Self-Guided Motorcycle Tours in Spain: The Complete Guide Self-guided motorcycle tours in Spain are a riding holiday built on a route planned in advance, which you ride at your own pace without a guide. At Adventura, a registered Spanish travel agency based in Catalonia, every self-guided tour is designed around the rider: your dates, your starting point, the roads you want to ride, your riding level and your group size. Contents What is a self-guided motorcycle tour? A self-guided motorcycle tour gives you a professionally planned route and trip, then leaves the riding entirely to you. You decide when to set off, where to stop and how long to linger. You get the local knowledge of people who ride these roads without giving up your independence. Spain is ideal for it, with mountains in almost every region, quiet regional roads and a long riding season. How a bespoke self-guided tour works You tell us what you want from the trip, we design the route around it, and you ride it. The process is simple: When we send your proposal, we set out exactly what is included for your trip. To start, tell us your dates and the roads you want to ride. Guided vs self-guided: which suits you? Self-guided suits riders who value freedom and are comfortable following a planned route; guided suits riders who prefer someone else to lead the way. Here is how they compare: The best regions for a self-guided tour in Spain The Pyrenees, the Picos de Europa, Andalusia and the Spain–Portugal border offer the most varied riding for a self-guided trip. Each has a very different character. The Pyrenees The Pyrenees offer Spain’s most concentrated mountain riding. The N-260 (Eje Pirenaico) runs along the range through the Congost de Collegats gorge, the Port de la Bonaigua (2,072 m) climbs into the Vall d’Aran, and the Portalet pass (1,794 m) on the A-136 crosses into France. The Picos de Europa Green valleys, limestone peaks and the coast sit within a short ride of each other. Highlights include the Desfiladero de la Hermida and Puerto de San Glorio (1,609 m) on the N-621, and the Desfiladero de los Beyos on the N-625. Weather changes quickly, so flexible planning helps. Andalusia The south delivers sweeping bends, white villages and reliable weather. The A-397 from Ronda to San Pedro de Alcántara is a favourite, while the Sierra Nevada, Tabernas Desert and Cabo de Gata coast feel like another country. Spain and Portugal Crossing into Portugal adds quiet border roads and the N-222 through the Douro Valley, one of Europe’s most celebrated riding roads. Portugal is one hour behind Spain. Want a coast-to-coast Pyrenees crossing or another region entirely? We can design a bespoke route for it. Sample routes you can ride or customise Our sample routes are proven itineraries you can book as they are or use as a starting point for your own trip. Browse all our tours for full details. What you can tailor Almost every part of a bespoke self-guided tour can be adjusted to suit you: Choosing your BMW GS The right GS depends on your experience, height and whether you carry a pillion. Our BMW GS fleet includes: For full specifications, see BMW Motorrad. Riding without a guide: navigation, hotels and language Most worries about riding without a guide come down to navigation, where to stay and language. A well-designed route answers most of them before you leave. Navigation Most riders follow the route on a handlebar-mounted GPS or a securely mounted phone. Daily distances are planned around your pace, so you are never racing daylight. Hotels and overnight stops Overnight stops are planned around your route, your pace and your preferred hotel style, so each day ends somewhere worth arriving. Language and local tips English is widely spoken in cities and tourist areas, less so in rural villages. A few Spanish words go a long way. Save 112, the European emergency number, in your phone. The best time to ride in Spain Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) are the best times to ride most of Spain. Temperatures are comfortable and roads quieter than in summer. July and August suit the Pyrenees and Picos, but inland Andalusia gets extremely hot, and high passes can hold snow into late spring. Check forecasts from AEMET, Spain’s national weather agency, before each day’s ride. Road rules for visiting riders Spain drives on the right, helmets are compulsory and motorcycles must use dipped headlights at all times. Other key rules: UK riders should check the latest GOV.UK travel advice for Spain. Official traffic rules are published by the DGT, Spain’s traffic authority. FAQ Do I need a guide to ride a motorcycle in Spain? No. A self-guided tour gives you a planned route, so you can ride Spain confidently without a guide. Can a self-guided motorcycle tour be customised? Yes. Adventura designs each self-guided tour around your dates, starting point, regions, pace, hotel style, bike and group size. Are self-guided tours suitable for couples and groups? Yes. Self-guided tours work for solo riders, couples, groups of friends and motorcycle clubs. Which motorcycles can I ride? Adventura’s fleet is the BMW GS range, including the R 1300 GS, R 1300 GS Adventure, F 900 GS and F 450 GS. When is the best time for a motorcycle tour in Spain? Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) offer the best conditions for most regions. How do I get a quote for a self-guided tour? Send your dates, starting city and preferred roads via the contact page, and Adventura will design a proposal. Plan your self-guided tour Tell us your dates and the roads you want to ride, and we’ll design your self-guided tour. Not ready yet? View our sample routes or explore the BMW GS fleet, and join our newsletter for route ideas and news.