediterranean, however, is the perfect way to set the mood for our well-deserved rest day in Rapallo, today’s destination. Dinner, as one would expect, is enjoyed at sunset with a view of the fortress and the Ligurian Sea.
The gentle lapping of the waves and the roar of scooter engines are our morning melody… okay, it’s mostly the scooters 😉 Just the sound of an Italian town. Today is the first and only rest day on our tour. No briefing, no packing, no stress. However, there’s plenty to see and do around Rapallo, so one by one, some sooner, some later, we’re drawn out onto the streets. A short motorcycle ride through the mountains is always a good idea. In the afternoon, almost all of us head to the Cinque Terre, those famous little villages along the coast—so romantic and beautiful.
After what we hope was a restful day off, it’s time for us to pack up and hit the road again today. We’re heading west today, and the final days of our tour are upon us. Unfortunately, one of our participants had to leave us early. All the best to you. We start by riding along the famous SS1 coastal road before turning back into the mountains. The variety in terms of roads and landscapes couldn’t be greater. We switch at a breathtaking pace from narrow to wide, from winding to super-winding, from very smooth to ultra-bumpy, from forests to mountain landscapes to towns and villages. Time and again, we’re treated to breathtaking views of the Ligurian Sea. One road closure and another unexpected toll booth adventure later, we arrive in Finale Ligure—our destination for the day.
Our last day also begins with bright sunshine. And anyone who thinks we’re just lounging around is wrong. We want to really enjoy this final day to the fullest, with everything that goes with it. A sort of “best of” the past few days. That’s exactly what this last day is. We take it easy in the morning—a bit of coastal road, some sightseeing, and a leisurely coffee. But after that, we really get going again, alternating between extremely winding, almost perfect roads and bumpy goat paths with incredible views. The small villages along the way round out the scenery. After a surprisingly fancy lunch, we get to enjoy Italian toll booths once more 😉. We end the day with a spectacular ride through the hills around Monaco before reaching the hotel in Vence, where our tour began. We can hardly believe this tour is already over. We’ve only just gotten warmed up.