Thursday 3rd May 2012

The 2012 PistonHeads Alpine Tour

It's your last chance to book for one of our most popular tours.

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Sign up to the PistonHeads Alpine Tour and, with the Black Forest as a warm-up and Stelvio as a stop-off point, Petrolhead Nirvana will take you on the most amazing few days of your driving life between Saturday 30th June and Saturday 7th July 2012.

For 2012 many of the old favourites from previous years remain, but PN have made a few changes to make the tour even better. So as well as the Black Forest and Stelvio, you'll take in the Grimsel, Susten and Furka passes, visit St Moritz and stay in Val D'Isere. Oh, and drive a special stage of the Monte Carlo Rally and the highest paved pass in the Alps.

On the way home, the legendary Route Napoleon will take you to Annecy before rounding off with visit to the former GP Circuit at Reims. New for 2012 is the free loan of one of PN's TomToms, with all the routes pre-loaded, so getting lost and missing the best roads is not an option.

Best of all, you'll be doing this alongside other PHers while being looked after by tour managers who know their way around some of the best roads around.

Day 1, Calais To Offenburg - 404 Miles
We take advantage of the efficient French autoroutes to get as close to the action as possible on the first day. It's an opportunity to use the supplied walkie-talkies to banter with your fellow drivers and get to know the other cars travelling along with you.

Day 2, Offenburg to Davos - 296 Miles
After a good night's sleep we head into the Black Forest, sampling the roads Ducati use as their testing grounds. Then we head south into Switzerland, passing Winterthur and Liechtenstein, through Davos and over the Fluela pass into Austria, before ascending the (in)famous Stelvio Pass - at the top of which we find our hotel for the night.

Day 3, Stelvio to Furka - 265 Miles
This is the first 'passes day', leaving Stelvio via Umbrail, then taking in Lake Livigno and St Moritz on the way to Julier Pass, followed by San Bernardino, Susten, Grimsel, finally arriving at our hotel at the foot of the Furka pass.

Day 4, Furka to Val D'Isere - 240 Miles
Another 'passes day', beginning with Furka, St Gotthard, and Nufenen before heading down the valley past Sion; then up over Grand St Bernard into Italy, and the Petit St Bernard into France, on to Val D'Isere and our traditional ski lodge hotel.

Day 5, Val D'Isere to Col De Turini - 233 Miles
Heading away from Val D'Isere we begin the day climbing the second-highest paved pass in the Alps, the Col De L'Iseran (2,770m), using the magnificent Col Du Galibier (2,645m) as a stepping stone to the Col De La Bonette (2,802m), which is the highest paved pass in the Alps and one of the major challenges in the Tour de France (though it's easier in a car...). We round off the day with the Col De Turini (1,607m). Our hotel for the night sits on the summit of this challenging classic road steeped in the history of the Monte Carlo Rally.

Day 6, Col de Turini to Annecy - 250 Miles
Day 6 is all about the Route Napoleon. A mixture of fast sweeping bends, tight twisty sections and views that will make you gasp. A truly amazing piece of tarmac. We end the day at Annecy, known as the Venice of France, a beautiful town with stunning views

Day 7, Annecy to Dijon - 237 Miles
A short dash to Geneva from Annecy, and then a quick trip up the mountain (watch out for bikes - this is a biker paradise) and over the top, dropping down to Auxonne and on to Dijon.

Day 8, Dijon to Calais - 345 Miles
The last day of the tour, but we have saved something special. A trip to the old Grand Prix circuit at Reims. For so long this historic circuit and its outbuildings were in ruins. Now, however, they are being brought back to life. We have time to stop for a photo opportunity and a quick blast down the old straight. Finally, we head to Calais and a sad farewell to your fellow tourers and new-found friends.

- What's included?

Return Eurotunnel crossing.
7 nights accommodation with breakfast included.
Two experienced tour managers in two cars to lead and chase.
Loan of TomTom with all routes pre-loaded.
Loan of powerful licensed walkie-talkies.
Drivers' packs with route notes, maps and useful information.

- What's not included?

Lunch, dinner, drinks, tolls, fuel.
European breakdown cover (this is a requirement on all tours)

The price is £1,199 per person (based on two people sharing a car and a twin or double room). There is a solo driver option, which is still based on sharing a room (but it means you can hog the driving) which is £1,299 per person.

The booking deposit is £500 per person.

If you would like to book, or ask any questions, please call the guys at Petrolhead Nirvana on 0845 838 7363.

[Bungleaio]

I'm booked onto the Alpine south trip. 18 weeks, 1 day 2 hours to go. Not that I'm looking forward to it or anything!

[lespidaman]

i already live near Annecy, so i might come over for a look at the cars if i'm around.

[C6NL]

On our annual Italian driving holiday we drive the same roads visited on days 3,4, and 5. Absolutely brilliant driving, great food, nice wine, what more do you want. That is why we stay in Northern Italy for two weeks, can't stop smiling the whole time.

Fred

[predding]

Anywhere away from SE England is good :-))

[Matt UK]

How many people / cars would be expected to attend?

[Bungleaio]

It's limited numbers, I think there is 20 cars in total and two of them are the lead/chase organisers. All the cars seem to have a maximum of 2 people in them.

[VerySideways]

Bungleaio said:

It's limited numbers, I think there is 20 cars in total and two of them are the lead/chase organisers. All the cars seem to have a maximum of 2 people in them.

Someone's been paying attention
We limit each European tour to 20 cars including our lead and chase cars. We usually have an even split between solo drivers, 2 friends, and couples in the cars so it's typically around 32 people or so on tour

[Harsh]

Paying attention?

that can't be me then........


looking forward to this already and we've got Scotland beforehand too.

[Harsh]

excited excited excited........just 4 days to go now!

[VerySideways]

[Harsh]

VerySideways said:

That's just mean...i've lost a lot of weight since then!