European Tour

Pre-Tour (optional).

The Goodwood Revival. Simply the best, most amazing, Historic Car gathering on the planet. Everyone dresses in period costume, the racing is amazing, some of the best drivers in the world racing wheel to wheel in priceless icons such as GTOs, Cobras & E Types. My intention is to arrange special access passes but this will depend on numbers and who would like to be included.

Day 1.

Goodwood – Stavelot

(The main Party joins the Goodwood Party)

We move to Stavelot on the doorstep of the Spa circuit. Most will spend the day travelling so there is nothing major planned. However, our hotel is a small family run establishment with an amazing restaurant, the welcome dinner for the group will be one to remember and set the tone for some wonderful dinners to follow.

Day 2.

Stavelot

There is time for a leisurely breakfast before we head to the Spa Circuit. We will do a few laps of the circuit behind a pace car so you can get an appreciation of how special this circuit is. Afterwards we have a tour of the facilities and travel along the public roads that made up the old 14 Km circuit. Afterwards there is time to visit the Museum in Stavelot before another brilliant dinner.

Day 3.

Stavelot – Nurburg 162Km

The only way to follow up Spa is to head to the Nurburgring. The plan is to head through the Ardenne Forest to the village of Nurburg and Europe’s most famous racetrack. We will do a tour of some of the spectator points around the Nordshleife before heading onto the 20 km Green Hell for a few fast laps. Dinner is set amongst the memorabilia of countless races at the legendary circuit.

Day 4.

Nurburg – Stuttgart 318Km

Now that you are warmed up it is time to hit the Autobahn for quick unrestricted run to Zuffenhausen and the Porsche museum, home to an amazing array of cars that trace the history of Porsche, this museum never fails to impress. Dinner tonight is planned to be the famous Restaurant Christophorus within the Porsche Museum.

Day 5.

Stuttgart – Salzburg 162Km

Before leaving Stuttgart there is time to visit the Mercedes Museum. A stunning exhibit that brilliantly places the history of Mercedes and the car in context with world history. Afterwards we take to the Autobahn and head into Sound of Music territory. I have not added any of the Julie Andrews sites into the schedule (although there will be time if you so wish) instead we are planning to go to Hanger 7 at Salzburg airport, home of Red Bull and the Restaurant Ikarus. This is where Red Bull display their cars and aircraft in what is probably the world’s most stylish hanger.

Day 6.

Salzburg – Cortina d’Ampezzo 280Km

At last we take to the Alpine Passes. 1st up is one of the great passes, The Grossglocknor. This is a toll road that skirts the sides of the highest mountain in Austria and a road that has influenced the DNA of every Porsche ever made. We then head into the amazing landscapes of the Dolomites and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Our hotel is an easy stroll into the pedestrian centre of town, home to an impressive array of restaurants. We will introduce you to a couple of our favourites.

Day 7.

Cortina d’Ampezzo Rest Day

After a week on the road I figured a day off was called for, and Cortina has to be one of the great locations to kick back and enjoy yourself for a day. Lovely scenery, great shopping, brilliant restaurants. If you are still itching for a drive however, there is a wonderful loop through the Dolomites to scratch that itch.

Day 8.

Cortina d’Ampezzo – Sirmione 310Km

This morning we tackle some more very special roads through the Dolomites the Falzrego, Porodi and Sella passes are all over 2,000 metres and on the route 1st thing this morning. You then have the choice of blasting down the Autostrada or taking the roads around to Lake Garda, either way you end up at Sirmione one of the finds of recent tours. The town is dominated by the 13th century castle but its history goes back to 5,000 BC. To get to our hotel you have to cross the drawbridge and into the heart of the maze of cobblestone laneways and restaurants that make up this fascinating town.

Day 9.

Sirmione – Rest Day

Sirmione is such a special place that a single night here is just not enough. Spend the day wandering the cobblestone laneways, Relaxing by the pool or exploring the many secrets spots around Lake Garda.

Day 10.

Sirmione – Borgo Scopeto 370Km

A big day today with a few options. If you want to do it all, head off towards Modena and the brilliant new Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari. It is then onto Maranello the home of Ferrari and a visit to the Ferrari museum before heading into Tuscany on our way towards Siena and a very special hotel 16 km north of the medieval city. The beautiful Realis Borgo Scopeto, my favourite place in the world. A converted winery, parts of which are over 1,000 years old. It famously stared as a country estate in the movie Letters to Juliet. Every year this has proven to be a highlight, the accommodation, the setting, the food and the staff will have this on your list of all-time favourites. Kick back and relax by the pool, walk or cycle through the vineyards to the winery, have a spa & massage, a great place to spoil yourself.

Day 11.

Borgo Scope Rest Day

Day 12.

Borgo Scopeto – Portofino 315Km

Back on the road through the Tuscan countryside. The route winds a little more than necessary thanks to the rather unique Italian mapping system but we do manage to drive around the walls of San Gimignano. There is then some brilliant driver’s roads before hitting the Autostrada around Pisa. Next stop is a lovely little café overlooking La Spezia Harbour just before the brilliant stretch of coast that is the Cinque Terre. We then continue onto the our hotel in Portofino. If you are going to spoil yourself. This is the place, home to the rich and famous and us for a night.

Day 13.

Portofino–Cannes 262Km

A nice short day. There is plenty of time to soak up the delights of Portofino. Then blast up the Autostrada to Cannes and the heart of the Riviera. We have booked 2 nights at the stunning Mondrian Cannes Hotel. For dinner we have a favourite restaurant in Le Suquet, the original fishing village area of Cannes.

Day 14.

Cannes Rest Day

Explore Cannes, do a little shopping OR take a drive on some famous Monte stage roads, up the Col de Castallino and Col de Turini in the mountains behind Monaco. The last couple of years our visit here has been at the same time as the Monaco Boat Show, the largest, glitziest flotilla of Super-yachts on Earth and worth a look to see how the other half live.

Day 15.

Cannes – Grenoble 317Km

This is one of the world’s great drives, The Route Napoleon to Grenoble is so named because Napoleon marched this route on his way to Paris, after his escape from Elba in 1815. He may not have appreciated it at the time, but this is a rollercoaster of wide sweeping corners. It is lightly trafficked, has brilliant scenery and is more fun than should be allowed. The only problem is talking yourself into stopping to take pics and soak in the scenery at little towns like Castellane. We do take a side-trip to the little-known Col du Corobin, a stunning little back road.

Day 16.

Grenoble – Martigny 300Km

Into the Alps at last. The day starts with a run up the heavily policed Autobahn to Albertville before taking to the Alps along a very scenic drive through Beaufort. We drive both St Bernard Passes, Petit then Grande, on the way to Martigny. Remember the Muira at the start of the original Italian Job movie? Well, this is the road. Martigny is a picturesque little town nestled in a glacial valley surrounded by alpine peaks. Dinner tonight is a real treat, a small local hotel that is always bemused to have tourists stumble in. Nobody speaks English and the food is fantastic.

Day 17.

Martigny – St Moritz 315Km

The day starts with an easy run down a stunning glacial valley. Mountains loom on either side sprinkled with castles and ancient battlements, you are not at home now. We pass through the Sion district, centre of the Swiss wine growing industry before heading along a long valley to the highlight of the day, the mighty Furkapass, followed up by the Oberalppass on our way to St. Mortitz. Lunch is at a small café with a sundeck that offers an unforgettable view of the alps.

Day 18.

St Mortiz – Bormio 215Km

This is THE day, if there is a hint of petrol in your blood, this is the day you will talk about for years. Leaving St Moritz, we warm up on the 2,315metre Albulapass. Next stop is Davos, where we pick up the road that Top Gear made famous. The Fluelapass climbs to 2,383metres, Ofen Pass takes you 2,149metres but they are just warm-ups for the 2,757metre Stelvio, and yes, it is everything they say it is. Just below the Stelvio is the Ski Resort of Bormio where we will recover for the night.

Day 19.

Bormio – Innsbruck 202Km

In case you didn’t get enough yesterday, we are straight back over the Stelvio before heading into Austria. There is a short cut but the scenic way is still only 200Km and takes you through the German speaking province of Italy, over both the Jaufen and Brenner Passes. Our hotel in Innsbruck is in the heart of the city, opposite the river and surrounded by bars and restaurants. A fitting way to wind up our adventures.

Day 20.

Innsbruck – Journey Home

An easy 500Km run on Autobahn will get you to Frankfurt a bit further to Paris in fact most of Europe is within reach if you wish to continue your Adventure.