Overview
The expedition begins in Schönenbuch near Basel, Switzerland, travels south along the western side of the Italian peninsula, reaches Sicily, and then returns north through Puglia, the Adriatic coast, and the Dolomites before finishing back in Switzerland.
The expedition is structured as a 38-day itinerary combining riding days, rest days, and preparation days. The current route includes 23 riding stages, with a planned total riding distance of 6,545 kilometers.
The route intentionally avoids highways whenever possible and instead prioritizes scenic secondary roads, coastal routes, mountain passes, and historically significant regions.
Route Structure
The Long Circle South expedition follows a loop across Italy with a deliberate geographic design.
Southbound travel follows the western side of Italy, emphasizing dramatic Mediterranean landscapes and historic cultural regions.
Northbound travel follows the eastern side of Italy, allowing riders to experience different landscapes and road conditions before returning to Switzerland through the Alpine region.
The route progression: Basel → Swiss Alps → Liguria → Tuscany → Rome region → Amalfi Coast → Calabria → Sicily → Puglia → Adriatic coast → Dolomites → Switzerland.
Regions by Distance
Major Regions of the Route
Switzerland and Alpine Entry
The expedition begins in Schönenbuch, located just outside Basel in northwestern Switzerland. The early stages move through the Swiss landscape toward the Alpine region. The route gradually transitions from lowland countryside into mountainous terrain before entering Italy.
Northern Italy and Tuscany
After crossing into Italy, the expedition moves through Liguria and continues toward Tuscany, one of the most iconic motorcycle touring regions in Europe. Tuscany is known for rolling hills, vineyards and olive groves, medieval towns, and winding countryside roads. Important towns include Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, and Montepulciano.
Amalfi Coast
One of the most visually dramatic sections of the expedition is the ride along the Amalfi Coast, located south of Naples. The Amalfi Coast road is famous worldwide for its combination of cliffs, sea views, and historic coastal towns including Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello. The route features narrow coastal roads, tight curves, steep elevation changes, and Mediterranean sea views.
Sicily
Sicily provides one of the most unique riding environments of the entire journey due to its volcanic landscapes, historic cities, and coastal roads. Important destinations include Palermo, Catania, Taormina, and the Mount Etna region. Sicily represents the southernmost point of the Long Circle South expedition.
Puglia and the Adriatic Coast
After leaving Sicily and returning to mainland Italy, the expedition continues north through Puglia. The region features flat coastal plains, olive groves, white limestone towns, and long coastal roads. Important towns include Lecce, Ostuni, Alberobello, and Bari.
The Dolomites
The final major riding region is the Dolomites, widely considered one of the best motorcycle riding destinations in Europe. Important mountain passes include Passo Pordoi, Passo Sella, Passo Gardena, and Passo Giau. These passes feature steep switchbacks, dramatic elevation changes, and some of the most striking scenery in the Alps.
Equipment
Long-distance motorcycle expeditions require reliable equipment and careful planning. The Long Circle South expedition is designed around an adventure-touring setup capable of handling varied terrain and long daily distances.
A large adventure touring motorcycle such as the BMW R 1300 GS Adventure is well suited to this type of expedition, offering long fuel range, comfortable riding position, strong luggage capacity, and stability on varied road conditions.
Best Months to Ride
The best time to ride the Long Circle South route is typically May–June and September–October.
These months provide a balance of comfortable temperatures and manageable tourist activity. Spring offers lush landscapes and cooler temperatures, while early autumn provides stable weather and spectacular mountain scenery in the Dolomites. Summer months can also be suitable but may bring high temperatures in southern Italy and increased tourism in coastal regions.
GPX Route Files
The Long Circle South expedition route can be followed using GPX track files, which contain the geographic coordinates of each stage of the journey. GPX files allow riders to navigate the expedition route using motorcycle GPS devices, navigation applications, and offline mapping tools.
Why This Route Is Unique
The Long Circle South expedition connects several of the most iconic riding regions in Europe within a single continuous journey. The route combines alpine mountain passes, Mediterranean coastal roads, historic cultural regions, island exploration in Sicily, and the dramatic landscapes of the Dolomites.
Few motorcycle routes offer such a wide diversity of environments within a single expedition. For riders seeking a long-distance touring experience that combines natural beauty, cultural discovery, and world-class roads, the Long Circle South expedition represents one of the most comprehensive motorcycle journeys across Italy.
