Unpaved Pyrenees

We left Castelldefels with one goal: find the best roads north. Smooth tarmac gave way to rough mountain tracks and gravel, adding a little adventure to the ride. Some roads were fast and flowing; others demanded patience, balance and a steady throttle. We rode through forests, remote villages and high mountain passes, rarely knowing what the next corner would bring. The bikes got dusty, the tyres worked hard, and the smiles just kept getting bigger. As we finally descended towards Roses, the Mediterranean came back into view. After a long day in the saddle, the coast felt like the perfect finish. It wasn't really about getting from Castelldefels to Roses. It was about the roads, the gravel, the scenery and the ride in between.

🇬🇧 Day 2 – Gravel, Curves & Pyrenean Adventure Day two started with a clear message: More gravelroads! Leaving Roses behind, our now established motorcycle crew headed deep into the wild Pyrenees, and it quickly became obvious that today was going to be about much more than just perfect curves. Small mountain roads and partly unpaved tracks led us higher and higher into the mountains. One of the highlights was the climb up Mont Moixer, where our big adventure bikes had to prove that they were more than just impressive on tarmac. Gravel, loose stones, dust and plenty of concentration turned the climb into a proper adventure – especially for those trying to keep several hundred kilos of motorcycle pointing in the right direction! 😄 But the effort was more than worth it: spectacular scenery, remote mountain landscapes and the wonderful feeling of riding where very few tourists ever venture. The adventure continued along winding mountain roads towards the Col d’Ares, one of the spectacular passes in the Pyrenees on the Spanish-French border. The higher we climbed, the more dramatic the scenery became, with endless bends, deep valleys and rugged green mountains providing the perfect backdrop for our convoy. Every kilometre brought another reason to stop, take a breath and simply enjoy being there. Eventually, the group rolled into Setcases, dusty, tired and extremely happy – while the motorcycles were probably wondering what on earth we had planned for tomorrow. One thing was certain: Day two had delivered everything a true motorcycle adventure should – gravel, mountains, curves, laughter and just enough adrenaline to make everyone want more!

🇬🇧 Day 3 – Following the Smugglers’ Trail Day three began in Setcases with an unexpected little mechanical adventure: before we even reached Plans de Roques Blanques, the front tyre of one of the motorcycles suddenly started losing air. The group stopped, the problem was located and the tyre had to be repaired right there on the spot. With teamwork, a little improvisation and the right tools, the problem was soon under control – and the expedition could continue. We then headed towards Plans de Roques Blanques, where it quickly became clear that today’s route would once again take us far away from ordinary roads. The tracks became narrower, the landscape more remote and civilisation increasingly distant. Surrounded by rocky slopes, alpine meadows and breathtaking wilderness, our motorcycles made their way through the Pyrenees until we eventually reached the French border. No queues, no passport control – just a quiet crossing and the feeling that another chapter of our Pyrenean adventure had begun. From there, we followed the legendary smugglers’ trail towards Andorra. Once used by people secretly carrying goods across the mountains, the route now became the playground of our motorcycle expedition. The trail demanded concentration, cooperation and, every now and then, a healthy dose of courage. Here, keeping the right line was far more important than keeping the speed up. Around every bend there was another dramatic view, another rocky section and another reminder of just how wild these mountains can be. And then, almost unexpectedly, Andorra la Vella appeared ahead of us. After crossing borders, following forgotten routes and travelling in the footsteps of generations of mountain smugglers, the group finally reached the capital of Andorra. Day three was not simply another day on the bikes – it felt like a genuine expedition through the hidden side of the Pyrenees.

🇬🇧 Day 4 – High Above the Pyrenees After the adventures of the previous day, the group left Andorra la Vella with one goal: deeper into the Spanish Pyrenees. Before long, the route climbed into the spectacular high-mountain scenery around Pico Aneto, the highest peak in the Pyrenees. The higher we went, the more impressive the landscape became – rugged summits, endless mountain ranges and valleys stretching far below us. Again and again, breathtaking viewpoints appeared, tempting even the most enthusiastic riders to roll off the throttle for a moment and simply take in the view. But the real star of the day was the unpaved road. Fantastic to ride and spectacular to look at – but certainly not easy! Loose gravel, rough surfaces, tight sections and changing conditions demanded concentration and careful line selection. In return, we got exactly what we had come for: genuine adventure riding and the unforgettable feeling of crossing one of Europe’s most magnificent mountain landscapes on two wheels. Eventually, the route descended towards El Pont de Suert, where the cosy Hotel Cotori provided the perfect contrast to the rugged mountains. Dusty motorcycles, tired riders and heads full of spectacular impressions arrived at a hotel with a warm and welcoming atmosphere – exactly what everyone needed after such a demanding day. Looking back over the route, it was obvious that this day had a character of its own. Less about borders and hidden trails, and more about raw nature, challenging riding and those enormous panoramic views that can leave you speechless in the Pyrenees. The bikes had certainly earned their rest – and so had their riders. And once everyone had settled in with a well-deserved drink, there was only one conclusion: this is exactly what a Pyrenean motorcycle adventure is all about!

🇬🇧 Day 5 – Cornering Through the National Parks Today, the Pyrenees revealed a different side of themselves. Leaving El Pont de Suert, our route headed towards Jaca, taking us through dramatic gorges, remote mountain valleys and spectacular national parks. Some of the mountain roads were so narrow that two motorcycles passing each other became a small exercise in precision – but that was exactly what made them so special. After the gravel adventures of the previous days, there was considerably more asphalt on the menu today. And that meant one thing: corner after corner, hairpin after hairpin, sometimes flowing and fast, sometimes tight and technical. Every bend seemed to reveal something new – a deep gorge, towering rock faces or a mountain pass opening up to enormous views across the Spanish Pyrenees. The motorcycles seemed to dance their way through the mountains, and more than one rider probably wondered why anyone had ever bothered building straight roads. As we continued west, the landscape became even more varied. We crossed mountain passes, threaded our way through spectacular gorges and repeatedly entered the wild scenery of the national parks. There were still a few unpaved sections to keep things interesting, but today the asphalt clearly stole the show. It was one of those riding days when the kilometres simply disappear, because every corner seems to lead naturally into the next. Eventually, the group arrived in Jaca with happy faces, warm tyres and plenty of stories to tell. After gravel tracks, smugglers’ trails and high mountain terrain, day five had delivered a completely different kind of adventure – and perhaps the simplest recipe for a great motorcycle day: great roads, endless corners and scenery that never gets boring.

🇬🇧 Day 6 – A Pyrenean Painting in Autumn Day six began in Jaca with anything but a gentle warm-up. Right at the start, the group still had a challenging off-road section to conquer – narrow unpaved mountain tracks, rough surfaces and a few tricky passages demanded concentration, balance and careful line selection. The motorcycles had one more chance to prove what they were capable of before the route continued westwards along tiny mountain roads. From there, the journey led through a remarkable world of dramatic gorges, mountain passes and the vast scenery of the national parks. The high mountains now looked almost like a painting. Autumn had already begun to leave its mark on the slopes, with golden and reddish colours appearing among the deep greens of the mountains, while the rugged peaks stood proudly against the clear sky. It was the kind of scenery that made even experienced riders want to stop every now and then, simply to take it all in. Of course, the day also came with its own little plot twist: a section of our planned route was closed because of roadworks. For a motorcycle group on an adventure, however, a closed road is merely an invitation to improvise. A short detour was found, and before long we were back on our original track. After all, not everything has to go according to plan to become part of the story! Our journey continued through an ever-changing landscape towards France and eventually to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, the famous starting point of the Camino de Santiago in France. This charming little town offered a completely different atmosphere, where centuries of pilgrimage history blend with the quiet character of a French mountain village. As we left the high mountain scenery behind, the Pyrenees seemed determined to give us one final masterpiece – secluded valleys, autumn-coloured slopes and roads winding gracefully through the landscape. Finally, the group arrived in Urdax, carrying with them the memories of a day that had begun with a serious riding challenge and gradually transformed into a journey through a living landscape painting. Sometimes it is not just the toughest road that stays with you – it is the picture you carry in your mind long after the engine has stopped.

🇬🇧 Day 7 – From Pyrenean Adventure to the Atlantic The final riding day began in Urdax with one last taste of everything that had made this journey so special: winding mountain roads, narrow tracks, sections of gravel and landscapes that seemed to reveal a new picture around every corner. The rain of the previous days had left its mark, however, and some of the unpaved sections had turned into proper mud challenges. Throttle control, balance and a healthy sense of humour were suddenly more important than ever. There were plenty of smiles inside the helmets – although some of the riders were considerably less clean by the end of the morning! Eventually, the group reached the end of the legendary ACT Pyrenees. After all the kilometres, mountain passes, gravel tracks, gorges and high-altitude adventures, it was a memorable milestone. But the Pyrenees were not quite finished with us yet. Suddenly the mountains gave way to the Atlantic, and the Bay of Biscay appeared before us. Following the spectacular coastline towards Bilbao, the character of the journey changed once again. The rugged coast, the ocean breeze and the sound of the sea provided a fitting finale to our great Pyrenean adventure. With the arrival at the small but charming Hotel Artetxe in Bilbao, the destination had finally been reached – and with it came the end of a journey that had become far more than simply a motorcycle tour. Looking back, the memories came flooding back: the first kilometres, gravel tracks, the punctured front tyre, road closures, smugglers’ trails, endless corners, gorges, mountain passes, rain, mud and the breathtaking landscapes of the Pyrenees. We had shared some truly great experiences and adventures. But the most important part of the journey was something that could never be measured in kilometres: people who had started the trip as strangers had spent seven days riding together, laughing together, helping each other, getting lost, getting muddy and sharing unforgettable adventures – and ended the journey as friends. That is what will remain. Not simply the roads we rode or the places we visited, but the stories we created together and the friendships that grew along the way. The journey may have come to an end – but the memories, and hopefully the friendships, will continue far beyond Bilbao.