California – Highway 1

Get involved in your own biker movie on a Harley! Take in the vibrant neon signs of Las Vegas; visit the breathtaking Death Valley, the legendary Glaciers Point in Yosemite, the impressive San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge. Plus don’t forget the fantastic cruising along the Pacific Coast Highway-1 to Los Angeles on your Harley!

This 11-day tour around California is an Motorcycle-Travel classic, which we have successfully organized and conducted more than 25 times.

‘California Hwy 1’ is the 2’stage of the big ‘Best of the West’ trip. On this journey, you will experience the most amazing aspects of the Western United States. Through 9 glorious days, we will visit incredible areas of the United States in style, riding on a Harley-Davidson or Indian motorcycle through three states; California, Nevada and Utah. The tour starts in Las Vegas and ends in Los Angeles.

This tour is a ‘Deluxe Journey’ with 2 guides; a front guide that rides at the forefront and shows the way, and a rear guide in the support vehicle. You won’t need to think about all the practical stuff, we will take care of it! You just need to get on your Bike, focus on the road, and absorb the entire experience.

After the glittering, bright lights of Vegas, you will be yearning for the open road where you and your Harley or Indian belong. We then approach one of the tours highlights – the simply amazing, “Death Valley”. You ride on one of the best biker routes in the world, with a view of the horizon. Later in the day, we plan to cool down, while our bike climbs the 11,000 ft. assent to Mount Mammoth.   We will spend the night in this scenic summit, before we climb the Tiago pass at the entrance of Yosemite National Park; possibly one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

After all of the scenic experiences, we will then drive towards San Francisco. Have you ever tried crossing the Golden Gate Bridge on a Harley? It will be one of the most emotional experiences of the entire trip! After two nights in this fantastic city, we will head to the Pacific Coast Highway 1… It doesn’t get better than this! Highway 1 stretches all the way from San Francisco to Los Angeles along the Pacific Coast.

Travel Dates

Prices per person in shared double room

Riding with Motorcycle-Travel, you will be directed our tour guides, one at the front, though the busy streets out of the big cities, where the traffic eases. But when reaching the open roads– this is where you can experience the amazing feeling of freedom on the vast US highways.

You can either choose to follow your guide, or ride by yourself. If you experience any problems, you just stop at the side of the road and wait for the support vehicle to assist.

We’re not offering the cheapest motorcycle tours in the world, but in return, we create the best motorcycle tours can offer. We do not hustle and bustle with unnecessarily long days to complete the trip in as few days as possible. The trips duration and the stages are closely aligned, so you get maximum benefit from all the magnificent experiences that this trip offers.

This also means that the length of our stages and the number of motorcycle days reflects this. We aim to arrive at the individual hotels in good time before dinner, so we have time to relax after the day’s stage and possibility to have a dip in the hotel pool.

Another important part is our choice of hotel accommodation. At Motorcycle-Travel, we believe that the hotel is also part of the experience, and we often choose hotels of an extraordinarily high standard to give your holiday an extra dimension. Among others, we use the Best Western, Hampton Inn and Holliday inn among others.

Now, when you sit at your computer and look at the prices, you must remember that Motorcycle-Travel has the largest number of services included in the prices. It is the small things that you have to pay along the way, so why not get it over with right away? So you can just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Please note that the listed prices include a lot of additional benefits.

The Rides

You can choose between several different motorcycles; Harley Davidson, Indian or a Honda Goldwing.

Always state first and second priority. See models under bikes.

The rental company cannot 100 percent guarantee that the requested motorcycle type is available upon arrival.

Day to Day Tour Programme

Day 1: Departure from your home destination

Day 2: Arrival in Las Vegas

Day 3: Las Vegas to Mammoth, approx. 505 km.

The tours longest stage. In the morning we say goodbye to Las Vegas and drive towards the open expanses. After leaving the gambling capital of the world, we ride toward the mountains west of the city, and against the spectacular scenery of Death Valley National Park. Despite the heat, Death Valley in an indescribable motorcycle experience, with truly spectacular MC roads, designed for exactly this purpose. When we ride into Death Valley, you will understand how the area got its name; it is one of the world’s hottest places, but also the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere.

Having arrived at Death Valley, we can only imagine how our ancestors felt on their way to California during the great gold rush of 1848 to 1855.

An early lunch will be taken at the ranch ‘Furnace Creek’ before continuing our journey through the park’ with its unique beauty. Leaving Death Valley behind us, we ride north to California’s Owens Valley on the west side of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Our hotel for the night is located at the ski resort of Mammoth Lakes.[/acc_item]

Day 4: Mammoth to Yosemite, approx. 240 km.

Compared to the previous stage, this ride will be shorter. Plenty of time is needed to explore and enjoy this part of America, with perhaps one of the most beautiful national parks, “Yosemite”. We then continue north to Lee Vining and the Yosemite Park entrance. Weather permitting we will ride over the 3,300-meters high Tioga pass, reaching the center of the park; here we will spend much of the day.

At the summit of the pass, the tour guides will have a meeting and give out directions to the hotel, plus a talk on traffic regulations and rules of conduct within the park. You then have the possibility to enjoy the park on your own. For instance, you can ride through the beautiful valley up to Glacier Point, which has a view that will be etched into your memory forever.

Enjoy the day, alone or with your friends in this magnificent park, before we meet for a beer at the “The Lazy Donkey” in Oakhurst.

Dag 5: Yosemite to San Francisco, approx. 320 km

After breakfast and briefing we then ride through the canyon into the central valley of California. We continue north from Mariposa on State Route 49, a truly beautiful and breathtaking route, with lots of hairpin bends through the mountains and down to the valley floor. After that fantastic ride, we hit the highway toward Oakland. We will ride for approximately one hour, travelling over the San Rafel Bridge for a late lunch stop in Sausalito.

After lunch, we set off for the Golden Gate Recreation Area to enjoy its fabulous view of the San Francisco skyline and the famous Golden Gate Bridge. Now the time has come and we are approaching, arguably the world’s most famous bridge… The Golden Gate, with the song, ‘California Dreaming’ in our heads. Crossing over the Bridge gives you a thrill and a sense that you are part of something historic.

Later we ride through this amazing city and arrive at our first-class hotel located centrally in San Francisco within walking distance to the famous, steep streets of San Francisco, plus the Union Square shopping mecca.

Day 6: Resting day in San Francisco, 0 km

This day, you are on your own. Spend the day exploring in the beautiful city nicknamed “The Paris of the West”. Take a stroll along Fisherman’s Wharf, visit Pier 39 and watch the wild sea lions. Maybe a boat trip to the famous prison island of Alcatraz? Whatever your heart desires? Eat lunch in Chinatown and do not forget to try “the cable cars”, still running up and down the San Francisco’s streets.

No matter what you choose to do in SF, this amazing city has just about everything you could want or need.   Remember we are moving on in the morning!

Day 7: San Francisco to Monterey, approx. 205 km.

This morning takes us out of this beautiful city, making a short stay at the top of Twin Peaks, another vantage point where we can enjoy the views of San Francisco’s skyline from the South.

We are now approaching the motorcycle paradise, “Pacific Coast Highway 1″. Stops will be needed along the way to take pictures or just enjoy the spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. Our lunch break will be held in a small town just before Santa Cruz, with breathtaking views over the ocean. If you look closely and if you’re lucky, you might spot some whales close to shore. Back on Highway 1 we ride towards Monterey. Our plan is to arrive in time to explore Cannery Row or Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is said to be one of the best aquariums in the world.

Day 8: Monteray to Pismo Beach, approx. 250 km

We start the day by driving to the center of Carmel. Clint Eastwood the former Major still owns properties in the city and visits often…so you might be lucky?

This morning we will spend some time in Carmel, cruise up and down Ocean Avenue, look inside some of the city’s great art galleries, or perhaps do a little shopping. After having spent a few dollars in the city, we are back on the road. In the next few hours you will experience the most magnificent ride imaginable, as the whole route offers a view of the Pacific Ocean. We pass through Andrew Molera & Pfeiffer Big Sur State parks and Los Padres National Park.

Along the way, you may see whales moving along the coast, and pelicans that are following you in formation, along with other wonders of nature.

You will be unleashed on this amazing road and can ride the next 100 km alone without guides. We will recommend two favorite lunch places where we can meet a few hours later. Both restaurants offer views you can only dream of.

After this exciting day, saturated with stunning impressions, we check in at our beachfront hotel situated a stones throw from the ocean shore. A delicious dinner at the best local seafood restaurant is the perfect way to conclude a day of magnificent motorcycling.

Day 9: Pismo Beach to Los Angeles, approx. 360 km

The last day on the bike takes us further along the Pacific Ocean Highway until we turn in land for another breathtaking route that will lead us deep into the hidden bush of the Los Padres National Forrest, passing by several of the famous California wineries.
After this great trip we ride back to the coastal road and have lunch on the pier in Santa Barbara. Later, strolling along the famous beach, we continue by the coast to Malibu, where we will stop for awhile before the final ride into Los Angeles.

If time permits, we will make a short stop in Santa Monica before we deliver our Motorbikes back for dehire. Our motorcycles have led us almost 4,000 km through some of Americas’ most beautiful regions. We have experienced and seen some unique places that won’t be forgotten in a hurry.

Transport will take you to the hotel in Los Angeles. It is now time for dinner and a few farewell drinks to say goodbye to the new friends and MC companions you have made.

Day 10: Departure

Today is departure day and it is time to pack your bags for the last time, now filled with good experiences after this momentous journey. We wish you a safe journey home

Day 11: Arrival at your home destination

Special requests?

If you want to extend your stay, or if you have any other questions or requests, please contact your local representative.