Driving Experience - Austrian Alps and South Tyrol

It's our 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.

The break starts in Zurich, from where the following morning you will head directly into the Austrian Vorarlberg, tackling our favorite pass of 2010 the Hahntennjoch.  You then continue to the mountains just above Innsbruk where we will be based for the next 2 evenings. 

The following day you drive a loop of the Salzburg region, including the most famous pass in the Austrian Alps, the Grossglokner, set in the shadow of the 3798M Grosglockner massif.  Day 4 you will start your return to Switzerland, through the South Tyrol and into Italy and the Stelvio National Park, tackling the Stelvio pass before heading down into to St Moritz where you will be based for the next evening.  Your final drive will take us back to Zurich via the central Swiss Alps, stopping for lunch at the beautiful lakeside town of Weggis on the shores of Lake Luzern. 

Day 1 - Arrival

Private transfers directly from Zurich airport to the Hotel. After check in, take a walk along the world famous shopping throughfare that is Bahnhofstrasse, with its incredible collection of jewelry and designer stores. Continue to Lake Zurich, where you can stroll along the lakeside promenade. Drive Walk through – this evening we will be meet at the Widder Hotel for a complete a full walkthrough of your drives and itinerary for the next 5 days. This walkthrough will be given by your drive concierge in Switzerland.

Overnight: 3 Star Seefeld Hotel, Zurich lakeside district

Day 2 - Zurich to Innsbruk via the Austrian Vorarlberg

Todays drive takes you 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.  You then head further east and into the beautiful sweeping Lech river valley, and over the Hochtannbergpass, then onto the jet set Ski resort of Lech where you will stop for lunch.  After lunch, continue east along the 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 then takes us due east in the direction of Innsbruck, where you will be based for the next two nights in 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 you will continue further  east into Austria and into the Salzburg region.  After tackling the beautiful Gerlos pass and 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 and is set in the shadow of the majestic Grosglockner Masif, standing 3797M, which truly is a sight to behold.  Take lunch near the top of the pass, then return to Innsbruk for a second evening, this time tracing the southern extremes of the Hohe Tauren National Park.  This realy is an incredible day of driving some of the best roads in Austria. 

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 you will begin your journey back towards Switzerland, heading through the South Tyrol over the Di Rombo pass, continuing down into the Parco dello Stelvio, where you will tackle the Stelvio pass - approaching from the north this pass has a stunning wall of 45 switchback turns, each individually numbered, it really is a spectacular sight in every sense of the word. 

Lunch can be taken just before you head over the pass in Trafoi, or alternatively, take a run into the ski resort of Bormio at the foot of the pass. Eating at the top is strictly for saussage munchers, though if you do like these, there's always a fine selection. For the final leg you will head back through Livorgno and into Switzerland via the Bernina Pass, completing you journey to Pontrasina, where you will spend the next evening.

Drive details: 350KM / 5 hours 30 drive time plus stops, 4 stunning passes including the Stelvio
Overnight: 3 Star Hotel Steinbok, Pontresina nr. St Moritz

Day 5 - Return to Zurich via the central Swiss Alps and Rhine Gorge Valley

You final run back to Zurich takes you along the Rhine Gorge valley, into the central Swiss Alps where you will stop for lunch, then back via the shores of Lake Luzern, where you can stop for late afternoon drinks at the beautiful lakeside town of Weggis. After drinks, complete your drive back to Zurich.

You can return the car either directly to our car compound, adjacent to Zurich airport, or if you decide to have a final evening in Zurich, to your hotel in Zurich where we will collect the car from.

Price per person, based on two persons sharing a superior twin / double room. Car extra per your choice.

Package includes:

• 4 nights 3&4 Star accomodation
• Personal meet/greet tour walk through
• Driving itinerary/programmed GPS
• 1200KM / 4 Day Alpine Tour
• Car rental extra, based on your choice

Late May till late October