European Tour
April 13, 2122
Spa – Innsbruck
After many hugely successful Tours of since 2012 it is time to call last drinks on this amazing adventures. 2025 will be our last European Tour.
The concept of the tour has not changed and that is to hit as many of the motoring icons as we could in one trip while still allowing time for side trips, shopping, the odd day to chill out and rest, and some superb dining, in fact the dinners have become such a highlight that there has been a suggestion the we change our name to Dining Adventures.
In no particular order this tour visits; Ferrari, Siena, Porsche, Goodwood, Portofino, Sirmione, Cannes, Spa, Col de Turini, Nurburgring – Nordschleife, Route Napoleon, The Pistenklause, Cinque Terra, Stelvio Pass (twice), St Bernard Pass (both), Furka Pass, St Moritz, Cortina, Mercedes Museum and so many special little places that you will have to come along to find.
As with all Driving Adventures tours this trip is all about having a good time. Nice cars, good friends, brilliant roads in some of the most beautiful locations on earth in company with like-minded adventurers. The tour represents the highest standards of organization, first-rate hotels and exquisite dining. There are even road books, detailing each day’s route and new for 2025 is that every twist and turn will be documented on the brilliant TourBoss App that has transformed tour navigation. I will also be there as a guide to smooth the way and ensure that each guest has the best experience possible.
These are events organised as rallies, but without the restrictions and limitations of a competition event. There is no competition timing. Guests are given detailed road books that give a short history of the areas travelled. Roads are selected for the driving enjoyment. Unlike competition events, guests will be free to set their own agenda for the day. You can choose between a sleep-in and a leisurely breakfast or an early start with stops along the way to more closely inspect the local colour or you could short-cut the scheduled route and hurry to your destination for a swim or spa before dinner with the group. You can even arrange to skip a night or two to take in a special side trip. It IS your holiday. The tour package includes, all Hotels and breakfast each morning, Options you may choose include the opportunity to join us at Goodwood for the fabulous Revival Meeting.
Our Route
The Tour Schedule
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
380Km
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–Maranello
160Km
A short day today as we wander through the Italian countryside towards Modena and the brilliant new Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari. It is then onto Maranello the home of Ferrari. There is time to visit the Ferrari museum before checking into our hotel.
Day 10
Maranello–Borgo Scopeto
230Km
Today we take to the mountains on a brilliant drive into Tuscany. We will use an old Ferrari test route through Abetone. This is a wonderful drive on Italian back roads. We wind our way through plenty of mountain villages before we drop down 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
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.
Organisation
Driving Adventures is David Thomas. David has been passionate about driving since he was old enough to hold a steering wheel. He has driven from London to Sydney, through the Andes and much of South and Central America, across deserts and deep into rainforests. He has won rally stages in the Himalayas. Raced successfully at Bathurst and taught thousands of people advanced driving skills through his own school and as head of the NSW Police Driver Training School. He has driven in movies and videos and has been organising and conducting tours since 1990. If anyone can show you how to have a good time in a car, it is David.
Cars
In recent years life on the hire car front as become a little more difficult as post Brexit it is difficult to take a hire car from the UK to Europe. Most people have chosen to fly after Goodwood to either paris or Frankfurt to pick up the hire car of their choice before travelling to Stavelot.
$15,000
Per Peson – Twin Share
$30,000
Per Car
The Cost
The tour includes all accommodation, a cooked breakfast each morning, a comprehensive road-book, the TourBoss App with our route programmed in and myself to lead and smooth the way for you.
The tour is priced at $15,000/person/twin share or $30,000 per car.
Every effort will be made to maintain the advertised pricing but any large movement with the exchange rate may require an adjustment
Booking
There are limited places available for this tour. Places on the tour will be allocated on a first in basis. To secure a place you will need to provide an initial non-refundable deposit of $10,000. Further non-refundable deposits will be required on the lead up to the tour. Usually 6 months and then 3 months prior to the tour.
