Starting at Ambérieux d’Azergues, you’ll set off on an adventure on your own motorcycle (with mixed tyres) and cover almost 500 miles, far from the usual tourist trails. You’ll explore France on seldom-used dirt tracks and discover authentic and unusual landscapes across several little-known regions. This motorcycle tour across Puy-de-Dôme takes you to the heart of the French countryside, which often seems like it was left behind by globalisation. From Beaujolais to Allier, your expedition leader will follow closely behind, ready to lend a helping hand if need be.

YOUR MOTORCYCLE TOUR IN FRANCE 5 stages - 500 miles

J1 / Ambérieux d’Azergues - Château de la Roche - 75 miles

Meet and greet at 8.30 am. Your expedition leader will give you a quick briefing and provide the routes in GPX format. He’ll also go over some basic safety instructions so you can set off with your group with peace of mind. You will then head towards the castle Château de la Roche on the banks of the Loire. You take the old Tacot railway line that used to serve the villages in south Beaujolais, known as the Land of the Golden Stones.

J2 / Château de la Roche - St Rémy-De-Blot - 99 miles

This morning, after a bit of a warm up, we enter Livradois-Forez Regional Nature Park, famous for its black forests and Druid legends. We take a quick break to unravel the mystery of the “magic rocks”. We cross many “jasseries”, summer pasture farms that are typical in the Monts du Forez region at the world’s end.

J3 / St Rémy-De-Blot - Mont St Rigaud region - 93 miles

Today, you head to the Sioule Valley, a tributary of the Allier and a dream come true for bikers. On your way, you cross La Clayette and admire its stunning fourteenth-century castle. With a road book full of recommendations, the hardest part will be choosing which of the area's best restaurants to stop at for your lunch break. All of the options are perfect for anyone who loves meat and local products. After lunch, take your time to wander around.

J4 / Mont St Rigaud region - Wine Route - 93 miles

It wouldn’t be a tour of Beaujolais if we didn’t stop at its vineyards, right? We cross the 10 Beaujolais crus villages: Brouilly, Juliénas, Chiroubles, Morgon, Saint-Amour, etc. You push on east to the Rock of Solutré and the “roof of the Rhône” on forest tracks that were once used by wine merchants.

J5 / Lancié- Ambérieux d’Azergues - 81 miles

You continue on your quest to discover this welcoming land and a trip to Montmelas castle is perfect for that. You make the most of the tracks and trails and stop to chat to the locals we find on our way. You arrive in Ambérieux d'Azergues and spend your last evening together going over the best bits of the trip.