Alpine Touring Center Tour
Before the tour began, the motorcycles were transported to Seefeld. Then, that evening during dinner together, we celebrated Tony’s birthday—the atmosphere was fantastic!!! After breakfast, we had a theoretical introduction: a discussion of group riding, rules of conduct in European traffic, eye movement, and the effect of steering input, as well as the ideal “Edelweiss curve line.” Not far from Seefeld, we then did practical exercises: riding on a protected course to try out different cornering styles based on what we’d discussed. Targeted training to focus our gaze on the corner’s exit early on and find a clean, ideal line. Exercises on emergency braking using the rear and front brakes, designed to be performed safely even while leaning or in turns. To put what they’d just learned into practice right away, the ERS students rode straight up to Kühtai and were rewarded with Tyrolean delicacies after a few turns. Everyone returned to the hotel on time with happy smiles, where—after the welcome briefing—we enjoyed dinner in a relaxed atmosphere while engaging in interesting conversations. A wonderful first day of the tour.
We kicked off our motorcycle excursion on a brilliantly sunny morning in Seefeld, Tyrol, already feeling that familiar itch in our throttle hands. The roads were clear as we crossed the border and glided through the idyllic town of Mittenwald. Our first stop brought us to the deep-blue Walchensee; the lakeside road hugs the landscape beautifully and has even served as a backdrop for various movies. We wound our way down the "Kesselberg"—a route once used as a racetrack—towards Kochelsee, enjoying the view of the glittering water. We then turned off through the Bavarian Alpine foothills, heading toward our next highlight: Linderhof Palace. King Ludwig II’s white fairytale castle emerged, nestled amidst the greenery. We admired the park grounds before a narrow, winding lakeside road beckoned us to Plansee. The lake sits there like a green gemstone, framed by steep rock faces. The motorcycle glides effortlessly through the series of curves along the shore—pure riding pleasure. (You might think it doesn't get any better than this—but there is even more in store.) Back in Austria, we skirted the town of Reutte. That’s when things became truly spectacular: we entered the Namlos Valley, a route local bikers claim is the finest motorcycle road in Tyrol. The Namlos country road is genuinely addictive; left-handers flow directly into right-handers, and we swing through the narrow valley in a rhythmic, waltz-like motion. This curve-lover's paradise ended in the Lech Valley. Upon arrival, we enjoyed a coffee at the "Jamdo" inn. Then came the day's next motorcycling treat: the Hahntennjoch. The mountain pass road climbs to an altitude of 1,894 meters. Up there, we stood on barren rock, gazing out over the vast valley and feeling the cold high-altitude wind on our faces. The descent from the Hahntennjoch demanded one last burst of concentration before we tackled the final kilometers via the Inn Valley and Telfs. By afternoon, our bikes were rolling back into the Hotel Eden parking lot—tires warm, and our minds fueled by countless moments spent carving through curves. It doesn’t get any better? Who knows…
Before we set off, we solve one small problem, but then the engines start—though the tires still aren’t up to operating temperature… The weather isn’t quite ideal today—but there’s no rain—just liquid sunshine ;-) Today’s itinerary calls for about 120 miles—taking us through spectacular Alpine valleys, along winding toll roads, and past crystal-clear mountain lakes in Tyrol and Bavaria. We descend via the Zillerberg into the Inn Valley. From Innsbruck, we took a short stretch of highway to Hall in Tirol. The parking lot is right at the entrance to one of Tirol’s most charming old towns. At Café “Flos,” we enjoy truly delicious coffee and homemade cake—fantastic. We wander a bit through the old town and marvel at the well-preserved facades—just like in a picture book… We hop on our bikes and head toward Achensee through small villages and narrow roads. The road hugs the “Tyrolean Fjord.” The water glows turquoise, and the surrounding peaks of the Karwendel and Rofan ranges provide a magnificent backdrop. We cross the border into Germany toward the Sylvenstein Reservoir. The paved road winds through secluded river landscapes, and the bridge over the Sylvenstein Reservoir is a perfect spot for a photo stop. In Fall, we enjoy a well-deserved lunch. Another highlight is the toll road in Vorderriss. We reached Mittenwald, and the view of the Karwendel Mountains accompanied us on the final miles back, where our day of motorcycling came to a leisurely close.
A day on the motorcycle that will likely be unforgettable… From our lodging, we first rode downhill toward Telfs, enjoyed the brief stretch along the A12 in the Inn Valley, and then turned decisively into the Ötztal. Passing Oetz, the road wound deeper and deeper into the majestic mountain scenery of the Ötztal Alps with their waterfalls and bizarre rock formations. Traffic was light, so we were able to ride through the sweeping curves with wonderful ease. After a quick stop in Sölden, we started up our bikes and headed up to the Timmelsjoch. The higher we climbed, the more alpine the landscape became. On the ascent, the unique motorcycle museum at the toll station awaited us. The ascent to the Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road demanded our full concentration with its tight hairpin turns and steep climbs. At the summit, at 2,474 meters, we took a short break, enjoyed the fantastic panoramic view, and let the fresh wind blow around our helmets before heading down the south side to St. Leonhard in the Passeier Valley. After so many curves and hairpin turns, we needed a break. In St. Leonhard, we refueled, and right after that, we opened the throttle again for the next treat: the Jaufen Pass. For about 40 kilometers, the pass road thrilled us with plenty of hairpin turns, dense forests, and smooth curves. At the top, at 2,094 meters, we stopped briefly to admire the view before rolling down to Sterzing, where we first treated ourselves to a serving of gelato and a cappuccino. Refreshed, we set off on the return trip. We chose the route north via the old Brenner Road, cruising leisurely along the slopes into the Inn Valley and finally passing through Innsbruck. The last few kilometers uphill back to Seefeld were the perfect finale to what was likely an unforgettable day on the motorcycle…
Today’s route takes us westward through Telfs and the Inn Valley, then along a short stretch of highway to Landeck. We continue through the Tyrolean Oberland to Nauders and cross the border at the Reschen Pass. We make a quick stop for photos and coffee at the famous church tower on Lake Reschen in Graun. Then, with great anticipation, the road led us on to the Stelvio Pass (2,758 m): past Prad and Trafoi, the ascent began up the famous 48 hairpin turns to Italy’s highest pass. At the top, a fantastic mountain panorama awaited us, along with the famous bratwurst sandwich at Bruno’s sausage stand. Under the watchful eyes of “King Ortler” (South Tyrol’s highest mountain), we savored every moment in this place. Refreshed and with our heads full of impressions, we then began the descent via the Umbrail Pass; in Mals, we stopped to replenish our caffeine levels. Via Lake Reschen and the Inn Valley, we made our way back to the Hotel Eden in Seefeld. All participants were still buzzing with adrenaline—thanks for this great day to the “Stelvio conquerors” from your tour guide, Tom S.
Today’s tour took us on a varied route covering about 135 kilometers or 85 miles from Seefeld through Innsbruck and the high-alpine town of Kühtai. We set off from the beautiful Hotel Eden and enjoyed the first few relaxing kilometers. Via Leutasch and Telfs, we wound our way onto the B171. After arriving with our brakes running hot, we rode along the Inn River and quickly reached the city limits of Innsbruck. We immediately headed west again and turned off at Kematen into the Sellrain Valley. The road now led us steadily uphill through a quiet, unspoiled valley with great curves. In perfect weather, we reached the Kühtai Pass at over 2,000 meters, where we were able to take a break in the fresh mountain air. After this break, we were reenergized and set off on the return trip. From Kühtai, the road wound its way down into the Ötztal valley all the way to Oetz. Once we reached the bottom, we continued on toward Mieming. The finale: a stop at the Edelweiss Bike Travel headquarters for a look behind the scenes. Now it’s time to say goodbye to the bikes that have taken us to impressive places over the past few days and accompanied us over high Alpine passes and through picture-perfect mountain valleys.