P.S We Love You!! A really great group on the Camino de Santiago. Glorious weather throughout the tour & riding brilliant roads made for a fantastic trip.
Leaving Plymouth
We have a pre-tour briefing
John judges the dog show!
See the dolphins
A briefing before we set off
We have to take main road
A short stroll to dinner
Down the Boulevard de Cidre
Dinner’s in a local restaurant
“First time riding abroad and I couldn’t have picked a better tour company to go with. I cannot fault John and Jen and their organisation skills in creating such a fabulous tour. We were spoilt with the hotel accommodation, ranging from city centre locations to wonderful rural retreats. We even had evening meals included at some of our stays (don’t know how they do it for the price!).
We were treated to a tour of a port distillery which included an unbelievable Michelin Star lunchtime meal – unbelievable (again, don’t know how they do it for the money).
Everyone on the tour got along, making it even more special.
Last, but definitely not least, the routes chosen by John and Jen for us to ride. I don’t have words to describe them or do them justice, so I’ll just use one – EPIC.
Thank you John and Jen and thank you to all the other guests as you all made my first riding experience abroad totally fantastic.
So if anyone takes the time to read this, and you are thinking of booking a motorcycle trip abroad, please give BN European Tours serious consideration. You won’t regret it.
Final words – I honestly don’t know how they do it for the money………
“
Ian Hill, 1st tour, Kawasaki Z1000SX, Gloucestershire
[Wow – thanks Ian, we’re really pleased you enjoyed the tour so much – J&J]
With cider poured the traditional way
In our 4* hotel
Morning briefing in hotel garage
We all stop for fuel…
While John recovers John K !!
“Hi John and Jen, thank you both for a wonderful tour. The riding was great from start to finish, with amazing roads and scenery. Having never done a tour before we were a little apprehensive about the marker system etc. It didn’t take long for us to get to grips with it and settle into some memorable riding.
The hotels were all good for different reasons. Our favourites were in Santiago de Compostela and Guimaraes. The rooms and the breakfasts in these two were outstanding. If we were to be picky, then our least favourite was in Potes where the room lacked a/c and the breakfast was more limited. That being said we have stayed in some fairly rough ones on previous trips and this was still far better. We enjoyed the visits that you arranged to Porto, the quinta, the old village and cable car ride. These were the icing on the tour cake. All the meals that you included were lovely, especially at the Quinta in Calvos and at the port-making quinta.
We don’t know how you do it for the money !!!
Once again thank you. You are both wonderful hosts and we can’t fault the tour. We have been touring the UK and Europe for 30 years on our own and we both agree that this was our best biking holiday ever. Looking forward to our next trip with you. Kind regards“
Nigel & Bryany Neal, 1st tour, BMW R1250 GS, Somerset
[Thanks both, we’re so pleased you enjoyed the tour, look forward to seeing you next year – J&J]
At coffee stop…
John K rejoins the group!
Monument to Immigrants
We stop at a viewing area
A really great group
Superb roads
“Our 7th tour with BN European Tours and probably the best so far! John & Jen thought of everything as usual. A great mix of roads including lots of twisties with fantastic scenery, coffee and fuel stops planned at just the right time. A good variety of hotels and the luxury of several meals included in the price. They even arranged perfect weather for us! With a great group of people on the tour we couldn’t have asked for more. Thank you for a great holiday, we’ll be back!“
Andy & Jane Hood, 7th tour, Triumph Tiger 1200 Explorer, Bedfordshire
Bryan a.k.a. “Ned” – BMW R1250GS
Kevin & Linda – Tiger 1200 GT Pro
Ian – Kawasaki Z1000 SX
David – BMW R1200 GSA
Shaun – BMW R1250 GS Adv
Fantastic roads
Great views
We follow the Camino de Santiago
“Hi both, we we unsure what to expect, but we are converts! A lovely, friendly group and a superbly organised tour. It’s been a blast and we will be looking forward to our next one! (Still processing the DashCam footage, but should have some good bits once it’s all sorted.)”
Kevin Lee & Linda Bell, 1st tour, Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Pro, Devon
Our next 4* hotel is in the city centre
With a lovely indoor pool
Linda & Kevin enjoy the jacuzzi
The Cathedral at Santiago de Compostela
A free night to explore
Lots of restaurants/tapas bars
Stoner in the amazing breakfast room
Always a morning briefing
Morning coffee stop
“Hi both, a great trip with friends old and new, looking forward to the next one”
Daryl Salvage, 8th trip (& 2nd time doing this one!) KTM 1290 Super Adventure, Gloucestershire
Jen & Ann want sunshine (with Neil)
A lovely setting
We stop at a viewing area
More great views
John K with Daryl
“A great group gathering.”
Alec Simon, 2nd tour, BMW F750GS, Somerset
Monastery at lunch stop
The amazing interior
Jane & Andy enjoy ice creams
Leaving lunch
John’s leading today
Adrian, Stoner & Daryl
We cross into Portugal
Ride through a National Park
Adrian stops for photos
Cobbled hairpins…
Fine in the dry :-
Stunning scenery
En route to our next hotel
Our rural Quinta
Has a huge outdoor pool
Many enjoy a swim
Drinks before dinner
Just a few beers!
We have a surprise…
It has to be Mateus Rose!
Cheers!
Dinner is included…
John has to tell a joke…
Morning briefing in the shade
John’s leading again
Adrian & Stoner
We stop on a huge dam
Nigel & Bryany – BMW R1250 GS
Morning coffee stop
More fab roads
We ride the N304
Which has been resurfaced!
Lunch stop
It’s a public holiday
John’s leading – Street Triple 765R
Kevin & Linda – Tiger 1200 GT Pro
Chrys – Street Triple 765 RS
Alec – BMW F750 GS
Ian – Kawasaki Z1000 SX
John K – Kawasaki Z1000 SX
Adrian – KTM 890 Adventure R
David – BMW R1200 GSA
Stoner – KTM 790 Adventure
Neil & Ann – Tracer 900 GT
Alan & Tanya – Ducati Multistrada V4
Backmarkers Andy & Jane – Tiger 1200 Explorer
That’s what the van said!!
Drinks in the hotel bar
Quick – there’s a procession…
It’s Corpus Christi public holiday
Our hotel’s in the town centre
We follow the procession
Round to the Church
It’s a free night
There are lots of restaurants
Ian’s having a great night!
A day off, many take the train…
to Porto for a day out
Bubbles everywhere!
The Cathedral
View of the old town
Lots of buskers
Walk across the bridge
For great views of the city
Climb up here…
For even better views!
Ann & Neil
All the Port houses are here
Lots of market stalls
Protect the wildlife!
Don’t miss the bunny!
There is a cable car
Ian with John…
Shaun & Chrys join us
Neil & Ann with Jen
But 5 port now costs 8 euros!!!
Jane, Jen & Chrys do the “Slosh”
Keep up Chrys!! (sorry!)
Lots of people were filming us!!!
The indoor market
We did tip him!
More market stalls
A brilliant life artist
Lively cafes
Don’t jump!
We didn’t go in here!!
We met up with Doug Lothian
Guimaraes – the birthplace of Portugal
Guimaraes by night
It’s another free night…
Everyone’s in the same restaurant – except us!!
There’s entertainment this evening
Abseiling down the wall
A tightrope walker
Well done!
Morning briefing
Then new coffee stop…
After planned stop closed!
Still a lovely view
We stop at a viewing area
With fab views of the Douro River
“Backmarkers” Andy & Jane
The better view??!!
Jen’s leading again today
Stoner
Neil & Ann
Ian
Kevin & Linda
Alec
David
John K
Shaun
Chrys
Andy & Jane
We visit a Port quinta
With a Michelin lunch included!
We then have a guided tour
Our next 4* hotel
Is in a medieval village
We lay on a port tasting
Cheers!
Dinner is included tonight
Morning briefing
En route to coffee stop…
Where Adrian’s bike has a puncture!
It’s soon fixed though
But in the meantime – Stoner…
Bryany…
And Linda…
Enjoy a work-out!
Fuel stop…
John’s leading today
Chrys
Neil & Ann
Shaun
Alec
Ian
John K & Backmarkers
You MUST be happy with twisties!
More fab roads next
Parking at lunch stop
We stop at a huge reservoir
Lovely little puppies
All the newbies !
Great roads in the Estrela mountains
John again
Ned
Alan & Tanya
Ian
Kevin & Linda
David
John K
Neil & Ann
Chrys
Shaun
Alec
Andy & Jane
There’s still snow at the top
We stop at Torre – the highest point
David has the high-viz for an extra ride-out
Brilliant roads
Some go straight to the hotel
Where Jen has to pool to herself!
The T-shirt shop is open!
At dinner (included again!!)…
John “treats” us to the penguin joke!
After dinner – a pool tournament
David
Linda
Neil
Jen
John K
Shaun
John
Kevin
Andy
Daryl
David
Linda
Shaun
Kevin
Jen
John K
John
Andy
Neil
3 times winner David!
Next day some go for a ride
Alec rides as “Backmarker”
The best roads
Daryl – KTM 1290 Super Adv
Daryl
Nigel & Bryany – BMW R1250 GS
Superb roads
Adrian – KTM 890 Adventure R
Russ – Honda Africa Twin
We stop for a coffee
In a tiny village
Ned marks the junction (sorry Ned – few pics)
Tiny villages tucked away
Lunch stop
Our sticker’s there!
Alan & Tanya – Ducati Multistrada V4
Jen’s view as pillion
Missed this one!
Ride back through Covilha
Dinner is included again tonight
Chrys has a joke
And so does John
Morning briefing
John K needs fuel – again!!
Fuel & coffee stop
We take some main road
To lunch stop
Fab roads
Coffee stop after John K has an accident
Our hotel is right in the town centre
Some of us dine together
Superb murals in the town
The Gaudi Palace
The Cathedral
John K rejoins us
Everyone’s pleased to see him
We’re offered drinks on the house
Briefing in the hotel garage
Storks as we head to the Picos
We stop at a viewing area
It’s stunning scenery
Andy & Jane
Alan & Tanya
Us (thanks Alan)
“The real stars of the show.
Thank you for another fantastic trip.”
Alan & Tanya Murphy, 3rd tour (& 2nd time doing this one!), Ducati Multistrada V4, Gloucestershire
Ann & Neil
Best mates John K & David
Our sticker’s here too!
Fuel stop with the best view!
What a view!
We ride through the Picos de Europa
Watch out for locals
Potes for lunch
We ride to the Fuente De
Nigel & Bryany
The brave ones!
Pretty Gentiana acaulis
Snow on the peaks
Lots of Golden Eagles
Our final hotel
Dinner is included – AGAIN!
We have a few thank-you’s…
To Andy & Jane – great backmarkers!
And to Stoner for his 10 trips!
Who immediately drops his pants!!!
We play “Mr & Mrs”
Bryany & Nigel go first
It’s a match!
No match!
Linda & Kevin are next
A match!
Linda you have to choose one!!
No match!
Chrys & Shaun are next
A match
And another
All blues so far…
We had to do it…
Best mates John & David
John’s very decisive!
No match!
The winners with 9/10 Nigel & Bryany
Jen’s forced to tell a joke!!
Ahoy – you over there!
Daryl’s next
Then Stoner
Neil takes a turn
Alec’s next
Then Linda
Our final briefing
More locals
How sweet!
Our final stop
Before heading to Santander
And we get the van on the ferry!!
Thanks to everyone for the fabulous feedback and thanks to Andy & Jane for doing a great job as “back-markers”. This was a super tour with great riding & participation by all. We look forward to seeing many of you again on future tours. Ride safe, John & Jen (P.S. sorry Ned for the lack of photos of you – you were obviously just too quick!)
Sign up for our Newsletter
