jeairas

We're planning a motorcycle trip through Europe next April-May and would love to see some of the Alps but are wondering if it's too soon to drive trough the Alps in mid-to-late May?

Any thoughts?

If it's not too late, any suggestions on must see places?

flygirl

It will depend on how high the passes are that you wish to travel. Mid-late May should be fine for many passes, but not the really high ones.

Ingo

Too early. The really impressive, scenic ones will still be closed.

jeairas

Thanks guys! Any suggestions for good ones that will be open?

Ingo

You can of course drive the passes that are open all year round - some of them are very scenic, e.g. in the canton Graubünden in Switzerland: Bernina, Maloja, Albula, Ofen. The Simplon in Valais should be open. The passes in Austria are not as scenic IMO (and the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse probably will not be open yet) so I'd stick to the passes in the Dolomites in Italy in addition to those in Graubünden.

I.

kleeblatt

The weather is unpredictable as well as the snowfall. I realize you want guarantees but no one can give them to you.

I'd organise a route with different alternatives:
Plan A: Passes open
Plan B: Passes closed
Plan C: Bad weather - go south

jeairas

Thanks so much, we're planning our trip so the Alps will be on one of the last legs of the journey, this way hopefully our odds of the passes being open are greater.

Thanks so much Ingo and schuler!

Oh, also, back in 2005 I went to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France, this way in late June and there wasn't a problem. Do you think this area will be fine in April/May?

nytraveler

You will be fine if you go through the tunnels. Some of the roads over the passes don't open until June - but obviously each year is differnt based on snowfall.