These are the last motorcycle weeks of the season and riding through the popular Alpine paradise with its jagged and unmistakable rocky backdrops is particularly worthwhile. In addition to the wonderful play of colors, it is above all the pleasant temperatures. It is sometimes crisp and fresh in the morning, but then the sun sends its rays and spoils you with wonderfully mild motorcycling weather all day long.
Famously good hosts
In South Tyrol and the Dolomites, some hoteliers have specialized in motorcycle guests. I would like to take this opportunity to present two fantastic autumn tours from the Niggl Easygoing Mounthotel in Welschnofen. The motorcycle hotel run by Bettina and Roland has been a good address for many years when it comes to motorcycle enjoyment around the strong Dolomite passes all the way down to Lake Garda. Until the end of October, there are plenty of opportunities here to successfully postpone the end of the season and take advantage of the attractive biker packages.



TOUR 1: Great climate – off to Merano!
The destination of the first lap is Merano. Up to the fashionable spa town, the road builders of northern Italy have once again had a heart for motorcyclists. The motorcycle adventure begins shortly after leaving the Hotel Niggl, as the descent via Steinegg sets the tone for this strong South Tyrolean motorcycle tour.
The onward journey to Kastelruth, the home town of the famous folk bards, is anything but boring. With the Sarntal, the Penser Joch and the Jaufenpass, the absolute gems of this tour await us, which take us over the 2,000-meter mark twice with plenty of hairpin bends.
And then you have already reached Merano/Meran, whose Mediterranean climate already delighted Empress Sissi. The Art Nouveau houses and Trauttmansdorff Castle, with its picturesque gardens, are real eye-catchers that naturally attract an international clientele. This also ensures the corresponding prices in the spa town – however, the higher price should be invested in a cappuccino in one of the numerous street cafés, as the experience of “people-watching” is absolutely worth the money here.
The return journey to Welschnofen also knows how to inspire, because the brilliant side route between Meran and Bozen is sensational. Horse lovers are sure to make a stop in Hafling and visit the mountain horses that come from here. The starting point of the tour is then reached again through the Eggental valley.
Distance: 273 kilometers
GPX data and download: kurv.gr/Cb5Cx
TOUR 2: Simply wow – the Giau!
This tour, with its many classic mountain passes, is also one of the tours that Bikerwirt Roland likes to lead for fans of the travel magazine MotorradFreizeit and the MOTORRADSTRASSEN portal during the annual readers’ travel week.
The engine has barely warmed up before the twists and turns of the Carezza Pass beckon, sending us on towards Canazei. A little later, the Fedaia reservoir has our cell phones clicking, because a photo on the unique dam wall is a must. And then it’s time for the Passo di Giau. With over 50 hairpin bends, this is the highlight of this tour. No wonder you only see grinning faces at the top of the pass. A detour to Cortina d’Ampezzo is the perfect way to end the tour. It has already hosted the Winter Olympics and James Bond on a deadly mission.



Fulminant 2nd half of the day
In contrast to the British agent, we are still on the road with a “license to crack hairpin bends” and the following passes Falzarego, Pordoi and Sella would certainly have moved AND shaken even the cool Englishman. It really gets going behind the handlebars and the weight training can be skipped for the next few days. All of this, embedded in the incomparable rocky backdrop of the Dolomites, is hard to beat and is always a topic of conversation among the touring riders present during the petrol talks in the hotel in the evening.
Distance: 224 kilometers
GPX data and download: kurv.gr/bL28p
Easy going – perfect riding
And so you sit on the terrace of the biker hotel with a view of the Catinaccio massif and the Latemar mountain range, reliving mercilessly beautiful motorcycle experiences and already looking forward to the next bends. But wait – before that, of course, calorie intake is the order of the day. Need I mention that the food here is also amazing?


Niggl Easygoing Mounthotel
Pretzenbergerweg 10
I – 39056 WELSCHNOFEN
Phone: +39 0471 613117
Fax: +39 0471 614277
www.niggl.it
[email protected]