European Alps Self-Drive Tour

Welcome to Munich!

After arriving at the airport and picking up your luggage (Baggage claim), please exit the arrival hall to the traffic island with the writing ” Hotel and Courtesy Shuttle”, which quickly will drive you to the hotel. NB: Please note that the hotel does not allow check-in until after 3 PM (15:00)

(Driving day 1: 209km/130 miles)

Start the day by picking up your bike or car. When you’re ready, start riding the 1.650 miles/2650 km long Best of European Alps Tour.

Say goodbye to Munich and set the course south, by driving through several charming small villages, until you reach Reit im Winkl, where you may stop for lunch.  Continue south through beautiful forest areas, where you will see the first glimpses of the Alps.  You may stop in Kitzbuhel, home of the legendary downhill racetrack. The last stop of the day is in Zell am See.

(Driving day 2: 251  km/112 miles)

Welcome to one of this tour’s many highlights! Leave Zell am See and drive south toward what is considered one of Europe’s best motorcycle roads, the Großglockner Hochalpenstraße. This famous road leads you to the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park, towards the highest mountain in Austria, Grossglockner (3798m) and to the Pasterze Glacier. You will have a riding experience out of the ordinary when you drive this 48 km twisted road, with 36 turns and a height difference of 2504 meters. Because of the height, you may risk temperatures sinking to reasonably cold, even in the middle of the summer. Make several stops to absorb these spectacular sceneries: mountains and the glacier.

Continue your tour through the valley via Heiligenblut on beautiful roads. We recommend a small detour; cross the border to Italy, to reach a not-so-known riding gem. The road is so twisted and steep that it almost looks as if the road is sliding down the mountainside. This is the Plöcken pass, which has small tunnels and the road is almost built into the air to make the turns. This bucket list experiences an unforgettable experience. Afterward, you’ll ride along the Italian border on beautiful curvy roads before crossing the border into Austria and your hotel in Lienz.

(Driving day 3: 351 km/218 miles)

Say goodbye to Lienz, and drive into a light mix of slack and hairpin turns, over Passo Stalle, through the national parks Dolomiti di Sesto and Dolomiti d’Ampezzo. The landscape here is wild and beautiful! You may make a lunch stop to absorb Cortina and to prepare for several small mountain passes that will follow in a row next. You will experience all of what the Dolomites have to offer of natural experiences.

First out is Passo Falzarego, where it’s also possible to take the cable car to the mountain top (which will delay your arrival in Canazei by over 2 hrs). Continue your tour south through a beautiful valley with many photo opportunities. Furthermore, you will drive a very special stretch; over Passo Fedaia, where you will drive through a dam. You will also experience a close encounter on Mount Marmolada (3.342 m). On your next leg, the mountain passes follow like pearls on a string; Passo Sella, Passo Gardena, Passo Campolongo, Passo Pordoi. After a long day with very many great driving experiences, you stop at your hotel in Canazei

(Driving day 4: 266 km/165 miles)

(Fun and explorer day)

Desenzano is one of the most lively and versatile vacation spots on lake Garda. In the pretty little palm-fringed harbor is a good selection of cafés and restaurants, and the narrow streets out from the beautiful city square are full of modern shops. The weekly market is very popular. Pebble-covered beaches can be found on both sides of the city. In Sirmione, the neighboring city, you can explore the caves that became famous by the Roman poet Catull, or visit the beautiful old church with the frescoes. Also, you can visit the Scaliger Castle and hear the stories of the many who conquered the island or settled here over the centuries.

Lake Garda and the surrounding area, with its mild climate and charming villages (in front of the snow-capped Alps peaks), have fascinated northerners who come from cold, rain, or snow for centuries. Here they come to experience the southern landscape and culture together with good food and warm folklore. We familiarize ourselves with the largest lake in Italy, with cliff walls on the northwest side and villages with distinctive brick roofs and slender cypresses on the southeastern shore.

Enjoy great experiences in scenic surroundings!

(Driving day 5: 215 km/133 miles)

Head north along the west side of Lake Garda, where you get to experience the wonderful scenery. The roads vary; from small, narrow and twisty curves, to high-speed turns. You will drive through many small charming villages, before stopping in Madonna di Campiglio for a better lunch. Continue your tour north along incredibly varying roads; high-speed turns that quickly transition into short areas with hairpin turns, and back again. It will be an incredibly different driving day. Your last stop is Bolzano where you check into your hotel.

(Driving day 6: 252 km/156 miles)

Today you may start early, for this day has a lot to offer. You will once again experience some amazing mountain passes, and you will be driving the roads Top Gear unofficially named the world’s best driving route.  You will start driving in varied nature, with great mountains on all sides, via Passo Pennes (Penserjock), over Passo Giovo (Jaufenstrasse), before we reach the area’s high peak, Passo Stelvio (Stilfserjock).

Passo Stelvio is the second highest pass in the Alps at 2.757 meters above sea level, surpassed only by the Col de IÍseran in France. However, it’s certainly one of the most spectacular with its 60 hairpin turns winding up the mountainside. This stretch also has a lot of history, and the Giro de Italia has had some stages here.

On this driving day, you need to be fully concentrated and calm. Furthermore, you must be prepared for varying weather conditions and temperatures, as the scale can actually creep below zero, even in the middle of summer. In most instances, it will be a perfectly fine experience to drive here.

(Driving day 7: 360 km/223 miles)

Also, this day you may start early, as you will be driving a little longer stretch than usual. Today’s leg starts in Livigno, and you will cross the Switzerland border before driving Passo del Bernina, where you may take a small detour to take some pictures in the famous winter sports place of St. Moritz. Continue north through beautiful forests and charming villages before turning off to drive the Fluela Pass. Well over this pass, you will arrive in Davos and perhaps have lunch at one of the city’s great restaurants.

Head south again and drive the picturesque San Bernardino Pass, an incredibly beautiful landscape. Continue north and drive over Lukmarierpass, before ending the day by driving Oberalpenpass to Andermatt.

(Resting day or driving day 8: 261 km/162 miles)

Today you will drive the surrounding pass of Andermatt, through warm valleys and high & cold mountain passes, so please bring warm clothing. Start by driving the world-famous cobbled road through St. Gottard Pass. There is a risk of slippery roads, so please drive carefully down the mountainside. Afterward, the passes will change a bit of character to smoother and fewer hairpin turns than we have become accustomed to.

Cross the border into Italy, to drive Passo Della Novena, Nufenenpass. Continue to Grimsel Pass, where you get a spectacular view of the road creaking up the mountainside. Hold your camera ready. Continue over Sustenpass, before heading back for lunch in Andermatt. Thereafter, drive west to Furka pass, before you again drive into Italy to drive Nufenenpass, Passo Della Novena and St. Gottard Pass. We believe the St. Gottard Pass is such an amazing experience that it should be ridden in both directions. This is the last mountain pass of the tour before we drive back to Andermatt.

(Driving day 9: 226 km/140 miles)

Satisfied (hopefully) with Europe’s best mountain passes you will start at the end of this amazing tour. Drive via Schattdorf, with its steep mountains, and Klausenbstrasse, with a lot of hairpin turns. Continue through several small villages in Switzerland, via St. Gallen, before heading south to Liechtenstein. You will drive through the eastern part of the Kingdom, to Feldkirch.

(Driving day 10: 328 km/203 miles)

This will be the last driving day. You will end the tour with a great ride through many small villages on our way northeast towards Munich. Drive by Garmisch-Partenkirchen before heading to Munich and return your vehicle.

Say goodbye to the European Alps, the Dolomites, Munich, and go home.  Thank you for choosing our Best of European Alps Self-Drive tour.

Note: This program is a guideline for activities and experiences on the tour. Deviations may occur, we are continually working to improve the program, thus you may experience positive surprises.