France, Germany, Switzerland & Italian Dolomites 2026

Riders arrive in Sedan, a historic French town and the starting point for the journey ahead. The evening is relaxed. Time to settle in, check over bikes, and meet fellow riders. The anticipation builds quietly. Tomorrow, the road begins.

The tour eases south through the Vosges, a perfect warm-up for what lies ahead. Sweeping forest roads, light elevation changes, and smooth tarmac set the rhythm. By afternoon, the Black Forest’s darker pines and flowing B500 stretches introduce a different character. The first proper riding day finishes with that familiar feeling, tyres warm, shoulders loose, and the week beginning to take shape.

Today the scenery begins to rise. Crossing into Switzerland, the roads tighten and the scale increases. Alpine valleys open, peaks appear closer, and the riding grows more purposeful. The transition feels natural, building momentum without forcing the pace.

This is where Switzerland shows its hand. Legendary passes such as the Gotthard, Grimsel, Susten or Nufenen deliver high-altitude drama, sweeping hairpins, and long panoramic stretches. It’s technical without being punishing, demanding attention while rewarding precision. One of those days that lingers in your mind long after the engine stops.

The journey continues south into Italy. The architecture changes. The language softens. The roads become sculpted and dramatic. Arrival in Campitello di Fassa marks the beginning of the Dolomite chapter, with a multi-night base allowing the region to be explored properly.

Today is about iconic riding. Sella, Gardena, Campolongo, Pordoi. Tight switchbacks. Sharp limestone peaks rising almost vertically from the roadside. The Dolomites are intimate and intense, and the riding feels carved from the mountains themselves.

Another day among world-class passes. Perhaps Giau, Rolle, Fedaia or Tre Croci. Each road has its own personality. Some are technical and flowing. Others open into broad high plateaus. The beauty of a base stay is that you ride lighter and return each evening to familiar surroundings. Or spend the time as we often do and choose adventure off the bike and hop on the Eiger Express Railway and marvel at the iconic North Face of the Eiger, or take the breathtaking Schilthorn Cable Car up to the famous summit, where the 007 Museum and restaurant await, offering Bond-worthy views and experiences.

Today’s ride marks the transition from the Swiss Alps into the heart of the Dolomites. Leaving Obergoms, the road climbs steadily toward the Albula Pass, a beautifully engineered stretch of alpine tarmac that rewards smooth, flowing riding.

Beyond the summit, Switzerland gradually gives way to Italy. The scenery shifts. Limestone cliffs rise sharply from green valleys, and the character of the mountains becomes more dramatic and sculpted.

The day finishes in Campitello di Fassa, where we settle for five nights. The riding changes here, becoming tighter, more technical, and unmistakably Dolomite in feel. A long, rewarding day that feels like the gateway to the next chapter of the tour.

Today is yours to shape, but the classic Sella Ronda loop is waiting.

From Campitello di Fassa, you can roll straight into the Sella Pass, where smooth curves and sharp limestone peaks set the tone. The climb is steady and rewarding, with views that make you want to pause more than once.

The descent flows toward Gardena Pass, where wide valleys open beneath towering rock walls. From there, Campolongo offers a slightly gentler rhythm before the iconic switchbacks of Pordoi rise ahead. The hairpins stack neatly into the mountainside, delivering one of the most recognisable rides in the Dolomites.

It’s a compact day in mileage, but rich in riding. Take it steadily, stop often, ride it twice if you wish. The beauty of today is that there’s no rush. You return to the same base, with the freedom to make the loop exactly what you want it to be.

Another full Dolomites day, and one you can shape to suit your rhythm.

The route threads once more through the Sella massif, linking Sella, Gardena, Campolongo and Pordoi in a longer, more expansive loop. The climbs feel sharper today, the descents more flowing, and the scenery somehow even more dramatic when viewed from a different direction or in changing light.

Sweeping curves carry you beneath towering limestone walls before tightening into stacked switchbacks that demand smooth control rather than speed. Between passes, wide valleys open briefly, offering space to breathe before the next ascent begins.

At 155 miles, it’s a fuller riding day, but still balanced. Stop when you want. Take the long way round. Repeat a favourite stretch. With your base unchanged, the day belongs entirely to you.

Today’s route takes you deeper into the character of the Dolomites.

You can begin with Passo Giau, one of the most beautiful climbs in the region. The road rises steadily, opening into wide alpine views that seem to stretch in every direction. It’s the kind of ascent that rewards smooth throttle and steady focus.

From there, Tre Croci offers a different rhythm, flowing and scenic, before the valley stretch through Fiames gives you space to relax and reset.

The day builds toward Passo Fedaia, where the road tightens again beneath the presence of the Marmolada Glacier. The climb is purposeful, the hairpins precise, and the setting unmistakably dramatic.

It’s a balanced day. Enough to feel fully immersed, without pressure. Ride it steadily, pause where it feels right, and return knowing you’ve experienced another distinct side of the Dolomites on your own terms.

Today marks your departure from Campitello di Fassa as the route turns west toward Bormio, threading together lakes, high passes, and some of the most memorable riding in the Alps.

The morning begins gently, winding toward Lake Carezza. Its turquoise water and sharp mountain backdrop make it worth a pause before the road begins to rise again. From there, the climb to Tonale Pass settles into a steady rhythm, sweeping bends carrying you higher through open alpine scenery.

The character changes again at Gavia Pass. Narrower, more demanding, and undeniably dramatic, it rewards smooth control and focus. The landscape feels raw and exposed, the riding more intimate.

The descent delivers you into Bormio, a classic alpine town and the perfect place to reflect on a day that blends calm lakes, serious climbs, and high mountain solitude. Ride it steadily, take your time, and let the mountains dictate the pace.

Leaving Bormio, the road wastes no time in rising toward one of Europe’s most iconic climbs, Stelvio Pass. The hairpins stack tightly into the mountainside, each bend opening wider views across the high Alps. It’s a climb to take steadily, savouring the rhythm rather than rushing the summit.

From there, the route carries you through Brenner Pass, a historic corridor between Italy and Austria, before turning toward the dramatic heights of Timmelsjoch. The road here feels purposeful and exposed, with long sweeping sections broken by sharper climbs and panoramic viewpoints.

The day eases as you descend toward Walenstadt. The lake appears almost unexpectedly, calm and reflective beneath the surrounding peaks. It’s a fitting finish to a day that blends challenge, scale, and quiet alpine beauty, ridden entirely at your own pace.

Today is one of those rides that stays with you.

Leaving Bormio, the road climbs immediately into Stelvio Pass. The switchbacks rise in tight formation beneath towering alpine walls, each hairpin demanding patience and smooth control. At the summit, you can pause for a photo, take in the scale of it all, and simply stand for a moment where so many riders have stood before.

The descent leads north toward Austria and the historic Brenner Pass, a natural corridor through the Alps. From there, the character shifts again as you head toward Timmelsjoch. Sweeping, elevated, and less crowded, it feels expansive and open, with long views stretching across high valleys.

The final stretch descends toward Walenstadt. Lake Walen appears calm and reflective beneath the surrounding peaks, offering a peaceful contrast to the intensity of the passes. After a full alpine day, it’s the perfect place to unwind and let the ride settle in your own time.

Leaving Walenstadt, the road unwinds gently through the Swiss countryside. The intensity of the high passes softens into rolling hills, tidy villages, and open stretches that allow you to settle into a steady rhythm.

As you approach the Vosges, the roads tighten again briefly, offering one last reminder of the terrain you’ve crossed. Crossing back into France, the landscape becomes broader and more pastoral, with quiet valleys guiding you toward Nancy.

Arriving in the evening, the atmosphere shifts from mountain solitude to city warmth. A walk through the historic centre, perhaps a relaxed dinner in one of the lively squares, feels like a natural conclusion. It’s a calm and fitting finish to a journey defined by high roads, dramatic scenery, and miles that will stay with you long after you return home.

After breakfast, it’s time to depart Nancy and begin the journey home.

There’s no convoy, no rush, just the quiet satisfaction of a tour ridden properly. As you leave the hotel and point the bike north, the memories come with you. High passes, tight switchbacks, long valley stretches, and the simple rhythm of days spent in the mountains.

Trip complete.
But the roads will stay with you for a long time.