The fifth European KTM Adventure Rally brought 150 riders to Quillan, a small town at the base of the French Pyrenees, for four days and three full riding loops. Around 180 kilometres per day — medieval towns, gravel routes through untouched mountain landscapes, and off-road trails that the Pyrenees have been quietly holding in reserve for exactly this kind of event.
On-Board Video — France 2022
Quillan — Base Camp
Quillan sits in the Aude valley, framed by limestone gorges and the first serious ridges of the Pyrenees. It is not a famous town — and that is exactly why it works as a rally base. No tourist infrastructure getting in the way. Just the town, the roads leaving it, and three days of riding ahead.
Registration day was exactly what these events do well: a paddock of Adventure and Enduro R models, riders from across the continent comparing route notes for loops they hadn't ridden yet, and an evening briefing that covered the options — self-guided with GPS coordinates, or limited guided groups following the same tracks.
Day One — September 15, 2022
First Loop — Gorges & Gravel
The first loop left Quillan and pushed into the gorges immediately. The Pyrenees in September have a particular quality — the summer crowds are gone, the forest tracks are dry and fast, and the light through the limestone walls turns everything amber by mid-afternoon.
Self-guided groups set their own pace. The GPS coordinates were precise and the tracks well-chosen. Medieval villages appeared at unexpected junctions, each one seeming to exist specifically to make the lunch stop feel like a reward.
Day Two — September 16, 2022
Second Loop — High Pyrenees Trails
Day two climbed higher. The routes pushed into terrain that felt genuinely remote — high gravel tracks running along ridgelines, descents through pine forests, and the occasional water crossing that kept everyone alert. This was the day the Pyrenees showed their real character.
"Three days of carefully curated routes. No two loops the same. The Pyrenees have more roads than any map suggests."
Day Three — September 17, 2022
Third Loop — Final Run & Closing
The third loop took a different direction from Quillan — the event structure deliberately kept each day distinct so nothing felt like a repeat. By day three the group had settled into a rhythm: early start, steady pace, long lunch, afternoon push, back at base by early evening.
The closing evening had the energy these events build over three days of shared roads. Routes compared, highlights traded, and the next editions already being discussed before the final dinner was over.
Practical Notes
The event runs on eligible KTM Adventure or Enduro R models only — the route selection assumes off-road capability. Both self-guided and guided options follow identical GPS tracks, so the choice is purely about pace preference. Spots for all KTM European Adventure Rally editions go fast — the 2022 edition filled its 150 places quickly after registration opened.
September is the right month for Quillan. The Pyrenean passes are fully open, the summer traffic is gone, and the afternoon light makes the limestone gorges look like something out of a geography textbook. The kind of conditions that make 180 kilometres disappear.
Gear on This Rally
The Rally Verdict
Terrain
Route Design
Scenery
Overall
France delivered what the Pyrenees have always promised to deliver — they just needed someone to unlock the right roads. 180km a day through terrain this good requires no justification. The self-guided option gave it the right amount of autonomy. Three of the best days in the saddle.