Trip of a life time !! Pyrenees AND Alps !

[akadk]

2 weeks tomorrow I depart on a mental road trip.

2,500 miles, 8 days, trip of a life time.

first and last day are pure motorway munchers, c.600 miles each way. The rest is pure mountain driving heaven !

- Le Mans
- N260 Pyrenees
- Barcelona
- Ibiza (fly)
- Route Napoleon
- Monaco
- Route Des Grande Alps (400 miles of Alps passes from Monaco up to Geneva)

All but 2 hotels are booked.

with it being right at start of the season, it should be dead empty, and still be snow for good shots ... just hope nothing it closed !

(nb. google maps route is not 100% accurate, indicative only)




I'm planning on using the GPX file from this website for the Route Des Grande Alps and using it on a iPhone app .... Has anyone used this, does it work well ?

http://www.moveyouralps.com/en/route-des-grandes-a...

I need to book a hotel yet to break up the N260 and about 2/3's up the Route Des Grande Alps ... any recommendations ?

Car will be F-TYPE convertible V8

[SmilerFTM]

Fingers crossed the snow clears on the high passes on Route des Grande Alps. I did that run about 4 years ago mid/late June and had to miss a few of the high passes.

[s70rmp]

putting up videos along the way ?

[akadk]

s70rmp said:

putting up videos along the way ?

i certainly will be capturing it on film, if only for my own memories !

[Zed 44]

Unless you're really set on Barcelona you may want to consider this. The villages of Rupit and Tavertet are supposed to be stunning. Not seen them yet but will do in June. Stick close to the hills would be my advice if you want to enjoy the driving. Further south and the terrain flattens.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=18Q9J-hRY3P1koy-f...

[SmilerFTM]

Zed 44 said:

Unless you're really set on Barcelona you may want to consider this. The villages of Rupit and Tavertet are supposed to be stunning. Not seen them yet but will do in June. Stick close to the hills would be my advice if you want to enjoy the driving. Further south and the terrain flattens.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=18Q9J-hRY3P1koy-f...

Looks like he's flying from Barcelona to Ibiza

[Zed 44]

SmilerFTM said:

Zed 44 said:

Unless you're really set on Barcelona you may want to consider this. The villages of Rupit and Tavertet are supposed to be stunning. Not seen them yet but will do in June. Stick close to the hills would be my advice if you want to enjoy the driving. Further south and the terrain flattens.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=18Q9J-hRY3P1koy-f...

Looks like he's flying from Barcelona to Ibiza

Ooops missed that. So, 312.50 miles per day including 400 miles of Alps passes and a holiday in Ibiza. A very conservative plan then.

[JetskiJezz]

This looks like a great, but I'm sure tiring trip. That's a lot of miles per day.

Interesting that you're doing it in a V8 F type - I hired a V6 Ftype from Munich for a week and drove down in through the Swiss Alps taking in most of the passes over the period of 6 days a couple of years back. It was an absolutely awesome time, great to get the roof down and have a fantastic noise behind you. I'm going back again to do the same thing in June with my son to celebrate his twelfth birthday and then again with a friend in September. At least flying down to Munich and then renting a car saves the monster motorway journey to get to the right part of the world.

Looking forward to seeing the pictures and hopefully hearing some of the video posts as you get going.

Just one worry I would think, it's a bit early in the season to get all of the passes open. When we went on the first trip I mentioned above it was the very end of May and Stalvio was totally snowbound and although we tried to get to the top we ended up getting turned around ( along with a handful of Brit hopefuls on their way back from Monaco that we bumped into).

[akadk]

I've done my fair share of road trips, so not worried about the mileage.

I've driven to Kos, Greece twice amongst many others ... including a day trip to the Nurburgring

As said, first and last day will be mega motorway miles.

I am on my own, so have no issue getting on the road at 7am and in no rush to get to evening hotel, so will just enjoy the roads.

As long as the sun is shining i'll be fine

The biggest question is, which to take !

[akadk]

PS. Im only in Ibiza 1 day, fly from Barca Weds 2030 and back in at 0900 Friday

[s70rmp]

You going raving in Ibiza ?

Hitting the clubs then straight back ?

[akadk]

No, a wedding

[AdiT]

Once you take out the first and last days of slog and the Ibiza day then it's 260miles a day. Traveling solo rather than in convoy (so less faffing) that's easily doable.

I've stayed here... http://www.refuge-napoleon-vars.fr/ on the route grand alps. Its pretty remote (which I liked) though and might not be far enough north for your plans. Also stayed here... http://www.soleilvacances.com/hotel/parc-hotel-bri... It was OK but nothing special and the car park was tiny.

[akadk]

AdiT said:

Once you take out the first and last days of slog and the Ibiza day then it's 260miles a day. Traveling solo rather than in convoy (so less faffing) that's easily doable.

I've stayed here... http://www.refuge-napoleon-vars.fr/ on the route grand alps. Its pretty remote (which I liked) though and might not be far enough north for your plans. Also stayed here... http://www.soleilvacances.com/hotel/parc-hotel-bri... It was OK but nothing special and the car park was tiny.

Thanks

[frye]

akadk said:

I've done my fair share of road trips, so not worried about the mileage.

I've driven to Kos, Greece twice amongst many others ... including a day trip to the Nurburgring

As said, first and last day will be mega motorway miles.

I am on my own, so have no issue getting on the road at 7am and in no rush to get to evening hotel, so will just enjoy the roads.

As long as the sun is shining i'll be fine

The biggest question is, which to take !

I'd be taking the hardtop!

Seriously though how will you keep yourself entertained whilst on your own during the long drives. I'm wanting to do a eurotrip soon but my mate is dragging his feet so just debating if just go on my own also. Any tips much appreciated.

Also will vids be posted similar to the scottish ones?. These seem locked now, but were enjoyable to watch

[akadk]

Some people don't mind their own company

Me, music, open road and a V8 is all I need!

[DangerDoom]

Do you have a more detailed plan for the Alps section? There are a few of us heading down that way for the Monaco GP and would be great to compare notes.

Also, are you consciously avoiding the Swiss alps on the expectation that many of the passes will be closed?

[rob0r]

Sounds fantastic

[akadk]

DangerDoom said:

Do you have a more detailed plan for the Alps section? There are a few of us heading down that way for the Monaco GP and would be great to compare notes.

Also, are you consciously avoiding the Swiss alps on the expectation that many of the passes will be closed?

I simply don't have enough time for the Swiss Alps.

I did the Andermatt loop last September, and will aiming to head down that way again this Sept.

Regarding Alps, I am simply going to follow the Route Des Grand Alps

[Wozy68]

Jaca or for a stopover north of the N260 Vielha for secure parking hotels. PM if you want more details.