vibhav

Folks,

We will be visiting Europe for a 2.5 weeks period starting September 18th and leaving on October 6th...Family of 3 - 2 adults and 1 child (8 years)... Both of us are heavily into photography and absolutely LOVE the mountains... This is our 6th trip to Europe and we have covered Alps in Germany, Austria, Italy (Dolomites), France and of course in Switzerland... Have stayed 10 days in the Berner Oberland region... For the Berner Oberland region we did not drive and just relied on the Swiss Trains for the entire trip... Which was fabulous, since they are one of the best network in the world... but we realized that we did miss driving aroundas being photographers we love the flexibility of stopping anywhere enroute for clicking and making last minute changes to the trip... So this trip is geared towards driving in scenic areas and hiking some of the easy to moderate hikes...

For this trip, for the first 5-6 days we would like to cover the Zermatt area and then drive some of the best scenic routes through the Swiss Alps and descend into the Dolomites ... I need some help on this forum to decide the best driving route through the Alpine Passes in Switzerland

Starting in Milan to Zermatt to Engelberg to St. Moritz to Bolzano Italy

Based on the research I have done, below is the list of the best and scenic passes and drives that I have found... And then based on this, I have tried to map out a route in Google Maps which is pasted below...

https://goo.gl/maps/nTGVD

List of Passes and Drives in Switzerland
1. Great St. Bernard Pass from Martigny to San Bernardino
2. Road over Furka Pass from Gletsch to Andermatt
3. Grimsel Pass from Gletsch to Innertkirchen
4. Susten Pass from Innertkirchen to Wassen onto Engelberg
5. St. Gotthard Pass Road from Andermatt to Biasca
6. Road over Bernina Pass from St. Moritz to Tirano (via Samedan and Pontresina)

I still have not figured out the best way to cover all three Furka pass, Grimsel pass and Susten pass on the same drive to Engelberg without having to backtrack... But we will figure that out...

I have also mapped out an alternate route going through Austria and leaving teh St Moritz region... This is based on some things I read about Silvretta Haus region being very pretty in Austria...

http://tinyurl.com/swiss-driving-Vibhav-2

For now, I just need feedback if there are some other passes or scenic routes in this vicinity that would silly to miss out on... Also, let me know your thoughts between the two routes above... Once I have finalized the driving route, will figure out the logistics of distances, how much to drive in one day and overnight stays etc etc...

So please let me know which ones are your favorite driving routes in this region and that I must incorporate...

Ingo

Forget route #2, it's not overly scenic and you'll miss the best passes.

As for Grimsel/Furka/Susten - why don't you put your car on the train in Goppenstein and unload it in Kandersteg after passing the Lötschberg tunnel, drive via Interlaken to Meiringen, from there Grimsel - Furka - Susten, back via Meiringen and Brünig pass to Engelberg. From Engelberg via Luzern to Gotthard pass.

I personally didn't find Gotthard pass particularly scenic. I'd rather drive via Oberalp and Disentis - Lukmanier pass.

Also, instead of Julier pass (with a lot of truck traffic) I recommend Albular pass, which is less busy and more scenic.

After Bernina pass better do not continue via Tirano, but turn left and drive via Forcola di Livigno, Livigno and two more passes to Bormio.

vibhav

Thanks a lot Ingo for the feedback.. Will scratch #2 off the list Will also look into the other passes you have suggested for sure... Do not quite understand the train option you suggested, can you please explain further?

Ingo

From the canton Valais to the canton Bern, from Goppenstein to Kandersteg, is a railway tunnel (they actually built another, longer one recently, but it doesn't matter for you) where you put your car on the train and that train transports your car and the passengers through the tunnel. Hundreds of people do that every day.

http://bls.ch/e/autoverlad/autoverlad.php

pja1

Hi,

I just want to make a few comments. On your first map, the area between Mals/Malles and Meran/Merano (Vinschgau/Val Venosta) has plenty of alpine scenery, cute villages and plenty of castles, including our favorite's, Churburg Castle/Castel Coira and Castelbello/Schloss Kastelbell. In fact, right by Mals/Malles over the Swiss border, Kloster St. Johann is very interesting to visit. There's also the charming, intact, medieval walled town of Glurns/Glorenza. Then there's world famous mountaineer Rheinhold Messner's Juval Castle. In fact, this area is great for an overnight at least. We stayed at the Hotel Panorama in Mals/Malles.


http://www.muestair.ch

http://www.vinschgau.net/en/art-cult...-mansions.html

http://www.kastelbell-tschars.com/en...al-castle.html

http://www.kastelbell-tschars.com/en...lo-castle.html

http://www.vinschgau.net/en/art-cult...za-glurns.html

http://www.vinschgau.net/en/val-venosta-top-10.html

http://www.biohotel-panorama.it

On your second map, you miss out on the Timmelsjoch Pass/Passo Rombo from the Oetztal, Austria into Italy's Sud Tirol.

http://www.timmelsjoch.com/en/conten...scription.aspx

Paul

vibhav

Thanks a lot Ingo for the feedback... I was able to plot out the train trip you mentioned and then go towards Interlaken and then down to the Grimsel/Furka/Susten passes and onto Engelberg... I am just not very sure I understand what that does for me... Does not look shorter and if I am going to come back down for the passes, then what is the intent for this route? I apologize to ask that so blatantly but I wanted to make sure I understand if this route is more scenic, or shorter, or faster? we have been to Berner Oberland before, so not very much interested in that region this time...

Also, Ingo, based on your feedback regarding going through Livigno from Bernina Pass to Bormio, I have mapped this one here... Can you check for me if that is what you intended?

http://tinyurl.com/swiss-driving-Vibhav-v3

vibhav

Paul, Thanks a lot for pointing out the attractions and castles in the Malles region... We have driven through that on one of the past trips, but the weather was not very good... So definitely looking forward to seeing all those this time... Thanks a lot!

coffeequeen

Hi again,

Just wanted to mention the Timmelsjoch pass is a terrific drive. In the Dolomites themselves, the Gardena Pass is our favorite for Dolomite scenery.

Thought this site may be of interest to you. It's geared towards motorcycling, but gives excellent info and photo's on what I believe are all the alpine passes.

http://www.alpineroads.com

Paul

coffeequeen

Oops, I used my wife's login for that last post!

Ingo

The intent was to show you a way how to incorporate the three passes Grimsel, Furka and Susten. Besides, loading the car on the train is also a pretty unique experience. And the route is very scenic, too: From Goppenstein you could dip into Lötschental valley, one of the most beautiful and unspoiled in the canton Valais, the drive along the lakes of Thun and Brienz is also lovely.

But if you have already been to the Bernese Oberland you might want to scratch this idea.

Yes, the route #3 is what I suggested. Except that you still plan to drive the Julier pass instead of Albula pass to St. Moritz.