AMA Ultimate Alps Crossing

🇬🇧 A Perfect Start in Vienna Before our actual motorcycle adventure from Vienna to Nice even began, it was time for our guests to discover Vienna! Gerald took Lisa, Frank, Doug, Scott and Byan on a guided tour through the Austrian capital, and with beautiful sunshine overhead, we headed into the city by subway. Our first stop was, of course, St. Stephen’s Cathedral – and anyone wanting to see Vienna from above has to earn it by climbing 343 steps to the top of the South Tower! The effort was more than rewarded with a spectacular view across the rooftops of Vienna. We then strolled along the Graben, past the famous Plague Column and into the elegant Golden Quarter with its luxury shops, continuing along Kohlmarkt to the legendary Café Demel. At Michaelerplatz we made a short visit to the Spanish Riding School, where we even caught a glimpse of the famous white Lipizzaner horses. From there we continued past the Hofburg Palace and Heldenplatz to Vienna’s famous Ringstrasse, passing magnificent museums, the Parliament, City Hall and the Burgtheater. The Albertina, Hotel Sacher and the Vienna State Opera were also on our sightseeing list. Vienna was putting on quite a show for us – blue skies, magnificent architecture and history around every corner! But the day was far from over! We took the subway to Schönbrunn Palace, where a delicious lunch at Brandauer gave us some much-needed fuel – even tour guides need to eat! Afterwards, we enjoyed a leisurely walk through the beautiful palace gardens before climbing up to the Gloriette. And what a view awaited us at the top! Vienna stretched out below us in all its glory. Eventually, it was time to head back to the hotel by bus and train. What a fantastic day and the perfect introduction to the adventure ahead! 19 guests, 3 tour guides and one great journey through the Alps all the way to Nice. The excitement was definitely building. Vienna had given us a wonderful first taste – now it was time to get ready for the motorcycles! 🏍️☀️🇦🇹

🇬🇧 Day 1 – From Vienna Straight into the Alps Now the real adventure could begin! After our fantastic introduction to Vienna, it was time for our 19 guests and 2 tour guides to put on their helmets, start the engines and head into the Alps! Leaving Hotel Bosei in Vienna, our first day took us via Mödling to Mayerling and then over the “Auf dem Hals” mountain pass. It didn't take long to discover what the coming days would be all about: spectacular scenery, winding mountain roads and plenty of motorcycle fun. One of the highlights was the ride along the Haselrast – a beautiful but extremely narrow mountain road where, in some places, you could almost wonder whether two motorcycles would actually fit past each other! 😄 A coffee stop at Kalte Kuchl was therefore very welcome. With coffee and refreshments in hand, we could enjoy our first impressions before continuing over the Gscheid Pass towards Mariazell. But before reaching the town, Tour Guide Fabian had prepared a wonderful surprise: a delicious picnic, beautifully arranged right in the middle of nature. Now that's the way to start a motorcycle adventure! After our picnic, we continued to Mariazell, where we visited the magnificent Basilica – a lovely cultural change after all those mountain curves. Then it was back on the motorcycles and onward! Our route took us through the spectacular Wildalpen region towards Eisenerz, where the enormous Erzberg suddenly dominated the landscape. This famous Styrian landmark, with its gigantic terraced mining slopes, was an impressive sight and naturally called for a few photographs. From there we continued through the dramatic scenery of Gesäuse National Park, with towering mountains and spectacular landscapes accompanying us all the way. Finally, we reached our destination in Admont, with time to admire the famous Admont Abbey. What an opening day! Mountain roads, curves, coffee, a picnic, culture and a gigantic iron ore mountain – it would have been hard to imagine a better start to our Alpine adventure. And the best part? This was only Day One! 🏍️⛰️☀️

🇬🇧 Day 2 – Curves, Lakes and Alpine Dream Roads After a relaxed start in Admont, it was time once again to start the engines and dive into another Alpine adventure! Our 19 guests and 2 tour guides headed over the Triebener Tauern and then continued along a wonderful selection of small, winding back roads. These are exactly the roads that make motorcycle touring through the Alps so special – very little traffic, plenty of curves and spectacular scenery around almost every corner. We reached Bad Mitterndorf for our first coffee stop before crossing the Koppen Pass towards Obertraun. There, a classic Alpine photo opportunity was waiting for us: a view towards the world-famous Hallstatt. Cameras out, motorcycles parked and time to enjoy the view! From there we continued through Bad Ischl, although this time there was no city sightseeing – there were still plenty of kilometers and curves ahead of us! We climbed up to the beautiful Postalm, where a well-deserved lunch was waiting for our hungry group. And the riding adventure was far from over after lunch! Via Abtenau and Wagrain, we continued through the spectacular Salzburg mountain scenery. The roads twisted through green valleys and climbed over beautiful mountain routes with magnificent views. Our next stop was Dienten am Hochkönig, where we enjoyed another relaxing coffee break surrounded by an impressive Alpine panorama. Refreshed and ready for the final stretch, we tackled the last curves of the day and headed towards Kaprun. Once we arrived, we could look back on another fantastic day in the saddle: beautiful back roads, mountain passes, Hallstatt, the Postalm and countless wonderful curves. Two days into our adventure, and the Alps had already made one thing very clear – this is motorcycle heaven! 🏍️⛰️☕🇦🇹

🇬🇧 Day 3 – Today, the Animals Had Right of Way! Today things got seriously animalistic! Our 19 guests and 2 tour guides left Kaprun on a small back road – and suddenly found a whole herd of cows blocking our route. So, what does a motorcycle group do when a cow says, “You’re not getting through here”? Exactly – we wait! After all, in the Alps, cows clearly have right of way. 🐄😄 Once our four-legged traffic controllers had moved on, we continued towards the Grossglockner. The famous High Alpine Road rewarded us with spectacular scenery and plenty of fantastic curves before we headed towards Sillian for lunch. After refueling both motorcycles and riders, we crossed the border into Italy and entered the breathtaking world of the Dolomites. As we approached Cortina, the scenery became more spectacular with every kilometer – but once again, we had to share the road with the local wildlife. A flock of sheep and later even a few donkeys made sure we took things a little slower. Apparently, word had got around that a motorcycle group was coming through! 🐑🫏 From Cortina onwards, some of the most spectacular riding of the day was waiting for us. We crossed the magnificent Falzarego Pass and then tackled the legendary Pordoi Pass, riding through some of the most breathtaking scenery the Dolomites have to offer. Curve after curve and pass after pass, it became obvious why this region is such a highlight of any Alpine motorcycle adventure. Eventually, we arrived in Moena, parked the motorcycles and called it a day – or so we thought! In the evening, a taxi bus picked us up and took us to a wonderful restaurant, where an excellent dinner was waiting for us. After a long day in the saddle, countless curves and encounters with cows, sheep and donkeys, dinner tasted even better. The perfect ending to a truly memorable day – and a useful lesson for everyone: in the Alps, motorcycles are not always the fastest vehicles on the road! 🏍️🐄🐑🫏🍷

🇬🇧 Day 4 – A Dolomites Loop from Moena Day four of our journey was also our first rest day – although on a motorcycle tour, the meaning of “rest” can be somewhat flexible. Rather than leaving the motorcycles parked, we set out from Moena on an enjoyable loop through the Dolomites. The route took us over the Karer Pass and Niger Pass, followed by Passo Pinei and then the Sella Pass. Riding past the impressive Sella Group, we enjoyed spectacular views of the distinctive Dolomite peaks along the way. We then continued over Passo Fedaia, where we had a beautiful view towards the Marmolada and its famous glacier. The combination of winding mountain roads and dramatic mountain scenery made this section a particularly memorable part of the day. Since the group was still enjoying the riding, the loop was extended with several more mountain passes. We continued over Passo Rolle and Passo Cereda, passing through more impressive scenery and enjoying a variety of beautiful Alpine roads. The final highlight was Passo San Pellegrino, before we completed the loop and returned to Moena. What had been planned as a rest day turned into another enjoyable day of riding, with numerous mountain passes and plenty of spectacular scenery. No hotel change, no luggage to pack – just motorcycles, mountains, curves and plenty of time to appreciate the unique atmosphere of the Dolomites. 🏍️⛰️🇮🇹

🇬🇧 Day 5 – Four Passes and a Serious Dose of Curves Today we rode from Moena to Sölden, and the route was anything but ordinary! First came the Karer Pass, followed by the Penser Joch, the Jaufen Pass and finally the legendary Timmelsjoch. What can you say about roads like these? They were simply unbelievably beautiful and exciting! One fantastic corner after another, combined with spectacular mountain scenery, deep valleys and peaks that looked as though they had been taken straight from a motorcycle poster. At times, some riders may have wondered whether the scenery or the next bend was more exciting. The answer was probably: both! 🏍️⛰️😄 Every pass had its own character, turning the ride into a true celebration of curves, while the kilometers seemed to disappear almost by themselves. Before reaching our hotel in Sölden, we made a very special stop at the Timmelsjoch Motorcycle Museum. Some participants took the opportunity to visit this famous museum and were absolutely fascinated by the impressive collection and its many motorcycle classics. After the museum visit, we continued on the final stretch towards Sölden, bringing another spectacular riding day to a close. Four fantastic mountain passes, sensational scenery, countless curves and a motorcycle museum along the way – it is hard to fit much more motorcycle adventure into a single day! 😄 Another highlight of our journey was in the books, and everyone could look forward to what the next day would bring. 🏍️🇦🇹❤️

🇬🇧 Day 6 – From the Edelweiss Home to the King of Mountain Passes Today was one of those days when every motorcycle rider knows before breakfast: this is going to be a great one! And the weather could not have been better – brilliant sunshine, blue skies and perfect riding conditions for another unforgettable day on the road. Leaving Sölden, we rode through the spectacular Ötztal and along the Inn Valley to the new headquarters of Edelweiss Bike Travel. We received a warm and friendly welcome, enjoyed some hospitality and were personally greeted by CEO Rainer Buck, whose friendly address created a fantastic atmosphere. After about half an hour, it was time to put our helmets back on and continue the adventure. Our route took us via Gacher Blick into the Upper Inn Valley and then towards the Reschen Pass, where we crossed the border into Italy under clear blue skies. A short stop at Lake Reschen gave us the opportunity to admire and photograph the famous church tower rising from the water – a striking reminder of the village that now lies beneath the lake. In the perfect weather, the scene looked particularly impressive. But this was only the beginning, because everyone knew that the biggest highlight of the day was still ahead: the legendary Stelvio Pass! And then the moment finally arrived. Ahead of us was the famous climb to the Stelvio Pass with its 48 hairpin bends – a road that needs no introduction to motorcycle enthusiasts. Bend after bend, the group climbed higher while the brilliant sunshine revealed more and more spectacular mountain scenery. Reaching the top was a true milestone of the journey, and naturally the achievement was celebrated in style! But the excitement was not over yet: 39 more hairpins on the way down to Bormio provided another unforgettable riding experience. From there we continued over Passo di Foscagno towards Livigno and finally arrived at Hotel Lac Salin. After a perfect day of sunshine, Edelweiss spirit, Lake Reschen, the Stelvio and more curves than anyone could count, there was really only one conclusion: this was a day that will stay in the memory for a very long time! 🏍️☀️⛰️🇮🇹

🇬🇧 Day 7 – A Relaxed Ride Through the Engadin After the spectacular mountain rides of the previous days, today was a little more relaxed. With beautiful autumn weather, bright sunshine and crisp mountain air, we left Livigno and headed over the Forcola Pass towards the Bernina Pass. The autumn colors around the Engadin mountains were simply stunning, and once again we enjoyed every kilometer of the journey. We continued over the Flüela Pass, where we stopped for a leisurely coffee and took some time to enjoy the magnificent Alpine scenery. From there, the road descended towards Davos and continued to Bergün, where lunch was waiting for us. Everything felt easy and unhurried today – no rush, no pressure, just a beautiful day on two wheels. After lunch, we crossed the Albula Pass and continued towards St. Moritz. Part of the group took the opportunity to spend a little time exploring the famous resort town, while others simply enjoyed the motorcycles and the surrounding scenery. We then continued to Maloja and our Hotel Schweizer Haus. And today came with a pleasant surprise: we arrived at the hotel earlier than usual, giving everyone plenty of time to relax and enjoy the afternoon. After seven days filled with mountain passes, curves and spectacular scenery, this peaceful autumn day was exactly what we needed. You could almost say that the Alps took a deep breath today – and we did the same. 🏍️🍂☀️🇨🇭

🇬🇧 Day 8 – Hairpins, Challenges and Cobblestones What a day! In beautiful, warm weather, we left Maloja and immediately headed into the first corners of the day. The Maloja Pass took us downhill through a long series of perfectly shaped hairpins – an opening section that had both riders and motorcycles fully warmed up very quickly. We then crossed into Italy, where an entirely different challenge was waiting for us: the Splügen Pass. Steep, narrow and surprisingly demanding in places, the road wound its way up the mountain and required plenty of concentration and smooth throttle control. Just before reaching the Swiss border, we stopped for a short coffee break before continuing over Passo di San Bernardino. After all those curves, lunch was more than welcome, and we enjoyed an excellent pizza while taking a moment to relax and look back at the first half of the day. Our route then continued through beautiful valleys towards the next major highlight: the Gotthard Pass. But this time we chose the historic route rather than the modern pass road. We tackled the famous old cobblestone road, the Tremola, with its uneven surface, tight bends and unmistakable character. It demanded a little more from the riders, but the historic atmosphere and spectacular scenery made every meter worthwhile. After a short break at the top, we rode the final stretch to Andermatt, where our beautiful Hotel Sonne was waiting for us in the charming town center. Another unforgettable day had come to an end – packed with perfect hairpins, challenging mountain roads, great Italian pizza and historic cobblestones. One thing was certainly becoming clear: this journey was never short on excitement! 🏍️☀️⛰️🇨🇭

🇬🇧 Day 9 – From the Glaciers to Lake Geneva After the excitement of the previous days, today was a little more relaxed. In beautiful, warm weather, we left Andermatt and headed towards the Furka Pass area. We soon reached the Rhône Glacier – but sadly, the impressive glacier view everyone had expected was no longer quite the same. Due to the ongoing effects of climate change, the glacier has retreated significantly over recent decades and is now much smaller than it once was. It was a quiet and somewhat thought-provoking moment, reminding us how dramatically the Alpine landscape is changing. We also stopped to admire the legendary Hotel Belvédère, the historic and now closed hotel standing beside the famous mountain road. We then continued over the Grimsel Pass, where we enjoyed a leisurely coffee stop and took some time to appreciate the surrounding Alpine scenery. From there, the road led us along the deep blue waters of Lake Brienz towards Interlaken. Here, the group had some free time for a little sightseeing, shopping and a relaxed lunch before getting back on the motorcycles. There was no need to hurry today – just a beautiful journey, with plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and the atmosphere. In the afternoon, we continued along Lake Thun before crossing the Col de Pillon and Col de la Croix on our way towards Lake Geneva. With every turn, the scenery changed gradually, and the dramatic Alpine landscape began to take on a softer, almost Mediterranean character. Eventually, we arrived in Montreux, where the elegant and historic Hotel Victoria welcomed us. After a wonderful day filled with mountain passes, lakes, a reflective glimpse of a retreating glacier and a little shopping, it was a pleasure to end the day in such a special setting. Another stage of our journey was complete – relaxed, scenic and full of memorable moments. 🏍️☀️🏔️🇨🇭

🇬🇧 Day 10 – A Rest Day with Two Very Different Plans Today was our second so-called rest day – and this time everyone was free to decide exactly what “rest” meant to them. The group naturally split into two teams: some participants chose to relax, enjoy the hotel or spend some time exploring Montreux. The others simply could not stay away from their motorcycles and headed out on another enjoyable loop. Leaving Montreux, we first followed the Rhône Valley along Lake Geneva, before crossing the border into France and climbing back into the mountains. At the Teufelsbrückenklamm, we stopped for coffee, and part of the group took the opportunity to visit the gorge while the others enjoyed the surroundings and the beautiful mountain roads. It was another relaxed day, just with a little more riding for those who wanted it. From there, the route continued through the mountains to Châtel, a famous winter sports resort. In winter it is a stylish and lively ski destination, but in summer it was remarkably quiet – almost deserted, with only a handful of restaurants open. Fortunately, we found one of them and settled in for a well-earned lunch. Afterwards, we enjoyed a few more beautiful mountain roads before eventually descending back into the Rhône Valley. In the afternoon, both groups arrived back at the Hotel Victoria in Montreux, relaxed and happy in their own very different ways. Some had recharged their batteries, others had recharged theirs by riding – proving once again that there is more than one way to enjoy a rest day! 🏍️☀️🇨🇭🇫🇷

🇬🇧 Day 11 – Passes, Borders and an Italian Surprise Today we said goodbye to Montreux and followed the Rhône Valley towards our next major highlight: the Great St. Bernard Pass, taking us across the border into Italy. Once we reached the Aosta Valley, however, there was a small and completely unexpected change of program. A patrol of the Italian police stopped our motorcycle group for a driving licence check. What initially sounded like a rather serious interruption quickly turned into a surprisingly entertaining encounter. Licences were produced, a few questions were answered, and before long the group was waved on its way. 😄 After that, we continued to the Colle San Carlo for a short lunch stop before returning to the mountain roads. From there, we climbed towards the Petit Saint-Bernard Pass and crossed into France. But the day still had one more spectacular pass in store: the Cormet de Roselend, with its wonderful winding roads and impressive mountain scenery. Eventually, we arrived in Beaufort, where the modern and stylish Hotel La Roche welcomed us for the night. After a day featuring two countries, several spectacular mountain passes and an unexpected encounter with the Italian police. 🏍️🇮🇹🇫🇷⛰️

🇬🇧 Day 13 – The Final Kilometer And suddenly, it was here – our final riding day together. With good weather, although the mountains were covered by a thick layer of cloud, we left Barcelonnette and headed towards the final highlights of our incredible journey. We crossed the Col de Restefond and the Col de la Bonette, continuing up towards the Cime de la Bonette, along the highest paved road in Europe. The higher we climbed, the more spectacular the scenery became. At times, thick mist surrounded the summit and created an almost magical atmosphere, yet every now and then the clouds opened to reveal breathtaking views. Somehow, the combination of mist, clouds and towering mountains made this final Alpine experience even more memorable. From there, we continued over the Col de la Couillole and into the spectacular Gorges du Cians, following the winding road through the dramatic canyon. We then crossed the Col de Félines before entering the beautiful Gorges du Loup. The landscape gradually changed as we moved closer to our final destination. Finally, we reached Saint-Paul-de-Vence and our final hotel of the journey, the beautiful Les Messugues. One more ride, one more series of curves, one more day together – and suddenly everyone realized that this incredible adventure was truly coming to an end. That evening, we gathered for our final farewell dinner. Over good food, countless stories and plenty of laughter, we looked back on everything we had shared during the journey. There were smiles, but also a few emotional moments as we realized this really was our last evening together. During these days, 19 guests and 3 tour guides had become a true group – sharing mountain passes, spectacular scenery, unforgettable roads, laughter and countless special moments. People who had started the journey as strangers were now saying goodbye as friends, and that made the farewell all the more emotional. One final dinner, one final toast and many warm embraces at Les Messugues brought our journey from Vienna to the south of France to a close. It had been much more than a motorcycle tour – it had been a shared adventure filled with experiences that will stay with us for a very long time. The final kilometer was ridden – but the memories will remain. ❤️🏍️⛰️🇦🇹🇮🇹🇨🇭🇫🇷

🇬🇧 Day 12 – Great Passes Beneath a Sky Full of Clouds Our twelfth riding day started in Beaufort with a pleasant surprise: the weather was much better than expected! The mountains were covered by a thick layer of clouds, but there was no rain – perfect conditions for taking on another series of legendary Alpine passes. We first used the motorway for a short section before returning to the winding mountain roads. The Col du Télégraphe marked the beginning of the real pass adventure. Bend after bend, the group climbed higher until we reached the next major highlight: the legendary Col du Galibier. At the summit, the traditional group photo in front of the famous summit sign was, of course, a must. With the mountains disappearing into the clouds, the atmosphere was almost mysterious, yet the scenery remained spectacular. From there we continued over the Col du Lautaret and through the Serre Chevalier valley, combining beautiful Alpine scenery with some fantastic roads for riding. And the best was still to come. Over the spectacular Col d’Izoard, through Briançon and finally across the Col de Vars, we continued deeper into the southern French Alps. Every bend brought a new view, a different landscape and another reason to enjoy being on a motorcycle. Eventually, we reached Barcelonnette, where our hotel Azteka was waiting for us. Despite the grey and cloudy skies, we had enjoyed a fantastic riding day – perhaps one of the most pleasantly surprising days of the entire journey. The clouds created dramatic scenery, the roads provided endless curves, and the group once again supplied plenty of smiles along the way. 🏍️☁️⛰️🇫🇷