Three Great International Motorcycle Adventure Trips
Three Great International Motorcycle Adventure Trips by Melanie Broemsen
Tired of the typical beach, golf and ski vacations? Are you ready for a cool, new vacation idea?
Satisfy your wanderlust this year in a unique way by exploring your dream destinations on a motorcycle. Experience new cultures and wildlife from a different perspective and embark on the trip of a lifetime by taking one of these great international motorcycle adventure vacations. We scanned the globe for three great, exciting motorcycle trips, and below are our top three great international motorcycle adventures.
Western U.S. - Beartooth Pass
Indulge in breathtaking scenery, a soaring 11,000 foot summit and scenic switchbacks while getting a history lesson on the American Wild West. This classic western motorcycle ride will take you through the highways and byways of some of America's most spectacular landscapes. Begin in Red Lodge, Mo., sneak your way through the striking natural terrain native only to the West, and then finish your journey in Cody, Wyo.
Shortly after your departure, you'll ascend to Beartooth Plateau, which includes 3,000 square miles of glacier-carved cirques and gentle tundra. You'll continue through a series of thrilling hairpin switchbacks, and experience poetic plateaus such as Silver Run and Hell Roaring. Then, you'll cross into the big sky country of Wyoming and reach a breathtaking altitude of almost 11,000 feet in the Beartooth Mountains. As you descend, nearly a thousand dazzling lakes and a lengthy vein-like network of hiking trails and campgrounds spot the countryside, and are available for your enjoyment.
South America - Chile and Argentina
If a romantic motorcycle adventure reminiscent of the idyllic Motorcycle Diaries is what you had in mind for your travels, take your motorcycle trip through Chile and Argentina. You can spend your days traversing some of the world's most exotic terrain, skirting down roads adjacent to the massive Andes Mountains, and cavorting in breathtaking Patagonia.
Start your trip with a proper celebration in the vibrant city of Santiago. Then, begin the following day just like the locals do - with a few strong sips of energy-inducing mate tea. From there, all you have to do for more adventure is head south.
You can spend a day kayaking the gorgeous fjords of the Chilean Patagonia. After resting in a quaint mountain town, you can hike the majestic forests or treat yourself to a soak in one of the region's many mineral rich hot springs. Then, hop back on your bike and continue south toward Tierra del Fuego as you leisurely weave through Argentina.
Stop along the way to gaze at countryside guanacos, then ascend the mighty Torres del Paine Mountain and watch the grand condors glide along the Andean slopes. From there, cruise through more magnificent mountainside territory until you reach the massive Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the world's largest.
Australia's East Coast
Who embraces outdoor adventure better than the Aussies?
Starting in Victoria, this motorcycle adventure begins with the brilliant coastal views along The Great Ocean Drive, Australia's most stunning beachside road, and ends with the excitement of the famous Gold Coast.
As you ride down the winding seaside drive, you'll hug the curves of the Pacific Ocean and feel the sea spray at your fingertips. Head inland and you make your way northeast, and you'll find Australia's infamous natural wonders, from mountains and rainforests, to deserts and beaches. You'll end the final leg of your motorcycle adventure at Australia's Gold Coast, just south of Brisbane, where you can indulge in fine cuisine and exciting nightlife. If your thirst for adventure hasn't been quenched, hop back on your motorcycle and head north to partake in the plethora of tourist attractions surrounding the Great Barrier Reef, from surfing and scuba diving, to fishing and just simply relaxing.
One great advantage to traveling by motorcycle is that you can choose your own level of self guidance depending on your financial costs, time restraints and the amount of planning you want to put into your trip. If you have more funds and less time to travel, you may prefer to invest in a guided motorcycle adventure tour, in which a touring company will plan the logistics and arrangements for your trip, as well as act as your tour guide. If you have a considerable amount of time to spend planning and executing your adventure, and prefer more freedom to explore, then you'll have no problem researching and creating the motorcycle trip of a lifetime.
If you choose to ship your motorcycle overseas, make sure you plan far in advance to cover these costs, as they can be extensive. Review your motorcycle insurance information to be sure you have enough coverage. Remember to obtain the required visas or driving permits for the country you are planning to visit. Also, ask your local mechanic for a quick lesson on how to change a flat and do other minor repairs to your motorcycle. For more information about great motorcycle loans, purchasing options and motorcycle insurance discounts, visit nationwide.com.
About the Author
Melanie Broemsen is a content specialist at Rosetta, one of the top 10 interactive agencies in the U.S. Broemsen has a degree in Public Relations from Kent State University and more than 10 years of experience in interactive marketing.
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