Route des grands alps

[arabian]

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 a 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.

Are there any good companies that organise it all for you ?

mike

[bscat]

My favorite topic - although I don't think I have done that route.

Yes, I have done many passes in a 2002 Agila 1.2 litre, so keeping the speed down and using the gears anyone can go up the mountians. Especially in those old timer sports cars, seen them up there all the time.

What you are going to be looking for - Weather number 2 and number 1 if the pass is open at the time you are thinking of going - I have a web site for this, but it only covers Switzerland. Weather is important as you will see nothing if the conditions are not perfect, only cloud and rain.

Hardest part in Switzerland will be finding somewhere reasonable priced to stay. Some passes have cheap hostels. But you might be either looking at packing a tent and a sleeping bag or planning the whole thing staying in towns on the way around. I have in past done 3 pass' in a day and about 300 miles. So you can take in a lot in just a few days.

[arabian]

Thanks for the response, much appreciated.

I'm looking at a 5-6 day trip assuming a day to drive to the start then 3 days driving the route plus an extra rest-day staying in a hotel with pool etc.

I have mixed views about doing the final stretch down to monaco just because of the extra travelling time to get back to calais (guessing a 14 hour schlap) so thought about missing the last section. that said i hear the coastal section is pretty awesome.

Early/mid september was chosen as the weather should be good, the passes should all be open, its out of holiday season and more importantly out of cyclist season as well.

We'll be staying in hotels rather than camping, mid-range cost.

Hope that helps.

[bscat]

I was just thinking. We fill the cars full of beer, then we fill them even more with firewood and more beer. We make a flippen good bonfire up there. Then we get all the French and Germans to join us. For for sure then will be a few up their motor homes and make a night of it. At over 2000 m up in the sky.

Edited by bscat on Monday 17th October 22:53