Route des Grandes Alps
Discussion
I am about to start organising a trip for 8-10 cars to do the Route des Grandes Alps next september - which i am assured will be awesome in the Noble !
has anyone done it ? Any pointers for taking a noble over high alpine passes (other than dont drive off the edge !) ??
Does anyone have any suggestions for good places to stay - off street/secure parking for 8-10 cars is a necessity as you would imagine.
Finally, if anyone is interested in coming along, let me know, the more the merrier s far as i am concerned.
mike
has anyone done it ? Any pointers for taking a noble over high alpine passes (other than dont drive off the edge !) ??
Does anyone have any suggestions for good places to stay - off street/secure parking for 8-10 cars is a necessity as you would imagine.
Finally, if anyone is interested in coming along, let me know, the more the merrier s far as i am concerned.
mike
Oooo... very seriously tempted Mike! I've driven much of the route in the past, but not in the Noble. Part of the Northern section, as you may know, drops into an impressive gorge and I can just imagine the noise in that - might be just the excuse to get my exhaust "upgraded"... 
Do you have provisional dates? ... definitely don't leave it too late in September though; some of those cols were (briefly) covered in snow a few weeks ago!
Do you have provisional dates? ... definitely don't leave it too late in September though; some of those cols were (briefly) covered in snow a few weeks ago!
probably early-mid september 2012.
i found a great website with the route broken down into days and maps attached for each day although i find it hard to believe it takes 8 days to travel from geneva to Nice even allowing for all those hairpins !
My mate did it in his elise in 4 days and that was including a rest day in the middle and doing some parts twice !
The more i look at it, the more i am definitely doing it.
i found a great website with the route broken down into days and maps attached for each day although i find it hard to believe it takes 8 days to travel from geneva to Nice even allowing for all those hairpins !
My mate did it in his elise in 4 days and that was including a rest day in the middle and doing some parts twice !
The more i look at it, the more i am definitely doing it.
arabian said:
I am about to start organising a trip for 8-10 cars to do the Route des Grandes Alps next september - which i am assured will be awesome in the Noble !
has anyone done it ? Any pointers for taking a noble over high alpine passes (other than dont drive off the edge !) ??
Does anyone have any suggestions for good places to stay - off street/secure parking for 8-10 cars is a necessity as you would imagine.
Finally, if anyone is interested in coming along, let me know, the more the merrier s far as i am concerned.
mike
Sort of done that route, but up from Monaco and round Turin to Lake Geneva. The Nob was great over the passes which were snowy when I went, the only issue we had was a bag of crisps that went off due to the altitude!!has anyone done it ? Any pointers for taking a noble over high alpine passes (other than dont drive off the edge !) ??
Does anyone have any suggestions for good places to stay - off street/secure parking for 8-10 cars is a necessity as you would imagine.
Finally, if anyone is interested in coming along, let me know, the more the merrier s far as i am concerned.
mike
How about a Monaco stop as you are so close, also I can recommend a great lakeside hotel at Lake Geneva too.
Have you considered the Route Napoleon? I rode it just a few weeks ago as part of a Motorcycle tour. It was possibly the best road I've ever been on. I'm getting excited just thinking about it.
Maybe you could go down the Route des Grandes Alps and back up Napoleon? Now that would be something.
Maybe you could go down the Route des Grandes Alps and back up Napoleon? Now that would be something.
Having driven extensively in the Alps, I can say without hesitation that the Route des Grandes Alpes is one of my best drives. It is well waymarked and you can buy an IGN (French equivalent of Ordnance Survey) dedicated map in the UK - I got mine from Stanfords (search online, but they have a few shops). A few words of advice:
1. We did it in two days from Lac Leman to Menton - but you need to be hardcore to do so (but then PH-ers are...)
2. Get up early - shed-draggers and snails (camper vans) tend to slow the pace
3. Be wary of cyclists - they crop up all over the Alps, ascending they need to be given space (and respect), descending they can get some fantastic speed (often quicker than cars) - but wont be grateful if you cut them up
4. Fuel - never have much less than half a tank, there aren't many gas stations on summits! Also if you like to use branded petrol (I do) such as V-Power you should brim wherever you can - low grade supermarket fuel is endemic
5. Beware some of the corners - they are sharp with steep gradients on the apex, splitters are at risk - I beat a pal up the north side of Stelvio (me in an MX-5, him an M12 GTO) because of this and some corners are tight.
6. Don't pre-book hotels as you may cover more or less ground than you anticipate, but find a room by say 5pm as you wont be the only one looking for a bed
7. The driving is sensational but so is the scenery - each col is unique, my favourite is the Iseran. Stop frequently to take in the sheer beauty of region - it is breathtaking.
8. There are a few variations - check them out on the map, there may be places that you would like to visit slightly off the main route
9. Search my previous postings on PH regarding the route - you should find more info on these
10. Don't drive like an idiot (of course PH-ers don't, do we
) and spoil it for others - respect other road users. Smooth driving is ultimately less stressful and more satisfying.
11. Consider driving un-belted on the mountains - I picked this up from a French pal who lives in the area - if you come off the road, with a 1000m drop do you really want to be strapped in? there is a chance you will be thrown clear if you are not wearing a seat belt
12. Menton at the end is a beautiful town - really peaceful with great value restaurants a short drive from Monaco. Don't head a couple of miles east to Ventimiglia in Italy - it's 'orrible!!
13. Dont be surprised if you feel a loss in power at times - the Route goes across some very high cols (including the highest in Western Europe), your turbos may be gasping for oxygen!
14. Take loads of photos and enjoy yourself
1. We did it in two days from Lac Leman to Menton - but you need to be hardcore to do so (but then PH-ers are...)
2. Get up early - shed-draggers and snails (camper vans) tend to slow the pace
3. Be wary of cyclists - they crop up all over the Alps, ascending they need to be given space (and respect), descending they can get some fantastic speed (often quicker than cars) - but wont be grateful if you cut them up
4. Fuel - never have much less than half a tank, there aren't many gas stations on summits! Also if you like to use branded petrol (I do) such as V-Power you should brim wherever you can - low grade supermarket fuel is endemic
5. Beware some of the corners - they are sharp with steep gradients on the apex, splitters are at risk - I beat a pal up the north side of Stelvio (me in an MX-5, him an M12 GTO) because of this and some corners are tight.
6. Don't pre-book hotels as you may cover more or less ground than you anticipate, but find a room by say 5pm as you wont be the only one looking for a bed
7. The driving is sensational but so is the scenery - each col is unique, my favourite is the Iseran. Stop frequently to take in the sheer beauty of region - it is breathtaking.
8. There are a few variations - check them out on the map, there may be places that you would like to visit slightly off the main route
9. Search my previous postings on PH regarding the route - you should find more info on these
10. Don't drive like an idiot (of course PH-ers don't, do we
) and spoil it for others - respect other road users. Smooth driving is ultimately less stressful and more satisfying.11. Consider driving un-belted on the mountains - I picked this up from a French pal who lives in the area - if you come off the road, with a 1000m drop do you really want to be strapped in? there is a chance you will be thrown clear if you are not wearing a seat belt
12. Menton at the end is a beautiful town - really peaceful with great value restaurants a short drive from Monaco. Don't head a couple of miles east to Ventimiglia in Italy - it's 'orrible!!
13. Dont be surprised if you feel a loss in power at times - the Route goes across some very high cols (including the highest in Western Europe), your turbos may be gasping for oxygen!
14. Take loads of photos and enjoy yourself
Just to add - a convoy of several cars could be hard to keep together. It is inevitable that a shed-dragger will get in amongst you; overtaking for all will be almost impossible and with 8 cars you will spend much time hanging around trying to re-group and at filling stations. Ad-hoc accommodation could screw you too. 2 or 3 cars yes, more could take the shine off the experience - IMHO of course
Mobile phone signals are flaky in the mountains so perhaps you should consider walkie-talkies (or as the French call them - talkie-walkies!)
Mobile phone signals are flaky in the mountains so perhaps you should consider walkie-talkies (or as the French call them - talkie-walkies!)
Brilliant help and advice from all, thanks, really appreciated (except for the bit about being thrown clear when plummeting of the side........!!!).
the practicalities of 8 cars in convoy is a big concern of mine, but i guess walkie talkies and route maps with pre-determined meeting points is the way forward.
I'll let you know how i get on with the organising !
the practicalities of 8 cars in convoy is a big concern of mine, but i guess walkie talkies and route maps with pre-determined meeting points is the way forward.
I'll let you know how i get on with the organising !
Well if you do go I'm interested in the Col De L'Iseran. I'll be coming from Geneva direction though (not from the UK). I'm not really interested in the others. Just I go up there and take a look, walk around and then go home.
Always thinking to go but never made it. On the way to somewhere... but I never go to that somewhere which might have been on the way.
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