Motorcycle Tours Europe

You must have a valid motorcycle licence and ideally have had 24 months riding experience.

We appreciate that all rider skill levels are different; therefore the two-year requirement is not ‘set in stone’ but a guide only.

Some off-road experience would be helpful as some of the destinations we ride are of relatively easy gravel but can also have a few sections of difficult terrain; however the majority of the riding is on tarmac.

This figure varies greatly. Some days are as little as 150kms/93 miles while others are as much as 475kms/294 miles; only on the rarest occasions would we exceed 500kms/310miles.

We try to allow as much time as possible for sightseeing and getting to a hotel mid afternoon to refresh, relax and enjoy a meal and a few drinks.

No. While we appreciate that we are here to enjoy wonderful riding it is also important for us to be able to enjoy the incredible scenery, visit world-renowned sights and immerse ourselves in the vibrant cultures of the regions we are visiting.

We ride for a few days and stop for a day or more before moving on, depending on the itinerary. Some companies are more like an endurance event, we stop and “smell the roses”.

This tour has a support vehicle that accompanies the group. This vehicle has the carrying capacity of 4 passengers and their bikes, guest luggage, spares and mobile kitchen.

All our tours are timed to run in the optimum season for riding in that particular country, not too hot, not too cold and not too wet, but mother nature being as she is, nothing can be guaranteed.

On major expeditions, all weather conditions will be encountered; this is the nature of this type of expedition.

Your riding gear should have the ability to be altered as the day warms up, for example a jacket will have a good cold weather liner that can be removed. Good protective gloves are essential. Riding boots ideally would be motocross off road boots for optimum ankle and foot protection, where the vast majority of injuries are sustained, however these are both cumbersome and difficult to walk any great distance in, a compromise boot that offers good ankle protection yet able to be worn while off the bike should be considered.

Of course a good helmet is essential.

Absolutely, we have chosen routes that take in all the greatest sights and scenery without making them so extreme that carrying a pillion / co-rider would be impossible.

On a small number of days we may encounter a small section of road that could be difficult for two-up riding such as a creek crossing or sand, but these sections are rare and short lived.

Yes. Our support vehicle can accommodate a limited number of passengers (4).

Passengers who pay support vehicle only prices, same as pillion / co-rider prices are guaranteed a seat but of course are free to ride two-up when they feel like it.

In the spirit of real adventure for this tour we have limited the number of bikes to around 15-20 depending on the tour & circumstances

A unique experience loses its allure when you have to jostle with a big group of riders. With us it feels more like riding with a small group of friends than a “tour”.

Riders are more than welcome to take off on your own and meet us for lunch or at the hotel at the end of the day.

End of tour breakdowns are extremely rare.

A good servicing and preventative maintenance regime ensures all bikes are in excellent mechanical order before the start of each expedition. In the unlikely event of a breakdown we shall endeavour to get it repaired quickly.

If a spare bike is available you will be provided with that or we will rent one at the first available opportunity.

Staying connected while on tour is quite straightforward. Email and WhatsApp are the most convenient ways to keep in touch with friends and family, and internet access is available in nearly all of the destinations we visit.

Absolutely, in fact it is a requirement that you have medical insurance before you join one of our tours. Our in-house travel team will be happy to assist you with getting the right insurance.

If purchasing your own travel insurance it is important to make it very clear that you will be riding a motorcycle and that it will be over 250cc. Some insurance companies include motorcycle insurance coverage in their policy but it doesn’t include anything more challenging than a one-day ride on a moped around Phuket.

Please ensure that your policy covers you for personal accident, medical and repatriation costs as well as the usual loss of luggage, damage and theft.

It is the responsibility of the passenger to obtain the appropriate visas before joining the tour. We highly recommend the use of a visa agency who are adept at getting visas quickly and whose charges are quite reasonable.

Compass Expeditions will provide any visa supporting letters that may be required and complete visa support for our major expeditions.

For country specific information we highly recommend that you speak with your doctor and/or check out the World Health Organization website at www.who.int/ and have a look at their excellent International Travel and Health book, available online.

Accommodation is included on all nights of the advertised itinerary but it is not included if you arrive early or depart later in your joining and departing cities. All accommodation is on a twin shared basis and very occasionally multiple share hostels. For private rooms there is an extra charge (see single room supplement on expedition information).

Unfortunately if you are travelling alone and the group is an uneven number and you end up with a room to yourself you WILL be charged a single supplement. If you do require a guaranteed single room for the duration of the tour you must pay a single supplement to secure your single room.

If the FAQ section doesn’t answer your question, please send us an email or give us a call and we will get back to you ASAP.