Grand Alpine Tour 2019

Itinerary

Grand Alpine Tour 2019 - Itinerary

Saturday, 31 August
Our tour begins at a meeting point on the outskirts of Kingston-Upon-Hull. Following a head count and briefing we’ll make our way to the P&O terminal for the overnight ferry to Zeebrugge in Belgium. Buffet dinner and breakfast included. 

Sunday, 1 September – 278 miles
Our first day on the continent is largely a transit day. Upon reaching port in Zeebrugge and clearing passport checks we’ll get straight on to the motorway towards this evening’s destination, the city of Nancy, in France. Our hotel is just a short walking distance from Stanislaus Square and its unique attractions. This is one of only two nights where we are on B&B basis. Should you fancy French cuisine it shouldn’t be too hard to find a suitable restaurant. 

Monday, 2 September – 174 miles
Starting as we mean to go, we’ll make our way into mountainous terrain as soon as possible; beginning with France’s Ballon d’Alsace and then on through Switzerland’s Thal Nature Park. Our hotel for the evening is in the canton of Bern. Half-Board (with possibly a nice curry). 

Tuesday, 3 September – 162 miles
Although not a particularly long day in terms of mileage we’ll be bisecting the UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch, catching a ferry across the Vierwaldstättersee, and perhaps experiencing a frisson of delicious vertigo at the Alt Axenstrasse. The evening destination is a boutique family-owned hotel in the canton of St. Gallen. Half-Board. 

Wednesday, 4 September – 176 miles
You want big mountain passes? Hang on a minute, I have to take a col. Very bad punning aside we’ll be transiting at least five today including the Umbrail which, at 2,501 metres (8,205 ft), is currently Switzerland’s highest paved pass. A four-star hotel with a renowned restaurant in an Italian mountain town is our day’s destination. Half-Board. 

Thursday, 5 September – 150 miles
A relatively low mileage day will take us back into Switzerland. In addition to burbling past St. Moritz (where Marie-Claire used to hang out with others of the jet set) we’ll also knock off another four or five big alpine passes. That should work up a decent appetite for dinner in Bellinzona, the capital of the Swiss canton of Ticino. Two nights, first night Half Board.  

Friday, 6 September
This is your rest day to do as you please. Included with our hotel accommodation is a Ticino Ticket which allows public transportation travel throughout the Canton of Ticino. Along with local hiking trails there is much to see and do in the immediate area around Bellinzona. B&B tonight. Since this is the Italian corner of Switzerland an outstanding evening meal won’t be too far away. 

Saturday, 7 September – 179 miles
Getting a bit dizzy from the constant barrage of high mountain vistas? Too bad. This day is bound to be epic and you’ll just have to deal with it. Today we have seven, yes seven, big mountain passes to cross, including the legendary Furka. (Lord help me if it snows this time.) Our innkeeper for the evening, in the canton of Valais, has promised a hearty and restorative meal. Half-Board. 

Sunday, 8 September – 168 miles
Our morning starts with efficient Swiss motorway (what’s not efficient in Switzerland?) before we transit the historic Col du Grand St-Bernard. Yep, you can still find big drooly doggies there, although we’re not sure if they actually carry brandy. Once over the top we’ll slide south into Italy – briefly – before crossing the French frontier. A couple of cols later and we’ll arrive at our cosy hotel, nestled on the edge of the Tignes-Champagny Natural Reserve. Half-Board. 

Monday, 9 September – 190 miles
With a big day ahead of us we’ll crack on sharply after breakfast. The reward is a run through Val d’Isère, a circumnavigation of Vanoise National Park and blast over the Col de la Madeleine; described by Tour de France riders as “beautiful but heart-breaking”. Our afternoon ends at an arty boutique hotel in the Swiss canton of Valais. Half-Board. (Peruvian cuisine anyone?) 

Tuesday, 10 September – 184 miles
Can you cross Switzerland in a day? Of course! In spite of its towering Alps it’s not that big of a country. After negotiating yet more passes (will they ever end?) and a zig-zag in the northern Jura we’ll arrive at a cosy country hotel in France’s forested Alsace. Half-Board. 

Wednesday, 11 September – 192 miles
Today we’re going to have another go at the Route des Crêtes across the top of the Vosges. When we rode it north to south the weather was awful. The time we tried it south to north was grand. There was a lesson there…which we’re heeding. Fancy a fine meal in a classic chateau at the end of our day? Done. Half-Board. 

Thursday, 12 September – 264 miles
Our last day on the continent, mostly motorway riding to The Netherland’s Europoort, where we’ll board the overnight P&O ferry for the return trip to Hull. Along the way we’ll look to make a couple of interesting stops. As on the outbound ferry, dinner and breakfast buffet is included.  

Friday, 13 September
Upon arrival in Hull our tour comes to an end. We wish you a safe journey home. If you’ve enjoyed your time with us, please share as many photos as possible with those less fortunate. 

Included: 

✓ Overnight cruise ferry – Hull, UK to Zeebrugge, BE (inside two-berth cabin)
✓ Overnight cruise ferry – Europoort, NL to Hull, UK (inside two-berth cabin)
✓ 11 nights of accommodation in 3- & 4-star hotels, some with spa facilities
✓ All breakfasts
✓ Eleven evening meals (drinks not included)
✓ Sat-nav waypoints and detailed hotel information
✓ Peak Rider tour leader 

Tour Pricing
• Two persons, one motorcycle, shared room – £ 1999 GBP per person
• Two persons, two motorcycles, shared room – £ 2089 GBP per person
• One person, one motorcycle, single room – £ 2579 GBP 

Booking
• Deposit – £ 200 GBP per person
• 2nd payment of £ 500 GBP per person due 31 March 2019
• Final balance due 31 July 2019 

Not included: 

• Motorcycle Hire
• Vignettes, and road, bridge and tunnel tolls
• Attraction admissions and items of a personal nature
• All drinks and meals not included in the list above 

Contact: 

Mike Moloney
T: +1 858 353 8613
E: use contact form on website
W: www.peakrideradventure.com
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