Your First European Motorcycle Tour

Perhaps you’ve ridden for years in the UK but never ventured across the Channel.  Perhaps you don’t have anyone to go with.  Perhaps the idea of navigating unfamiliar roads, riding on the other side, arranging crossings and accommodation, or dealing with a breakdown abroad feels like a lot to take on.

Or perhaps you’re simply wondering:

“Am I experienced enough to do this?”

If any of those thoughts have crossed your mind, you’re not alone.  And you don’t have to become an expert European tourer before you can enjoy your first trip.

That’s where WanderMoto comes in.

We create relaxed, small-group motorcycle tours for riders who want to experience the freedom of touring without the pressure to ride huge distances, keep up with faster riders or spend months planning every detail themselves.

Europe doesn’t have to be intimidating.

What makes a WanderMoto tour different?

We believe motorcycle touring should be about the experience, not the mileage.

That means:

• Relaxed riding - We don’t set out to cover as many miles as possible each day. Our routes are designed around enjoying the roads, scenery and places we visit.
• Regular stops - There’s time for coffee, photographs, fuel, a chat and simply taking in where you are.
• Sensible riding days - We generally aim to ride in manageable blocks rather than spending all day in the saddle.
• No pressure to be the fastest - Nobody is racing to the next destination. We want everyone to enjoy the ride.
• Time to enjoy where we’ve arrived - We aim to arrive with time to settle in, explore and enjoy the evening rather than arriving exhausted just in time for dinner.
• A small, friendly group - You’ll be riding with people who have chosen WanderMoto because they want the same kind of adventure.
• We call it gentle adventure -Beautiful roads. Great scenery. Good food. New places. Without the bravado.

How experienced do I need to be?

This is probably the question we hear most often. You don’t need any touring experience to join a WanderMoto tour.

You do need to be a competent and safe road rider who is comfortable controlling your motorcycle in normal road conditions.

But you don’t need to:

• have ridden across Europe before
• ride hundreds of miles every day
• be an advanced rider
• be comfortable riding at very high speeds
• know every European road rule
• be an expert at navigation

If you’ve been riding in the UK and you’re thinking:

“I really want to do this, but I’m not sure I’m ready.”

You may be exactly the rider we’re trying to help.

What if I’m slower than everyone else?

You won’t be expected to ride at somebody else’s pace. We know that riders have different levels of experience and different comfort zones. We stay together. 

Our routes are planned with this in mind, with regular opportunities to stop and take a breath.

We’re not interested in who gets there first.

If you want to enjoy a great road, stop for a photograph or pull over for a coffee, that’s part of the trip.

I’ve never ridden on the right-hand side of the road. Is that difficult?

It can feel strange at first.

Most riders find that after the initial adjustment it becomes much more natural.

Before your first trip, we’ll help you understand the things that are likely to feel different, including road positioning, junctions, signs and other practical differences.

And once you’re riding with the group, you won’t be trying to figure everything out by yourself.

What happens if I get lost?

You don’t have to plan the route yourself.

Before each day’s ride you’ll know where we’re going, what the day looks like and what to expect.

The group will have the planned route and you’ll have your own navigation arrangements too, so you’re not simply following someone blindly. We only take six guest bikes on any one tour so there is a maximum of 8 bikes so the chance of getting lost is minimal. If we get separated at a roundabout the lead group will find a safe place to pull over and wait.

Our aim is to give you the reassurance of a guided tour while still allowing you to enjoy the freedom of riding your own motorcycle.

What if my bike breaks down?

It’s one of those things nobody likes to think about.

The reality is that motorcycles can break down anywhere — including at home.

That’s why having appropriate European breakdown assistance and insurance is an important part of preparing for your trip.

We’ll explain what cover you’ll need before you travel and what to do if something goes wrong.

And if you do have a problem during a WanderMoto tour, you’re not facing it completely alone.

We’ll help you work through the situation and get the appropriate assistance.

What if it rains?

Sometimes it rains.

We don’t cancel a motorcycle tour because there are a few clouds in the sky, but we also don’t believe you need to prove how tough you are by riding through terrible conditions unnecessarily.

Routes and plans may need to adapt to weather and road conditions.

The priority is always getting everyone there safely and making sure you enjoy the experience.

What sort of motorcycle do I need?

You don’t need an enormous adventure bike.

You don’t need a brand-new motorcycle.

You don’t need the latest electronic suspension, giant panniers or 200 horsepower.

You need a motorcycle that is:

• legal and roadworthy
• properly maintained
• suitable for the planned journey

We try to ensure stops every 90 minutes so the question to ask yourself about your own bike is, can I ride for 90 minutes, have a break and ride for 90 more? Is my bike comfortable enough for the day’s riding?

What do I need to take with me?

Before you travel, we’ll give you a practical checklist covering the essentials.

That will include things such as:

• passport and required travel documents
• driving licence
• motorcycle documents
• appropriate insurance
• European breakdown cover
• required safety equipment
• luggage
• navigation
• phone and charging arrangements
• weather-appropriate riding gear

You won’t have to work it all out from scratch.

What about ferries and getting across the Channel?

This is another part of a first European trip that can seem more complicated than it really is.

We’ll provide the information you need for the crossing and explain what you need to do before and during the journey.

Once you’re on the other side, the adventure begins.

How much riding do we actually do?

This varies depending on the tour and the route.

We don’t believe in setting arbitrary targets such as: “300 miles every day.”

Instead, we design each itinerary around the destination, the roads and the experience we want you to have.

You’ll see the approximate riding time and distance for each day on the individual tour page.

Our general approach is:

Ride → stop → ride → lunch → ride → arrive with time to spare.

Because a motorcycle tour shouldn’t feel like an endurance event. This is a holiday, it shouldn't feel like hard work.

What does a typical WanderMoto day look like?

Every tour is different, but a typical day might look something like this:

8:00–10:00

Breakfast and get ready for the day.

10:00

Ride out.

11:30

Coffee, viewpoint or photo stop.

12:30–1:30

Lunch.

Afternoon

More beautiful roads, scenery and stops along the way.

Around 3:30–4:00

Arrive at our destination.

After that?

The rest of the afternoon and evening is yours.

Explore the town.

Have a drink.

Find somewhere for dinner.

Or simply put your feet up.

We don’t want you arriving at 8pm exhausted and wondering where the day went.

What if I don’t know anybody else going?

That’s completely fine.  In fact, many people who are attracted to guided tours are in exactly this position.

Maybe your friends don’t ride.

Maybe they ride but aren’t interested in touring.

Maybe everyone’s holidays are impossible to coordinate.

Or perhaps you simply want to meet some new people who enjoy motorcycles as much as you do.

Our groups are deliberately small, so we’re not trying to create a huge convoy of strangers.

**You arrive as a group of people who love motorcycles.

You leave with stories to tell — and hopefully a few new friends.**

Do I have to be sociable?

No.

We enjoy riding together, eating together and sharing the experience, but you won’t be expected to spend every waking moment with the group.

One of the things we love about motorcycle touring is that you can have both:

company when you want it and time to yourself when you need it.

Is a guided tour right for me?

WanderMoto could be perfect for you if:

✓ You’ve always wanted to ride in Europe

✓ You’ve never toured Europe before

✓ You’re confident riding in the UK but nervous about going abroad

✓ You don’t have a regular group to tour with

✓ You want beautiful roads rather than huge daily mileage

✓ You enjoy stopping for photographs, coffee and food

✓ You want someone else to handle the route planning

✓ You like the idea of a small, friendly group

✓ You want an adventure without feeling that you have something to prove

We might not be the right tour company for you if:

✕ You want to cover 300+ miles every day

✕ You want to ride as fast as possible

✕ You want an extreme adventure riding experience

✕ You measure a successful day by how many mountain passes you’ve ticked off

✕ You’re looking for a large convoy-style tour

And that’s okay.

There are lots of great motorcycle tour companies out there.

We’re simply building WanderMoto for a particular kind of rider.

Still nervous?

Good.

We’re not going to tell you that there’s nothing to be nervous about.

Your first European motorcycle tour is a big adventure.

You’ll ride somewhere you’ve never ridden before.

You’ll see places you’ve never seen.

You’ll probably make a few mistakes.

And you’ll almost certainly come home wondering why you waited so long.

The important thing is that you don’t have to figure everything out alone.

We’ll help you prepare.

We’ll show you the route.

We’ll ride with you.

And we’ll make sure there’s plenty of time to actually enjoy being there.

Ready to take the first step?

You don’t need to book a tour today.

If you’re curious, nervous, or simply wondering whether WanderMoto would be right for you, get in touch.

Tell us about your riding experience, what you’d like from a European motorcycle adventure and what’s holding you back.

We’ll be honest about whether we think one of our tours is suitable for you.