The Hills are Alive – 24 August to 4 Sept 2026 – Tour Overview 

Yes, the hills are alive, with the sound of moto-music and your joyful yodeling. To put the
tingle in your toes we’ll be transiting a tangle of legendary Alps passes on route to Austria’s iconic Kärnten region. Stelvio ✓ Grossglockner ✓ Vršič ✓ Those are just three of the mains. The menu is extensive.

All about the scenery then? No need to worry. To break up the monotony of epic panoramas we’ll be sure to visit a few interesting or unusual sites, the quirkier the better.

In Europe, a unique culture and cuisine is no farther than the next nearby border. On this trip we’re crossing 10 countries, so variety is assured. Given the tour leader’s fondness for bakeries and patisseries, you can count on more than a few calorie-laden coffee stops. Fancy some proper gulaschsuppe? We can lunch on that.

Our complement, a typical celebration of Peak Rider bonhomie, is composed of two groups. Those who are travelling via sea from the UK, and those arriving by air from North America. This is reflected in the tour pricing, below.

For many of the North Americans the trip is likely to begin on Saturday, 22 August with an overnight flight to historic Frankfurt. While details of travel will be discussed on an individual basis, it’s probable that Sunday the 23rd will be a day of adjusting body clocks to Central European time, before picking up hire bikes the morning of Monday 24 August.

The UK contingent begin their adventure in Kingston upon Hull on Sunday 23 August when boarding the overnight P&O cruise ferry to Europoort (Rotterdam). This route has worked very well for us on many previous trips.

On the morning of Monday 24 August, the Brits will disembark and make their way southeast across the Dutch Highlands, while the colonialists set off from Frankfurt. Later that afternoon we’ll arrive together in historic Trier, and march through its Roman gate. We’ll swap heroic tales of the road while sampling local beverages.

Our route to and from Austria, where we’ll spend four nights, is essentially a roughly parallel track. To get there we’ll pass through parts of the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Lichtenstein, Switzerland and Italy. Whew!

Once in Austria, we’ll be staying four nights at a four-star hotel. On a beautiful lake, with pool and spa facilities, it promises to be a very good one. A nearby ski-lift, pass included, can quickly whisk you to a mountainside aerie. A couple of day trips are planned for our time in Austria: one to the Grossglockner’s breathtaking Alpenweissspitze, and another to summit Slovenia’s glorious Vršič Pass. One of the three days will be our official rest day.

On the return leg we’ll briefly cross back into Italy before rejoining Austria and then vectoring north via regions of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.  Note: For those arriving from North America, and renting bikes in Frankfurt, the planned route does not include the Netherlands.

Our final evening together, Thursday 3 September, we’ll toast out adventures with a cool Reisling at a riverside inn on the Mosel, in the heart of a renowned German wine region. The following morning, Saturday the 4^th, the North Americans will make their way to Frankfurt to return hire bikes. The English contingent will return to the ferry port at Rotterdam.

Some tour highlights:

Passes – Stelvio, Gavia, Vršič, Grossglockner, Timmelsjoch, etc., etc.
Grossglockner Edelweissspitze – Easy top of head sunburn, subject to weather
Lichtenstein – Finally, can say you’ve been there
The Mangrt Saddle – Slovenia’s highest road, if open
The Dolomites – The roads may be busy, but it’s a stunning visual feast

Included:

• Cruise ferry, with cabin & meal credits, to/from the UK and the Netherlands (see pricing)
• 11 hotel nights (middle range hotels), with breakfast
• Eight evening hotel meals
• English-speaking tour leader (not so good in Slovenian)
• GPX route file with hotel destinations and key waypoints

Not included:

• Motorcycle purchase or hire
• Chase/cargo vehicle
• Meals other than noted above
• Drinks
• Fuel
• Liability or personal insurance coverage
• Gratuities, road tolls, fines, and items of a personal nature.

Pricing (with ferry):

• One person, one bike, single room occupancy – £3489 (GBP)
• One person, one bike, sharing a room (two beds) – £2719 (GBP) per person
• Two persons, one bike, sharing a room (matrimonial) – £4969 (GBP) per couple
• Deposit – £850 per person, balance due 1 July 2025

Pricing (without ferry):

• One person, one bike, single room occupancy – £2879 (GBP)
• One person, one bike, sharing a room (two beds) – £2269 (GBP) per person
• Two persons, one bike, sharing a room (matrimonial) – £4139 (GBP) per couple
• Deposit – £850 per person, balance due 1 July 2025

In the Included list, above, we refer to middle range hotels. Some are superb, and the others will do just fine. We’re certain you will like them all. Bring your swimming cossie.

Notes: This tour is designed for seasoned touring riders with well-developed road riding skills. The length of the tour and sometimes challenging alpine roads require good physical and mental stamina. As is the case for all Peak Rider tours there is no chase or luggage van, nor a designated sweep rider.

Need more info? Contact me straightaway.

Cheers, Mike

T: +1 705 905 8613          E: peakridermike@gmail.com          W: peakrideradventure.com