If you have ever longed to jump on a bike in leathers and bomb around a country Harley Davidson-style, don’t let being solo stop you from doing it. Not just for boys, anyone can ride a motorbike around the world.
Whether you want to rent one for a few days or ride free for months at a time, here are our best places for motorbiking around the globe.
Vietnam
Vietnam has got to be our top choice with its diverse landscape. It’s easy to rent a motorbike here and the Vietnamese are very handy when it comes to fixing them so there is no need to worry if you break down in a small village.
For a cultural route head north from Hanoi through mountain passes and lush vegetation to isolated villages. See tea plantations and limestone pinnacles as you cruise along rugged roads, staying overnight with mountain tribes. There are potholes here so you need to be a bit careful.
* Follow Laura’s motorbiking story through Vietnam.
Europe
Experience the Mediterranean on your own two wheels. Europe has great roads to bike on and one of the most popular is the Transalpine Route. This begins in Grenoble, France, across the Alps to the romantic city of Venice in Italy. If you don’t have time to ride the 2400km crossing through France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy, just do one section of the route to experience the best of Europe. It can get busy in summer.
Ride from Monaco all the way to Genova in Italy. Or take a leisurely ride through small Italian towns such as Sorrento as you glide along the breathtaking Amalfi Coast down to the peninsula (an 80 km route).
If you don’t mind the tourists, you’ll find some interesting riding routes through the mountain passes of the spectacular Dolomite Mountains. Stay overnight in the Italian towns of Corvara, or St. Leonhard, where you can mingle with the locals and meet other travellers.
USA
Everyone’s heard of Route 66, one of America’s most famous roads. This historic route used to be a lifeline for farmers during the Great Depression. It connects the West Coast to America’s Midwest and crosses many interesting places along the way. Ride through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
Pass incredible landscapes and different riding terrains. If you are feeling adventurous, go off-road on the Great Western Trail, crossing canyons and even deserts before spending time sunning yourself on the California coast. A trip along America’s most iconic highway will be both a hair-raising and nostalgic one.
Australia
A trip Down Under offers miles of endless roads through Australia’s terrain where you can truly get to experience life as a solo traveller (or rider). You can spend hours or even days not seeing anyone except for a kangaroo or two. if you head into the Australian outback. If you do decide to go on a long trip here, make sure you are fully prepared and plan your fuel stops.
For routes closer to civilisation, the Great Ocean Road is one of the most spectacular coastlines in the world. Take 3/4 days exploring this gorgeous coastline and stay the night in some gorgeous accommodation along the route before heading back to Melbourne, Victoria’s capital city.
New Zealand
Another place of beautiful scenery in Australasia is New Zealand. The South Island is simply spectacular, and the roads are smooth enough to glide along. Ride through Middle Earth, or past Franz Josef Glacier to the Haast Pass for some incredible photo-taking opportunities. From the quaint city of Christchurch, head north along the Pacific coast to Nelson, a city on Tasman Bay where you can pick up some arts and crafts before heading home. Just watch out for the sheep.