Short road trip to the Alps - struggling!

[Harleyboy]

Hello,

I had a great plan to make a short road trip to Como with a night just into France then a blast down to Como for 2 nights and then home. But, it’s a lot to do and although my wife is up for it and is indulging my desire to take in some Alpine passes I don’t want 2 x 12/13 hour days to negate the nice bit in between.

As an alternative I’m thinking of somewhere like Courmayeur with the hope of a pass or two to satisfy my driving wishes (I know they are likely full of cyclists and motorhomes but….)

I had fixated on Como for too long and now struggling to find an alternative and don’t want to bail on the trip entirely.

So please feed me some inspiration please!

Car is a C4 Cab so should be fun

Thanks a lot

[psi310398]

If you get as far as Burgundy or even Savoie for your overnight it’s not very punishing. Going into Switzerland via Evian and up the Rhone valley gives two or three highly rated Swiss passes, just after Brig.

Alternatively, take the Simplon Pass at Brig which drops you down to Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta if you don’t want to go as far as Como (which is a tedious traffic jam in the summer, too).

The hills behind Orta and into the Val Sesia have some great driving roads and you can head back towards the Aosta Valley via Biella for your return journey and then take in the Petit St Bernard on your way over into France.

Lake Iseo beyond Como is a hidden treasure if you want to take in the Stelvio but it would add a day to your journey.

[ThunderSpook]

I spent most of the last month fixated on getting to Como this week in my C4S Cab.

When I eventually gave up as it being too far in the time we had, we’ve spent a few days in Switzerland instead, and yesterday did the Grimsel Pass, Furka Pass, Gotthard Pass, Tremola San Gottardo and Oberalp Pass.

Writing this from a hotel in Germany as we progress back to the UK.

[omniflow]

Alternatively, take the overnight boat from Harwich to Hook of Holland, then you've got a full day to drive wherever you want in Europe. Personally, I'd head for Grossglockner.

[Harleyboy]

Thanks for the replies. When I get a bit of time later, I’ll review some more options.

We’ll stay just outside Calais first night having driven to tunnel after work Wednesday evening (about 2:45 to tunnel) so we have the whole day to get to end destination. Have done this loads to ski resorts so happy this is easily do-able. I’ve also driven to Garmish PK and Bellagio in one hit (from home) but they were long not especially enjoyable days and in big quiet cars.

I’m now thinking that maybe I head for somewhere like Bourg Saint Maurice which means I could get up fresh the next day and drive the Petit Saint Bernard as a short excursion.

I’ll also take a look at Switzerland as a base.

[Harleyboy]

ThunderSpook said:

I spent most of the last month fixated on getting to Como this week in my C4S Cab.

When I eventually gave up as it being too far in the time we had, we ve spent a few days in Switzerland instead, and yesterday did the Grimsel Pass, Furka Pass, Gotthard Pass, Tremola San Gottardo and Oberalp Pass.

Writing this from a hotel in Germany as we progress back to the UK.

Did you base yourselves in one place? If you wouldn’t mind sharing what your route/itinerary was, would be good to take a look please as what you did sounds ideal. I have Thursday - Sunday max as a window….

[bennno]

Harleyboy said:

Thanks for the replies. When I get a bit of time later, I ll review some more options.

We ll stay just outside Calais first night having driven to tunnel after work Wednesday evening (about 2:45 to tunnel) so we have the whole day to get to end destination. Have done this loads to ski resorts so happy this is easily do-able. I ve also driven to Garmish PK and Bellagio in one hit (from home) but they were long not especially enjoyable days and in big quiet cars.

I m now thinking that maybe I head for somewhere like Bourg Saint Maurice which means I could get up fresh the next day and drive the Petit Saint Bernard as a short excursion.

I ll also take a look at Switzerland as a base.

Look at Andermatt or Guttanen - on 3 cracking alpine passes, then easy drop down in to Italian lakes, if you can push on for an hour or two after reaching Calais it’ll make your journey easier.

[ThunderSpook]

Harleyboy said:

Did you base yourselves in one place? If you wouldn t mind sharing what your route/itinerary was, would be good to take a look please as what you did sounds ideal. I have Thursday - Sunday max as a window .

Yes, will do later today. About to leave the hotel to do the Zeppelin museum and then head to Luxembourg.

[Michael_B]

If you do drive in Switzerland, especially up the Rhône valley towards Simplon, Grimsel, Furka, where there are still A road gaps in the motorway, beware not to exceed the (often) 80km/h limit. There is no requirement to warn of speed cameras nor against hiding them behind trees/buildngs.

I rode with Mrs B last September from our home in Geneva to Bologna via Simplon, as Mt Blanc was closed for repairs and Gd St Bernard had snow. I was glad of the cruise control on my Triumph.

As for routes, I’ll stick my Jura oar in as usual: great driving roads and much less crowded than the Alps.

But the suggestion of Simplon to Domodossola (and perhaps the Centovalli towards Locarno) and then Orta San Giulio, is a sound one.

[Harleyboy]

I’m thinking that a Swiss base such as Andermatt could be a good option with some easily accessible passes for a drive out the next day. Great suggestions - thanks.