Another Alpine hoon in the planning
Discussion
Morning all,
Me and a few friends are looking at a 10 day euro-trip in September (fingers cross for good weather), and will be doing the usual bits (Route Napoloen, Col de Turini - Route des Grande Alpes, Stelvio, Nurburgring etc.) but as none of us have done this before I'm after a bit of advice.
The puzzle I have is working from Monaco north is it better to do Route des Grande Alpes as far as possible and head into Italy via Mont Blanc tunnel, or to turn off from the Route des Grande Alpes earlier and head over the petit Bornard Pass?
This is the route: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en...
We might be spending a couple of days on the South coast of France to chill and a couple of days in Munich for BMW Welt & Oktoberfest, which makes time a little short but I think it's currently do-able.
Also, if people have advice on any roads that we're missing out on along that route please let me know.
Me and a few friends are looking at a 10 day euro-trip in September (fingers cross for good weather), and will be doing the usual bits (Route Napoloen, Col de Turini - Route des Grande Alpes, Stelvio, Nurburgring etc.) but as none of us have done this before I'm after a bit of advice.
The puzzle I have is working from Monaco north is it better to do Route des Grande Alpes as far as possible and head into Italy via Mont Blanc tunnel, or to turn off from the Route des Grande Alpes earlier and head over the petit Bornard Pass?
This is the route: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en...
We might be spending a couple of days on the South coast of France to chill and a couple of days in Munich for BMW Welt & Oktoberfest, which makes time a little short but I think it's currently do-able.
Also, if people have advice on any roads that we're missing out on along that route please let me know.
Petit St Bernard Pass + Gd St Bernard pass are excellent and you can continue from there towards Davos & Stelvio if that's the plan... 
The Route des Grand Alps is a great road but without the highlights of going over the Bernard passes. I hope that makes sense and helps a little?!
Fortunately you won't go too far wrong with either route!
The Route des Grand Alps is a great road but without the highlights of going over the Bernard passes. I hope that makes sense and helps a little?!
Fortunately you won't go too far wrong with either route!
Youv'e got some absolute must dos in the route but be careful not to underestimate how long the passes take. Better driving in Haute Provence rather than the high french alps.Generally the valleys between the highest peaks are no fun at all.So if it was me I'd stay away from some of the valleys you are considering,Loads of heavy trafic and massive queues.
Route Napoleon is a must and I would spend more time around that area of France, Col de Turini etc but if you're going down to the riviera then take the brilliant italian autostrada down the coast to Genova then quickly up to the italian lakes.
Look for passes that have alternative tunnels below them for the trucks, try to get them done during the week not weekend, get on them early and make your mind up about whether scenery is more important than driving experience. The Stelvio is everyones goal it seems but although it looks fantastic its frankly a rubbish drive! Dozens of little straights in between tortuous hairpins, often behind a line of traffic following some coach or other.
San Gottardo, Furka, Gremsel, Susten and San Bernadino all recommended.
Enjoy!
Route Napoleon is a must and I would spend more time around that area of France, Col de Turini etc but if you're going down to the riviera then take the brilliant italian autostrada down the coast to Genova then quickly up to the italian lakes.
Look for passes that have alternative tunnels below them for the trucks, try to get them done during the week not weekend, get on them early and make your mind up about whether scenery is more important than driving experience. The Stelvio is everyones goal it seems but although it looks fantastic its frankly a rubbish drive! Dozens of little straights in between tortuous hairpins, often behind a line of traffic following some coach or other.
San Gottardo, Furka, Gremsel, Susten and San Bernadino all recommended.
Enjoy!
mikey k said:
We have a 10 day trip to that area coming up in a month.
So far everything mentioned is one there!
PM me your email if you want the autoroute file.
I hope you have checked all the passes on your route are open, or at least going armed with an alternative route, some are officially shut until June, even July and they don't always keep upto clearing fresh falls until then. Certainly if you are going in May I would recommend taking chains/ socks. So far everything mentioned is one there!
PM me your email if you want the autoroute file.
Edited by skodamanpat on Wednesday 27th April 16:38
Edited by skodamanpat on Wednesday 27th April 16:42
Excellent, cheers for the advice chaps. I hadn't considered that autostrada at all and for a dual carriageway it looks pretty good fun!
However looking at it, there's then 3 options really (with rough variations);
Route Napoleon
Route des Grande Alpes inc. let Petit St Bernard
or the Autostrade del Fiori
It's only feasible to include 2 of them really, and the Col de Turini is easy to include either way. I'm not sure how to call that one tbh, but I suppose it does provide plenty of flexibility should the weather be tempermental.
I'll admit I don't hold massive expectations for Stelvio, but it will be done first thing on a weekday morning.
However looking at it, there's then 3 options really (with rough variations);
Route Napoleon
Route des Grande Alpes inc. let Petit St Bernard
or the Autostrade del Fiori
It's only feasible to include 2 of them really, and the Col de Turini is easy to include either way. I'm not sure how to call that one tbh, but I suppose it does provide plenty of flexibility should the weather be tempermental.
I'll admit I don't hold massive expectations for Stelvio, but it will be done first thing on a weekday morning.
Did a 10 day trip just for the Swiss alps 2 years back, klausen pass was my favourite. Other 3 you can do together which are must do imho - Grimsel, Furka and Susten Passes, if you do stop make sure you have a camera ready the views are amazing.
DONT SPEED IN THE TUNNELS, its hard to resist but you will get a ticket in the post.
Planning to do Grossglockner this year myself, meant to be the ultimate from what I've heard.
DONT SPEED IN THE TUNNELS, its hard to resist but you will get a ticket in the post.
Planning to do Grossglockner this year myself, meant to be the ultimate from what I've heard.
kazino said:
Planning to do Grossglockner this year myself, meant to be the ultimate from what I've heard.
Its good....... but busy, be sat at the toll booth at opening time, weather quickly closes in as well.My favourite would have to be the San Bernardino, closely followed by the Nufenen and the............
San Bernadino was amazing indeed.
Did it at night in heavy fog and ended up following a local driving a modified Opel, what a winding winding road, if it wasn't for the local we would have crawled through it but turned out to be one of th most exhillarating drives of my life following that car on the very edge of my boxsters ability
Did it at night in heavy fog and ended up following a local driving a modified Opel, what a winding winding road, if it wasn't for the local we would have crawled through it but turned out to be one of th most exhillarating drives of my life following that car on the very edge of my boxsters ability
skodamanpat said:
Its good....... but busy, be sat at the toll booth at opening time, weather quickly closes in as well.
My favourite would have to be the San Bernardino, closely followed by the Nufenen and the............
My favourite would have to be the San Bernardino, closely followed by the Nufenen and the............
kazino said:
San Bernadino was amazing indeed.
Did it at night in heavy fog and ended up following a local driving a modified Opel, what a winding winding road, if it wasn't for the local we would have crawled through it but turned out to be one of th most exhillarating drives of my life following that car on the very edge of my boxsters ability
That is the exact same scenario that happened to us heading down the North side of the Grossglockner,for the first time, hanging onto an Opels fog lights. Did it at night in heavy fog and ended up following a local driving a modified Opel, what a winding winding road, if it wasn't for the local we would have crawled through it but turned out to be one of th most exhillarating drives of my life following that car on the very edge of my boxsters ability
I`ve done lots of driving around the Southern Alps and Savoie.
One of my favourites is to leave Nice heading north for Isola then on to the Col de Bonette the Vars (the route via Digne IS great but nothing beats the top of Bonette) heading for Mont Dauphin (a great cheap / quiet place to stay is L`Echaugette)www.echauguette.com which is south of Briancon,then head out of Briancon towards Grenoble then turn right for the Col de Galibier then Col de Telegraph, when you hit the bottom at St Michel de Maurienne turn right and head for the Col de Iseran, head down to Seez from Val D`Isere and turn right for the Col de Petite St Bernard, at the bottom you have the choice of going further east into Italy then heading north and clippng Como to head for Bormio and the Stelvio OR head east for a short while and turn left over the Grande Bernard heading for Martigny and go the super long way around!
I will be lurking around those parts in late May and early June to and from the Monaco GP.
For information on whether the passes are open check the status on this site!
http://www.bison-fute.equipement.gouv.fr/acces-aux...
Have a great time and watch out for radar traps in the small villages and around blind corners and I wouldn`t even bother speeding on the Autoroutes, I`ve counted 6 traps on one journey from Calais to Lyon before turning off to smaller roads!(and don`t forget the other nonsense like hi viz vest IN the car etc)
One of my favourites is to leave Nice heading north for Isola then on to the Col de Bonette the Vars (the route via Digne IS great but nothing beats the top of Bonette) heading for Mont Dauphin (a great cheap / quiet place to stay is L`Echaugette)www.echauguette.com which is south of Briancon,then head out of Briancon towards Grenoble then turn right for the Col de Galibier then Col de Telegraph, when you hit the bottom at St Michel de Maurienne turn right and head for the Col de Iseran, head down to Seez from Val D`Isere and turn right for the Col de Petite St Bernard, at the bottom you have the choice of going further east into Italy then heading north and clippng Como to head for Bormio and the Stelvio OR head east for a short while and turn left over the Grande Bernard heading for Martigny and go the super long way around!
I will be lurking around those parts in late May and early June to and from the Monaco GP.
For information on whether the passes are open check the status on this site!
http://www.bison-fute.equipement.gouv.fr/acces-aux...
Have a great time and watch out for radar traps in the small villages and around blind corners and I wouldn`t even bother speeding on the Autoroutes, I`ve counted 6 traps on one journey from Calais to Lyon before turning off to smaller roads!(and don`t forget the other nonsense like hi viz vest IN the car etc)
don logan said:
I`ve done lots of driving around the Southern Alps and Savoie.
One of my favourites is to leave Nice heading north for Isola then on to the Col de Bonette the Vars (the route via Digne IS great but nothing beats the top of Bonette) heading for Mont Dauphin (a great cheap / quiet place to stay is L`Echaugette)www.echauguette.com which is south of Briancon,then head out of Briancon towards Grenoble then turn right for the Col de Galibier then Col de Telegraph, when you hit the bottom at St Michel de Maurienne turn right and head for the Col de Iseran, head down to Seez from Val D`Isere and turn right for the Col de Petite St Bernard, at the bottom you have the choice of going further east into Italy then heading north and clippng Como to head for Bormio and the Stelvio OR head east for a short while and turn left over the Grande Bernard heading for Martigny and go the super long way around!
I will be lurking around those parts in late May and early June to and from the Monaco GP.
Spooky - I'll be doing most that route at the end of May with a mate. Look out for a UK Aston Vantage Roadster and Honda S2000 One of my favourites is to leave Nice heading north for Isola then on to the Col de Bonette the Vars (the route via Digne IS great but nothing beats the top of Bonette) heading for Mont Dauphin (a great cheap / quiet place to stay is L`Echaugette)www.echauguette.com which is south of Briancon,then head out of Briancon towards Grenoble then turn right for the Col de Galibier then Col de Telegraph, when you hit the bottom at St Michel de Maurienne turn right and head for the Col de Iseran, head down to Seez from Val D`Isere and turn right for the Col de Petite St Bernard, at the bottom you have the choice of going further east into Italy then heading north and clippng Como to head for Bormio and the Stelvio OR head east for a short while and turn left over the Grande Bernard heading for Martigny and go the super long way around!
I will be lurking around those parts in late May and early June to and from the Monaco GP.
We're doing a trip late june early july 
stelvio should be cleared by then !
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8...
10 days of awesome roads
Your route looks great , taking in most of the nice passes
have fun .
Mark
stelvio should be cleared by then !http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8...
10 days of awesome roads
Your route looks great , taking in most of the nice passes
have fun . Mark
mikey k said:
don logan said:
I`ve done lots of driving around the Southern Alps and Savoie.
One of my favourites is to leave Nice heading north for Isola then on to the Col de Bonette the Vars (the route via Digne IS great but nothing beats the top of Bonette) heading for Mont Dauphin (a great cheap / quiet place to stay is L`Echaugette)www.echauguette.com which is south of Briancon,then head out of Briancon towards Grenoble then turn right for the Col de Galibier then Col de Telegraph, when you hit the bottom at St Michel de Maurienne turn right and head for the Col de Iseran, head down to Seez from Val D`Isere and turn right for the Col de Petite St Bernard, at the bottom you have the choice of going further east into Italy then heading north and clippng Como to head for Bormio and the Stelvio OR head east for a short while and turn left over the Grande Bernard heading for Martigny and go the super long way around!
I will be lurking around those parts in late May and early June to and from the Monaco GP.
Spooky - I'll be doing most that route at the end of May with a mate. Look out for a UK Aston Vantage Roadster and One of my favourites is to leave Nice heading north for Isola then on to the Col de Bonette the Vars (the route via Digne IS great but nothing beats the top of Bonette) heading for Mont Dauphin (a great cheap / quiet place to stay is L`Echaugette)www.echauguette.com which is south of Briancon,then head out of Briancon towards Grenoble then turn right for the Col de Galibier then Col de Telegraph, when you hit the bottom at St Michel de Maurienne turn right and head for the Col de Iseran, head down to Seez from Val D`Isere and turn right for the Col de Petite St Bernard, at the bottom you have the choice of going further east into Italy then heading north and clippng Como to head for Bormio and the Stelvio OR head east for a short while and turn left over the Grande Bernard heading for Martigny and go the super long way around!
I will be lurking around those parts in late May and early June to and from the Monaco GP.
Honda S2000
I'm 99% sure that I will be in a black R26R, I did that route last May for the GP and then again in September!
I'm just keeping an eye on the passes to make a final decision about which way I will go, Bonette was closed last year in May when I passed through so I had to go the Digne route, coming from Chamonix this year I was planning to cross over the petit st bernard but may have to go via Megeve if it isn't open and cross from the Maurienne valley south over the Col de Glandon and do a left for Mont Dauphin but it's still closed and only 2 weeks to go!
Ok, sorry I'm getting very boring now but I'm getting a bit excited, will definitely keep a look out for you!
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