Tour du Mont Blanc

What if a scooter could take you just as far as any touring motorcycle?

Riding nearly 700 kilometres around Mont Blanc on a maxi-scooter proves that adventure isn’t defined by engine type.

Preview – Tour du Mont Blanc, Touring the Alps on a Scooter

Touring the Alps is usually associated with large adventure bikes and fully loaded touring machines. Kymco set out to challenge that assumption. With the Kymco Riders initiative, the Taiwanese brand aims to prove that long-distance travel on a scooter is not only possible, but genuinely enjoyable while strengthening the sense of community among its riders.

The journey begins in Annecy, after a train ride from Paris. Set beside its turquoise lake and framed by the southern Alps, the town provides a fitting gateway to the mountains. Here, a group of nearly forty Kymco riders gathers around the AK550 Premium, a flagship maxi-scooter equipped with Tripy navigation units mounted directly to the handlebars. Over the next two days, almost 700 kilometres of twisting mountain roads lie ahead, an ambitious route even for traditional touring motorcycles.

Navigation via Tripy takes some adjustment. Rather than maps, the system works with symbols and distances, much like a digital roadbook. It proves playful and engaging, though unforgiving if you miss a turn. Temperatures soar above thirty degrees in the valleys, making the first climbs toward cooler air all the more welcome.

The Col des Aravis sets the tone immediately. Alpine meadows, grazing cows and the Mont Blanc massif dominating the horizon remind everyone why these roads are legendary. Despite being scooters among motorcycles, the group receives nothing but friendly waves. With 50 horsepower, the AK550 Premium keeps pace easily, only losing some urgency on the steepest climbs due to its CVT transmission. Descents reveal its main limitation: the absence of engine braking puts extra demand on the brakes.

"Despite being scooters among motorcycles, the group receives nothing but friendly waves."

What the scooter excels at is ease. Steering is light and intuitive, making alpine hairpins surprisingly effortless. From France, the route crosses into Italy via the Little St Bernard Pass, once a vital trade route and now a scenic ribbon of asphalt climbing to 2,188 metres. Snow patches linger beside the road as the descent leads into the Aosta Valley, bathed in warm evening light. Wildlife appears, the photographer works overtime, and the long alpine daylight turns every stop into a moment.

The second day begins above Martigny, in Switzerland’s Rhône Valley. Vineyards give way to mountain passes like the Col des Mosses, before rolling into Gstaad, a postcard-perfect resort town known for luxury and celebrity visitors. The contrast with the simplicity of scooter touring is striking.

From there, castles, lakes and villages follow in quick succession. Lake Geneva appears suddenly from behind a bend, vast and hazy like an inland sea. Montreux offers a final pause before the route heads back into France via Morgins, cutting through the Portes du Soleil ski region. Weekend traffic thickens, but the agility of the maxi-scooter turns congestion into an advantage. Back in Annecy, the trip meter tells the story: nearly 700 kilometres, all on mountain roads. Even for seasoned tourers, that’s an achievement.

Will a maxi-scooter replace a touring motorcycle? Not entirely. Comfort on rough roads and long-distance ergonomics still favour traditional bikes, especially for taller riders. But Kymco’s message is clear. You don’t need a classic touring machine to explore Europe’s great roads. And in building a shared experience around that idea, Kymco Riders succeeds on both fronts: proving capability and creating community.