The Alps are amazing… but the Pyrenees are every bit as good, in different ways.
Bordering France and Spain, the Pyrenees provide a different mix of roads and scenery with architecture and geology to rival the best Alpine passes. Not to be missed.
And here’s a video from our good friend Joe Achilles to give you an idea of what the tour is like:
For 2023 we’ve updated our Alps & Pyrenees tour again by adding an extra night and reversing the route! We’re so excited to take you on this trip.
Summary:
Monday – Meet us in Portsmouth on Monday evening to board our ferry to Spain. Your booking includes a good sized cabin with an outside window, and of course you’ll be spending the time with your fellow tour participants and your two tour managers.
Tuesday – A gentle day relaxing on the ferry, perhaps with some whale watching thrown in? The Bay of Biscay can be absolutely beautiful.
Wednesday – Arrive in Spain bright and early and we’re straight out onto some fantastic roads. The further we get from the population centres the less traffic we see, and the tarmac is as wonderful as the scenery. We’ll head across the foothills of the Pyrenees to our first hotel sat atop a hill overlooking a medieval town for a good meal and some sleep.
Thursday – We’ll continue across the Pyrenees, into France and back into Spain, taking in the highlights of the Col D’Aubisque and Col Du Tourmalet amongst others. Once again we’ll stay in a hilltop hotel with a wonderful view.
Friday – Let’s head back over the Pyrenees one more time, through a magical grotto and some spectacular countryside, on our way to the famous walled city of Carcassonne.
Saturday – Leaving Carcassonne we’ll travel east and stop off to admire the Millau Bridge on the way to Carpentras for our next overnight stop, once again with a swimming pool to relax and and enjoy before dinner. Get an early night though, because tomorrow we have a dawn raid…
Sunday – Yes, today we’ll start EARLY with a dawn raid up the famous Mont Ventoux. The early hour is key here, as later on in the day this place will be heaving with cyclists. After breakfast back at the hotel we’ll head through a gorge so spectacular we named a waypoint after it, and then we’ll make our way to the foot of one of the highest passes in Europe.
Monday – A loop day today, starting with the Col De La Bonette and the recently renowned “Red Rock Road”. Back to the hotel for a swim and a beer later, along with some fine French cuisine.
Tuesday – A proper passes day today, including two more of the highest passes in Europe; the Col Du Galibier and the Col De L’Iseran. Lunch at the top of Col Du Lauteret to punctuate the day, where we end up in Bourg St Maurice near the foot of the Petit St Bernard. Rude not to, right?
Wednesday – Plenty more fun to be had as we continue north on the way past Geneva, including a few more cols, before a final night in a hotel with another fabulous swimming pool.
Thursday – Most of today is a gentle run up the motorway to Calais to catch the Eurotunnel, but we can have some fun along the way and of course it’d be rude not to stop off at the old Reims grandstand for a few photos and possibly a fly by or two.
OPTION; if you’d rather not get the boat out, but instead fancy driving to Spain we can discount you for the cost of the ferry (£400 discount per car).
What’s included?
– Hotel accommodation for 8 nights, with dinner and breakfast included (dinner not included in Carcassonne)
– Outbound ferry crossing from UK to Spain with an outside cabin (with window)
– Return crossing by Eurotunnel
– Loan of pre-loaded satellite navigation units and powerful walkie talkies
– A souvenir route book, polo shirt, stickers, key ring and pen
– Services of our two tour managers in two tour cars
What’s not included?
– Lunches, drinks, fuel, tolls, etc.
How much?
£2799 per person, based on 2 people sharing a twin or double room and 1 car
+£400 solo driver supplement
+£400 single room supplement
Dates:
Pyrenees & Alps – Monday 26th June to Thursday 6th July 2023
Book now by emailing us at petrolheadtours@gmail.com
Booking terms apply – full details here.