Ride the ultimate European Alpine passes

“The best of the best”

This is the riders ride.

All of the best alpine passes and even a full speed blast on an unlimited speed section of autobahn in Germany. 12 days of non-stop twists, turns and blasts.

If you’ve ever dreamt of riding the European Alps this is the tour to do because we will be ticking off most of the passes that exist on Top 10 lists.

We are heading back to Europe in 2025 to give you a fix of fine food and jaw dropping alpine riding. This is the second of two tours we have planned for the 2025 Euro summer riding season.

Over 12 amazing days we invite you to join us on a European road tour of the gorgeous Italian & Austrian Alps, captivating Munich Germany and the almighty Dolomites with as many awesome mountain passes as we can jam in between!

The route we will ride includes the most incredible tarmac roads you can possibly imagine. From a distance, the roads appear to be grey ribbons snaking their way up and down mountainsides. From up close, they appear to be the most fun you have ever experienced on a motorcycle! For an Australian travelling to Europe and riding the European Alpine passes it is simply mind blowing. The scenery is stunningly beautiful. The roads are incredibly twisty and fun to ride. The food is drool worthy amazing, and the company, well of course it is the best!

Tour Details

The epitome of riding the European Alps. That is what our Pinnacle Passes tour is all about.

Italy and Austria are home to some of the most amazing Alpine passes like: Passo Stelvio, Passo Gavia, Passo Gardena, Selle Ronda & Grossglockner. We will tackle as many of these passes as we can in our 11 days on the roads.

Our tour begins near the cosmopolitan city of Milan in Monza, Italy. After a meet & greet at our hotel a welcome dinner will follow which is an opportunity for us to make introductions and begin our tour in a fun, social environment.

The following morning we will collect our fleet of rental motorcycles with your choice of either Ducati or BMW motorcycles available. Each bike will come equipped with pannier and/or top boxes to carry your overnight gear securely. If our group size is large enough we will also have a support van following us carrying our luggage so we can ride light during the during, free to enjoy the curves to the maximum.

Once loaded up we will clear our way out of Milan and point to the mountains which aren’t hard to find as everywhere you look we are surrounded by glorious mountains. We head north towards the Italian Alps and the Italian Lakes District.

Onto playful Lake Garda for our first couple of nights which is pretty much our favourite place in all of Europe. Riva del Garda takes a special place in our hearts for it’s fantastic mix of action sports culture mixed with some old city charm and a great range of restaurants. Our loop day will take in a couple of our favourite roads including one we discovered in 2023 which we dubbed “The road of 1,000 corners” for obvious reasons!

Our first destination is at Lake Garda where we will spend two nights, using it as a base. In fact many stops on our tour will be two nights which allows for a more relaxed feeling during the ride without the need to pack up and unpack each day.

From Riva del Garda we at our the foothills of the most famous of all mountain passes, Passo Stelvio. Passo Gavia is first though and sure to etch itself in your memory bank with it’s exposed barrier-free edges dropping hundreds of metres to the valley floor. Spectacular doesn’t do it justice! Our route will then take us up and over Stelvio to finish in Merano.

Next on the menu is a blast over Timmelsjoch and briefly into Austria before we hit the Autobahn for a full throttle unlimited speed run up to Munich. The beautiful city of Munich impressed the hell out of us the first time we visited in 2015 so we are super keen to get back there. We will have a complete rest day off the bikes so we can enjoy the festivities at a beer hall, take in an incredible automotive museum and just wander the beautiful gardens and streets of the city.

Grossglockner. Probably the second most popular alpine passes after Stelvio.

Riding the cobble stoned road to the top of the summit is a treat and if you are lucky you might even spot a cute little marmot. For sure you will see cows with bells roaming the hills. They are everywhere during summer!

Next few days will be spent in the incredible Dolomites with all its majestic peaks. The Tyrollean hills hold many superb hotels surrounded by spectacular mountains, but we are particularly chuffed about the one we have selected. They have certainly spoiled us rotten here before.

Travelling around the Dolomite mountains the next few days will afford us views of the drop dead gorgeous Dolomites at their most majestic around Val Gardena and Tre Cime. Seeing Lago di Braies and its tranquil clear blue waters surrounded by granite mountains is sure to be a memory that will stay with you for a long time.

After soaking up all the Dolomiti magic we can our last days on tour will be spent near tranquil Lake Como. It doesn’t get any more Italian than this! Tick off many bucket list items including a boat ferry across to Bellagio for our final day.

Our return back to Monza will mark the end of our superb tour with a farewell dinner. The photos and memories you will capture will stay with you for a lifetime.

To reel off some of the Alpine passes we will traverse as part of the ride:

Passo Stelvio
Passo Gavia
Passo del Tonale
Strada Della Forra
Passo Rolle
Passo Valles
Passo di Giau
Passo Pordoi
Passo Sella
Passo di Gardena
Grossglockner
Timmelsjoch

Maybe you’ve heard of some of these? And rightly so! If not, look them up and you will be salivating at the amazing roads and their views.

As we are travelling through multiple alpine passes, the riding will be challenging in places with many twisty roads, impossibly tight hairpins and some exhilarating days in the saddle. This is not a ride for the inexperienced rider. Although we will be riding on sealed roads, we can guarantee you it will still be an adventure!

This is a small group ride and pillions are most welcome. Depending on the group size we may also have a support vehicle following us which can carry passengers and our overnight clothes.

The key to enjoying this trip is to soak up and enjoy the European way of life, go with the flow, enjoy your surroundings and the fabulous friends you’ll make along the way!

All arrangements on tour including motorcycle hire will be organised by us. All you have to do is book your flights to arrive into Milan by the nominated date and let Maschine take care of the rest!

*If riders choose Shared accommodation package it is dependant on an even number of riders choosing this option. Riders may need to upgrade to Single if no other riders choose Shared. The beds in European shared rooms are typically single beds, sometimes in tight quarters so it is best you are very friendly with your chosen partner!

To secure your place simply confirm your intentions with a $2,000 AUD deposit. We will invoice the remaining balance for your tour in Euro with the option of multiple payment instalments during 2024 and 2025. These instalment payments will be via invoice paid in Euro currency (initial deposit paid in AUD).

Departure & Return Location

Monza, Italy (Google Map)

Dates

23 June – 4 July 2025

Package options

Single Accommodation & bike rental - € TBC
Shared Accommodation & bike rental - € TBC - Limited places, CALL US!
Couples Accommodation & bike rental - € TBC (2 x people, 1 x motorcycle)

Price Includes

Motorcycle rental - Choose from Ducati or BMW adventure touring models
12 nights of luxury 4 and 5 star accommodation
Tour Guides x 2
Some toll fees
Transfers to bike rental depot from base hotel
Most meals - Breakfast and dinner daily
Support vehicle to carry luggage
City taxes for accommodation

Price Excludes

Train, ferry and taxi fares
Any meals/alcohol not specified in tour package
Extra activities outside of the tour
Fuel, some road tolls, parking fees, fines
Flights & travel insurance
Visas (if required). Please check your individual circumstances

Complementaries

GPS route file
Luggage carried for you
Tour T-Shirt
Carefully curated route

Highlights

Option to join us for the MotoGP race in Mugello near Florence the weekend prior to our tour beginning
Beautiful Monza is our start and finish location in a grand hotel near the F1 track
Italian lakes district - Lago di Como, Lago di Garda
Ride some of the amazing Alpine passes - Stelvio Pass, Passo Gavia, Grossglockner
Munich will entertain us for a couple of nights with beer halls and automotive museums
Impossibly gorgeous mountain villages
Enjoy the distinctive flavours of northern Italian foods of the Sud Tirol region - Pizzoccheri anyone?
Dolomite mountain passes Val Gardena and Tres Cime
Carve up and down Passo dello Stelvio - the most famous of all alpine passes

Itinerary

Day 0 - Mon 23 JuneArrive Milan, Italy

Book your flights to arrive into Milan or perhaps take the option of joining us for the MotoGP round at Mugello the weekend prior?

We will do a meet and greet at our hotel near Monza where you will meet the crew and we will run through the program for our tour. Later, we will enjoy a traditional Italian welcome dinner that evening before a good night’s rest.

Day 1 - Tue 24 JuneMilan > Riva del Garda

Breakfast at the hotel before we head to the rental depot to collect our motorcycles for the tour. A quick commute through the streets of Milan before we clear the city and hit the open roads. We can leave our big gear bags or cases in Milan until we return.

We will depart Milan before midday and take the roads north towards the famous Lake Garda. The Tyrol region of Italian lakes hold a special tranquil charm that is irresistible. Our overnight stop for the next two nights is in the town of Riva del Garda, nestled right in the Italian Alps surrounded by striking peaks.

Day 2 - Wed 25 JuneLake Garda loop day

Stay and enjoy the many activities around the hotel or ride an amazing loop along the lake and into the soaring mountains that surround the lake? Maybe we can manage both?

With a two night stay at Riva del Garda it gives us an opportunity to do some exploring around this most engaging lake. The area is alive with action sports but also has its fair share of history evident in the town centre of Riva del Garda. If you ask Nick or Trudi they will promptly tell you Riva del Garda is there favourite place to spend time when in Italy. We hope you will agree!

Day 3 - Thu 26 JuneRiva del Garda > Merano

We will quickly feel the pull of the mountains this morning long before we get on our bikes. What lays ahead is some of the most incredible alpine passes. Not the least of which is Passo dello Stelvio.

Day 4 - Fri 27 JuneMerano > Munich

Dropping over into Austria via Timmelsjoch we will be surrounded by gorgeous alpine mountain scapes that will fight for your attention.

If the weather gods don’t act in our favour the previous day, we do have a second chance of tackling Stelvio on our way north to Germany. Hell we may just do it a second time regardless!

An Autobahn run into Munich will have you buzzing!

Day 5 - Sat 28 JuneMunich rest day

Munich is a charming city. Surprisingly beautiful and you will be amazed at the scale of the English gardens that sprawl through the centre of the city. We will make it a complete rest day off the bikes today but will still please the rev heads amongst our (that’s all of us right?) by visiting an incredible automotive museum. Topped by a beer hall for dinner. Can life get any better?

Day 6 - Sun 29 JuneMunich > Sesto

If you think we’ve ridden some amazing mountains then today is sure to have you rethinking. Grossglockner is considered the mother of all alpine roads and it is pretty hard to argue. Great road surface and a mix of sweeping open views and tight hairpins switchbacks.

Today we make our way to some of the most mesmerising landscapes in all of Italy. The Dolomites. The mountains look like they were created by some divine being that had a great sense of proportions and beauty. They are truly magical to behold.

Day 7 - Mon 30 JuneDolomites loop

We truly can point our motorcycles in any direction today and we will be spoiled with incredible mountain passes to ride. The views will steal your concentration from the road ahead, roads that demand attention with all their twists and turns.

If you ask Nick & Trudi they will both swear they were born in this part of the Sud Tirol region of the Italian Alps. Sadly their passports tell a different story! The Dolomites holds such incredible beauty with their awe inspiring granite peaks stretching for the sky. Four nights in the Dolomites to take in at least a small part of the grandeur.

Day 8 - Tue 1 JulySesto > Ortisei

Do we take the short way through the Dolomites to get to our accommodation early or do we take the long way? You guide us and we will guide you!

Again we have so many more awesome passes lined up to ride. The only limit is your energy levels.

Day 9 - Wed 2 JulyOrtisei loop

Our hotel is the epitome of luxury mountain lifestyle. Surrounding our hotel are some spectacular passes including Passo Rolle, Passo Pordoi & Passo Sella. In fact our hotel is pretty much nestled in between these passes so you will feel spoiled.

In 2024 we went paragliding amongst the awe inspiring peaks for an unforgettable experience. If heights aren’t your thing you have plenty of walking options either in amongst the shops in the villages or amongst the clouds in Seiser Alm (Alpe di Siusi) and Seceda.

Choices today. So many of them!

If you decided to stay put at our hotel and soak up the luxury, well that wouldn’t be a crime either!

Day 10 - Thu 3 JulyOrtisei > Varenna, Lake Como

Really, do we have to leave the Dolomites so soon? Well, we will see more of the awesome mountains today as we ride south west out of the Dolomites and towards the Italian Lakes District.

We guarantee you won’t be disappointed when you top that mountain atop Varenna and see glorious Lake Como laid out before you. It truly is a sight to behold.

Day 11 - Fri 4 JulyVarenna > Milan

Maybe we should add on another night? It seems like it’s over too soon.

We will stretch out our time amongst the twisities and alongside the lakes for as long as we can before rejoining the autostrada to get back into Milan.

We return our rental bikes in Milan and then taxi back to our hotel to freshen up before a final dinner together in Monza. It is a grand old hotel filled charm that will feel like a second home when we return.

Sat 5 JulyHead home

After breakfast at our hotel we will make our way home or onwards with your trip wherever that may take you. Perhaps extend your stay another few days and process the memories.

If you must head home you will be guaranteed a lifetime of memories and experiences will follow you that will make you feel you have enjoyed something truly special.

Map

*Exact route TBC

Single rider

Single Accommodation

TBC

A room to yourself
10 nights accommodation
Rental bike
Most meals included

Shared

Shared Accommodation

TBC

Twin share room
10 nights accommodation
Rental bike
Most meals included

Couple

Couple Shared Accommodation

TBC

Couple shared room
10 nights accommodation
One rental bike
Most meals included x 2

Photos

FAQ

How hard is the riding?

This ride is classed as – Grade 2-3: Intermediate

Although this tour is all on bitumen roads they are anything but a cruise. We will traversing switchback hairpin turns, riding narrow mountain roads with huge drops, crazy Italian traffic and all of this is on the “wrong” side of the road.

See our Track Grading System for more detailed information to help you decide if this ride is right for you.

How much motorcycle riding experience do I need to do this ride?

We expect riders on this tour to have several years riding experience – ideally two years. Although this is primarily a road tour at least some off-road riding experience may help as some roads can be much tighter and rougher than Australian roads.

For sure pillion passengers are welcome to be a part of this tour and they will find it to be an incredible experience. You will see and experience so much on the back of a motorcycle.

If you have any questions or concerns just give us a call and we are happy to have a chat about your personal experience level and whether this ride is right for you.

What is the size of the group doing this ride?

This ride will have 8 – 14 people plus 2 tour guides

We find a maximum group size of around 12 bikes is great because it allows us to take you the most spectacular and unique restaurants and hotels during our trip.

Over the days you are sure meet and talk to everyone during the ride and make some new friends.

Do you rent motorcycles for this ride?

Yes, rental bikes are included in the tour pricing. If you have access to your own motorcycle in Europe then you are welcome to bring that along and we will adjust the tour pricing accordingly.

The list of available rental bikes includes:

Ducati Mulitstrada V4 or V2
Ducati DesertX
BMW R1250GS or F750GS
Honda Africa Twin

Can I bring my own motorcycle?

Yes. This ride is primarily for riders coming from Australia and renting a motorcycle but you can your own adventure or touring motorcycle.

How do I follow the planned routes?

We provide the pre-planned routes as a .GPX file you can load into your GPS or Smartphone navigation app. We typically stick together as a group during the day though using the cornerman system to aid with navigation with a lead rider guiding the way and a sweep rider keeping the bunch together.

Trusting our tour guide to lead the way will help you relax and take in the scenery or focus on the thrill of the road rather than stressing over getting lost.

We like to allow riders to go at their own pace and choose how quick or slow they take things. Riders safety is paramount so we can be assured that everyone arrives safely at the overnight stop.

For each event we also provide printed itineraries and route sheets which include an overview map and address details of overnight accommodation stops etc.

Do I need to carry my overnight luggage on my motorcycle?

Yes. For our international road tours we typically don’t provide a luggage support vehicle so you will have to carry your own luggage on your motorcycle. Usually our rental bikes come equipped with panniers and/or top box so you can secure your gear. Please confirm your required luggage options at time of booking.

Read our Overseas Riders Prep Guide for tips on what and how to pack.

Can I bring my wheelie gear bag to carry my gear?

Yes. As our overseas tours start and finish at the same location we have the ability to leave your suitcases or wheelie gear bag at either the motorcycle rental depot or our hotel until we return at the completion of our tour. During the tour we will ask you to bring a smaller bag of around 50 litres in size to be carried in our support van.

Remember luggage weight limits at the airport though and also bear in mind you will have limited space on the bike to carry your overnight clothes and toiletries etc.

Can I ride with panniers or top box on my bike?

Yes. Typically our rental bikes come fitted with hard plastic or aluminium panniers and/or top boxes to carry your gear. Alternatively you may decide to travel light with just a dry bag that gets strapped on but keep security in mind for when our bikes are parked.

Read our Surviving Your First European Ride page for tips on what and how to pack.

What gear/tools do I need to carry with me during the day?

We’ve got you covered here! Our tour guide and sweep rider will carry a full set of tools and first aid gear to deal with any small issues on the road. Typically the rental bikes will include some basics like a tyre puncture repair kit.

Do I need visas?

If you are an Australian resident you should not require a visa for the countries we are visiting. Please check the Smart Traveller website for travel requirements based on your situation.

What are your booking terms and conditions?

Follow this link for our Booking Terms & Conditions

Pinnacle Passes 2025

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