Mountain Passes
Iconic Col
Col du Tourmalet: Riding the Giant of the Pyrenees
At 2,115 metres, the Col du Tourmalet is the highest paved mountain pass in the French Pyrenees and the most celebrated. It has featured in the Tour de France more than any other col — 87 times at the last count. Nothing in those statistics prepares you for what it actually feels like to ride it: the relentless false summits from Sainte-Marie-de-Campan, the road narrowing above La Mongie, the moment the summit appears and the bronze statue of the cyclist stands alone in the wind.
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Mountain Pass
Col d'Aubisque: The Road That Hangs on the Edge of the World
Between the Col d'Aubisque and the Col du Soulor lies the Cirque du Litor — a traverse carved directly into a cliff face with sheer drops on one side and rock wall on the other. No barriers. On a moto…
Hidden Gem
Col de Spandelles: The Pass the Tour de France Rediscovered
Until July 2022, the Col de Spandelles was known primarily to local cyclists and the occasional tourist who had made a wrong turn near Argelès-Gazost. Then the Tour de France routed Stage 6 across its…
Mountain Pass
Col du Soulor: Where Vultures Circle and the Road Disappears into Cloud
The Col du Soulor at 1,474 metres is always discussed in relation to the Aubisque — but it deserves considerably more than supporting-act status. From Arrens-Marsous the ascent climbs through beech fo…
Summit
Luz Ardiden: Summit Finish, Ski Station, and a View Worth Everything
Luz Ardiden is not a traditional mountain pass — the tarmac ends at a ski station at 1,720 metres. But the 13-kilometre climb from Luz-Saint-Sauveur is one of the most technically demanding in the cen…
High Altitude
Col de Portet at 2,215m: The Highest Paved Pass in the Central Pyrenees
At 2,215 metres the Col de Portet is the highest paved road in the central Pyrenees — 100 metres higher than the Tourmalet, and considerably less visited. The road from Saint-Lary-Soulan switchbacks p…
Hidden Gem
Hourquette d'Ancizan: The Forgotten Pass Between Two Famous Valleys
The Hourquette d'Ancizan sits at 1,564 metres between the Vallée d'Aure and the Vallée de Campan — two of the most significant valleys in the central Pyrenees, both heavily trafficked by tourists head…
Villages & Culture
Villages
Medieval Villages: Sarlat, Rocamadour & Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
The routes north from the Pyrenees pass through some of the most extraordinary medieval townscapes in France — a corridor of golden limestone, cliff-face architecture, and preserved history running through the Périgord and Quercy. Three towns in particular reward the time it takes to stop: Sarlat-la-Canéda, Rocamadour, and Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, perched 80 metres above the Lot river.
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Rental Guide
Motorcycle Rental in the Pyrenees — What You Need to Know
Everything you need to arrange a rental — the bikes available (BMW GS range, Honda Africa Twin, Yamaha Tracer 7 and more), documents, licence requirements, insurance, and how we coordinate all logistics so you simply arrive and ride.
Seasonal Guide
Best Time to Visit the Pyrenees by Motorcycle
The Pyrenees are rideable for roughly six months a year. The high passes typically open in late May and close in October or November. The difference between a perfect week in June and a disappointing one in mid-August is…
Planning Guide
How to Plan a Motorcycle Tour in the Pyrenees
A Pyrenees motorcycle tour rewards careful preparation. The range is over 400 kilometres from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean and the high passes create logistical realities that don't apply on flatter terrain: passes …
Planning Guide
Pyrenees vs Alps — Which Is Better for Motorcycle Touring?
Two of Europe's greatest mountain ranges, separated by 400 kilometres of southern France, each offering some of the finest motorcycle roads on the continent. But they are not the same ride. Where to go?
Bike Guides
Bike Comparison
BMW R 1300 GS vs BMW S 1000 XR — Which Bike for the Pyrenees?
The question we get asked more than any other. Two BMWs, two very different propositions, both perfectly capable of completing any route in the Pyrenees. The R 1300 GS is the default choice of the experienced touring rid…
One-Day Rides
One-Day Ride
The Three-Col Day: Aspin, Tourmalet & Aubisque in a Single Ride
The loop from Bagnères-de-Bigorre through the Col d'Aspin, over the Col du Tourmalet, and back via the Col d'Aubisque is one of the defining days in the Pyrenees. Three legendary climbs, roughly 160 kilometres, around 4,…
Routes
Ultimate Guide
Top 10 Motorcycle Roads in the Pyrenees: The Ultimate Guide
The Pyrenees are one of Europe's greatest motorcycle destinations — and still less crowded than the Alps. From the legendary Col du Tourmalet to Spain's N-260 and the wild Col de Pailhères, this guide covers the 10 most spectacular roads you should not miss, with a suggested 5–7 day itinerary.
Pass Guide
Pyrenees Motorcycle Passes Ranked by Difficulty
Not all Pyrenees passes are equal. From the forgiving Col d'Aspin to the demanding Aubisque cliff-edge traverse — 10 passes rated by gradient, exposure and road width so you can plan a route that matches your actual skill level.
Route
The Perfect Five-Day Loop: Sarlat, Rocamadour & the High Passes of the Pyrenees
Five days, roughly 900 kilometres, combining the medieval Périgord with the high passes of the Hautes-Pyrenees. Begin in Sarlat, ride south through Rocamadour and the Lot valley, cross the Gers into the foothills, spend …