North America Motorcycle Tour

This motorcycle tour operates for 36 days.  It starts in Anchorage, Alaska and ends in Las Vegas, Nevada

Week 1 – ALASKA

In Anchorage we celebrate the start with a wild salmon or King Crab and shooting guns, Alaskan style! Ride the infamous dirt of the Dalton Highway into the Arctic Circle. Arrive at Prudhoe Bay, the most northerly point accessible by road in the Americas.

Getting to Prudhoe Bay is a massive achievement in its own right! Join the Polar Bear Club and swim in the Arctic Ocean. Turn south down the Alaskan Highway, then take the left turn to Chicken, and ride the incredible Top of the World Highway.

Weeks 2 & 3 – CANADA

The “town” of Boundary marks our entrance to Canada as we head to the frontier town of Dawson City still with its wooden sidewalks, and dirt roads. Pristine turquoise lakes and endless forests line your route through the Yukon. Most riders spot bear and moose from the side of the road.

In British Columbia, we take the peaceful and pretty Stewart Cassiar Highway to Bear Glacier, Stewart and Hyder (the most southerly town in Alaska). If you’ve not seen bears yet, you’ll see them feeding at Fish Creek. Then have your own fresh halibut feast at “The Bus”. If you like dirt roads, there is the optional ride out to a magnificent viewpoint to give you a birds eye view of the massive Salmon Glacier

Riding south to Jasper National Park, the scenery continues to be massive vistas of nature at its best – mountains, glaciers and forests. Throughout it all are uncongested beautiful winding roads to enjoy.

We are in the Indian territories of old – visit Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump and learn how generations of Indians hunted and preserved the herds, before relaxing by the lake shore in Waterton National Park.

Weeks 4 & 5 – USA

Glacier National Park and its famous “Going to the Sun” Road will take your breath away as you cross the Continental Divide at Logans Pass. Ride by the bubbling volcanic mud pools and huge herds of bison in Yellowstone National Park.

Onto Buffalo Bill’s home, Cody to see the cowboys of old and marvel at the rodeo antics.  We have three nights here giving your time for an amazing ride out on Beartooth Pass and Chief Joseph Highway – the best motorcycle rides in the world? Must come close! An another day to explore the spectacular Buffalo Bill Museum.

Then it’s more of the USA’s spectacular national parks. In Moab, you have the option of riding the dramatic  Shafer Trail, a must for riders who love the unpaved roads. Or head out to see the famous arch in Arches National Park. We have three nights here, so you can do both!  Wind your way through the striking red monoliths of Valley of the Gods and Monument Valley.

We have a night planned on the edge of Grand Canyon (North Rim).  We continue our journey through Zion National Park, before heading into Las Vegas.

We use 100% hotel accommodation, which is booked in advance. We primarily use good quality 4* and some 3* hotels. In bigger cities, this tends to be 4* hotels, sometimes belonging to an international chain; in smaller or more remote places, hotels can be more independent, characterful hotels.

In some more remote locations, we try and use the best available.  Almost all hotels we use have rooms with en suite bathrooms, satellite TV, free wifi, bar and restaurant.  In warmer climates, hotels generally have swimming pools.

Taking a break at Ripley Creek Inn, Stewart

In the US, we do not use chain economy motels (such as Super 8, Econolodge or Motel 6).  We aim for places that have character and a connection with the local community. So typical examples of where we normally stay are:

In Cody, we stay in  Buffalo Bill’s Irma Hotel  where you can sit at the old cherrywood bar, a thank you gift from Queen Victoria to thank Buffalo Bill for bringing his Wild West show to Britain

In Anchorage, we use the Historic Anchorage Hotel. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places – careful, its supposed to be haunted!

We love super large pine cabins at Bell 2 Lodge on the Stewart Cassiar Highway in Canada

And the Ripley Creek Inn in Stewart is stunning –  with its rooms in buildings that originated as prospectors’ cabins, old stores, lodges and even a former brothel!

What we don’t promise you is to stop at the top hotel in every town we pull into.  This is not billed as a luxury tour, but we do ensure that you are comfortable, have a clean bed, can get a cold beer and a hot shower.  And remember that sometimes “best in the location” may end up being fairly basic, but this is only on a few destinations.

Note for Single Supplement
We draw you attention to the the type of accommodation on the Dalton Highway in Alaska.  In Coldfoot, the accommodation is in portacabin style, with small twin bed rooms and a very small en suite shower room.  In Prudhoe Bay, you must understand that this is a worker’s camp.  Again the accommodation is a portacabin style, with shared bathroom facilities and it may not be possible to have a single room option.  These accommodations are the best (and only) in the area that are able to take our group.  If you book our single room option, we have factored into the price that you may need to share in Prudhoe Bay.

Before you go

• GlobeBusters Guidance Handbook with all pre-trip information
• Pre-departure expedition briefing and ongoing access to the GlobeBusters team for any questions you may have, via additional one-to-one meetings
• Assistance with the procurement of visas for each country and provision of Letters of Invitation, if required.
• Daily hard copy route notes with GPS co-ordinates and information about the hotels, the roads and the sights
• Loan SD Card with open source GPS mapping for the region, suitable for Garmin units.

En-Route

• Normally 4* (sometimes 3*) hotel accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, or in remote regions, the best available.  Price includes your room on a shared basis unless you have booked a single room (one night single room not available)
• 5 group evening meals (drinks excluded)
• US National Parks Entry Card
• Local overnight hotel parking charges.

Motorcycle Freight

• Group freight of your motorcycle (including crating, where required, and Customs Clearance) from our UK freight agent to Anchorage, Alaska and from Las Vegas back to our UK freight agent.
• In transit insurance for your motorcycle, during freight, subject to an excess of £500.

Support Crew

• Motorcycle Expedition Manager to accompany the group.
• Motorcycle Support Rider, where the group is more than 12 riders
• Support Vehicle, equipped with satellite phone, spare fuel, water, tools, selected spare parts and emergency first aid kit, acting as a sweeper vehicle
• Support Driver, with motorcycle mechanical experience and first aid qualifications

Not Included

• Return passenger airline flights or any other travel costs to get to the start and from the finish point for each motorcycle expedition or any internal flights or other travel costs required during the expedition.
• Personal travel, accident and medical insurance (covering matters such as medical expenses, repatriation, cancellation, curtailment, loss or damage to property)
• Third party liability or any other motorcycle insurance cover, motorcycle breakdown cover or recovery costs
• Entrance fees to sights and parks, optional local excursions or local activities, (except where stated)
• Lunches, snacks or evening meals (except where stated). Any meals whilst on board ferries.
• Personal spending money, tips, souvenirs or other extras.
• Personal documentation (eg visas, passport), vaccinations, personal taxes, border crossing fees.
• We do not supply riding gear; you must bring a minimum of your own helmet, jacket, trousers, boots and gloves.
• Costs of motorcycle servicing, motorcycle repair (parts, labour or other related costs), spares, motorcycle documentation (including carnet de passage)
• Fuel, oil & other motorcycle consumables, toll road fees, traffic fines or other fees relating to breach of the law
• Any travel, subsistence & hotel costs to and from the freight depot when you drop off or collect your motorcycle, and to and from any UK briefing meetings.
• Freight of the Participant’s motorcycle back to their home county from a place that is not the official end point.
• Additional transportation of you or your motorcycle en route where you or your motorcycle cannot continue beyond the short and temporary assistance offered by GlobeBusters Support Vehicle.
• Transfers to / from the airport at the start and end of the expedition.
• Any other item not specifically included in the price.

Please also refer to our Booking Conditions.

Flights

For clarity, we do not include your passenger flights.  Once we have confirmed that this tour is a guaranteed departure, it is your responsibility to organise your own flights to and from the start and end point.

You need to book an outward flight to our start point, Anchorage, Alaska to arrive no later than 22 July 2021.  The earliest leave date is any time on 26 August 2021 from Las Vegas, Nevada.

Only book your flights once we have confirmed that your motorcycle expedition is a guaranteed departure.  We do not refund costs if you have booked flights or other services for a tour that has not been notified as a guaranteed departure.

Should you wish to arrive before the official date or stay after the official end date, please simply request extra nights at the time of booking and we can make the reservation at our group hotel.

We understand that booking a motorcycle expedition is a big commitment both financially and in terms of time and preparation.  Here are some of the most common questions we are asked before riders make a booking.  If you wish to meet with us prior to booking to ask more questions, do not hesitate to contact us and we can set up a one-to-one meeting.  In addition, we hold a Pre-Expedition Meeting for the group at our premises between 3 – 6 months prior to the start of the expedition.

What type of bike do I need?
We recommend that you use a dual purpose / adventure style bike.  We support any make and model.  Our Support Crew ride the Triumph Tiger 800XCA or Tiger 1200XCA.  We also have extensive experience with the BMW GS motorcycle range, having ridden them for over 15 years.  What is important is that you have a reliable and robust bike that you are comfortable riding and has been fully serviced prior to the start and has new tyres.

What riding experience do I need?
This motorcycle expedition is not suitable for novice riders. We generally recommend that you are an experienced motorcyclist, who has ridden overseas before and is used to touring. You will enjoy the experience more if your riding is of an advanced standard and by that we mean you have a good command of slow control (eg you don’t dangle your feet or paddle at slow speeds and can U-turn your bike), you are assertive on the road and have good forward planning and hazard perception, you are able to perform safe and precise overtakes and are able ride to the legal speed limits.

You also need to have some experience of riding your motorcycle on unpaved surfaces such as gravel, and dirt as some of the expedition routes are on these types of roads.  In particular, the main challenge is the Dalton Highway far north of Alaska), which remains largely unpaved.  In addition, if there any roadworks on our route, normally diversions will be on temporary dirt roads. Our route covers around 10% of dirt and gravel roads (up to 600 miles), although as the infrastructure develops, this may reduce in future years

If you need to improve your off road riding skills, attending a training school such as Adventure Bike Training www.adventurebiketraining.co.uk, Triumph Adventure Experience https://www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk/adventure-experience or BMW Off Road Skills is highly recommended.

It is your responsibility to ensure your motorcycling skills are up to the requirements for this trip.

How does motorcycle freight work?
Included in your expedition price is freight to and from the UK, but no matter where you are based in the world, we can facilitate freight of your motorcycle.  Freight outside of the UK may incur additional costs – please ask us for a quote, or you are at liberty to organise your own freight and we will provide you with a price that excludes any motorcycle freight costs.

You must take your motorcycle to the appointed freight depot on the given date.  Our freight agent will crate your motorcycle and do all the necessary documents.  Your motorcycle will be air freighted to Anchorage, Alaska.  At the other end, the GlobeBusters Team facilitate the customs clearance of your motorcycle.  Sometimes you must be physically present for your motorcycle to be cleared; sometimes we can do this on your behalf.  When the trip finishes, you will need to ride your bike to our freight agent, who will road transport and then sea freight your motorcycle back from Los Angeles to the original leave point, unless you have made alternative arrangements with us.

What about servicing & tyres?
This ride is approximately 6,000 miles and so it is not necessary to service your bike or to pick up new tyres.  You must ensure that your motorcycle has had a full service prior to arriving and has new tyres.  Tyre choice is your responsibility but we do discuss the options relating to tyres at our Pre-Expedition Meeting.

Is it difficult to get fuel?
We have never had any issue with finding fuel. In certain regions, once en route, we will warn you in advance of any possible fuel shortages or if there is a route with a key fuel stop, where everyone must fill up with fuel to get to the next destination. It is not necessary to fit any after-market large fuel tank or carry fuel bottles, although some riders chose to do so. Our support vehicle also carries spare fuel for emergencies.  The longest distance between fuel stops is 240 miles along the Dalton Highway.

What is the average group size?
Our motorcycle groups are normally between 10 – 20 riders (some with passengers).  Our groups are often very international and whilst the majority of riders come from the UK, we also get riders from USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and so on.  Groups are predominantly solo male riders, but every expedition normally has between one to four couples travelling.

Is this ride suitable for a passenger?
We have had other riders successfully complete this ride with a pillion passenger.  Your passenger needs to also be an experienced tourer, used to long distance riding and riding on unpaved roads. Your passenger must ride the motorcycle each touring day – there is no option to sit in the support vehicle as this is only for participants who are ill or injured, or unless there are unpaved road conditions which are too difficult for a rider and passenger to attempt two-up.

Is there a support vehicle?
All our motorcycle expeditions have a dedicated GlobeBusters Support Vehicle, driven by a GlobeBusters Support Driver.  It is capable of carrying two motorcycles and two passengers.  Our support vehicles carry a satellite phone, mobile phone, medical bag and spinal board, spare fuel, water, tools, some spare parts, some spare tyres.  Our support vehicle provides temporary assistance to you if you have a mechanical problem or have had an accident and are injured or if you are ill.

This is not a luggage vehicle – you must carry your own luggage on your motorcycle. For more information, please see our Support Vehicle section.

Do I have to ride in a group?
No! We do not make you ride in convoy. We offer you the freedom to decide how you would like to ride. We give you a road book, GPS co-ordinates and hotel information. You can use this to self-navigate. If you prefer to ride with our Motorcycle Expedition Leader, then you can do this. Occasionally we will ask you to ride in a group when we are crossing a border or if there is a security issue.

What documents do I need?
You will need your original documents as follows:  Passport (valid for more than 6 months after the end of your trip), Motorcycle Registration Document or Title, Driving Licence of your country of residence, International Driving Permits (1949), minimum 3^rd Party Motorcycle Liability Insurance,  Travel / Medical Insurance Certificate (see below).

You should note that we need to request copies of the above documentation, which we have to send to suppliers who are outside the EU and who do not have the safeguards in place with regard to data protection as we have within the EU. These suppliers are for services such as motorcycle freight, hotels, customs clearance, ferry services.  For more detailed information, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

Do I need visas for travel?
UK Citizens will normally qualify for the US Visa Waiver Programme (but there are some exceptions) and will have to complete an ESTA in advance of travel.  We recommend each person check out the US requirements for the Visa Waiver  and visa requirements for the US to satisfy themselves.  http://www.usembassy.org.uk/ For Canada, an ETA is not required for entry by land.

As visa requirements are dependent on your nationality and are complex with constantly changing requirements, we would direct you to our preferred visa agency for advice.
http://www.thevisamachine.com/

The above information is general information and provided in good faith.  It is your responsibility to have the correct visas in place prior to travel.  Other nationalities should check as to the visa requirements.

Are these countries safe?
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) (www.fco.gov.uk/travel) monitors overseas destinations and provides destination travel advice for UK nationals.  GlobeBusters monitors the advice from the FCO and any decisions taken regarding a trip’s safety and security will use the vast experience of the company’s 16 years of operating as well as the FCO advice. In the interests of your safety and security, changes may be made to your Tour based on any FCO warnings given.

We strongly recommend that you read the information about the countries – each has a summary and general information as well as advice on safety & security, local laws & customs, entry requirements and health, and road conditions.

There are currently warnings and travel restrictions in place about travel to the USA and Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We assume that by the time of travel these will have been withdrawn.

If you are not a UK national, please make sure you have checked your own country’s travel advice for your destination/s: The US Department of State: http://travel.state.gov Canadian Foreign Affairs: www.voyage.gc.ca Australian Government Travel Advice: www.smartraveller.gov.au NZ Government Travel Advice: www.safetravel.govt.nz.

What will the weather be like?
This motorcycle expedition is run at the most optimum time for the best weather possible. This is the first part of an expedition that travels the length of the planet.  We are in the Arctic in July, which gives us the best chance of fine weather, but it can still be unpredictable and there could be very low temperatures and even snow. By the time we reach Nevada, it is high summer and temperatures can be 45C degrees!

What about my health when I am abroad?
You need to be physically fit and healthy and also take the necessary health precautions.  It is essential for you to consult your doctor or travel clinic for up-to-date medical travel information prior of travel, particularly if you have a pre-existing medical condition. For up-to-date medical advice you may wish to use the Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad “MASTA”  https://www.masta-travel-health.com/, the NHS website  http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home.aspx  or NaTHNaC https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/.

You will be obliged to disclose any medical condition or medication that you are taking to GlobeBusters in advance and to your Tour Manager at the start of your Tour, for health and safety purposes. We provide you with our Emergency Details Form for this purpose and to collect information about who to contact for you back home in the event of an emergency.

Please note that many countries on this route do not have the same level of medical infrastructure nor consistent medical standards that you may be used to.  In particular, emergency services often may be a long distance away, with no co-ordinated response, or sometimes no medical response available within reasonable times. Please do not book this trip if this unduly concerns you.

First Aid Training
It is not a requirement to be first aid trained to participate in this expedition. However, we do strongly recommend that you consider doing a motorcycle first aid course.  Some sections of this trip are remote and hundreds of miles away from medical treatment.  If you, or a rider you are with, are involved in any accident, whilst not riding with or not close to the support team, having first aid skills may make a significant difference to an injured party.

Travel / Medical Insurance
It is a condition of you travelling with us that you are adequately insured.  Your insurance policy must cover you for the costs of any medical expenses, medical treatment or repatriation needed, due to injury or illness on this trip, including those that occur whilst motorcycle touring, either as the rider or a passenger.  It is important that your insurance company understands that the MAIN PURPOSE of your trip is motorcycle touring, using your own large capacity cc motorcycle or a rental motorcycle.  Your insurance must cover you for the full duration of the trip and for all countries we travel through.

In addition, we strongly recommend that your insurance policy has cover for loss or damage to your personal belongings, delay at your outward or homeward point of departure, personal liability, overseas legal expenses and cancellation and curtailment.

We also strongly recommend that you take out your travel insurance at the time of booking your trip as cover will commence for pre-departure cancellation from the policy issue date. This will therefore provide cover should you have to cancel your trip for an insured reason such as illness or serious injury. We do not refund your deposit simply because you failed to take out insurance in sufficient time.

What about local currency?
The base currency for this trip is the US Dollar. The US Dollar is readily exchangeable for the local currencies. When you bring US Dollars, it must be in MINT condition or locals will not readily exchange the notes. The websites below will give you the current rates of exchange.

http://www.oanda.com/
http://www.travelex.co.uk/

Minimum Numbers
We require a minimum number of 8 riders on this tour.  If we do not have this number of bookings, then we reserve the right to cancel the tour.