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 ridden on dirt. The Girls Ride, with the Wildust Sisters, is a two-day course for women riders. Level 2 is for riders who have already taken a first course.

From $490 to $1,190 per rider, depending on length: $490 for one day, $890 for the two-day courses (Level 1, Level 2 and Girls Ride) and $1,190 for three days. A passenger pays $230 to $590, depending on the course. The Royal Enfield Himalayan 411, gas 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 $41 registration fee.

From March through November, on fixed dates, often on weekends; we do not usually run courses from December through February. The Girls Ride runs once a year, in October. In spring and fall, trail conditions depend on recent rain, so pack rain gear. Upcoming dates and remaining spots are shown on each course page; if there are none, an advisor 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 confident 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 on dirt, a two- or three-day course gives you more time. Level 2, rated Intermediate, requires a first off-road course and good fitness.

Your motorcycle license and your passport. US citizens do not need a visa for a stay of under 90 days. Our help center says an International Driving Permit is required in France: get one from AAA and bring it with your US license. Your license is needed even on private ground, as multi-day courses also ride on public roads. Details in our help center: 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 8:30 a.m. From the US, fly to Paris and take a TGV high-speed train to Lyon, about two hours, or connect to Lyon Saint-Exupéry airport. 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 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 go, check the U.S. Department of State travel advisory and country information 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. We also run off-road training in Wales. A course before your trip helps a lot if your tour includes dirt roads.