Some tours promise luxury. Some promise distance. This one promises one thing: corners. An endless sequence of hairpin turns, steep climbs, and descents through the most dramatic Alpine scenery in Austria. This is the Vorarlberg motorcycle tour — and it has Stelvio as the cherry on top.
I found this through Horizon Motorcycle Travel, a Dutch tour operator that specializes in self-guided motorcycle trips across Europe. With 73 traveler reviews and almost all of them raving, this one's battle-tested. The best part? It's self-guided. GPS routes, a detailed roadbook, and total freedom to ride at your own pace.
Vorarlberg — 73 riders rate this tour and almost all of them are raving about it.
"Climbing + descending = enjoyment!" — That's literally the tour's tagline. Simple. Honest. Perfect.
The Daily Routes
6-Day Alpine Route — Vorarlberg Base
- Day 1: Oberjoch — 219/323 km — Mountain steering through Andelsbuch, crossing into Germany. Scheidegger Wasserfälle. The Oberjoch climb at 1,178m with stunning hairpins. Short or long route options.
- Day 2: Silvretta — 220/281 km — The Furkajoch at 1,761m. Into the Montafon mountains. 32 hairpins climbing to the Silvretta reservoir. Return via Lech and Warth with endless winding roads.
- Day 3: Kaunertal — 285 km — The Hahntennjoch at 1,894m — "a truly stunning road with countless curves on perfect asphalt." Kaunertal Glacier panorama road. The Gepatsch reservoir — ninth largest in the world.
- Day 4: Samnaun and/or Stelvio — 339/395/428 km — The big choice: short route to tax-free Samnaun, long route over the legendary Stelvio Pass (2,757m) with 48 hairpin turns, or XL route for both. Return via Furkajoch.
- Day 5: Extra Route — Hoher Freschen — 122 km — Quiet winding roads around the Hoher Freschen peak. Through Fontanella and the alternative Furkajoch route.
- Day 6: Departure — Pack the memories. Ride home.
Why Vorarlberg
Austrian Alps — breathtaking alpine landscapes and winding roads at every turn.
The Passes
This tour is a pass hunter's paradise. Hahntennjoch at 1,894m is described by riders as one of Austria's most beautiful roads — countless curves on perfect asphalt with views that make you forget everything else. Silvretta with its 32 hairpins climbing to a mountain reservoir is the kind of road that makes your arms ache and your face grin. And then there's the option of Stelvio — the most famous motorcycle pass in Europe at 2,757m.
The Freedom
Unlike the other tours I've been researching, this one is self-guided. You get GPS routes loaded up, a detailed roadbook, and you ride at your own pace. No group schedule. No waiting for slower riders. No rushing past viewpoints because the guide wants to make lunch. Just you, the road, and a hotel waiting at the end of each day with dinner and a wellness spa.
The Base
You stay at the same hotel the entire tour — a luxury Alpine hotel in Vorarlberg with indoor parking for the bike, a swimming pool, wellness facilities, and a different dinner menu every night. Riders call it "the perfect base." One reviewer said: "Really a super hotel with great parking for the bikes." Multiple reviews mention the spacious rooms, fantastic food, and the drying room for gear.
Hahntennjoch — countless curves on perfect asphalt. One of Austria's finest roads.
Tour Details
Operator: Horizon Motorcycle Travel (Netherlands-based, specialized in European motorcycle tours)
Tour Type: Self-guided with GPS routes and detailed roadbook
Duration: 6 days / 5 nights
Total Distance: ~1,200-1,500 km depending on route choices
Highest Pass: Stelvio Pass — 2,757m (optional Day 4)
Season: June to September
Includes: 5 nights accommodation, 5 breakfasts, 5 dinners, GPS routes, roadbook, parking, indoor pool, wellness
Traveler Rating: 73 reviews, overwhelmingly positive
Start/End: Vorarlberg, Austria
The Price
Starting at €1,199 per person. For 5 nights in a luxury Alpine hotel with breakfast, dinner, GPS routes, wellness, and pool access — this is probably the best value motorcycle tour in the Alps. You bring your own bike, which means no rental fees. The total cost is basically what you'd pay for a decent hotel alone.
The Stelvio Decision
Day 4 is where the tour becomes legendary. You have three options: the short route to Samnaun (tax-free shopping, cheaper fuel), the long route over Stelvio Pass, or the XL route that does both. For me, this isn't even a question — I'm taking the XL. You don't go to Vorarlberg and skip Stelvio. The 48 hairpins, the 2,757m summit, the "Passo dello Stelvio" sign at the top — that's the money shot.
One reviewer summed it up: "What a wonderful trip! Beautiful roads driven, top guidance and a very nice group. We drove the Stelvio pass and the Silvretta..." Another simply said: "Every day is a highlight!"
My Plan
This is the most realistic tour on my list. €1,199, 6 days, self-guided, and I can ride my own bike there. No flights to book. No bike shipping. Just saddle up and ride to Austria. The Vorarlberg tour is the one I can do this summer. And if I do, I'll have Stelvio, Silvretta, Hahntennjoch, and Kaunertal under my belt before the year is over.
Sources & Tour Link
- Vorarlberg Tour — Horizon Motorcycle Travel — The tour I plan to join
- Horizon Motorcycle Travel — Dutch motorcycle tour operator, specialized in European self-guided tours
- Stelvio Pass — Wikipedia — Europe's most famous motorcycle pass
- Silvretta High Alpine Road — Wikipedia — 32 hairpins to the reservoir