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| Wild West | Route 66 | California Dreamin’ | Daytona Bike Week |
| Route 66 Deluxe | Sturgis and the Old West | High Chaparral | Cowboys & Indians |
| PCH All the Way | Self-Guided Tours | Rental |
USA Route 66 Deluxe Guided Tour
Route 66 is probably the most famous road in the World, and is a central part of modern American folklore. Riding Route 66 you soon realise it really is something special. It runs from the shores of Lake Michigan, through lush farmland, elevated plains, mountains, deserts and canyons and Native American territories, to the shores of the Pacific, through 8 US states in 2300 miles.
Our tour follows the old route as much as possible (some sections no longer exist). You will experience the flair and charm of the old route, see the relics of old petrol stations, motels and roadhouses from the heyday of the ‘30s to the ‘50s, stop at several of the museums and historic sites, and get a great insight into the people and history of the USA. All on a Harley! And this is only possible because of the experience of our great local guides who seem to know everybody and everything on the road ....
Our exclusive Harley-Davidson tour also includes a visit to the Harley-Davidson museum in Milwaukee, an absolute MUST for any motorcycle fan.
Highlights
- Historic Route 66 hotels, diners and gas stations
- Harley-Davidson museum tour
- Chicago – City of the Blues
- Al fresco BBQ and hoe-down in Oklahoma
- Grand Canyon – take the helicopter ride
- Oatman
- Las Vegas
- Mojave Desert
- Santa Monica Pier – the end of the road
- Gary, our tour guide!
Itinerary
DAY 1 Arrive Chicago. We fly direct from London to Chicago this afternoon. On arrival at O’Hare Airport, Gary and his crew will meet and transfer you to our downtown hotel. Afterwards you're free to go out and explore the "Windy City" of Chicago with all it has to offer. Our downtown hotel is close to Chicago's famous blues clubs, Navy Pier, Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), fine dining restaurants and a vibrant nightlife. Perhaps go to the starting point of Historic Route 66 at East Adams St and South Michigan Ave. Or if you prefer just relax and get a good evening's rest, tomorrow we ride! Holiday Inn Mart Plaza.
DAY 2 Harley-Davidson Museum. After our Welcome Breakfast we take a coach tour to visit the Harley-Davidson museum in Milwaukee, about 80 miles away - an amazing showpiece of American motorcycling history, not to be missed. On our return to Chicago this afternoon, there’s time to go for a stroll in Grant Park, do a bit of sightseeing or shopping, or just plan your evening out. Holiday Inn Mart Plaza.
Day 3 Chicago – Springfield, IL (215 miles). During our complimentary welcome breakfast the tour guide will go over important information about the tour and lets you know in detail how it's organized. After breakfast we're off to get our motorcycles from our local Harley-Davidson dealer. Then we say goodbye to Chicago and right away we find ourselves riding down Historic Route 66 through the cornbelt of Illinois as we follow the Pontiac trail, as Rte 66 used to be known here, to the state capital, Springfield. Crowne Plaza.
Day 4 Springfield – Rolla, MO (220 miles). Today we ride through the picturesque scenery of small town mid-America to the beautiful rolling hills of the Ozarks. The first half of the day meanders through small farming towns and countryside until we reach the border between Illinois and Missouri: the Mississippi river. We stop here to see the Chain of Rocks Bridge which became a part of original Route 66 in 1936. After lunch we stop at the Missouri Route 66 State Park, and then visit the outlaw Jesse James' hideout at Meramec Caverns. Finally we arrive in Rolla for a nice dinner and a good night's. BW Coachlight Inn.
Day 5 Rolla - Tulsa, OK (320 miles). Today we weave our way from the rolling hills of the Ozarks through (another) Springfield, Joplin and Carthage until we reach Kansas. This was frontier country for much of the 19th century, and although the mountains aren’t high, the road switches, dips, and climbs providing great views of the steep hillsides of oak, elm, hickory and redbud. We stop for lunch in Kansas at the Little Brick Inn, formerly one of the banks robbed by Jesse James' gang. After less than 20 miles of Kansas we move into the beautiful scenery of eastern Oklahoma. Quality Suites.
 Day 6 Tulsa – Weatherford, OK (190 miles). Leaving Tulsa we head towards western Oklahoma and its wide open spaces. Oklahoma has more miles of Rte 66 than any other state, and in better condition! So it’s a real mecca for bikers and old-road fans alike. The majority of the day is spent riding the "Old 66" through pasture and prairie. We stop at the Route 66 Interpretive Center in Chandler, the Round Barn in Arcadia and ride the longest remaining stretch of the original 1926-1935 alignment of the route.
In the 1830s this land was thought useless by the government and set aside as Indian territory, a convenient dumping ground for the so-called Five Civilized Tribes who tried to block white settlement in the south. The Choctaw and Chickasaw of Mississippi, the Florida Semioles, the Cree of Alabama and the Cherokee. The state still has a large Indian population, and the word Oklahoma is Choctaw for ‘red man’. Further west we ride through El Reno, over the mile-long bridge near Bridport and end up at our hotel in the ranching and college town of Weatherford. Mark Motor Hotel.
Day 7 Weatherford – Amarillo, TX (200 miles). We start today with a brief 15 mile ride to the Route 66 museum in Clinton, where you can learn more about the route and its importance in American history, and do some souvenir shopping. Then it's back on the road, passing through great plains, vast cattle ranches and small farming towns as we enter the Texas panhandle. We stop at the beautiful U-Drop Inn in Shamrock, featured in the film "Cars" as Ramone's Body shop. Then we're off across the plains for a well deserved steak at the Big Texas Steak Ranch in Amarillo. Are you brave enough to attempt the 72-Ounce (2 kg) steak dinner challenge? Big Texan Motel. 
Day 8 Amarillo – Santa Fe, NM (290 miles). After breakfast we ride across town to see the Cadillac Ranch; a crazy farmer planted Cadillacs in his field, hoping to grow new ones. Then it's off to Adrian, Texas, home of the Midpoint Café and the halfway point of Historic 66. After stopping for a coffee we leave the great Plains behind and head into the natural splendour of the southwest. Riding through the wide open spaces and into the Rocky Mountains, we arrive in the beautiful city of Santa Fe where we will spend the next two days. Plaza Real.
Day 9 Santa Fe (rest day). Today we stay in Santa Fe for a day of rest and relaxation in one of the oldest (and highest, at over 2250 m) state capitals in the USA. Enjoy Santa Fe's numerous art galleries, specialty shops and museums, all within easy walking distance from our central hotel. Or just roam around the beautiful downtown plaza taking in its unique combination of Native American and Spanish colonial architecture. Or if you want a gentle ride, we recommend the short visit to Taos - from a biker's viewpoint probably the best day of all! Lots of bends to ride as we take the valley road there and the high country road back. Taos is famous as an artist colony and some beautiful art and Indian crafts awaiting you. Plaza Real.
 Day 10 Santa Fe - Gallup, NM (210 miles). After a well-deserved rest day, it’s time to get back on the road. This morning we head out into the deserts of the southwest, to our first stop for lunch in Old Town Albuquerque. After lunch we head back out on the Route through the splendour of New Mexico’s natural beauty. We end the day in the old railroad town and Indian stronghold of Gallup at the historic Route 66 El Rancho Motel.
Day 11 Gallup – Williams, AZ (240 miles). Today we say goodbye to New Mexico and head into Arizona’s spectacular deserts. Our first stop is the Painted Desert & Petrified Forest National Park, where we take our time riding through the park stopping to take in its natural beauty. Afterward we stop in Holbrook to see the Wigwam Motel’s teepee shaped rooms on our way to lunch. After lunch we stop to “Take it Easy” with the Eagles “Standing on the corner in Winslow Arizona”. Then it’s off to our hotel in the quaint town of Williams, gateway to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon. Holiday Inn.
Day 12 Williams (200 miles). Today we visit the Grand Canyon. We ride the 60 miles from Williams to the canyon’s south rim, or you can take the train. Here we have some time to explore on our own and see the canyon in our own time. We recommend a helicopter ride for a bird’s eye view of the vastness of the canyon. We meet up later for a sunset ride back to our hotel This will be a day to remember! Holiday Inn.
DAY 13 Williams – Las Vegas, NV (210 miles). A good day's ride, tackling the longest remaining section of the original Route 66 to Kingman, where we’ll stop at the famous Mr D’s Route 66 diner if time allows. Then comes possibly the most spectacular bit of the ride as the road rises into the Black Mountains to the old mining town of Oatman for lunch. Watch out for roaming burros! We then cross the Colorado River into Nevada and take a detour North to the amazing Las Vegas. Excalibur Hotel.
DAY 14 Las Vegas – Victorville, CA (230 miles). An early start today as we cross into California, the final state on our ride down legendary Rte 66. We cross the Devil’s Playground and then into the Mojave Desert, with its dramatic scenery of lush grasses, startling volcanic rock formations, stands of Joshua trees and pinion pines. We then reach the San Gabriel Mountains with its cool pines and our last night’s stop, in Victorville. Green Tree Inn.
Day 15 Victorville - Los Angeles (115 miles). The big adventure comes to an end today with our ride to Los Angeles. Much of the road has been lost, but the end of the Mother Road, Santa Monica Pier, is worth the wait. Park up the bike and dip your toes in the Pacific Ocean, this really is journey’s end! We take our time going to the end marker plaque, and then have a nice lunch on the pier. Afterwards you’ll have some time to look around. Then it just remains for us to return the motorcycles in the afternoon at the famous Bartell’s Harley-Davidson dealership, and enjoy our Farewell Dinner. Westin LAX.
Day 16 Depart Los Angeles. Today is the day to pack your bags and head home, filled with the experiences and memories of the “Mother Road”, Historic Route 66, the “Main Street of America”. We hope to see you back for another great tour. This is end of the road - for now!
DAY 17 Arrive London. Our overnight direct flight arrives back in the early afternoon and you’re back to reality.
Total mileage c. 2700 miles
Ready to book? Please click here
Return economy flights from Heathrow and Heathrow airport lounge passes included. Flight upgrades and regional airport flight connections within the UK. If you wish to make your own flight arrangements, please deduct £450/p from the tour price, but please note our airport transfers in Chicago and Los Angeles are timed to meet our flights.
Any questions? Please click here
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Route 66
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Prices
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Rider + pax (pp)
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2 riders (pp)
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Rider, sngl
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Passenger, sngl
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31 May - 15 Jun 2012 (deluxe tour)
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£3,275.00
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£5,245.00
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£6,045.00
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£2,125.00
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Prebookable extras
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Basis
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Price
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CDW ($0 excess)
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Per bike
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£169.00
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SLI ($1 million)
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Per bike
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£143.00
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Flights
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Per person
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POA
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Travel insurance (EU residents only)
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Per person
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POA
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Airport hotel/parking (UK only)
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Per room/car
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POA
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US arrival transfer, airport-hotel
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Per person
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POA
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Chicago hotel pretour
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Per room per night
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£143.00
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H-D museum tour (1 nt)
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Per person
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POA
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Chicago sightseeing (1 nt)
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Per person
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£131.00
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Grand Canyon helicopter flight
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Per Person
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£169.00
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Los Angeles amusement package (1 nt)
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Per person
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£163.00
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Hollywood package (1 nt)
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Per person
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£101.00
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Los Angeles hotel posttour
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Per room per night
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£94.00
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| Wild West | Route 66 | California Dreamin’ | Daytona Bike Week |
| Route 66 Deluxe | Sturgis and the Old West | High Chaparral | Cowboys & Indians |
| PCH All the Way | Self-Guided Tours | Rental |
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110219
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