Edelweiss Tours?

[Retarded Jarhead]

I'm quite sure that one or 2 of you folks have tried a Tour through Edelwiess motorcycle Tours. The boss and I are planning a trip this Sept through the Alps this September and I waqs wondering if anyone can share what their experience was like.

[HexST]

I went last year in Aug. on the Brno GP tour and had a great time. Sept. should be even better as Aug is holiday and many of the passes in Austria and Italy were very crowded.
Here are some pic's if you want to be bored.
http://knick.smugmug.com/gallery/3348858_sWeEj#186672692_Eyjin

[gsjay]

I and 13 friends are taking the Ultimate Alps trip this June.

Which trip were you on?

Great Pictures!

jason

[Rob Nye]

I did a Edelweiss Tour earlier this year.

The guides are absolutely first rate. They know the roads, the restaurants and the language. Each morning they will brief you on the anticipated conditions along the route, potential hazards, good stops and where lunch will be.

You can ride with the guide or follow your own route. Maps are provided.

[schuldt]

I did the Ultimate Alps Tour last summer. Stunning rides, vistas, accommodations, food. Terrific guides and fellow riders. Highly recommend this trip.

Our group naturally split in half. The "Cappuccino" group, casual coffee breaks, lots of time to view and photograph the scenery, and the "Espresso" group, doing as many passes, as fast as possible. At the end of the day we were all happy, but when I mentioned a beautiful vista (I was in the Cappuccino group), the Espresso riders usually said they were too busy watching the next curve to look out over the guard rail at the view. It's all in why you want to go there.

We had 2 leaders and a third driving the luggage/picnic van/trailer (the van doesn't do the passes). They are superb riders that will set the pace appropriate for the group skill level. (DO NOT think you can out-ride these guys.)

Following a leader does have it's drawbacks. You don't spend much time reviewing the map (no need), so sometimes you're unsure what town you've just gone through or even if you've crossed the border into another country. I would recommend that you bring a GPS with the Euro software. Edelweiss lets you ride independently as long as there's at least two bikes, in case of an accident. You can plan your ride, based on the morning briefing, stop where you want, for as long as you want. They expect you for dinner at 7:00 each evening, but you can call the leader's cellphone if you are going to be late, or plan to have dinner "out". The GPS will also help you get through the confusing roundabouts in towns and help you find the little narrow cobblestone alley that leads to the next pass.

A lot of the fun is riding with, and getting to know the other riders, so you'll probably want to mix your days between "group" and "independent" riding.

If you're a good canyon rider, great, but if not, you'll want to practice up. This is considered one of the more challenging rides they do. Many narrow, tight roads (one they call the 22km driveway, with lots of one-lane blind curves), minimal guard rails, so be prepared. Edelweiss offers a one-day tune-up class. One of our group took it, others probably should have.

We did have one serious accident, a near head-on with another bike. Two totaled bikes, the rider from our group spent a week in the hospital. Lots of drivers/riders, lots of speed. Be careful out there. Don't turn the "Highway of Dreams" into a nightmare.

Oh yeah, the Autobahn pass... You will need to buy one early in the trip, if your bike doesn't already have the sticker. I paid something like 30 bucks at a gas station for my pass, then found out a few days later that I'd bought the year-long pass, but could have bought the 10 day pass for half that. This isn't mentioned in the briefing.

You'll be a whole different rider after this trip.

Ride safe,
Les

[HexST]

The Tour we did was the Brno moto gp tour they are not offering it this year we started in Sauerlach, Leinz for day 2&3 with side trips to the Dolomites (Cortina was beautiful but crowded and the 5 passes we did were excellent, Bad Aussee, Semmering (Sweet Hotel) out of the Alps but stunning riding if slick because of rain ie. the side cases on my friends R1200R,then on to Retz to marshal for our daily trips to Brno for the MotoGP. Then a long day about 600k back to Sauerlach. Buy the deductable ins!

[Beemerdons]

We did the High Alpine Tour in October of 2004 with Markus Hellrigl as our Guide.

Fanastic Trip! Serious crash though, one of our riders entered a tunnel in the Dolomites wearing his prescription dark glasses and lost his depth perception against the white walls; broke right cylinder head off a R1100S and his collarbone!

Andalucia Tour with Axel Papst in February of 2006. Another crash by a very experienced rider, Bob just wicked it to hard on a curve and wiped out a R1200GS with only 1,000 kilometers on it. The very sad irony is that Bob owns one of the largest insurance agencies in Atlanta and DID NOT buy the deductible insurance!

http://www.azbeemers.org/forum/index.php?topic=244.0 Yahoo Photos es kaput!

http://www.azbeemers.org/forum/index.php?topic=820.msg3679 Summer of 2009 AZ Beemers is using Edelweiss Bike Tours new company RIDE4FUN to Sardinia, IT.

Musings of El Presidente AZ Beemers Chuy Medina: "I received some interesting literature from Edelweiss regarding low cost European Motorcycle Tours featuring Suzuki motorcycles only. They differ from the usual EBT packages since you now pack your own luggage, instead of EBT carrying your baggage in the support van.

There is no longer a support van and its driver, just a tour leader. Same amount of lodgings and breakfasts, but no lunch cooked up on the road by the support van driver. The trade off is that you save a $1000 over the BMW tours and you don't have to worry about a BMW final drive grenading itself while you are on vacation.

Worry Free Chain Driven Suzukis! BMW can shove those 17/19 ball bearings up....

We will fly into Rome's Fiumicino 3 days early for sightseeing and take the train to Civitavecchia; then the ferry to Olbia. 2 days after riding Sardinia; fly back to AZ!"

www.ride4fun.com info@ride4fun.com 00800.333.593.477 at Edelweiss Bike Travel

[BobsST]

We did the Alps Touring Center and the Dolomites Touring Center. Very pleased with both trips. Everything is 1st class.

[HUD]

My wife and I took the High Alpine Tour last September. We went in the middle of the month and did run into a little snow on one of the passes. It was a great experience and we hope to go on another trip someday. I recommend going a day early to deal with jet lag and, in our case, locate missing luggage. Oh yes, fly Lufthansa across the pond.

[DarthWader]

Edelweiss does a first rate job. In July, 2003, I took the did the Alps Touring Center tour with a side trip to what was then called the BMW Biker Meeting at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. I enjoyed the experience immensely. However, be sure you know whether you will "see" or "tour" a particular sight. I was dissappointed that our group was not able to actually tour King Ludwig II's Neuschwanstein castle. Guess I should have asked more questions!

Jim Wagner

[gsjay]

Edelweiss does a first rate job. In July, 2003, I took the did the Alps Touring Center tour with a side trip to what was then called the BMW Biker Meeting at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. I enjoyed the experience immensely. However, be sure you know whether you will "see" or "tour" a particular sight. I was dissappointed that our group was not able to actually tour King Ludwig II's Neuschwanstein castle. Guess I should have asked more questions!

Jim Wagner

Why couldn't you tour the Castle? Time?
Their tours allow you a lot of freedom to do what you want.
jason

[DarthWader]

Why couldn't you tour the Castle? Time?
Their tours allow you a lot of freedom to do what you want.
jason

Jason, you are exactly right. Edelweiss tours do allow the freedom to be on your own and I could have easily used a day of the tour and traveled to Neuschwanstein. However, I preferred to ride with the group at that stage of the tour. As the days progressed, I did feel more secure in venturing out on my own and made a side trip to St. Moritz. My interpretation of the brochure was that we would actually stop and tour the castle and that was my mistake. However, as I recall, we were on our way from Innsbruck to Garmisch-Partenkirchen where the Biker Meeting was to be held. Our group stopped on the road which was below and some distance from the castle where pictures could be taken.

While studying in Germany in the early 70's, I was able to tour Neuschwanstein so I knew what we missed. It would just have been nice to see it again.

Based on my experience in 2003 with that tour, I definitely would say that Edelweiss does an excellent job. The tour leaders are very attentive and do everything to make your vacation successful. I know you will be pleased with your tour and that you will have a great time.

Jim Wagner

[Beemerdons]

When we were in stopped in Tarifa - Punta Marroqui for our morning cappucino break, on our way to Ronda, two of our group wanted to travel to Gibraltar.

Axel Papst was very pleased they wanted to venture out on their own and marked their maps for them; and set up a group rendezvous point for later in the day where they could meet up with the rest that wanted to ride twisties all day!

When I rode the High Alpine Tour there was a gentleman from Washington, D.C. that rode by himself everyday! This was his 10th EBT trip and he liked riding solo.

[GlobalRider]

However, be sure you know whether you will "see" or "tour" a particular sight. I was dissappointed that our group was not able to actually tour King Ludwig II's Neuschwanstein castle. Guess I should have asked more questions!

Thats the beauty of going self-guided.

You tour where you want, when you want, and how you want.

Not only do you get to go 1st class, but you get to go for 1/3 to 1/2 the price. :D

[pffog]

Thats the beauty of going self-guided.

You tour where you want, when you want, and how you want.

Not only do you get to go 1st class, but you get to go for 1/3 to 1/2 the price. :D

If you want the best of both worlds go with Beach's motorcycle adventures. Like Burger King, you can have it your way, ride with a guide, ride solo, hook up with other like minded/skilled riders, split from a group, join a group
etc. But get the Luxury of having bikes, transportation, first class hotels, luggage van etc at your disposal. Their philosophy is it is YOUR vacation, so you do what you want, they offer the options to make it what you want it to be.

That have been around since the early 70's. In fact the rumor is that the first BMWMOA magazine was pieced together on Bob Beach's kitchen table. I have meet over a half dozen people that have done both Beach and Edelweiss, and all say the Beach tour was the better of the two.

It will be the best $$ you ever spent on motorcycling.

[DarthWader]

Thats the beauty of going self-guided.

You tour where you want, when you want, and how you want.

Not only do you get to go 1st class, but you get to go for 1/3 to 1/2 the price. :D

Alex, I didn't mention it in my previous posts but I am leaving June 30th for Frankfurt on a 2-week self-guided tour of the Austrian and Italian Alps. I still haven't fully decided where I will travel but the first leg of my journey will be to Garmish-Partenkirchen for the BMW Motorrad Days event. And yes, I will tour Neuschwanstein while I'm in the area. I'll be renting a bike from Stefan Knopf in Heidelberg. I just wish to thank you as well as others for your posts, ride reports, and information that you have so generously made available. I know these efforts are time-consuming.

Jim Wagner

[GlobalRider]

It will be the best $$ you ever spent on motorcycling.

I couldn't see myself blowing that much coin and walk away with less of an experience, but...different strokes for different folks.

If I were going to ride solo or split from the group, I might as well go self-guided in the first place....and do it all for 1/3rd the price.

[GlobalRider]

Alex, I didn't mention it in my previous posts but I am leaving June 30th for Frankfurt on a 2-week self-guided tour of the Austrian and Italian Alps.

Hi Jim,

You'll be arriving a week before I head back. I'm heading over for 5 1/2 weeks of touring for some much needed R&R.


I still haven't fully decided where I will travel but the first leg of my journey will be to Garmish-Partenkirchen for the BMW Motorrad Days event. And yes, I will tour Neuschwanstein while I'm in the area. I'll be renting a bike from Stefan Knopf in Heidelberg.


Thats the beauty of going self-guided...no schedule! You can change destinations the previous night based on weather reports, or for whatever reason.

When will you be at Stefan's. Even though I never met the guy, I always recommend his services. He seems to provide a fair deal.


I just wish to thank you as well as others for your posts, ride reports, and information that you have so generously made available. I know these efforts are time-consuming.

That they are, but its well worth it. Take plenty of pics!

[DarthWader]

Hi Jim,

You'll be arriving a week before I head back. I'm heading over for 5 1/2 weeks of touring for some much needed R&R.

Thats the beauty of going self-guided...no schedule! You can change destinations the previous night based on weather reports, or for whatever reason.

When will you be at Stefan's. Even though I never met the guy, I always recommend his services. He seems to provide a fair deal.

That they are, but its well worth it. Take plenty of pics!

Alex, I'll be at Stefan's B&B the evening of July 1st and 2nd. After doing some riding and seeing the sights in the Heidelberg area on the 2nd, I will leave for the rally at Garmisch-Partenkirchen on the 3rd. It would be great to see you. I'm glad that you'll have 5+ weeks to ride in the splendor of the Alps.

Jim Wagner

[GlobalRider]

Alex, I'll be at Stefan's B&B the evening of July 1st and 2nd. It would be great to see you.

That might just work out as I'm visiting friends I've met during my Alps tours on July 1st. They live near Speyer and that is less than 25 miles away. I've got Stefan's co-ordinates in my GPS.

[pffog]

I couldn't see myself blowing that much coin and walk away with less of an experience, but...different strokes for different folks.

If I were going to ride solo or split from the group, I might as well go self-guided in the first place....and do it all for 1/3rd the price.

Well we have been around this debate before, 1/3 the cost? Maybe, but my guess is 2/3 the cost.

BUT, how much is time worth?? Tours do a lot of the work and can take a lot of anxiety out of the process.

He also mentioned he was traveling with the "Boss", so the experience needs to be good for her as well. That means 3 and 4 star accommodations, enough room to take along some nice clothes, and dress up on some occasions, as well as do some shopping and not have to worry whether it will fit in the saddle bags.

I love just going off and exploring, but when the wife has been along on the Europe tours, Beach's have helped look out for her needs as well.

I have done it both ways, and I fully agree with you that the self guided offers a lot of advantages, but acknowledge that tours offer a lot too.

There is SO much to be learned about riding the Alps and having a teacher speeds that process immensely. Every time I see a rider crowding the center of a narrow mountain pass, I know it is a North American rider.

Going for the first time with a spouse is much different the going it alone. The biggest negative on many organized tours is the lack of ability to do your own thing, my point is Beach's lets you do that, but still offers the piece of mind of having a lot of thing done for you, thus giving you more freedom to do your own thing.

And don't forget the John Hermann, the man that wrote Motorcycle touring through the Alps and Corsica, what many consider the "Bible" on Alps touring has been on over 20 Beach tours, that is quite an endorsement in itself.

[GlobalRider]

Well we have been around this debate before, 1/3 the cost? Maybe, but my guess is 2/3 the cost.

We might have. Actually, since I do keep MS Excel spreadsheets of my touring expenses, it is closer to 1/3 the cost, but I do sometimes quote as much as 1/2 IF you really go out and splurge. No guessing involved!



BUT, how much is time worth?? Tours do a lot of the work and can take a lot of anxiety out of the process.

He also mentioned he was traveling with the "Boss", so the experience needs to be good for her as well. That means 3 and 4 star accommodations, enough room to take along some nice clothes, and dress up on some occasions, as well as do some shopping and not have to worry whether it will fit in the saddle bags.

What work, what anxiety? Who does "a lot of the work and takes the anxiety out of the process" when you tour from wherever you live to the other side of the country?

If touring on planet earth generates anxiety to some, they ought to chill out...you're still on planet earth, not Mars....relax!



I have done it both ways, and I fully agree with you that the self guided offers a lot of advantages, but acknowledge that tours offer a lot too.

Going for the first time with a spouse is much different the going it alone. The biggest negative on many organized tours is the lack of ability to do your own thing, my point is Beach's lets you do that, but still offers the piece of mind of having a lot of thing done for you, thus giving you more freedom to do your own thing.

Depends what kind of rider you are. Many of us couldn't see ourselves being part of a caravan, and as I mentioned before, if we were going to go off from the tour group on my own, why would we spend big coin taking an organized tour in the first place?

Yes, they have their advantages as few as they are, and for those who want their luggage waiting for them in their room, by all means go on an organized tour.

Actually I had to chuckle when someone on another forum once told my that there was no way I could have found this particular road he was taken over without a guide. The poor soul didn't exactly remember which road it was (because he was in a caravan just following some guide) other than telling me it took him through three narrow tunnels that ended up on a ski slope, and that it was between the Dolomites and Slovenia. Was he pi$$ed off when I posted some pics and told him he went over Monte Zoncolan towards Sutrio. I rest my case! :laugh

Someone once sent me their GPS track from a well known organized tour. All I can say is they missed out on some of the really great out-of-the-way-roads. But they have to keep the riding less technically challenging for those not used to Alps riding, so that is understandable.



And don't forget the John Hermann, the man that wrote, what many consider the "Bible" on Alps touring has been on over 20 Beach tours.

I ran into John atop the Openpass in Switzerland in 2002; he was with three of his riding buddies. No tour group was in sight. I prefer the Alps books by Denzel; they are far more detailed and complete...no comparsion! But you really don't need any books, just very good maps and an imagination.

In a nutshell and this is what is important...going self-guided enables many to experience some of the best riding in the world while also meeting their budget. Not only will they meet their budget, but they'll more likely experience Europe not hanging around with a bunch of North Americans/Canadians/Australians, etc.

BTW, you have till the end of the month to discuss this. After that, I'm off for 5 1/2 weeks of touring the Alps...self-guided. :nyah :p

[GlobalRider]

Alex, I'll be at Stefan's B&B the evening of July 1st and 2nd.

Jim, I'll be nearby visiting friends right about then.

I'll see if I can drop by to meet you and to finally meet Stefan.

[schnidelwutz]

I'm quite sure that one or 2 of you folks have tried a Tour through Edelwiess motorcycle Tours. The boss and I are planning a trip this Sept through the Alps this September and I waqs wondering if anyone can share what their experience was like.

Hi everybody
I am from germany ,but live in south florida since 1979.I do have to go alpine (twistys) riding every year just to keep my sanity.Every time i meet people on route That have just left a so called guidet tour. most of the time they where more or less dissapointed,for the folowing reasons:To many riders in one group,have to be there tonite because your lugage is waiting at the hotel.
After 10 days ,i dont know where all the hell i been,We saw some great Places and wanted stay and explore the area-but they said-not possible.And so on.
I ended up beeing the tour guide for the rest of those peoples vacation.There are a couple of horror stories that i dont to mention because i dont want to scare anybody, Of course there are also alot of positive experiances with tour companies,I think they just get too many people at the time and want to squeeze
every body in.
So i am thinking of maybe becomming an tourguide for groups of max.5 people
since i know all the great and not so great places from germany to the south of france(my personal favorite).I am just not shure how to go about that other than i have some connections for bike rentals in germany.
Any ideas?.You can e-mail me at dasvinni@yahoo.com
I wish every body a very succesfull european vacation.Dont be scared,most people there speak english if ask nicely and they will point you in the right direction,besides your on vacation so whats the worry,stay where you like it
putt your sleeping bag in a wine field there are no dangerus creatures,
Vinni

[GlobalRider]

I am from Germany, but live in south Florida since 1979. I do have to go alpine (twistys) riding every year just to keep my sanity.

Living in ultra flat and boring Florida...das kann ich mir glauben.

[MLS2GO]

I have gone on one Beach Tour in the Alps. It was very fortunate that we did that rather than solo in this particular situation. My wife's back went out and she couldn't get on a bike for three days. Beach did everything they could even trying to rig a small step with a string. No go. Our vacation was not spoiled as she rode in the Support Van. She only missed one pass and we met up for lunch when possible. She got to see 90% of the same things I did. She got some great pictures I didn't get.
Unusual circumstance sure. I ride alone and in small groups all the time. Have done all 50 states on one brand now redoing the 50 on the BMW, so have fear of going alone. My wife enjoyed the accommodations and having the gear carried. Not being used to the Alps I am happy I wasn't carrying all my gear for two on the bike on those hairpins. One of the best things of the trip was the sharing of experiences at the Dinner table with the other riders and Rob Beach and Gretchen and having Rob tell us history, geography routing and what to look for on the next day's ride. Very enjoyable for us.
Touring with a group has advantages as does touring alone. Isn't it wonderful we have these choices?

[pffog]

More importantly Rob does not require you to ride with anybody, you are not forced into a group and can do your own thing alone, or with new friends you meet on the tour. Your call, with the benefits MLS mentioned, luggage waiting, less weight to travel with, and new friends you just meet.

More costly than doing it alone yes, but there is Value in that $$. I always say, it is not the cost, it is the value that is important, if cost was the only factor, we would all drive Yugo's (remember them)

[GlobalRider]

I always say, it is not the cost, it is the value that is important.

Some of us are really lucky in that going solo or self guided is the only way to go. And as a bonus, it is half the price, so great value on top of it.