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Description of Driving Experience - 2011 Alpine Tour: 22nd till 26th June
After the success of our 2010 Alpine Tour around the Swiss Alps, we decided to do it again, but this time in Austria.
It's their opinion that the Austrians build the most "driver" friendly roads anywhere in Europe - beautifully cambered bends, glass smooth tarmac and a system of tolls through the many of the national parks and passes that help dramatically reduce the amount of traffic - a real drivers paradise.
Day 1 - Drive from the UK to Zurich via the Champagne Region
The drive from the UK to Zurich will take us via the Champagne Region. From Calais we will take the direct route to Reims, where we will stop for lunch. After lunch, we will drive directly to Zurich, the plan being to arrive in the city late afternoon, so there is time to relax in the evening before the tour begins the next morning. A welcome dinner is organised that evening at the Terrace Restaurant, a beautiful modern European restaurant adjacent to the Limmat river which runs through the heart of Zurich. Overnight we will be based at the Zurichberg Hotel, set in the hills above Zurich, with stunning views down to the lake and the city.
Overnight: 4 Star Zurichberg Hotel, Zurich City
Day 2 - Zurich to Innsbruk via the Austrian Vorarlberg
Todays drive takes us east and into some of the greatest mountain roads in the Austrian Vorarlberg. About 90 minutes from Zurich and we are onto our first mountain pass, Furkajoch, which the Austrians have kindly banned caravans from. We then sweep north into the Lech river valley, and over the Hochtannbergpass, then onto the jet set Ski resort of Lech where we will stop for lunch. After lunch, we continue east along the sweeping Lech River valley, before cutting off and heading over what was our favorite pass in the Alps in 2010, the Hahntennjoch. One more long and sweeping pass that takes us due east in the direction of Innsbruck, for our overnight stay in the mountains just above the city of Innsbruck.
Drive Details: 400KM / 6 hours 30 drive plus stops, 5 mountain passes including Hahntennjoch
Overnight: 5 Star Spa Hotel Jagdhof, Neustif nr Innsbruk
Day 3 - Loop of the eastern Vorarlberg and into the Salzburg Region
The following morning we will continue further east into Austria and into the Salzburg region. After tackling the beautiful Gerlos pass, then a run up to the end of the deserted Stubachthal valley, our sights will be set on the Grosglockner Pass. At almost 2600M it's one of the highest and most spectacular passes in the Alps, set in the shadow of the majestic Grosglockner Masif, standing 3797M, which truly is a sight to behold. We take lunch near the top, then return back to Innsbruk for a second evening, this time tracing the southern extremes of the Hohe Tauren national park. This realy is an incredible days driving.
Drive Details: 400KM / 6 Hours 30 drive time plus stops, 4 mountain passes including Grosglokner
Overnight: 5 Star Spa Hotel Jagdhof, Neustif nr. Innsbruk
Day 4 - Return to Switzerland through the south Tyrol and Parco dello Stelvio
Today we will begin our journey back towards Switzerland, heading through the South Tyrol over the Di Rombo pass, continuing down into the Parco dello Stelvio, where we will of course tackle the Stelvio pass, approaching from the north this pass has a stunning wall of 45 switchback turns, each individually marked, and really is a stunning pass in every sense of the word. The group will stop at the top for a quick bite to eat, before heading through Livorgno and back into Switzerland via the Bernina Pass, completing our journey to Pontrasina, where we will spend the next evening.
Drive details: 350KM / 5 hours 30 drive time plus stops, 4 stunning passes including the Stelvio
Overnight: 5 Star Kronenhof, Pontresina nr. St Moritz
Day 5 - Return to Zurich via the central Swiss Alps and Rhine Gorge Valley
Our final run back to Zurich takes us via the Swiss Alps and then the shores of Lake Luzern, where we will stop for lunch, back to Zurich. / Italian lakes, runing south to Lugano where we will stop for lunch. Our return journey to Zurich will then take us north and over the St Gotthard Pass, including the famous cobbled switchback section, before completing our journey back to Zurich serenely along the eastern shores of Lake Luzern.
That evening the group will take a gala dinner at the La Salle restaurant in the trendy west district of Zurich.
Drive details: 300KM / 5 hours 30 drive time plus stops, 3 stunning passes and Rhine Gorge valley
Overnight: 5 Star Widder Hotel, Zurich
Day 6 - Return to the UK
The rally will return to the UK via the direct route to Calais, which takes approximately 8 hours plus a stop for lunch.
It's their opinion that the Austrians build the most "driver" friendly roads anywhere in Europe - beautifully cambered bends, glass smooth tarmac and a system of tolls through the many of the national parks and passes that help dramatically reduce the amount of traffic - a real drivers paradise.
Day 1 - Drive from the UK to Zurich via the Champagne Region
The drive from the UK to Zurich will take us via the Champagne Region. From Calais we will take the direct route to Reims, where we will stop for lunch. After lunch, we will drive directly to Zurich, the plan being to arrive in the city late afternoon, so there is time to relax in the evening before the tour begins the next morning. A welcome dinner is organised that evening at the Terrace Restaurant, a beautiful modern European restaurant adjacent to the Limmat river which runs through the heart of Zurich. Overnight we will be based at the Zurichberg Hotel, set in the hills above Zurich, with stunning views down to the lake and the city.
Overnight: 4 Star Zurichberg Hotel, Zurich City
Day 2 - Zurich to Innsbruk via the Austrian Vorarlberg
Todays drive takes us east and into some of the greatest mountain roads in the Austrian Vorarlberg. About 90 minutes from Zurich and we are onto our first mountain pass, Furkajoch, which the Austrians have kindly banned caravans from. We then sweep north into the Lech river valley, and over the Hochtannbergpass, then onto the jet set Ski resort of Lech where we will stop for lunch. After lunch, we continue east along the sweeping Lech River valley, before cutting off and heading over what was our favorite pass in the Alps in 2010, the Hahntennjoch. One more long and sweeping pass that takes us due east in the direction of Innsbruck, for our overnight stay in the mountains just above the city of Innsbruck.
Drive Details: 400KM / 6 hours 30 drive plus stops, 5 mountain passes including Hahntennjoch
Overnight: 5 Star Spa Hotel Jagdhof, Neustif nr Innsbruk
Day 3 - Loop of the eastern Vorarlberg and into the Salzburg Region
The following morning we will continue further east into Austria and into the Salzburg region. After tackling the beautiful Gerlos pass, then a run up to the end of the deserted Stubachthal valley, our sights will be set on the Grosglockner Pass. At almost 2600M it's one of the highest and most spectacular passes in the Alps, set in the shadow of the majestic Grosglockner Masif, standing 3797M, which truly is a sight to behold. We take lunch near the top, then return back to Innsbruk for a second evening, this time tracing the southern extremes of the Hohe Tauren national park. This realy is an incredible days driving.
Drive Details: 400KM / 6 Hours 30 drive time plus stops, 4 mountain passes including Grosglokner
Overnight: 5 Star Spa Hotel Jagdhof, Neustif nr. Innsbruk
Day 4 - Return to Switzerland through the south Tyrol and Parco dello Stelvio
Today we will begin our journey back towards Switzerland, heading through the South Tyrol over the Di Rombo pass, continuing down into the Parco dello Stelvio, where we will of course tackle the Stelvio pass, approaching from the north this pass has a stunning wall of 45 switchback turns, each individually marked, and really is a stunning pass in every sense of the word. The group will stop at the top for a quick bite to eat, before heading through Livorgno and back into Switzerland via the Bernina Pass, completing our journey to Pontrasina, where we will spend the next evening.
Drive details: 350KM / 5 hours 30 drive time plus stops, 4 stunning passes including the Stelvio
Overnight: 5 Star Kronenhof, Pontresina nr. St Moritz
Day 5 - Return to Zurich via the central Swiss Alps and Rhine Gorge Valley
Our final run back to Zurich takes us via the Swiss Alps and then the shores of Lake Luzern, where we will stop for lunch, back to Zurich. / Italian lakes, runing south to Lugano where we will stop for lunch. Our return journey to Zurich will then take us north and over the St Gotthard Pass, including the famous cobbled switchback section, before completing our journey back to Zurich serenely along the eastern shores of Lake Luzern.
That evening the group will take a gala dinner at the La Salle restaurant in the trendy west district of Zurich.
Drive details: 300KM / 5 hours 30 drive time plus stops, 3 stunning passes and Rhine Gorge valley
Overnight: 5 Star Widder Hotel, Zurich
Day 6 - Return to the UK
The rally will return to the UK via the direct route to Calais, which takes approximately 8 hours plus a stop for lunch.
Additional Pricing Information
Entry price includes:
- Lead car and tour guide for the 5 days
- 5 nights 4 or 5 star accommodation
- Secure overnight parking at hotels
- Driving notes, navigation unit and maps
- High powered walkie talkies
- Gala dinner at the end of the rally
Departure Dates
22nd till 26th June 2011
Places Visited
Hide Map
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