At the end of August 2025 we set out on our last big motorcycle trip of the year, heading to the Italian Alps and the Dolomites. This trip was done with a small group from De Natte Zwaluw three riders, three motorcycles, and one goal: ride as many legendary Alpine passes as possible.

We planned a 9-day trip that would take us from the western part of the Italian Alps all the way into the heart of the Dolomites. The route was packed with famous mountain passes, incredible scenery, and some of the best riding roads you can imagine.

Start date: August 26, 2025
End date: September 3, 2025
Duration: 9 days

Start location: Netherlands
Main destination: Italian Alps & Dolomites

Total distance: ± 3500 km
Longest riding day: ± 1000 km

Number of riders: 3
Motorcycles: Touring / Adventure bikes

Countries visited:
🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇩🇪 Germany

Mountain passes ridden: ± 15

Highest pass:
Stelvio Pass – 2757 m

The first day was immediately a tough one. We rode straight from the Netherlands to Innsbruck in Austria, which meant nearly 1000 km in a single day, mostly highway.

It turned out to be heavier than expected, but we wanted to reach the mountains as quickly as possible so we could spend the following days riding the real Alpine roads.

After a long day in the saddle we finally arrived in Austria, where the first mountain views already started to appear. We spent the night in Innsbruck so we could continue towards Italy well rested the next day.

The next morning we headed towards Italy and stopped at the Top Mountain Motorcycle Museum. If you are riding in this region this place is absolutely worth a stop. We took some time for a coffee and to look around the impressive motorcycle collection.

After leaving the museum you pass through a toll gate and start riding one of the most beautiful roads in the Alps: the Timmelsjoch Hochalpenstraße.

For all three of us this was the first time riding motorcycles at such high altitude. The environment slowly changes from green mountain slopes to a much rougher landscape where almost nothing grows.

The temperature drops, the air gets thinner, and you can even feel the motorcycle working a little harder to climb.

At the top we reached 2509 meters above sea level.

A moment none of us will forget.

After crossing the pass we rode down into Italy where we enjoyed a great pizza and a small beer at Passeirer Weinstube.

From there we continued to our first accommodation, an Airbnb in a small village near Bolzano where we stayed for three nights. From this location we planned several rides including one of the most famous mountain passes in the world: the Stelvio Pass.

Unfortunately the weather was not on our side. One of the days we stayed here was dominated by heavy storms, rain and thunder.

We waited for a while and around 2 PM decided to get on the bikes anyway. The Airbnb owners advised us not to go, but sometimes you just have to ride.

We rode towards the beautiful village of Molveno, which has an amazing view over the lake and surrounding mountains.

On the way back the weather suddenly changed and we ended up riding back completely soaked by heavy rain.

The next day was the day we had all been waiting for: Stelvio Pass.

The weather forecast said the storm had passed but there was still a chance of rain. So we put on our rain gear, started the bikes and headed out.

While riding towards the Stelvio we saw streams overflowing onto the road and small waterfalls running down the mountain sides from the heavy rain.

When the famous hairpin section started the fog suddenly became very thick, making visibility quite challenging.

But once we climbed higher and the fog cleared, we were rewarded with a view we will never forget.

Glaciers, endless hairpins, and one of the most iconic roads in the world.

At the top we reached 2757 meters altitude.

Snow on Stelvio in August

At the top we stopped at Alpengasthof Tibet Hütte where we enjoyed a beer and a good schnitzel.

While we were sitting there the temperature kept dropping… until it actually started snowing.

In August.

When we continued riding the motorcycle display showed only 3°C.

Gavia Pass – A Different World

After descending Stelvio we continued towards the Gavia Pass.

This pass feels completely different. The landscape is much rougher and almost barren. At times it feels like riding on another planet.

The road climbs to 2621 meters and offers a truly unique experience.

After finishing the pass we rode back to our accommodation, stopped by a supermarket and rested for the next day.

After a few intense riding days it was time to move to our next location. The plan for the day was to ride from Tuenno to Valle di Cadore, near the famous Cortina d'Ampezzo, right in the heart of the Dolomites.

We left early in the morning and quickly found ourselves surrounded by the unique mountain scenery of the Dolomites. The sharp rock peaks here look almost unreal and unlike anything we had seen before.

Our first stop of the day was Lago di Carezza. Although it is quite touristy, it is still a beautiful place and definitely worth a quick stop.

From there we rode over the Passo Fedaia, a fantastic mountain pass with great curves and incredible views. The ride continued over the Falzarego Pass, which was a bit busier but offered amazing scenery and great riding roads.

To finish the day we rode over the Passo Giau, which easily became one of the most beautiful passes of the trip. When the sun starts to get lower the views here become even more spectacular. If you stop here, make sure to grab a coffee and some apple strudel at Berghotel Passo Giau.

After a day full of incredible roads and mountain views we arrived at our Airbnb with a stunning view over the Dolomites, where we rested and prepared for the ultimate ride planned for the next day.

After arriving the day before, this was the day we had really been looking forward to. The weather was perfect and we had planned two possible routes: a shorter one in case the weather turned bad and a longer one if conditions allowed it.

Luckily the skies were clear, so we chose the long route of about 310 km through the Dolomites. Riding that distance in the mountains makes for a serious day on the bike, but it also meant we could ride some of the best passes in the region.

The ride started directly with a fantastic road near our accommodation along the SP251, climbing to around 1500 meters. The road has great asphalt and flowing corners, making it a perfect warm-up for the day.

From there we continued once again towards Passo Fedaia, which was just as impressive the second time as the first. After a short stop for a drink we headed towards one of the highlights of the day: Passo Pordoi.

Passo Pordoi quickly became one of our favorite passes of the entire trip. The endless hairpin turns and perfectly shaped corners almost make it feel like riding a small mountain racetrack. Along the road you will often see photographers capturing riders as they carve through the bends.

From there the route continued over the Gardena Pass (2136 m) and the Valparola Pass (2168 m), both offering incredible views over the surrounding Dolomite peaks.

Shortly after that the road flows directly into the Falzarego Pass (2105 m), a stunning area surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery and popular with hikers because of the incredible views.

During the ride we also passed the beautiful town of Cortina d'Ampezzo and continued towards Lago di Braies, a famous lake that is beautiful but also very busy with tourists.

On the way back we crossed Passo Giau once more. If you are lucky enough to ride here when the sun starts to go down, the view becomes absolutely spectacular.

After a long and intense riding day we returned to our accommodation, where the evening was spent cooking, having a few beers and recovering from one of the best riding days of the entire trip.

After several days riding through the high mountains of the Dolomites, we decided to explore a different area and head a bit further south. Our goal for the day was the unique San Boldo Pass, a road that had been on our bucket list for a while.

The ride itself was already beautiful, leaving the dramatic peaks of the Dolomites behind and slowly descending into a completely different landscape.

The San Boldo Pass is unlike any other mountain road. What makes it so special are the famous tunnel hairpin turns. Instead of riding open switchbacks, the road climbs through a series of tunnels that spiral up the mountain. Each tunnel contains a tight hairpin turn, creating a very unique riding experience.

The road climbs about 451 meters along the SP635, and although the pass itself is not very high, it is definitely one of the most unusual roads we have ridden.

After riding the pass we started looking for a place to have lunch, which turned out to be more difficult than expected. Most places were closed in the afternoon and we were starting to think we might not find anything.

Eventually we saw a small restaurant called Osteria Ca' Dei Loff that was still open. When we walked in, the owner told us they were actually about to close around 13:30, but he was kind enough to offer to prepare one dish for us.

At first we thought it would be a simple quick lunch, but to our surprise we were guided into a beautiful garden where everyone was dressed quite fancy. Suddenly we found ourselves in a much more elegant setting than we expected.

The chef prepared fresh pasta inside a large Parmesan cheese wheel, while we were served glasses of Prosecco. At that point we all looked at each other thinking: this is probably going to be an expensive lunch.

But after an incredible meal the bill turned out to be only €78 for three people, which made the experience even better. It was one of those completely unexpected moments that make a trip like this unforgettable.

After lunch we slowly rode back towards our accommodation, enjoying the final evening in the Dolomites before starting the journey back north the following day.

After several incredible days in the Dolomites it was unfortunately time to leave Italy and begin the journey back home. Riding all the way back in one day would have been too far, so we planned a stop in the Black Forest in Germany.

After a long riding day of about 580 km, we arrived again at Hotel Schützen, a place we had stayed at before during an earlier trip to Austria. Since we had such a good experience there before, it felt like the perfect place for a stop on the way back.

The evening was exactly what you want after a long day on the bike: a good schnitzel, a large Hefeweizen, and relaxing while looking back on the incredible days we had just experienced in the Alps and Dolomites.

The next morning we started the final ride home. Before leaving the Black Forest we made sure to ride a section of the famous B500 Schwarzwaldhochstraße, a road that is always worth riding if you are in the area.

After enjoying the final curves of the trip we continued the last 600 km ride back to the Netherlands.

Looking back at the journey, this trip through the Italian Alps and Dolomites turned out to be one of the most unforgettable motorcycle adventures we have ever done. Incredible roads, breathtaking scenery and great memories shared with friends exactly what motorcycle travel is all about.