Our motorbike trip through Europe started in the Netherlands and took us through Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg and Belgium. This trip was a mix of beautiful landscapes, unexpected encounters and delicious local cuisine – and all of that from the motorbike, which made every kilometre just that little bit more special. Curious about our route? Read on and download the GPX files to take these beautiful rides yourself!

What should you take with you on a motorbike trip?

Good preparation is essential for a carefree motorbike trip. In addition to your standard luggage such as clothing and your wallet, our must-haves are:

• Motorcycle clothing: Naturally, you should ensure you have good protective clothing, supplemented with thermal clothing and rainwear.

• Motorcycle cases or bags: We have had good experiences with the SW Motech and Givi brands. They offer sturdy, spacious storage options for your most important items.

• Navigation system: We use our phone for this, with a Quad Lock holder and case. We use the Osmand app for navigation.

• Lashing straps: Always handy to have on hand as a backup to secure your luggage.

• Visor cleaner and microfibre cloth: Keep your visor clean for good visibility.

• Basic tool kit: For minor repairs on the road.

• Tyre repair kit + pump: In case you have a flat tyre on the road.

• Hearing protection: Especially on the motorway, it is good to protect your ears from the constant noise of the wind and the engine.

• Communication system + charger: Stay in touch with your travel partner(s) or listen to music and/or navigation on the road.

• Lock for your motorbike: To park your motorbike safely. Even if you have to leave it behind in case of motorbike trouble.

Day 1: Leiden (Netherlands) to Gernsbach (Germany)

Distance: 597 kilometres

No GPX file as we took the fastest route here.

With two sidecases and a bag on the motorbike, we set off early this morning. The least interesting ride was planned for this first day: 600 kilometres on the motorway towards the Black Forest. Around 4.30 p.m., we arrived safely at our hotel, “Hotel & Mühlenapartments” in Gernsbach, an unexpectedly charming town. That's the nice thing about this trip: we stop wherever it makes sense along the route. That way, we are constantly surprised by the places we end up.

In the evening, we dined at Thai Bamboo, where we had also enjoyed a delicious meal three years ago when we were in this region. Once again, the food was fantastic and plentiful, so we now have lunch sorted for tomorrow!

Day 2: Gernsbach (Germany, Black Forest) to Friedrichshafen (Germany, Bodensee)

Distance: 302 kilometres

GPX-route:

Today we had a beautiful route ahead of us: the B500. From Gernsbach, we drove straight onto the most famous section, the Schwarzwaldhochstrasse. This road in the Black Forest is the oldest and most famous panoramic road in Germany. We started the drive slowly, as the road surface was still wet and our tyres were cold. You always have to be careful in those sharp bends. The weather was a bit changeable in the morning: on one side of the mountain the sun was shining and it was warm, while on the other side we sometimes drove through clouds and rain. Both gave nature a special atmosphere in their own way.

On the way, we passed through a few charming towns with typical German half-timbered houses, and enjoyed our leftover Thai lunch by a beautiful stream in the middle of the mountains. The further we drove, the warmer and sunnier it became. That made the ride even more enjoyable, especially when the roads were dry and we could take the bends at a good speed.

At the end of the afternoon, we arrived at our hotel, Die Krone, in Friedrichshafen, a town on Lake Constance. We ended the day with delicious South Tyrolean spinach spaetzle and a rosé from the Lake Constance region in the hotel garden.

Day 3: Friedrichshafen (Germany,Bodensee) to Santa Caterina Falfurva (Italy) Mountain passes: Furkajoch (Austria) & Stelvio Pass (Italy)

Distance: 328 kilometres

GPX-route:

Wow! What beautiful routes we drove today! We often shouted this to each other through our communication set. The day started with the Furkajoch in Austria, our first mountain pass of the trip. At 1,760 metres above sea level and with panoramic views, it was a wonderful experience, with good road conditions and lots of stops for photos and videos.

In addition to the literal highlights, there was another amusing highlight. In the car park, we encountered a couple who had brought their dog along on their motorbike. The animal was wearing a jacket and glasses. He seemed to be enjoying it all.

The rest of the afternoon, the route was just as beautiful as on the mountain pass. Every time we thought it couldn't get any better, nature suddenly added a waterfall or snow-capped mountain peak. It was a real treat all the way. After Austria, we drove into Italy in the evening. That was a beautiful entrance to Lago di Résia. The village of Curon in the Italian region of South Tyrol no longer exists. Due to the construction of a dam, the small village disappeared under water in the late 1940s. Most of the buildings were blown up beforehand. The church was spared. Today, the spire still rises above the water of Lake Reschen, a lonely reminder of the vanished village.

Before climbing the Stelvio, we first ate something to recharge our batteries. And wow, those 88 hairpin bends were fantastic and exciting. Fortunately, we had the pass to ourselves because it was already late. That made taking the bends a little easier, but it remained a challenge at an altitude of 2,758 metres. During the day, it seems to be completely packed with cyclists and campers. Our tip for motorcyclists: in summer, it is quieter around 7 p.m., but make sure you are back down before sunset. Driving down 40 hairpin bends in the dark is not recommended. We finally arrived at our hotel “Confinale” in Santa Caterina Falfurva around 10 p.m. Our motorbikes were allowed to stay in the garage, and the lovely people here even treated us to some apple strudel.

Day 4: Santa Caterina Falfurva (Italy) to Meride (Switzerland)

Mountain passes: Gavia Pass (Italy)

Distance: 224 kilometres

GPX-route:

After yesterday's Furkajoch and Stelvio, we thought it couldn't get any better, but today the Gavia Pass surpassed everything. The rugged nature, the glacier and the many waterfalls made this pass a real highlight. The fact that this pass is less well known also contributed to the special experience. We have seen so many different landscapes in just four days! One side of the pass consisted of long, gentle curves uphill. At the top of the mountain, we were suddenly surrounded by a blanket of clouds. Within minutes, the clear view turned into thick fog, and just as quickly as it came, it was gone again.

After some more thrilling hairpin bends downhill, it was time for lunch. And what luck: we immediately came across a nice lunch spot: “Osteria Pietra Rossa”. Without WiFi, we couldn't check the reviews, but it turned out to be delicious! We had polenta, a platter with local cheese, meat and bread. Warmed up and with renewed energy, we drove from there to Lake Como.

There we ate pizza in a charming little town by the water, and then we drove the last stretch to our hotel, Locanda San Silvestro, in Meride, Switzerland. That turned out to be quite exciting, because the border crossing between Italy and Switzerland was already closed. Fortunately, a local showed us the way to an open crossing. In the dark, we couldn't see exactly where we were, but the hotel looks promising. That bodes well for tomorrow in daylight!

Day 5: Rest day in Meride (Switzerland)

Today was a well-deserved and very welcome day of rest. We booked two nights in a beautiful boutique hotel in Meride, Switzerland. An old inn converted into a modern hotel. Meride is located at the foot of Monte San Giorgio. Monte San Giorgio is the most important site for fossils from the Middle Triassic period and is therefore listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. So today we went fossil hunting. Less than a 10-minute walk from our hotel was a waterfall and high limestone cliffs. Here we walked, sat and even swam in the ice-cold water.

In the evening, we drove back to Italy for dinner. We rode one motorbike to the town of Varesa. This time, we opted for risotto and gnocchi at a restaurant called “Gnoccheria & Risotteria”. It had to be good. We ordered a tasting menu so we could try different dishes. It's always fun to discover new combinations.

Day 6: Meride (Switzerland) to Interlaken (Switzerland)

Mountain passes: Gotthard Pass, Grimsel Pass and Furka Pass

Distance: 274 kilometres

GPX-route:

Today we drove over several mountain passes in Switzerland, each unique and impressive in its own way.

The first pass we took was the Gotthard Pass. Not the nicely paved one, but the old cobblestone road. The “Via Tremola” is the old mountain pass from 1827 and much less busy than the new pass. It also has 37 hairpin bends. It was a really cool experience to drive on the old road. And because it was so quiet, we could easily stop on the road every now and then to take a photo.

The second pass was the famous Furka Pass, located at an altitude of 2,431 metres. This is where the European watershed between the Mediterranean Sea and the North Sea runs. Fun fact: the name Furka comes from the fork-shaped mountain peaks, and parts of the James Bond film Goldfinger were filmed here. The pass offers spectacular views of steep precipices and narrow roads, and along the way we passed the Rhône Glacier and the iconic Belvédère Hotel.

The third and final pass of the day was the Grimsel Pass, impressive for its reservoirs into which waterfalls flow. Here we found a beautiful, quiet spot to have lunch, surrounded by flowers and with a view of a waterfall.

At the end of the day, we arrived in Winderswal, a small village next to the more famous Interlaken. Tonight we are staying at Edelweiss Lodge, a 120-year-old hotel. You can certainly tell its age. The whole house creaks and looks much the same as it did 120 years ago.

In the evening, we took the bus to Interlaken. We were struck by how many Indian tourists and restaurants there are here. We read online that many Indians come here because their own mountains, the Himalayas, are considered sacred and may not be climbed. For them, the Jungfrau offers the opportunity to experience what it is like to stand on a mountain. We didn't end up at an Indian restaurant, but at a delicious and cosy Vietnamese restaurant called “Bun Brothers & Co”.

Day 7: Interlaken (Switzerland) to Cusance (France)

Distance: 231 kilometres

GPX-route:

In the morning, we went to Lauterbrunnen, “the valley of 72 waterfalls”. The village itself is not large and very touristy. Buses full of tourists came and went.

The weather was fine until lunchtime. When it rained, we took shelter somewhere. We bought our lunch at a bakery in Switzerland. Here in Switzerland, there are so many rolls and biscuits with pastry cream. After lunch, the weather unfortunately deteriorated, culminating in a stormy ride at Val-de-Ruz. We rode our motorbike through heavy rain, wind and almost zero visibility. We were so happy when we reached the bottom of the mountain safely.

Fortunately, the weather cleared up afterwards, and we arrived at our final destination in France reasonably dry. Tonight we are sleeping in an apartment with a restaurant. The name of the hotel is “la Source Bleue”. After a hot shower, we enjoyed a delicious French dinner: salmon with yuzu cream, prawns and scallops, steak with yellow wine sauce, and crème brûlée for dessert. It was another opportunity to enjoy French cuisine.

Day 8: Cusance (France) to Mutzig (France)

Distance: 349 kilometres

GPX-route:

In the morning, we started with a walk to “La source bleue”, a beautiful spring in the forest with a bright blue colour. It was wonderful to walk through the dew-covered forest and wake up so peacefully.

Today, our route took us right through the Vosges, a wooded area with impressive, rounded mountain peaks called “Ballons”. The highest of these is the Grand Ballon, at 1,424 metres. The area is popular for outdoor sports, and along the way we saw mountain bikers, hikers, paragliders and gliders. Today's drive was great, a nice change from the many hairpin bends of the past few days. The rolling curves and sunshine made the day complete.

In the evening, we spend the night at the L'ours de Mutzig hotel in Mutzig, a small town on the slopes of the Vosges mountains.

Day 9: Mutzig (France) to Wiltz (Luxembourg)

Distance: 347 kilometres

GPX-route:

It's not always sunshine and roses during a motorbike trip. We woke up to rain this morning, but according to Buienradar, it was supposed to clear up by late morning. We set off in good spirits, but unfortunately, the forecast was wrong. The rain actually got heavier, the wind picked up and visibility worsened. So we decided to take the motorway to Luxembourg instead of the back roads. After lunch, the weather improved slightly, and we took a few more scenic back roads.

Due to the changed route, we arrived early at our hotel, Beim Schlass. A hot shower worked wonders, and by then all our clothes were hanging up to dry. In the evening, the weather cleared up, so we were able to go for a walk. We are staying in Wiltz, a town in northern Luxembourg with many monuments from the Second World War. One of the most striking is a lighthouse, erected in memory of the August 1942 strike against the German occupation. This strike spread throughout the country and remains a source of national pride.

Another special memory here is that of American soldier Harry Stutz. During the occupation, he organised the first St. Nicholas celebration for the local children, who had never celebrated St. Nicholas before due to the shortage of sweets. His friend, Richard Brookins, dressed up as St. Nicholas and drove through the town in a jeep. For many children, this was the first time they had ever eaten chocolate. After the war, Richard often returned to Wiltz, and American flags can still be seen everywhere in memory of the liberation of the town.

Day 10: Wiltz (Luxembourg) to Leiden (Netherlands)

Distance: 380 kilometres

Driving through Luxembourg is great fun. Villages and nature alternate, interspersed with beautiful castles and ruins. After Luxembourg, we drove into the Belgian Ardennes. Also enjoyable and beautiful! Although the roads are really poorly maintained in most places... That means you sometimes have to pay more attention to the road than to the beautiful surroundings. But all in all, we enjoyed it, because it's also beautiful close to home!

In conclusion

After 10 days, 2,711 kilometres, 8 countries and countless mountain passes, we returned to the Netherlands. A motorbike trip allows you to experience the world in a unique way, where the journey is just as important as the destination. The freedom of the open road, the ever-changing landscapes and the unexpected encounters make this an experience we will not soon forget.