WINDING SWISS ALPINE ROADS & CHARMING NORTHERN ITALIAN LAKES
An awesome motorcycle tour dedicated to motorcyclists who love the hairpin bends and curves of the legendary winding roads crossing the high Swiss Alpine passes, or the Italian astonishing Stelvio pass, as well as the gorgeous views of the Northern Italian lakes. It is a circular route touching Innsbruck, Merano, Stelvio pass, Lucerne, Lake Maggiore, Lake Garda, and back to Innsbruck, an anti-clockwise itinerary with three different starting points: Innsbruck in Austria, Lucerne, and Lugano in Switzerland. In all these three cases, you will return to the same point you have started from completing in this way the entire tour.
All the passes in the Swiss Alps this motorbike itinerary will cross:
Umbrailpass 2,501 m. a.s.l.: It is the highest pass in Switzerland that connects Italy and the Stelvio with the Val Müstair;
Nufenen 2,478 m.. It features 23 hairpin bends surrounded by beautiful alpine sceneries;
Furka 2,429 m. a.s.l.: For many bikers, it is one of the most scenic passes of the Swiss Confederation and the Rhone Glacier, although the Glacier today is rather reduced due to global warming. Breathtaking panoramas all around!
Flüela 2,383 m. a.s.l.: From the top, you will enjoy beautiful views of the Schwarzhorn and Flüela-Weisshorn mountains. Near the top, there is a small lake;
Albulapass 2,315 m. a.s.l.: Next to the well-paved road, there is the characteristic railway line declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO;
Julierpass 2,284 m. a.s.l.: A paved road of about 60 kilometers with pleasant curves will take you through the pass;
Susten 2,260 m. a.s.l.: The road crossing this pass is one of those few alpine roads that make motorcyclists fall in love with riding a bike;
Grimsel 2,165 m. a.s.l.: Several hairpin bends will take you to the top where there is Lake Totensee. Its nickname "lake of the dead" dates back to the Napoleonic war;
Gotthard Pass 2,106 m. a.s.l.: You will follow the ancient TREMOLA road here, considered by lots of motorcyclists the most beautiful road in the world where to ride a motorcycle!
Fuornpass 2,149 m. a.s.l.:) Offers curves and amazing sceneries;
Oberalppass 2,046 m. a.s.l. 23 thrilling kilometers between the Glarus Alps and the Lepontine Alps;
Simplon pass 2,005 m. a.s.l.: The curvy road connects Switzerland to Verbano in Italy;
Lukmanierpass 1,915 m.a.s.l.: The road features 4 hairpin bends and many curves: it's great fun to ride here a motorcycle;
Malojapass 1,815 m.a.s.l.: amazing views of the majestic peaks of the Sciora Mountain Group of the Alps.
All the Italian Alpine passes you will cross on this motorcycle tour:
Stelvio pass (2,758 m.a.s.l.): Nestled in the suggestive Stelvio National Park, Stelvio pass is called by the Italians the "king of all passes"! Perhaps it is not entirely true but certainly, the road crossing Stelvio has made many bikers from all over the world who have ever ridden a bike in its legendary hairpin bends fall in love with this awesome winding road!
Jaufenpass (2,094 m.a.s.l.): It is located in the heart of South Tyrol and it is the northernmost Italian Alpine pass;
San Marco pass (1,992 m.a.s.l.): 8 killing switchbacks will take you up to the clouds;
Giogo del Maniva (1,664 m.a.s.l.): It is located in the Prealps of Lake Garda surrounded by fir forests, which occasionally open up showing amazing panoramas;
Zambla pass (1,264 m.a.s.l.): It is a little-known pass but the 14 km long road with 42 hairpin bends can enjoy any biker riding here a motorcycle.
The lakes of northern Italy you will go by in this motorcycle ride:
Lake Maggiore: located between Piedmont and Lombardy, it is the second-largest lake in Italy after Lake Garda. It will enchant you with the suggestive Borromean Islands in the middle of the lake, with the noble villas nestled around featuring large parks and beautiful gardens and with some romantic towns of elegant buildings.
On this tour, you will ride your motorbike along the western shore of the lake visiting Cannobio, Verbania, Arona, and the beautiful Stresa. Then you will follow the eastern shore towards Switzerland and reaching the high mountain of Alpe Neggia where there is an extraordinary viewpoint. From here you can see and enjoy the entire northern part of Lake Maggiore.
Lake Como: offers rare beauty and stunning views. It became a well-known place visited by many tourists and motorcyclists thanks to Alessandro Manzoni, the Italian writer who wrote the famous novel of Promessi sposi. Many celebrities and famous people such as Napoleon, Stendhal, Byron, and Churchill passed here over the centuries. In recent years, tycoons and great Hollywood stars purchased the luxury patrician villas hidden in the Mediterranean scrub along the banks. Keep on riding around the Lariano Triangle between Como, Bellagio, and Lecco. Then climb up the winding road that leads to the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Ghisallo: from here you can enjoy awesome panoramas of the lake below. Have a stop in Mandello del Lario and visit the Moto Guzzi Museum located at the factory of the legendary Italian motorcycle brand, still a great protagonist of motorcycle history of all time.
Lake Iseo: it is a small but delightful body of water in the heart of Franciacorta, the renowned region for its excellent wines.
Lake Garda: it is a beautiful lake nestled among the high peaks of the Alps and an excellent tourist resort. Here you will ride your bike along the suggestive Western Gardesana, a panoramic, scenic road that follows the west bank of the lake. Of course, this tour can not miss the legendary SP38 road, otherwise called "Strada della Forra". So, on this mythical road, you could have the same thrilling experience James Bond had driving his Aston Martin in a heart-pumping chase in the movie Quantum of Solace. If these references of the famous British secret agent would not be enough, then just trust Winston Churchill who called Strada della Forra the most beautiful road in the world!
