2026 AMT France
Overview
We fly to Milan, then take a train over to Turin, back to Milan for some scooter touring, then
rent a car to hit the Northern Italy coastal towns, dropping the car somewhere like Genoa from
which we take a train to Nice to visit with Alec and Linda before a motorcycle tour with
Adriatic Moto Tours.
This time we are doing the
French Riveria to Barcelona Motorcycle tour. This is a two-week (10 riding days) tour through the French Riviera, Provence, the Pyrenees, Barcelona, and the Alps.
The bike reserved is a BMW F900 XR and Kathi will ride pillion.
Tour for two is 13,050 €
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| Adriatic Riveria Tour week 1, outbound Nice → Barcelona |
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| Adriatic Riveria Tour week 2, return Barcelona → Nice |
Following that, Chris is going to attempt to rescue his Ducati in
Milan, getting it properly imported into Italy, then do some of his
Norway adventure which has been planned for years now.
A loop from Milan to northern Norway and back is 9300 km / 5800 miles, 150+ hrs of riding,
broken out into 6hr days, that's 25 riding days. Add a rest/contingency day every 5 days
and it requires 30 days which would put me back around July 20.
The Stockholm option. I found a place to leave the bike for a few weeks/months in Stockholm,
so I'm going to split that trip in two returning later in the summer to finish the return to Milan.
See Milan to Norway, Finland and Sweden
and Sweden to Finland, and back to Milan via the Baltics and Poland
Healthy Traveling
I've been workinng hard to improve my healthy living since my Dec 2025 heart bypass surgery.
I've really modified my diet and exercise habits, lowered by body fat, increased my lean body mass,
and upped my fiber intake. A big challenge is how to travel and enjoy the delicious foods of Europe
while keeping my body fat down and getting enough exercise. On this trip, I'm going to take notes
about what I do to maintaining healthy habits while I/we travel.
New visa requirements
There is a new requirement for our layover in London. The United Kingdom: Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
As of February 25, 2026, all U.S. citizens—including those just transiting through a UK airport—must have an
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
- Cost: £20 (approx. $25).
- Apply using the "UK ETA" app (available on the Google Play Store) or GOV.UK.
- Processing time: Most applications are approved within minutes, but it is recommended to apply at least three working days before your flight.
- Validity: It is valid for two years or until your passport expires, allowing for multiple trips.
For the EU, since April 10, 2026, there is the Entry/Exit System (EES). This is an interim requirement
until the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) goes into effect sometime in late 2026, Q4.
EES
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is now fully operational at Italian airports. We expect to find automated kiosks at LIN where
we will register names, type of travel document, and fingerprints and facial images. No visa required for stays under 90 days.
Our experience at LIN at 11pm was really quick. There were no lines at the kiosks and entering our data took less than 2 minutes each. There was no fee. Finally, the immigration inspector was quick and asked no questions at all. Perfectly fine experience.
ETIAS
- Cost: €7 or probably €20
- similar to the ESTA system used by the U.S.
Passport Reminders
- The 3-Month Rule: Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your intended date of departure.
- The 10-Year Rule: Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years.
Packing List
Paperwork:
* passport
* euro cash (no cash was used)
* one paperback book to read
On the bike:
* roll-top bag, straps,
* compact duffle for the return flight
* small, light day backpack
Crash gear:
* Jacket is in Milan
* Helmet is in Milan
* Boots
* Ear plugs
* Elkskin Gloves (regular)
* Elkskin gauntlet gloves (did not use)
* waterproof socks (Sealskinz were really great)
* Rain gear
* glove covers
* Rain pants
* Rain jacket/ windbreaker
Clothing:
* socks and underwear for 7 days
* bathing trunks
* 2 T-shirts short sleeve + 1 T-shirt long sleeve
* jeans 1 pair (wear on the plane along with one of those T-shirts)
* hiking boots / walking shoes
* Fleece sweater 1
* Puffy vest
* Long wool socks or waterproof socks
* 32° under pants and shirt set
Toiletries bag:
* toothbrush, tooth paste, flossers, small shampoo
* bite guard
* hair brush
* ziploc bag of emergency toilet paper
* ziploc bag of laundry detergent
* clothesline and clips
* USB charger for toothbrush
* waist measuring tape
* toothpicks
Med kit:
* pill rotaries + 55days x 8 (asprin, plavix, fish oil, D, C, multi, amlodopine, statin)
* aspirin
* allergy meds (sudafed)
* anti diarrheal
* laxative
* cough suppressant
* bug repelent: DEET
* head net
Electronics:
* handlebar phone holder, tablet holder, cables
* extension cord with socket multiplexor and USB ports
* EU plug adapter
* small laptop, charger, wireless mouse
* USB A-C cables x 3, USB C-C cables x 2
* wireless charger
* USB power pack x 2
* Computer glasses
* Columbus tracker + Velcro tape + micro SD cards + micro SD to USB adapter
On the plane:
* wireless headphones
* eye mask
* compression socks
Daily Details and Naration
| 0) May 13 Wed | 7:30pm PDX -9h30m-> LHR 1:00pm British AirwaysEconomyBoeing 787-10BA 266 $693 / $6,410 business 6615
LHR layover 1h15m
2:15pm LHR -2h-> LIN 5:15pm British AirwaysEconomyAirbus A320neoBA 576 (elapsed time 12h45m)
Conf codes Z9HC2L (Kathi) Z9QIIO (Chris) |
| 1) May 14 Thu | Arrive LIN, stay near Milano Centrale at San Gregorio Rooms Milano Centrale |
| 2) May 15 Fri | Milan to Turin by train Milan Central to Torino Porta Nuova, 1h2m FR9516 departs 12:02pm |
| 3) May 16 Sat | Mercato Centrale Torino, LavAzza museum, Bicerin Chocolate, walking around |
| 4) May 17 Sun | Breakfast crepes, Spring day in the park, dinner on the terace |
| 5) May 18 Mon | Bicerin, Egyptian Museum, train back to Milan |
| 6) May 19 Tue | Pick up scooter from Mototouring, then Milan -> Como |
| 7) May 20 Wed | scooter Como - Mennaggio |
| 8) May 21 Thu | scooter Ferry to Vezio, and to Bergamo |
| 9) May 22 Fri | scooter back to Milano |
| 10) May 23 Sat | rent car (~$400) and go explore the coast |
| 11) May 24 Sun | |
| 12) May 25 Mon | |
| 13) May 26 Tue | |
| 14) May 27 Wed | |
| 15) May 28 Thu | return car in Genoa |
| 16) May 29 Fri | Genoa to Nice by train (~5hrs)
RV3372 from Genova Piazza Principe 1:43pm to Ventimiglia 4:03pm (16 stops), transfer 4:12pm
TER86056 Grasse to Nice-Ville (11 stops) 5:10pm
TER PACA - Ticket information - 011 33 4 13 94 30 50 |
| 17) May 30 Sat | AMT Day 1 arrival and orientation in Nice at 4 PM |
| 18) May 31 Sun | AMT Day 2 [ride] |
| 19) Jun 1 Mon | AMT Day 3 [ride] |
| 20) Jun 2 Tue | AMT Day 4 [ride] |
| 21) Jun 3 Wed | AMT Day 5 [REST] |
| 22) Jun 4 Thu | AMT Day 6 [ride] |
| 23) Jun 5 Fri | AMT Day 7 [ride] |
| 24) Jun 6 Sat | AMT Day 8 [REST] |
| 25) Jun 7 Sun | AMT Day 9 [ride] |
| 26) Jun 8 Mon | AMT Day 10 [ride] |
| 27) Jun 9 Tue | AMT Day 11 [REST] |
| 28) Jun 10 Wed | AMT Day 12 [ride] |
| 29) Jun 11 Thu | AMT Day 13 [ride] |
| 30) Jun 12 Fri | AMT Day 14 [ride] |
| 31) Jun 13 Sat | AMT Day 15 Departure from Nice ( breakfast & transfer to the airport ) |
| 32) Jun 14 Sun | Nice with Alec & Linda |
| 33) Jun 15 Mon | Nice with Alec & Linda |
| 34) Jun 16 Tue | Kathi → PDX
11:55am NCE -2h15m-> LHR 1:10pm $4,255 business
2h30m layover
3:40pm LHR -10h0m-> PDX 5:40pm British Airways A321neoBA 327
Chris → Milan
3:20pm NCE -1h10m-> FCO 4:30pm (Rome) ITA AZ 345 Airbus A220-300
layover 1h30m
6:00pm FCO -1h10m-> LIN 7:10pm ITA AZ 2050 Airbus A220-300 $162
|
click a calendar day to see daily details
Note: calendar days are clickable to see each day of the trip
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