The calimoto user and motorcycle influencer Marie-Jana (Link), is back at it, hitting the road once more with calimoto to explore the Alps. This time, she's taking us on a thrilling journey through the Salzkammergut, Grossglockner, Trentino, and the Dolomites. Get ready for a ride as she shares her exciting experiences with us:
Hey Biker Community! For those who don't know me yet from the last calimoto blog about the Canary Islands (link), I'm here to take you along on my adventures where calimoto has proven to be the ultimate road trip buddy. My mission? Unraveling as many scenic winding roads by motorcycle as possible and sparking some inspiration for your future travel plans. My motto for this trip? "Chasing the Sun." As I head into the heart of the Alps, I'm on the lookout for the twistiest roads and breathtaking vistas. The weather's playing peek-a-boo, so I'm making spontaneous decisions each day about where the trip should go, and doing my best to steer clear of the rain.
Packing my Hypermotard into my camper and hitting the road. My first glimpse of blue sky appears in the stunning Salzkammergut, renowned for its beautiful lakes like Traunsee, Attersee, Mondsee, Wolfgangsee, and many more. It's the perfect opportunity for a scenic lakeside tour. What's captivating is how closely you can ride along the shorelines, and riding here at sunset is especially romantic. To make sure I'm not missing out on my dose of curves, I venture up the Roßberg, taking the Roßfeldstraße 999, a toll road that takes you from Hallein to Berchtesgaden for around €5. The view up there is jaw-dropping, and I can't resist savoring it with freshly baked waffles (you can find them at the café on the highest parking lot) while overlooking the Salzburg region. Although mountains are everywhere in sight, there are relatively few passes. I experienced this phenomenon before in Tyrol last year, so I decide it's time to move on.
Next stop: Trentino. It's a mesmerizing area near Trento, full of curves winding through vineyards. Apart from the Passo Mendola SS42 and SP85, which take you through 40 hairpin bends and 18 km up to Monte Bodone, you absolutely cannot miss the Passo Rolle SS50. This stunning road guides you through countless, gracefully sweeping curves to a plateau nestled between two mountains. One of my personal highlights is the ascent to Passo Manghen via the SP31. The road is delightfully narrow with tight bends that I find to actually be an advantage, as there's hardly any traffic - allowing me to savor the ride in serene peace.
Unfortunately, the weather forecast predicts heavy showers in the entire region for the next day, so I decide it's time to head towards Grossglockner.
The ride to Grossglockner might not be a bargain at around 30€ for a motorcycle, but the unreal beauty of the landscape makes it worth every cent. The road 107, called Untertauern (on the Carinthian side of the mountain) or Seidlwinkl and later Taxbacher Fusch (on the Salzburg side), boasts 36 hairpin bends over 47.8 km. If you ride all the way up to the Edelweißspitze, you'll reach an impressive altitude of 2504 meters and be rewarded with a 360-degree panoramic view of Austria's highest peaks. While it was around 18ºC in the valley, up there it's just 3ºC. The intense sunshine makes it feel warmer, and I bask in the view of this snowy paradise. The roads are mostly dry, but I'm forced ride carefully as the melting snow creates little streams of icy water crossing the road. Additionally, the speed limit has recently been reduced to 70 km/h, but at the moment, I don't mind; I'm too busy marveling and enjoying the scenery. Although 47.8 km may seem short, but trust me, you can easily spend at least half a day on Grossglockner without getting bored. And there's one thing you absolutely can't miss—the few kilometers on the Hochalpenstrasse that lead you to Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe.
The most stunning place I've ever ridden my motorcycle is the Dolomites. And the weather forecast is looking pretty decent for the next few days. I quickly load up my bike and head straight to this magical wonderland. Picking a route here is a real challenge with an overwhelming number of curvy roads and passes. Once again, I can't cover everything I'd love to explore; there's just so much to see! First I head to Passo Sella SS242. The ride there alone is an endless thrill! The SS244 to Corvara and the SS243 on the way to Sellajoch are absolutely dreamy. The Sella Pass itself offers a beautiful stretch leading to the rugged mountain peaks of Sassolungo (Langkofel) and Sassopiato (Plattkofel), reminding me of the famous Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Three Peaks).
But here's the crown jewel of the entire journey—experiencing the sunset at Giau Pass SP638. The low-hanging sun casts a flattering light on the rugged panorama, and I find myself pausing to savor the moment. Moments like these are why I ride a motorcycle. I'm so immersed in awe that I even forget to take a photo.
The beautiful Alps in detail