Wednesday 19th December 2012

PistonHeads Tours 2013 Preview

Join us on tour in 2013 with Petrolhead Nirvana

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PistonHeads has teamed up once more with driving tour experts Petrolhead Nirvana to offer a new range of PH tours for 2013. We'll be announcing each tour individually next year but, as we are already open for bookings, it's high time we gave you a tase of what's in store.

The Petrolhead Nirvana team takes care of everything including route books and sat nav files, sourcing the best hotels with secure parking, a lead and chase car with full communication to all drivers in the group and all the professional assistance you would expect from a company that specialises in driving tours.

Our 2013 tours comprise:

The Viking Tour
June 18-26 2013
From £1,990 per person

Norway combines breathtaking views, sweeping bends, tight and twisty mountain passes and stunning fjords. This trip takes in the Snow Road, the Ash Road and the Trollstigen as well as a host of unknown gems that will get your pulses racing.

Throw in the Laerdal tunnel, the longest road tunnel in the world, a spiral tunnel and fjordscape of unimaginable beauty and then top it all off with clear roads and little traffic, and you have the ultimate PH tour.

For more information on this tour please click this link

Alpine South Tour
September 7-15 2013
From £1,599 per person

If you thought adrenaline and relaxation were mutually exclusive, think again. Nine days, six countries, twisting roads and awe inspiring scenery contrast with relaxing hotels and magical vistas. Aimed at couples but still fun to do on your own, the Alpine South tour allows you to pick your own pace; keeping up with the lead car or hanging back with the chase car whilst crossing the Alps, the Pyrenees, Stelvio, The Millau Bridge, Mont Ventoux, Tour de France Special Stages, Ducati Testing Grounds and ancient walled cities. There is something for everyone on this tour.

For more information on this tour please click this link

The American Dream Tour
September 28 - October 5 2013
From £1,699 per person

Year after year, we've proved we can find American roads that rival anything Europe has to offer. The American Dream has become one of the most popular trips on our calendar and is limited to just 15 cars.

Tick these off your bucket list: The Pacific Coast Highway, Hollywood, Death Valley, Mojave Desert, Route 66, the Hoover Dam and two nights in luxurious Las Vegas suites.

From the seat of your chosen muscle car (our favourite is the C6 Corvette convertible) to sumptuous hotels and American hospitality, join us as we ensure that you live the American Dream. Price includes accommodation, hire cars and insurance and of course our team to make sure all you have to do is arrive, drive and enjoy yourself. (Las Vegas gambling money not included!)

For more information on this tour please click this link

[Jasper Gilder]

Good luck Harsh, afraid we'll miss you on the September run up from Santander, we'll be on it the following week, shame - could have had a bit of a party otherwise.

Enjoy Carcassonne!

[chrisemersons]

The Viking Tour, 'the ultimate PH tour', so why is it run over the Lemans weekend ?? Any true pistonhead will be at LaSarthe and if not should be shot !!!!

[Hamsternator]

Two grand to book me a handful of hotels and lend me a sat nav?

[Jasper Gilder]

Try doing it yourself - not quite as easy as you might think, especially when there's 40+ people

[nickz32]

chrisemersons said:

The Viking Tour, 'the ultimate PH tour', so why is it run over the Lemans weekend ?? Any true pistonhead will be at LaSarthe and if not should be shot !!!!

some of us "true pistonheads" are fed up with the ever increasing chav element that, for me, ruin the 24 hour.... the classic is MUCH better!

[nickz32]

Jasper Gilder said:

Try doing it yourself - not quite as easy as you might think, especially when there's 40+ people

Agreed, ive organised something similar (bigger route and over 13 days) for 10 people, and its insanely hard work!

[VerySideways]

nickz32 said:

chrisemersons said:

The Viking Tour, 'the ultimate PH tour', so why is it run over the Lemans weekend ?? Any true pistonhead will be at LaSarthe and if not should be shot !!!!

some of us "true pistonheads" are fed up with the ever increasing chav element that, for me, ruin the 24 hour.... the classic is MUCH better!

Ditto! My first LM24 was back in 2002 and it's so different now. The Classic on the other hand is still about the cars, the noise and the racing (rather than the diesels and the alcohol).

[Aizle]

Hamsternator said:

Two grand to book me a handful of hotels and lend me a sat nav?

You try it cheaper for 40 people and overheads.

[FEZ550]

Hamsternator said:

Two grand to book me a handful of hotels and lend me a sat nav?

Yeah, cos that's all it is.... You have no idea.

[ironictwist]

FEZ550 said:

Hamsternator said:

Two grand to book me a handful of hotels and lend me a sat nav?

Yeah, cos that's all it is.... You have no idea.

Agreed! Absolutley no idea! I can say that because I've been on 3 of them too!

[SpeedYellow]

Well after doing several of the tours over the last few year I can tell you they are fantastic value. Last year I couldn't join one of the tours I wanted to on the dates so decided to do it solo, firstly not as nearly as much fun and secondly with ferries and everything I spent more money, go figure!

Anyway, 2013 will finally be the year for the Viking tour.

[ironictwist]

SpeedYellow said:

Anyway, 2013 will finally be the year for the Viking tour.

I'd give ANYTHING to do the Viking, just cant make it work for me timing wise this coming year, so making do with Alpine South instead (No hardship really )The Viking Tour really is the ultimate though

[gigjam]

can California locals come out and say Hi?!?!?

[V8KSN]

After doing the Alpine North tour earlier this year, several of us who went have already paid a deposit for Alpine South 2013!

It's an amazing week of driving and the planning and tour organisation is brilliant (even though it must be a logistical nightmare)

Great bunch of people who met as strangers and we all parted as friends.

Highly recommend these tours to everyone.

[SFO]

been on 2 Alpine tours, and 1 Wales tour with PN.

Booked on Wales and Viking next year.

these tours are superbly organised, with excellent tour managers, and fun participants.

highly recommended.

[zeb]

Hamsternator said:

Two grand to book me a handful of hotels and lend me a sat nav?

took you 3 months to work up to that?

$hit first post - go back and try again

[Shrek667]

Went on the Alpine South last year and had a fantastic time, great roads, very friendly group and a really interesting mix of cars. Booked next year on the Viking Tour and Welsh Weekender - actions speak louder than words! Already very excited about the Viking Tour

[isaldiri]

Never been on one before but booked myself onto one of the welsh ones and seeing if I can find the time to go on the viking tour as that does sound rather neat...

[Zed 44]

I agree that they are quite expensive considering the length of the trip. The last 3 years I have gone to:

Portugal in 2010

Italy in 2011

and was on my way to do the Alps last year when a Spaniard ran into me in Annecy.

With my wife, including Euro tunnel, petrol, hotels, food, tolls, everything, the total cost was about £3,500 but we were out for a month on each trip.

I think the real advantage of these organised tours is the camaraderie from traveling with other like minded folk.

[Getsis]

I'm lucky, I have the Norwegian mountains as my play ground all summer. If I could join the group when they land here I would gladly come along.