Update: The PistonHeads Alpine South Tour 2011
It's called Alpine, but you get to do the Pyrenees, too...what could be better?
Update: If you fancy a driving holiday with road-trip heroes (and PH partners) Petrolhead Nirvana, this your last chance in 2011... because all other PH tours for this year are sold out, and there are only four spaces left on this Alpine South tour...
You can read the full details of the trip below, but just to give you a quick flavour, this is a tour that involves some of the best roads and most fantastic scenery in Europe. This includes the Stelvio pass, Andorra, Mont Ventoux, the Millau bridge and the old Reims circuit, to name just a few. So what are you waiting for?
(Full details below...)
While the normal Alpine tour is aimed at those who want to drive all day, our latest offering - the Alpine South tour - is a little more relaxed, and adds in some of our other favourites driving itineraries, including northern Spain, the Millau bridge and Mont Ventoux.
Day 1, Portsmouth - Bilbao
We begin with a relaxed cruise down to Spain while getting to know your fellow tourists as you enjoy the on-board facilities.
It's an easy start to the driving, with a short cross-country jaunt to Pamplona, leaving the ferry together to start our adventure in northern Spain.
Day 3, Pamplona - Lerida - 225 Miles
We rack up a few miles on the third day, with a trip up into the southern foothills of the Pyrenees and along the canyons and rivers that flow down from the mountains. As we drive you'll witness spectacular scenery and sinuous Tarmac in equal measure - can this really be Spain?
Day 4, Lerida - Carcassonne - 230 Miles
It's a brisk drive up through the mountains and into Andorra today, deep in the heart of the Pyrenees, before descending into southern France and heading off to the 2500-year-old walled city of Carcassonne.
A day of back-road blasting along the challenging roads that carve through south-west France, climaxing with a trip to the stunning Millau Bridge - the Norman Foster designed architectural masterpiece.
Day 6, Carpentras - Courmayeur - 296 Miles
An early start for a dawn blast on one of our favourite routes up Mont Ventoux. This is a special stage of the Tour De France and one of our favourite stretches of road and leads up to a summit with a simply breathtaking view. From there we head to the town of Courmayeur at the base of Mont Blanc ready for the Alpine portion of the tour. Its worth mentioning that we may well pop back up for another go, as this road is too good to leave behind so soon.
Day 7, Courmayeur - Andermatt - 272 Miles
It's passes day: the Grand St Bernard, Nufenen, Susten, Furka and Grimsel passes to name just a few. The route has been carefully planned to ensure we make the best of the passes available, why settle for one when you can do the lot?
Today a trip to the most famous pass of them all the Stelvio pass, you've heard about it, now it's time to experience it. Before that, though, we will be warming up with the Julier pass and then the Umbrail, and Fluella passes too as we head towards our overnight stop in the lovely town of Davos.
Day 9, Davos - Offenberg - 270 miles
As we leave Switzerland we may be starting to head towards home, but the fun isn't over. We can't stay this close to Germany and not take in some of our favourite roads in the Black Forest. This is the place Ducati uses to test its road bikes, and if it's good enough for them, it's certainly good enough for us. We end the day by heading to Offenburg for an overnight stop.
Day 10, Offenberg - Calais - 404 miles
It's the homeward leg, but we've saved a bit of fun for the last day - a trip to the old Grand Prix circuit at Reims for the so often taked photo opportunity and a blast down the main straight. Finally we head towards Calais and bid a sad farewell before heading home.
The price will be £1449 per person based on two people sharing a car and a twin or double room. A 10 per cent discount applies if you book before Christmas 2010, making the price £1304 per person.
There is also a solo driver option which is £1599 per person which with the 10% discount comes down to £1439 for bookings made before Christmas 2010.The booking deposit is £500 per person.
What's included:
One-way ferry (including twin berths) Portsmouth - Bilbao
One-way Eurotunnel crossing - Calais to Folkestone
Eight nights accommodation on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis
Two experienced tour managers in two cars to lead and chase.
Sat-nav files, licensed walkie-talkies, info packs with route notes, maps and useful info.
Lunch, food on the ferry, drinks, tolls, fuel.
European breakdown cover (for your own peace of mind we make this a requirement on all tours).
Visit the Petrolhead Nirvana website here, or call 0845 838 7363 for more information.
I've got an 3k mile Alps Pass Out trip booked for May
May might be a little early for some of the passes, depending on how cold the winter is some of them may still be closed....there are still loads of roads that will be though.
give me a shout if you guys want any help with routes etc.
on your first point, £5k?
I don't see how..
We've taken care of all the morning and evening meals, the hotels and the crossings, lunch is very rarely a long drawn out affair and certainly wont be expensive ..so extra food costs will be very low,
The last tour cost less than £600 in fuel and that was in the Ferrari, toll costs are also not that much either as we shy away from motorways as much as possible so unless you're planning to spend £250 per night on alcohol then i can't see how it would cost anything like that amount.
Seriously though, we try and keep extra costs to a minimum, apart from fuel there's not too much more you need to pay for.....always happy to talk you through it if you want.
Hallo Bachi,
Living near Davos-Switzerland, could you give me the hotel-name, where you are staying?Would be great to meet you :-)You can also mail to me: rmerlot@quickmail.ch or on FB ;-)
Merry Christmas to all Petrolheads.
Rainer and Dot
I'll facebook you the details mate,
we'll be there twice next year on the normal alpine trip in July and also this one in Sept...we will defintely catch up for that drive mate.
Merry Christmas to you too!
I've got an 3k mile Alps Pass Out trip booked for May
May might be a little early for some of the passes, depending on how cold the winter is some of them may still be closed....there are still loads of roads that will be though.
give me a shout if you guys want any help with routes etc.
BachiLong time no talk!
Yep the S went in May.
Decided to go the whole hog!
How's the 360?
Didn't realise it was you putting these together
More than happy to send you the route for a once over!
PM me your email address.
I've got an 3k mile Alps Pass Out trip booked for May
May might be a little early for some of the passes, depending on how cold the winter is some of them may still be closed....there are still loads of roads that will be though.
give me a shout if you guys want any help with routes etc.
BachiLong time no talk!
Yep the S went in May.
Decided to go the whole hog!
How's the 360?
Didn't realise it was you putting these together
More than happy to send you the route for a once over!
PM me your email address.
the 360 is getting better with age and miles, still love it everytime i get in!
speak to you soon chap.
I may wait till I'm a little bit older and have some spare cash to blow 
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