The attractions of independent travel are numerous and compelling. You can either be completely free and spontaneous and go when and where you like (but with an element of uncertainty) or you can do lots of research and planning, which takes time.

Personally, we have never been on other people’s organised tours but we have done plenty of independent ones of our own. It’s sometimes nice just to ride alone but it’s also great to ride with others and share the experiences. We could have saved lots of time and money if we had joined organised tours earlier on. We soon learned that with thorough research you really can get the most out of your precious holiday time.

The main advantage of organised tours is that it is organised. The basic planning is done for you leaving you free to enjoy the trip to the full. Ferry and hotel accommodation is all booked for you and reliable routes and tourist attractions are proposed for maximum enjoyment. All you need to do is turn up at the scheduled times and locations and join the fun. There is always space, however, for your own exploring and we encourage a spontaneous and laid back approach. It is, after all, your holiday.

If you decide to join an organised tour there are certain things you need to consider. Make sure that you choose an operator that you feel comfortable with. This can be simply achieved by talking to them and asking questions but usually the website and brochure will tell you everything you need to know. Are the proposed itinerary and daily mileages what you expect from your holiday? What are the cancellation policies? What happens to your payment and is the money safe? We keep your payments in a Trust until we complete the tour. A good tour operator will not limit their service to just organising and guiding. They will go out of their way to assist you if something goes wrong with you, your bike, or anything else that might affect you holiday. If the tour operator is a genuine motorcycle enthusiast he will know how to look after you.