Motorcycle trip

France

To discover off-road riding, the one-day course stays on a private training ground. The level 1 courses over two days and three days add one or two days on the Beaujolais trails, to use the new skills in touring conditions: the best start if you have never left tarmac. The Girls Ride, with Wildust Sisters, is a two-day course for women riders. Level 2 is for riders who have already done a first course.

From £350 (€390) to £890 (€990) per rider, depending on length: £350 (€390) for one day, £690 (€790) for the two-day courses (level 1, level 2 and Girls Ride) and £890 (€990) for three days. A pillion pays £170 (€190) to £440 (€490), depending on the course. The Royal Enfield Himalayan 411, fuel and the instructor are included, plus the hotel and some meals on multi-day courses. Add your travel and, on your first trip with us, a £31 (€35) registration fee.

From March to November, on fixed dates, often at weekends; we do not usually run courses from December to February. The Girls Ride runs once a year, in October. In spring and autumn, ground conditions depend on recent rain, so waterproofs always belong in your bag. Upcoming dates and remaining places are shown on each course page; if there are none, an adviser can tell you when the course returns.

No off-road experience is needed for the two- and three-day level 1 courses or the Girls Ride, rated Accessible: you should be comfortable riding on the road and ride regularly. These are not lessons to learn to ride a motorcycle. The one-day course is short: if you have never ridden off tarmac, a two- or three-day course gives you more time. Level 2, rated Intermediate, requires a first off-road course and good fitness.

A full motorcycle licence, category A or A2, and your passport. UK passport holders do not need a visa for a short stay in France, and a UK photocard licence is normally enough without an International Driving Permit; check GOV.UK if your licence is a paper one or was issued elsewhere. The licence is required even on private ground, as multi-day courses also ride on open roads. Details in our help centre: Preparing your trip to France.

In the Beaujolais, near Lyon: a private training ground, then the trails and back roads of the area. We confirm the exact meeting point and time when you book; courses usually start at 8.30am. From the UK, fly to Lyon Saint-Exupéry, or take the Eurostar to Paris and a TGV to Lyon, about two hours. Arrive the day before and stay nearby: that night is not included.

The courses run on a private training ground, then on easy trails and back roads, at a pace suited to the group: 8 motorcycles at most, led by an English-speaking instructor certified by the French Motorcycling Federation (FFM). There is no support vehicle: if needed, the instructor calls the emergency services. You bring your own full off-road gear, from full-face helmet to boots: it is mandatory, see our riding gear list. Before you travel, read the FCDO travel advice for France.

In France, we take you riding in the Beaujolais hills: our two- and three-day courses combine a day of off-road skills with one or two days of guided riding on forest trails and quiet back roads. For a guided tour of a week or more, see our Europe motorcycle tours, for example in Albania, Greece, Sardinia or Turkey. Closer to home, we also run off-road training in Wales. A course before you go helps a lot if your tour includes tracks.