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swizerland to italy

B

barry_374411326

I intend to tour through switzerland into italy in middle to late april.

I am a bit concerned about crossing the Alps with the caravan.

Can anyone recommend a route?

I would ideally like to enter Italy on the Eastern side.

Many Thanks Barry
 
to be honest to enter Italy on the eastern side will mean you have to go the long way round through Austria and down past Villach and Trieste.

Going through Switzerland just stay on the motorway nice scenery and you get to Italy a lot quicker.
 
Hi Barry

We did this (although not a tour) in Easter 2005. We took the Dover-Calais crossing, then drove the 600 miles in one go (less comfort breaks and driver switching, my wife and I sharing 2-3 hour shifts behind the wheel) to Lauterbrunnen near Interlacken.

We disembarked in Calais at about 10.30am, and arrived in Camping Jungfrau at about 11.30pm - if only our roads were so traffic (& snow!) free.

We did drive to Italy one day, across and through the Alps ending up at Lake Maggiore. This was solo in the car. There are some very, very long ascents and descents in the mountains. Your car's power will diminish at higher altitudes (some roads were over 6,000 metres above sea level) and we had to take a train through one mountain range - a bit like a basic Eurotunnel.

So, I'd recommend you check your car's towing ability at high altitudes and that you have plenty of power in reserve - or choose a longer more level route!

Be aware of your Sat Nav, if you use one. On the way back, ours directed us up a very narrow mountain lane, in the pitch dark. We were suddenly confronted by a 30' wall of snow across the road. Nothing for it, but to do a many point turn and retrace our steps. A bit disconcerting when there are no crash barriers on a single track mountain side road and all your headlights show is the valley floor several thousand feet below!

Thank goodness we were driving solo, had the van been on the back we would have been completely snookered.

Have a great time, Switz is a beautiful country and so clean.

Mike
 
Hi Barry

We did this (although not a tour) in Easter 2005. We took the Dover-Calais crossing, then drove the 600 miles in one go (less comfort breaks and driver switching, my wife and I sharing 2-3 hour shifts behind the wheel) to Lauterbrunnen near Interlacken.

We disembarked in Calais at about 10.30am, and arrived in Camping Jungfrau at about 11.30pm - if only our roads were so traffic (& snow!) free.

We did drive to Italy one day, across and through the Alps ending up at Lake Maggiore. This was solo in the car. There are some very, very long ascents and descents in the mountains. Your car's power will diminish at higher altitudes (some roads were over 6,000 metres above sea level) and we had to take a train through one mountain range - a bit like a basic Eurotunnel.

So, I'd recommend you check your car's towing ability at high altitudes and that you have plenty of power in reserve - or choose a longer more level route!

Be aware of your Sat Nav, if you use one. On the way back, ours directed us up a very narrow mountain lane, in the pitch dark. We were suddenly confronted by a 30' wall of snow across the road. Nothing for it, but to do a many point turn and retrace our steps. A bit disconcerting when there are no crash barriers on a single track mountain side road and all your headlights show is the valley floor several thousand feet below!

Thank goodness we were driving solo, had the van been on the back we would have been completely snookered.

Have a great time, Switz is a beautiful country and so clean.

Mike
Click to expand...
Switz is also very unfriendly!
 
Hi Barry

We did this (although not a tour) in Easter 2005. We took the Dover-Calais crossing, then drove the 600 miles in one go (less comfort breaks and driver switching, my wife and I sharing 2-3 hour shifts behind the wheel) to Lauterbrunnen near Interlacken.

We disembarked in Calais at about 10.30am, and arrived in Camping Jungfrau at about 11.30pm - if only our roads were so traffic (& snow!) free.

We did drive to Italy one day, across and through the Alps ending up at Lake Maggiore. This was solo in the car. There are some very, very long ascents and descents in the mountains. Your car's power will diminish at higher altitudes (some roads were over 6,000 metres above sea level) and we had to take a train through one mountain range - a bit like a basic Eurotunnel.

So, I'd recommend you check your car's towing ability at high altitudes and that you have plenty of power in reserve - or choose a longer more level route!

Be aware of your Sat Nav, if you use one. On the way back, ours directed us up a very narrow mountain lane, in the pitch dark. We were suddenly confronted by a 30' wall of snow across the road. Nothing for it, but to do a many point turn and retrace our steps. A bit disconcerting when there are no crash barriers on a single track mountain side road and all your headlights show is the valley floor several thousand feet below!

Thank goodness we were driving solo, had the van been on the back we would have been completely snookered.

Have a great time, Switz is a beautiful country and so clean.

Mike
Click to expand...
And unfriendly!
 
Hi Barry

We did this (although not a tour) in Easter 2005. We took the Dover-Calais crossing, then drove the 600 miles in one go (less comfort breaks and driver switching, my wife and I sharing 2-3 hour shifts behind the wheel) to Lauterbrunnen near Interlacken.

We disembarked in Calais at about 10.30am, and arrived in Camping Jungfrau at about 11.30pm - if only our roads were so traffic (& snow!) free.

We did drive to Italy one day, across and through the Alps ending up at Lake Maggiore. This was solo in the car. There are some very, very long ascents and descents in the mountains. Your car's power will diminish at higher altitudes (some roads were over 6,000 metres above sea level) and we had to take a train through one mountain range - a bit like a basic Eurotunnel.

So, I'd recommend you check your car's towing ability at high altitudes and that you have plenty of power in reserve - or choose a longer more level route!

Be aware of your Sat Nav, if you use one. On the way back, ours directed us up a very narrow mountain lane, in the pitch dark. We were suddenly confronted by a 30' wall of snow across the road. Nothing for it, but to do a many point turn and retrace our steps. A bit disconcerting when there are no crash barriers on a single track mountain side road and all your headlights show is the valley floor several thousand feet below!

Thank goodness we were driving solo, had the van been on the back we would have been completely snookered.

Have a great time, Switz is a beautiful country and so clean.

Mike
Click to expand...
Well it is!
 
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