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Photo by George Guille, It's going to be a long 300km... Bolivian Amazon

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by George Guille
It's going to be a long 300km...
Bolivian Amazon



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  • 1 Post By AnTyx
  • 1 Post By Turbofurball

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  #1  
Old 1 Dec 2023
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Europe Tour
Hello all I’m sending my bike from Oz to Europe in April and travelling for 6 months. No plans other than ANZAC day in France then heading south into Spain where I’m guessing it will be a bit drier. Got Mike Weirs book bikers guide to Europe so intending do do as many of his suggested trips.
Everything else is play it by ear and follow where the roads take me but definitely Norway is in the plan. I’m hoping to meet some bikers along the way and looking fwd to the adventure ride safe all
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Old 1 Dec 2023
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Hi Paul, Spain (and the Mediterranean in general) is usually hot in July and August but this year there were heatwaves in the high 30s/low 40s all across Western Europe and even over in the East a bit (my mother in law was complaining about having 2 weeks of 38º in Hungary). 2024 is predicted to be similarly hot so you might want to time your Scandinavian leg for then.

What sort of on road / unpaved road / full off road mix do you fancy doing?
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Old 1 Dec 2023
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Indeed, Spain in April and Norway in July is the way to go.

Let me know if you come through the Baltics.
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Old 2 Dec 2023
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Southern Germany, Switzerland, and the Alps are a must.
The Balkans is great also, Bosnia is one of my favourite countries to ride/be in

Wayne
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Old 2 Dec 2023
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Originally Posted by AnTyx View Post
Indeed, Spain in April and Norway in July is the way to go.
Agreed. You don't want to be in Spain during July & August, it is simply too hot. I know that from past experience.

Likewise, there is a fairly small window of "really nice weather" up in Northern Europe from about mid-June to early September. If you plan to visit Scandinavia or the Baltic countries, do it during this time period.

The "cost of living" is highest in the north, and decreases linearly as you go south. You will find that your daily expenses in Scandinavia are about twice what they would be in Spain or Portugal, or down at the southern end of Italy. Switzerland is delightful, but very expensive.

Michael
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Old 2 Dec 2023
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Originally Posted by PanEuropean View Post
The "cost of living" is highest in the north, and decreases linearly as you go south. You will find that your daily expenses in Scandinavia are about twice what they would be in Spain or Portugal, or down at the southern end of Italy. Switzerland is delightful, but very expensive.

Michael
My own experience is that while the north of Europe is indeed extortionate, the south isn't far behind these days. Earlier this year it was almost impossible to find a hotel under 100EUR/night and that was fairly grotty ones, out of the holiday season! If you want more reasonable prices for just about everything the eastern states (the old Warsaw Pact) are way cheaper, incredibly scenic and nice without being as commercialised as the usual circuit in the west. Your bike will also be safer overnight, since theft is becoming a big problem in wealthy European cities.
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Old 3 Dec 2023
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Cost in Sweden
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Originally Posted by PanEuropean View Post
Agreed. You don't want to be in Spain during July & August, it is simply too hot. I know that from past experience.

Likewise, there is a fairly small window of "really nice weather" up in Northern Europe from about mid-June to early September. If you plan to visit Scandinavia or the Baltic countries, do it during this time period.

The "cost of living" is highest in the north, and decreases linearly as you go south. You will find that your daily expenses in Scandinavia are about twice what they would be in Spain or Portugal, or down at the southern end of Italy. Switzerland is delightful, but very expensive.

Michael
Sweden does not have Euro. The Swedish money has lost 20 percent to Euro. So tourists found it relative cheap. Huge difference compared to Norway.

Sweden is a land for camping. Plenty of nice camping places where you can pitch your tent. And have access to all facilities. Oftem in nice nature.

Camping often rent out cabins. To a fraction of hotel prices.

Sweden during june and july is fantastic.

Why ride bike if you want to visit large cities ?
Last edited by Erik_G; 4 Dec 2023 at 00:31.
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Old 4 Dec 2023
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Regarding prices in Spain this year, me and my other half found plenty of nice rooms at 25-30€ for a single room (plus 5-10€ for a double) in both May and September. A modest main meal is about 5-7€. Petrol is still 1.40€ at the cheapest. That's assuming staying away from touristy areas and a bit of willingness to search for good deals

I should mention that it's great to ride in July and August in Spain if you're acclimatized to it
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