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To be perfectly honest – Andorra is one of the best places for motorcycle riders. The country is located within the Pyrenees between France and Spain. Here one can enjoy boundless riding joy within beautiful mountain scenery.
The person who made this claim surely knows what he is talking about. Cyril Despres is the winner of the rally Dakar 2005, but not only that. The champion lives in Andorra and therefore knows this region like the back of his hand. Why not follow the tracks of his motorcycle? How about a tour along ancient smuggler paths to Spain and back? The tour starts in Aixovall and leads towards Bixessarri where the first gravel roads await the bikers. Riding along these roads one arrives in Tirvia/Spain and then continues on along the famous smuggler path “Tor” back via Pal to Andorra.
It might sound like a short trip and make one think to return rather quickly. But this really isn’t true. Andorra’s hinterland is one spacious playground for Enduro riders. There are no paths blocked off here and one finds numerous stream or river crossings. It is possible to choose between the many routes to get to Tirvia. The surrounding scenery is also beautiful. Seldom one passes abandoned farms or small villages. The smuggler paths wind through the mountains on an altitude of up to 2400 meters. They lead far into Spain.
It is a perfect place to find boundless joy on a motorcycle. If one likes to travel with less excitement and rather wants to be easy on the motorcycle one is recommended to make a quick trip to the route through the Pyrenees. Andorra is again starting point for the tour through the mountain range of the Pyrenees. One rides along the N2 crossing the Port d’Envalira (altitude 2407 m) and the Pas de la Casa into France. The route continues on along the N20 towards Bourg Madame.
Once in town one might choose: either one travels south towards Spain or northeast towards Perpignan. We decided on Perpignan and followed the N116 via Saillagouse almost up to Mont-Louis. Here we left the Route des Pyrenees and changed to the 118 towards Lac de Mantemale. The lake is fed with water by the river Aude. The tour runs through its canyon.
We follow its run until St. Martin-Lys. Here we meet up with the Pyrenees route again. For a while we follow this road running besides the Aude until we reach Quillan. A few kilometers beyond town we again leave the route and take the 613 via Coudons and Col de Freres (1253 m) to Col de Chioula (1431 m). Near Ax-les-Thermes we meet the Pyrenees route (N 20) once more. This time we stay on the road and follow it back to the starting point of our tour, to Andorra. |
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|  | Start: Andorra la Vella
| | | Duration: 1 day
| | | Kilometers: app. 230
| | | Best season: spring - fall
| | | Google Maps Data |
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