UK to Switzerland - campervan route

[MOMACC]

We are planning a 2 week trip from the UK to Switzerland in the summer of 2025.

2 families comprising of 4 adults and 3 children / teenagers (6, 15 & 17)

Initial plan is ferry or shuttle to Calais and then spend a couple of days in Bruges.(Bruges Zot stock up required)
From Bruges drive to Cologne for 1 night.
Cologne to Thun (Switzerland) - 7hr drive

I'm thinking we will need one night in between Cologne and Thun.

Day 1 - UK to Bruges
Day 3 - Bruges to Cologne
Day 4 - Cologne to TBC
Day 5 - TBC to Thun
Day 8 - Thun to TBC
Day 10 - TBC to TBC
Day 11 - TBC to UK

I am looking for ideas on the following please;

The route - is the above doable or would you suggest a different route?

Locations for TBC

Campsite ideas - EHU required / ideally a swimming pool and play area.

Ideas for places to stop and see.

We will be in our T5.1, no pets.

Any input is welcome.

[bristolracer]

Too many changes of location.
One stop a couple of days on the way down, more time in Switzerland and one stop on the way home.

The kids/ wife won’t want to be stuck for days in the van.
It’s a holiday after all!

[thisnameistaken]

We did a similar trip in 2023 although for 3 weeks and spent time in the French Alps on the way home. We prioritised our time in Switzerland by trying to get down there in as few days as possible.

We did the tunnel and then stopped in Bruges for a night here https://g.co/kgs/D3UwiUZ

It was only an aire but in a decent location, a short walk into Bruges and near to a park, we didn't find much else other than a campsite slightly further out which we would have preferred but was fully booked.

We then moved further south and overnighted in the black forest at another free aire, there are multiple places and some lovely towns and villages to stay.

We then went to Switzerland and decided to stay in Interlaken over Thun based on the proximity between the two lakes. We stayed at Camping Manor farm right on the banks of Brienzersee https://www.manorfarm.ch/en

Amazing campsite and much of the local transport infrastructure is included which I think is part of the tourist tax. It was probably a bit more high end than we're used to and it was expensive but it had everything that we could ever think of, even a dog wash with a ramp and heated floors in the shower blocks.

[MOMACC]

Thanks both
Good suggestions that we will review.

[SteveMc1972]

We did this route just 3 weeks ago.

From North Yorkshire we did the trip in 2 days as I wanted to spend as much time in Switzerland as possible.

Day 1 we drove ( via the tunnel ) to Aalst in Belgium. Day two we left approx 7.30 am and got to Interlaken by 6pm, it was 2 long days of driving but worth it to get down there.

We stayed at Lazy Rancho, which we prefer to Manor Farm. it is smaller and the owner are pretty strict on noise levels after 11pm which suits us. The campsite cost includes the pass for buses around Interlaken ( and to Thun ). There are two bus routes within 5 minutes walk or you can walk to the town centre in 20 minutes.

[Stevemr]

Do this trip frequently towing an 8 metre caravan.
Best route we think is early ferry to Dunkirk. (Nicer than Calais). Then 230 mile drive to Luxembourg campsite, near city of Luxembourg, no toll roads required. Fill up with diesel, cheapest in Europe usually. Note price is set by government and is the same at all fuel stations.
Go to supermarket, stock up as much as possible with food and booze, much cheaper than Switzerland!
Next day 315 miles to Thun. You need a Swiss motorway pass, it’s an annual pass, you can buy it in advance or at the border.
When you are there, the cable cars and rack and pinion railways are going to be your biggest expense. You need to look at 3-4 day passes.
There are places along lake Thun and lake Brienz where you can park and swim in the lake. If you have an inflatable dinghy or canoe, that will be fun.
One of the best days out with the kids may well be Ballenberg open air museum, our daughter loved it at all ages from 7 onwards, and still does at 28!
If you are there in summer it can be very hot, think high 20s. Take lots of sun tan cream it’s v expensive to buy over there.

[Vasco]

I did much the same a few years back. You really need 3 weeks to do that properly but if limited to 2 weeks cut out the interim stops.
It's only Switzerland itself that is worth all the effort.

[Bill]

Why Cologne??

[chappj]

We did some of this route at Easter on our way back from Florence.

I’d second the idea of first overnight stop in Bruge (fantastic aire only 5 mins walk from centre).

We loved Lucerne so I’d recommend that for your list.

Hope you have a lovely time!