AUTHORISED HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE TOURS AROUND EUROPE – THE GREAT ESCAPE 27 JUNE - 10 JULY 2010

This brand new tour gives you the opportunity to visit East Germany and Poland and to see some of the most poignant reminders of a Europe divided and at war - a new adventure for us all. There will be plenty of time to relax as we have stops at both German and Polish Baltic seaside resorts. As well as the scenic rides we'll be visiting places of historic interest including Colditz Castle, Stalag Luft III from where the 'Great Escape' took place, the site of Belsen concentration camp. As much as possible we will, as always, be using back roads, however due to the distances involved and some of the eastern areas we'll be visiting there will be some motorway and main road riding. We will however keep this as much as possible to a minimum and only when no other alternative is viable.

Day 1. Sunday June 27. Calais to Liege (approx. 200 miles).
Departing Calais we take the Belgian motorway direct to Liege where our centrally located hotel means you'll be free to eat out tonight.

Day 2. Monday June 28. Liege to Bad Wildungen (approx. 200 miles).
A little more motorway to get us into Germany and around Cologne before we move onto the sweeping back roads in the national parks. Tonight's hotel is in the centre of parkland in the spa resort of Bad Wildungen.

Day 3. Tuesday June 29. Bad Wildungen to Gera (approx. 165 miles).
East today on country roads, passing through quaint medieval villages along the way. Tonight we stay in Gera which was once one of the richest cities during the rule of the Third Reich and was behind the Iron Curtain during the cold war.

Day 4. Wednesday June 30. Gera to Gorliz (approx. 150 miles).
Our first stop today will be at Colditz Castle. From here to Meissen not only famous for it's porcelain but also it's historic and picturesque architecture and buildings. Tonight's hotel is in Gorliz, Germanys eastern most point and only separated from Poland by the River Neisse. This 4 star hotel is situated in the municipal park on the riverside.

Day 5. Thursday July 1. Gorliz to Zielona Gora (approx. 70 miles).
Into Poland today and to the famous Stalag Luft III where 76 prisoners escaped via one of the three tunnels named Tom, Dick and Harry. From here it's on to Zielona Gora and our hotel for the night.

Day 6. Friday July 2. Zielona Gora to Miedzyzdroje (approx. 180 miles).
North today to the Polish Baltic seaside resort of Miedzyzdroje (Misdroy) stopping on the way at the town Stargard Szczecinski - severely damaged in WW2 but a handful of spectacular medieval buildings remain intact. Onward to the seaside and our two night stay.

Day 7. Saturday July 3. Miedzyzdroje. Day off.
Relax at the hotel or at the beach and explore the town of Miedzyzdroje, frequented by polish TV and film stars! You are free to eat out tonight.

Day 8. Sunday July 4. Miedzyzdroje to Stralsund (approx. 90 miles).
Sticking close to the coast as we leave Poland & enter Germany crossing the holiday island of Usedom and on to our 4 star hotel in the World Heritage city of Stralsund. The Baltic Hotel is situated a short distance from the old, historic centre and you'll be free to eat out tonight.

Day 9. Monday July 5. Straslund to Timmerdorfer Strand (approx. 140 miles).
Today we continue along the Baltic coast to our next two night stay in the delightful holiday resort hotel the Timmendorfer Seehotel.

Day 10. Tuesday July 6. Timmerdorfer Strand.
Day off to go to beach or use the hotels facilities including a swimming pool & three floor wellness centre. You are free to eat out tonight.

Day 11. Wednesday July 7. Timmerdorfer Strand to Bremen (approx. 180 miles).
Mainly autobahn as we go south around Hamburg to Bergen Belsen. The buildings of the Belsen concentration camp were destroyed at the end of the war, however the mass graves remain and a visit is a must, but is quite disturbing. On to Bremen & our 4 star superior hotel in the centre of the city. You are free to eat out tonight.

Day 12. Thursday July 8. Bremen to Zwolle (approx. 140 miles).
Today we head east and cross the border near Meppen into Holland. As our hotel tonight is on the outskirts of Zwolle, dinner will be included tonight.

Day 13. Friday July 9. Zwolle to Goes (approx. 150 miles).
This morning we continue through Holland, stopping in Gouda and running along the storm dykes before we arrive in Goes on the peninsular of Zeeland. Our final night is at the four star Goes Hotel.

Day 14. Saturday July 10. Goes to Calais (approx. 140 miles).
We return to Calais for our afternoon crossing back to Dover.

Total tour mileage approx. 1,800

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