Grand Alps Loop — Self-Launched Motorcycle Route (Evian to Colmar)
9 days · The Alps: France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria and Germany
Ride in Tours charges £2,500
No-markup version: ~£1,290 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Ride in Tours' 9-day guided Grand Alps motorcycle loop, running from Lake Geneva across the Swiss passes to Lake Como, the Dolomites and Stelvio, into Austria and Germany, and finishing at Colmar via the Rhine Falls. Ride it as a solo traveller on your own bike (or a rented one in Lyon/Geneva) with a GPS route file instead of a guide, small guesthouses and hostels instead of tour hotels, and self-booked visits (Moto Guzzi museum, Neuschwanstein, Krimml Falls) so the loop is on your own schedule. The famous pass roads — Furka, Grimsel, Gotthard, Stelvio, Giau, Marmolada, Grossglockner — are all publicly rideable and free or cheap per-toll, so the savings come mainly from cutting the guide and hotel mark-up. Costs are approximate backpacker-level estimates in GBP, excluding bike hire/purchase and fuel.
Day-by-day
Arrive Evian / Thonon-les-Bains — bike prep and brief yourself
Evian / Thonon-les-Bains, Lake Geneva, France
Fly into Geneva (cheapest from the UK) or Lyon, then take the Léman Express train or a TER regional train along the lake to Thonon-les-Bains or Evian (~£9-14, 45-75 min). If you're hiring, collect a mid-size touring bike in Geneva or Lyon the day before (a 3-week hire of a 650-750cc tourer typically works out at ~£60-75/day; a 9-day hire is nearer £80-95/day). Check tyres, brakes and pack a small tool kit, spare levers and a plug kit. Build your route file tonight (Kurviger or Google My Maps) using the itinerary below as the skeleton. Evening: swim at one of the free lake beaches on Lake Leman, pick up groceries for breakfasts, and eat at a lakeside brasserie in Thonon's old town. Budget hostel/guesthouse rooms in Thonon or Évian run £25-35 a night.
🚌Flight to Geneva or Lyon, then Léman Express / TER train to Thonon-les-Bains or Evian (~£9-14). Bike hire pick-up if renting.
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Thonon-les-Bains / Évian (~£25-35)
- →Self-briefing and route-file build
- →Bike check-over
- →Lake Leman swim and lakeside walk in Thonon-les-Bains
Lake Geneva to Lake Brienz via Gruyères
Gruyères and Brienzersee, Switzerland
Ride east along the Swiss shore of Lake Geneva towards Vevey and Bulle, then climb to Gruyères — the medieval walled town with its castle (CHF 12, ~£11) and the HR Giger museum if that's your thing. Free walking loop of the ramparts and the cheese dairies in town. From Gruyères, take the back roads via Jaun and over the Jaunpass or via Zweisimmen to Interlaken, then follow the lake to Brienz. The Jungfrau massif looms over the Brienzersee — the view from the north shore road is free and as good as anything on the tour. Sleep in Brienz or Interlaken in a backpackers' hostel (dorm £30-38, private £55-70). Note the Swiss vignette isn't needed on a motorcycle, but motorway use requires one on cars — stick to the pass roads anyway.
🚌Own/hired motorcycle ~230 km. Fuel ~£25-30. Swiss motorways need no bike vignette; pass roads free.
🛏Hostel in Brienz or Interlaken (~£32-40)
- →Gruyères old town and castle (CHF 12)
- →Jaunpass / Simmental back roads
- →Brienzersee north shore viewpoint and lakeside walk
The big Swiss pass day: Grimsel, Furka and Gotthard to Lugano
Grimsel, Furka, Gotthard Passes — to Lugano, Switzerland
Your longest day — do it early. From Interlaken ride to Innertkirchen and up the Grimselpass (2,164 m), down to Gletsch, then up the Furkapass (2,429 m) with the Rhône Glacier on your left and the Belvédère ice cave if you fancy stopping (CHF 12). Descend via Realp and take the Gotthardpass: ride the old Tremola cobbled road (a genuine classic, free) rather than the tunnel, then drop south to Airolo and Biasca. Continue down the Leventina to Bellinzona — the three castles are free to walk around — then on to Lugano. Consider stopping for a cheap pizza slice in Bellinzona's old town. Sleeper: hostel dorm in Lugano or nearby Paradiso (£30-38). Fuel day: ~£30. Watch for weather — check pass status on the Swiss TCS or Alpenpass websites before setting off.
🚌Motorcycle ~260 km. Old Tremola/Gotthard pass road free; Furka/Grimsel free.
🛏Hostel dorm in Lugano or Paradiso (~£32-38)
- →Grimselpass
- →Furkapass and Rhône Glacier viewpoint
- →Tremola cobbled Gotthard road
- →Bellinzona castles (free exterior walk)
Lake Como: Bellagio ferry and the Moto Guzzi factory museum
Lake Como and Mandello del Lario, Italy
Cross into Italy and head to Mandello del Lario on the eastern shore of Lake Como: the Moto Guzzi factory museum is open to visitors on weekday mornings by appointment — email ahead, entry around €10-12 (~£9-10). If you're riding a Guzzi, you can ask about a factory visit. Then ride the lake road to Lecco and hop on the car/moto ferry to Bellagio (a few euros for a bike and rider — the passenger ferries also connect Varenna and Menaggio, ~£4-5 per crossing). Bellagio's stepped lanes and the Punta Spartivento viewpoint are free. End the day in the Dolomites' foothills or break the ride at Trento/Bolzano with a cheap agriturismo or hostel. Note: Dolomites accommodation is pricier — book early for £25-40 a night in a guesthouse.
🚌Motorcycle ~250 km plus Lake Como ferry (bike + rider, small fee). Fuel ~£28.
🛏Guesthouse/hostel near Trento or Bolzano (~£28-38)
- →Moto Guzzi factory museum, Mandello del Lario (~£10, pre-book)
- →Lake Como ferry crossing to Bellagio
- →Bellagio lanes and Punta Spartivento
Stelvio Pass and into the Dolomites
Stelvio Pass and South Tyrol / Alto Adige, Italy
Ride north from Bolzano towards Prato allo Stelvio and take on the Passo dello Stelvio (2,757 m) from the classic Tyrolean side — 48 hairpins, free to ride, with a café and sausage stand at the summit. Descend east towards Bormio or loop back towards Merano, depending on weather (check the pass is open; it usually opens late May and closes early November). Then head towards the Dolomites via Merano and the Val Pusteria. Swap a paid guide for a self-guided hike: the easy trails around Dobbiaco/Toblach and the Lago di Braies (Braies is a paid car park ~€8, motorcycle parking cheaper) give the same scenery for free. Sleep in a mountain guesthouse (Gasthof) in the Val Pusteria (~£30-40). Fuel ~£28.
🚌Motorcycle ~250 km. Stelvio free; Lago di Braies parking ~€8.
🛏Gasthof/mountain guesthouse in Val Pusteria (~£30-40)
- →Passo dello Stelvio classic 48-hairpin ascent
- →Bormio/Merano valley roads
- →Self-guided walk at Lago di Braies
Dolomites passes: Giau, Marmolada, Tre Cime and Grossglockner into Austria
Passo Giau, Marmolada, Tre Cime di Lavaredo — to Grossglockner, Austria
The big Dolomites day: from the Val Pusteria, ride the Passo Giau (2,236 m, free) for the payoff view of the Ra Gusela, then the Marmolada road under the queen of the Dolomites. The Tre Cime di Lavaredo toll road costs about €30 per motorcycle (worth it — it's the only paid pass on the loop), and the walk from Rifugio Auronzo to the Rifugio Locatelli viewpoint is free and takes 2-3 hours. From there, ride east to Lienz and up the Grossglockner High Alpine Road in Austria — the motorcycle toll is around €30-35 for a day ticket, and it includes the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe glacier viewpoint and the Pasterze glacier. Sleep in Heiligenblut or Zell am See in a cheap Pension (~£30-40). Fuel ~£30. Check Grossglockner opening dates before committing (usually May to early November).
🚌Motorcycle ~330 km. Tre Cime toll ~€30 bike, Grossglockner ~€30-35 bike day ticket.
🛏Pension in Heiligenblut or Zell am See (~£30-40)
- →Passo Giau
- →Marmolada road
- →Tre Cime di Lavaredo summit walk (self-guided from Rifugio Auronzo)
- →Grossglockner High Alpine Road and Pasterze glacier viewpoint
Krimml Falls to Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Krimml, Austria — Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
A shorter, gentler riding day. Head west from Zell am See to Krimml: the Krimml Falls are Europe's highest, entry to the Wasserfallweg trail is about €7 (~£6), and the lower viewpoints are free if you're time-short. From Krimml, cross into Bavaria via the Gerlos pass or the Inn valley and ride to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, tucked under the Zugspitze. Cheap but great: the Partnachklamm gorge walk (€9-10 entry) and the free stroll around Garmisch's painted-lüftl houses. Sleep in a Garmisch hostel or Gasthof (~£30-42). Fuel ~£22.
🚌Motorcycle ~230 km. Fuel ~£22.
🛏Hostel or Gasthof in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (~£30-42)
- →Krimml Falls trail (~£6)
- →Gerlos/Inn valley ride
- →Partnachklamm gorge walk (€9-10)
Oberammergau, Neuschwanstein Castle and Lake Constance
Oberammergau, Neuschwanstein — to Lake Constance (Bodensee), Germany
Ride north to Oberammergau, the woodcarving village with the famous Passion Play theatre and painted houses — free to wander. Then to Neuschwanstein: book your castle ticket online in advance via the Bavarian Palace Administration (about €21, plus €2.50 booking fee; entry is timed and sells out). The castles' exterior and the Marienbrücke view are free. From there, ride west via Füssen and through the Allgäu to Lindau on Lake Constance. Swim in the Bodensee (free, and warm in summer), and sleep in a Lindau or Friedrichshafen hostel (~£30-38). Fuel ~£25.
🚌Motorcycle ~280 km. Fuel ~£25.
🛏Hostel in Lindau or Friedrichshafen (~£30-38)
- →Oberammergau village walk (free)
- →Neuschwanstein Castle timed ticket (~£20, pre-book)
- →Marienbrücke viewpoint
- →Bodensee lakeside swim
Rhine Falls, the Black Forest and finish in Colmar
Schaffhausen Rhine Falls — Black Forest — Colmar, France
Ride west from Lindau along the Swiss/German border to the Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen — Europe's largest waterfall. Skip the boat trip (around CHF 12) if you want to save cash; the free viewing platforms on both banks give the best angle, and the Känzeli path on the north side is worth the walk. Then cross into the Black Forest and take the B500 Schwarzwaldhochstrasse south-west towards Freiburg and over to Colmar in Alsace. Colmar's old town (Little Venice, the Unterlinden quarter) is free to wander; a tarte flambée and a glass of Alsace wine for dinner is around £15-18. Celebrate the loop with a crêpe in the old town. Overnight in a Colmar hostel or budget hotel (~£30-40); take the TER train to Basel or Strasbourg the next day for flights home (~£10-20). Fuel ~£25.
🚌Motorcycle ~250 km. Fuel ~£25. Return by TER train Colmar-Strasbourg or Colmar-Basel (~£10-20).
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Colmar (~£30-40)
- →Rhine Falls free viewing platforms and Känzeli path
- →Black Forest B500 scenic road
- →Colmar old town and Little Venice (free)
Self-launched vs. Ride in Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Ride in Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,290 | £2,500 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,210 per person (48%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Ride in Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,290
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Grand Alps Loop — Self-Launched Motorcycle Route (Evian to Colmar) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,290 per person for 9 days in The Alps: France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria and Germany. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Ride in Tours?+
Yes — Ride in Tours charges around £2,500 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,290 — a saving of roughly £1,210 (48%) per person.
How long is the The Alps: France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria and Germany trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through The Alps: France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria and Germany.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, road-trip, hiking trip through The Alps: France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria and Germany, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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