Passes Day in the Alps - Advice...
Discussion
Can I ask the members that have been to the Swiss Alps, to comment on the below route:
http://goo.gl/wzZypb
We are travelling through the Alps as part of a driving holiday and this is the current route I have come up with, to take us from Italy into Germany and enjoy some of the passes en-route. However, I am having a problem coming up with a route that takes in all the passes I'd like. Currently we are taking in the San Bernardino, Nufenen, Grimselpass and Sustenpass. But with the route planned we are missing out on the Furka pass as a result. Is this pass worth making a detour for?
The question really is whether we are sacrificing the right one? We could drop Nufenen pass for Furka? Or perhaps is it feasible to do a "loop" and get them all in, or is that a bit too much for one day given our destination? Sadly our itinerary doesn't allow for us to spend any extra time in this area (otherwise I'd split them over two days).
http://goo.gl/wzZypb
We are travelling through the Alps as part of a driving holiday and this is the current route I have come up with, to take us from Italy into Germany and enjoy some of the passes en-route. However, I am having a problem coming up with a route that takes in all the passes I'd like. Currently we are taking in the San Bernardino, Nufenen, Grimselpass and Sustenpass. But with the route planned we are missing out on the Furka pass as a result. Is this pass worth making a detour for?
The question really is whether we are sacrificing the right one? We could drop Nufenen pass for Furka? Or perhaps is it feasible to do a "loop" and get them all in, or is that a bit too much for one day given our destination? Sadly our itinerary doesn't allow for us to spend any extra time in this area (otherwise I'd split them over two days).
There's no easy way to cover all of the passes without turning back and doing some of the passes twice (which is no hardship if you have the time).
The Furka pass is my least favourite in the area as it gets quite narrow in places, but this is highly subjective. (The Susten is my personal fave.)
The Furka pass is my least favourite in the area as it gets quite narrow in places, but this is highly subjective. (The Susten is my personal fave.)
Looking at our start and end points, having done the passes yourself, would you say its feasible to include them all (with some loops or double-backing), or is that a bit too much for one day?
We'll be driving them midweek in the middle of June (with an early start), so hoping (but not sure!) that the roads won't be too busy by then with the holidays?
We'll be driving them midweek in the middle of June (with an early start), so hoping (but not sure!) that the roads won't be too busy by then with the holidays?
Edited by sixspeed on Wednesday 29th April 01:05
plenty said:
There's no easy way to cover all of the passes without turning back and doing some of the passes twice (which is no hardship if you have the time).
The Furka pass is my least favourite in the area as it gets quite narrow in places, but this is highly subjective. (The Susten is my personal fave.)
I couldn't agree with this more. The Furka pass is narrow and rough, although it does have some good bends. On the other hand, the Susten was our favourite of the whole Andermatt loopThe Furka pass is my least favourite in the area as it gets quite narrow in places, but this is highly subjective. (The Susten is my personal fave.)
My usual loop starts in Wassen and goes, Susten, Grimsal, Furka, Gottard, Nufenen, Grimsal and Susten.
The Furka is very picturesque when driving on the Realp side but it is very tight and often quite busy. The best part of the Furka can be enjoyed from the Grimsal side as the road is very open and following but I would stick with the Nufenen as it is the least driven of the well known passes and it is, IMO, the best. Driving from the Gottard side is the best way to tackle it and the run down the other side towards Obergesteln is great fun.
If you must do the Furka, then head north from Biasca onto the Lukmanier pass towards Disentis. Turn right, and this leads to the Oberalp pass. Carry straight on through Andermatt and then onto Realp for the Furka, Grimsal and Susten passes.
The Gottard pass is not great fro driving but the engineering is very impressive. Having said that, the old Gottard is worth seeing but it is all cobbled!
The Furka is very picturesque when driving on the Realp side but it is very tight and often quite busy. The best part of the Furka can be enjoyed from the Grimsal side as the road is very open and following but I would stick with the Nufenen as it is the least driven of the well known passes and it is, IMO, the best. Driving from the Gottard side is the best way to tackle it and the run down the other side towards Obergesteln is great fun.
If you must do the Furka, then head north from Biasca onto the Lukmanier pass towards Disentis. Turn right, and this leads to the Oberalp pass. Carry straight on through Andermatt and then onto Realp for the Furka, Grimsal and Susten passes.
The Gottard pass is not great fro driving but the engineering is very impressive. Having said that, the old Gottard is worth seeing but it is all cobbled!
krallicious said:
My usual loop starts in Wassen and goes, Susten, Grimsal, Furka, Gottard, Nufenen, Grimsal and Susten.
The Furka is very picturesque when driving on the Realp side but it is very tight and often quite busy. The best part of the Furka can be enjoyed from the Grimsal side as the road is very open and following but I would stick with the Nufenen as it is the least driven of the well known passes and it is, IMO, the best. Driving from the Gottard side is the best way to tackle it and the run down the other side towards Obergesteln is great fun.
If you must do the Furka, then head north from Biasca onto the Lukmanier pass towards Disentis. Turn right, and this leads to the Oberalp pass. Carry straight on through Andermatt and then onto Realp for the Furka, Grimsal and Susten passes.
The Gottard pass is not great fro driving but the engineering is very impressive. Having said that, the old Gottard is worth seeing but it is all cobbled!
When are you planning on driving? Quite a few of the passes mentioned are normally open around the 3rd week of June.
The Furka is very picturesque when driving on the Realp side but it is very tight and often quite busy. The best part of the Furka can be enjoyed from the Grimsal side as the road is very open and following but I would stick with the Nufenen as it is the least driven of the well known passes and it is, IMO, the best. Driving from the Gottard side is the best way to tackle it and the run down the other side towards Obergesteln is great fun.
If you must do the Furka, then head north from Biasca onto the Lukmanier pass towards Disentis. Turn right, and this leads to the Oberalp pass. Carry straight on through Andermatt and then onto Realp for the Furka, Grimsal and Susten passes.
The Gottard pass is not great fro driving but the engineering is very impressive. Having said that, the old Gottard is worth seeing but it is all cobbled!
When are you planning on driving? Quite a few of the passes mentioned are normally open around the 3rd week of June.
Hi
great roadtrip you selected, I did it several times....
When you arrive down from Grimsel pass, the Furka pass immediately starts and after 10 min you reach the top, great driving road and wide (as been said above).... I propsoe you drive the Furka up to the summit and then you return immediately back to the valley and contiue on the Lukmanier as you planned.
The other half of the Furka is very narrow and not so much fun to drive...
great roadtrip you selected, I did it several times....
When you arrive down from Grimsel pass, the Furka pass immediately starts and after 10 min you reach the top, great driving road and wide (as been said above).... I propsoe you drive the Furka up to the summit and then you return immediately back to the valley and contiue on the Lukmanier as you planned.
The other half of the Furka is very narrow and not so much fun to drive...
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