Details
Beginning and ending this fantastic tour in Los Angeles, you will ride through the rugged desert beauty of California, Nevada, and Arizona, before climbing into the mile high elevations of Colorado and the wild frontier countryside and majestic Black Hills of South Dakota, before climbing the world-famous passes leading to Yellowstone NP in Wyoming, giving you a close-up view of the amazing scenery.
Crossing the rugged vistas of Idaho & Orogen brings you to the wild Pacific Coast of Northern California with its giant Red Woods and fantastic scenery.
Along the way stop to visit world famous landmarks, such as Mount Rushmore, Alcatraz and Monument Valley, while walking in the footsteps of the famous characters on the old west in the streets of Deadwood, Cheyenne and Durango.
Riding ranges from relaxed sweepers to twisty mountain passes with fantastic views. Conquer these passes and visit some of the outstanding National & State Parks located in this “Best of the West” Tour.
The roads in the western states are in generally good condition with light traffic out of the cities. City traffic can be heavy at times. Other than road repairs you will not be required to ride on any unsealed roads.
This tour is suitable for Intermediate or Advanced riders. Note: USA drivers drive on the right-hand side of the road.
This exciting tour includes 25 nights' accommodation in comfortable modern hotels.
Tour Highlights: (*Optional on Self-guided tour)
- See America's majestic wildlife up close as you tour some of the finest natural parks in the country.
- Experience the thermal wonderland of Yellowstone NP*.
- Ride through wild western countryside that still looks like the landscape that the settlers travelled across.
- Visit the site of one of the most famous battles in our western history*.
- Ride sections of the Mother Road—Route 66
- Cruise through open prairie.
- Visit the famous Black Hills.
- Ride through Red Wood Forests.
- Ride through world famous National Parks and amazing mountain passes.
- Ride around the Grand Canyon*.
- Ride over 14,000-foot passes*.
Use your own motorcycle or rent one of our touring motorcycles, which are licensed, safety inspected and verified by the State government.
A valid Passport along with appropriate approval is required for entry into the USA.
A current Driver’s License from your country of residence is required for motorcycle rental.
Tour itinerary
Day #1 Shuttle from LAX to Hotel 85 mi / 140 km (Approx. 1:50 hrs.)
After arriving at Los Angeles LAX International Airport, you’ll be met at the airport and shuttled to your hotel to check in. Along the way pick up your bike. Today is set aside to allow you to settle in and rest up before the adventure begins tomorrow.
Day #2 Redlands Loop 110 mi / 180 km (Approx. 2:10 hrs.)
Spend some time visiting Sth. CA highlights and prepare for the adventures ahead of you.
Day #3 Redlands to Las Vegas NV 245 mi / 410 km (Approx. 4:10 hrs.)
Leaving the Inland Empire, you will travel deep into the Mohave desert towards the entertainment city of Las Vegas. Riding the open highway through wide open county, you will end your day in the bright lights of Nevada's famous city.
Day #4 Las Vegas—Free Day 0 mi / 0 km (Approx. 0:00 hrs.)
Kick back and enjoy Vegas baby. Walk the strip, visit the casinos, take in the sights. Start writing those post cards to send back to friends, family & co-workers.
Day #5 Las Vegas to Williams AZ 320 mi / 535 km (Approx. 6:40 hrs.)
Leaving your hotel and the city behind you, you will head out on lightly traveled country roads, to see the Hoover Dam before heading south to rejoin up with Route 66, through open rolling countryside.
Stopping along the way for lunch in a small out-of-the way country town that is much the same as it was when route 66 originally ran through it.
Day #6 Williams to Durango CO 405 mi / 685 km (Approx. 8:10 hrs.)
Today the road takes you to an optional [entrance fee required] visit to the Grand Canyon and into the Navajo Nation. Sweeping around the rim of the canyon, stopping for photos will have you smiling all the way. There are lots of trading posts which will give you a close look at the art of the native population.
Day #7 Durango to Canon City CO 305 mi / 515 km (Approx. 7:25 hrs.)
Today you will follow the trail blazed by the early gold miners as it hugs the mountain passes through majestic scenery, taking you into parts of CO that is a mix of high mountains, and deep valleys. This combined with great road conditions makes for a fun day riding day. This is a GoPro day! Stops along the way for photos and breaks make this a fantastic day.
Day #8 Canon City to Woodland Park CO 135 mi / 225 km (Approx. 5:40 hrs.)
Set out in the morning, with no objective other than enjoying the ride. This day has an optional [entrance fee required] ride to the top of America’s Mountain to ~14,000 ft. (~4,267m) before a relaxing lunch and a ride through amazing rock formations. A fantastic day with terrific views and lots of photo ops. Don’t forget your GoPro today. Between the riding and stops to enjoy the local flavor you’ll have a great time.
Day #9 Woodland Park to Fort Collins CO 250 mi / 415 km (Approx. 7:20 hrs.)
A leisurely short day starts out through some fantastic twists and sweeping corners with picturesque mountains scenery, windy roads, changing elevations & numerous photo stops, that will lead you to a relaxed brunch in an authentic western saloon. Leaving this fun location the road leads you on an unhurried easy ride over 2 fantastic ~12,000 ft. (~3,657m) passes [entrance fee required] on a terrific road to your stop for the night. (Make sure your GoPro is ready with plenty of back up batteries).
Day #10 Fort Collins to Deadwood SD 325 mi / 545 km (Approx. 5:50 hrs.)
Setting out on an easy day, you will ride through wide open prairies, putting you in the middle of the cattle country, famous from the great western movies of last century, ending the day in the “Black Hills”.
Stops along the way for photo shots, and to take in the great scenes give you sense of the size of this country and maybe a feel for what the settlers experienced.
Day #11 Deadwood Loop SD 160 mi / 265 km (Approx. 5:00 hrs.)
Heading out on a circuit through the Black Hills, stopping along the way to experience the local sights and attractions, brings you to Mount Rushmore. Continuing on through Custer State Park, you will see buffalo & antelope roaming free. [Optional stops with required entrance fees]
Day #12 Deadwood—Free Day 0 mi / 0 km (Approx. 0:00 hrs.)
Have a lazy day in the Black Hills, enjoying some optional easy riding, or you could catch up on all those important things like sorting out photos, writing down all the key points of the tour so far and even dealing with that pesky laundry thing. Don’t forget to send out those post cards and charge your GoPro batteries.
Day #13 Deadwood to Billings MT 385 mi / 645 km (Approx. 6:55 hrs.)
Heading out early; well-maintained roads take you to view the strange Devils Tower, before taking you alongside one of the most famous battle fields in the old west. Optional stop to visit and soak up the spirit of the location. [entrance fee required] You will feel the history as you walk in the footsteps of those that fought here. Along the way ride through the open prairies that were home to the Plains Indians. Today is another great GoPro day. Eat up the miles on fantastic highways.
Today ends in a quaint prairie town.
Day #14 Billings to West Yellowstone MT 215 mi / 365 km (Approx. 5:25 hrs.)
This is a GoPro day with some fantastic riding ahead of you. You will get lost in the moment as you climb through amazing twisting tight corners. Amazing views, open skies, and great roads will make this a day to remember.
Riding through open country, alongside gentle rivers you will experience free roaming animals. Keep your cameras handy. [entrance fee required to enter Yellowstone NP]
Day #15 Yellowstone Loop WY 185 mi / 310 km (Approx. 6:20 hrs.)
Ride the loop through Yellowstone National Park. You may see buffalo, deer, wolves & bears wandering and living free. This mixed with the geysers and hot pools combined with easy riding make this a relaxing day. Lots of pull outs to stop and soak in the scenery encourage you to stop and live in the moment. This is truly an amazing wilderness area. With great roads and fantastic scenery, it goes without saying that this is a GoPro day in a great ride location.
Day #16 West Yellowstone to Boise ID 370 mi / 620 km (Approx. 6:20 hrs.)
Heading West and leaving the majesty of the park behind you; todays ride takes you into the Northwest corner of the country. With great roads and fantastic scenery, it goes without saying that this is a GoPro day. Mix this with some fantastic stops for one-of-a-kind scenery and you have a ride location that is amazing.
Day #17 Boise to Lakeview OR 330 mi / 550 km (Approx. 6:00 hrs.)
The road continues to take you west through the rugged countryside with wide open skies. You can feel the spirit of the west.
Great roads help eat up the miles.
Day #18 Lakeview to Eureka CA 370 mi / 615 km (Approx. 7:30 hrs.)
Heading southwest through the wild interior of Oregon takes you through open country, around sweeping bends, rugged ranges, deep gorges, and along the tops of hills, before heading into thick native forests, while traveling alongside deep rivers and lakes. Your stop for the night is on the Pacific coast.
Day #19 Eureka to Petaluma CA 290 mi / 485 km (Approx. 7:30 hrs.)
Today you will get a mix of easy riding and some local sights, including the world-famous Coast Red Woods and the rugged Northern CA coast. Hugging the coast brings you to your stop for the night. Have those GoPro batteries charged and ready.
Day #20 Petaluma to Daly City (San Francisco) CA 65 mi / 105 km (Approx. 2:10 hrs.)
After a relaxing night, you will head south towards the “City by the Bay”. A stop to see the Golden Gate, Fisherman's Wharf and an optional [entrance fee required] visit to Alcatraz make this short day a great day. Today has lots of photo opportunities; keep your camera handy. A short ride through this unique Californian city brings you to your stop for the night.
Day #21 Daly City (San Francisco) - Free Day 45 mi / 80 km (Approx. 0:55 hrs.)
Have a lazy day in San Francisco, enjoying some optional sightseeing, or you could catch up on all those important things like sorting out photos, writing down all the key points of the tour so far and even dealing with that pesky laundry thing. Don’t forget to send out those post cards and charge your GoPro batteries.
Day #22 Daly City (San Francisco) to Morro Bay CA 235 mi / 395 km (Approx. 5:50 hrs.)
Today’s ride takes you along the world-famous PCH, sweeping through fantastic corners, racing past rocky outcrops, and cheering at the top of your lungs all the way. Mix this with some fantastic stops for one-of-a-kind scenery and you have a ride location that is amazing.
Day #23 Morro Bay to Three Rivers CA 235 mi / 395 km (Approx. 5:50 hrs.)
Leaving the seaside town after breakfast, today will take you inland through the central valley to the Sierra Nevada mountains running along California’s eastern border. [entrance fee required]
Day #24 Three Rivers to Mojave CA 205 mi / 340 km route (Approx. 6:00 hrs. riding)
After a relaxing night you will ride south through the mountains before your stop at the edge of the vast Mojave Desert. Today's ride through the mountains will show you what corners are as the roads switch back along the ranges.
Day #25 Mojave to Los Angeles 230 mi / 370 km route (Approx. 5:10 hrs. riding)
After a relaxing night, today takes you back towards the coast to visit Santa Monica before dropping your bike off and taking a shuttle to your hotel. This is a relaxing end to this great adventure.
Day #26 Shuttle to the airport
After a relaxing LA breakfast, and a lazy day catch your shuttle to the airport. This shuttle ride is filled with talk about the adventure you’ve just had and the fun experienced.
If you want to stay on for additional nights that can be arranged.
Now is the time to be planning your next Pohutukawa Motorcycle Tour.
Maybe New Zealand or Canada. Book now or contact us for details.
Included in your Fully Guided Tour Package
(Incidentals & options are not included unless listed or prearranged)
- Printed Tour Guidebook including maps.
- Bike rental. (Excluding Insurance or Damage Waiver or Auxiliary Equipment such as GPS or optional fittings)
- All accommodation. Day 1 of tour through to last night of tour. Extra nights before or after can be arranged.
- Shuttles (transfers) to & from hotel, airport & bike rental location.
Not Included in your Tour Package
(Rider / Pillion responsibility)
- Airfare.
- Insurance coverage & Damage Waivers (Bonds) on rental bikes.
- Optional equipment add-ons to rental bikes.
- Fuel.
- All meals.
- Special/optional attractions, such as
- Hot Springs,
- National & State Parks
- Incidentals and other costs once inside various attractions. i.e. rental of bathing suits or towels.
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