|
TOTAL 911 MAGAZINE -
www.total911.co.uk
Monaco, Millau Bridge, French Gorges, French Alps.
A 'Guided Adventure'
through the many varied terrains of France including crossing the breathtaking Millau Viaduct, carving our way through two incredible gorges and winding through the Alps with two nights in one of Europe’s most glamorous destinations, Monaco.
The Trip
Our 2011 annual spring trip will be the
fifth year
we've run tours to the French Riviera. During our stay in the Cote d’Azur we’ll be enjoying two nights in Monaco as opposed to Cannes where we’ve stayed in the past.
This tour also takes in some French Chateau not used on previous tours so there’s plenty of new sights for those wishing to come back and enjoy another dose of our Riviera tour.
This tour utilises mainly 4* with one character 3* hotel. The rating of the latter does it a disservice as its quality, location, amenities and pricing are consistent with the 4* hotels on this tour. In fact it is one of our favoured hotels of all those we use on our European tours.
Exclusive Guided Tour System
GPS - SAT NAV
We don’t subscribe to the rather archaic system of “here’s some directions, see you at the hotel tonight”. To ensure you enjoy the ultimate in stress free touring all cars on this tour will be fitted with our premium GPS Satellite Navigation units.
Our detailed and pre driven routes are loaded onto the units, you just have to select which day you are on and let the system guide you while enjoying the open road at YOUR pace. Even the petrol stops are pre loaded!
RADIOS
All customers on this tour will enjoy the use of powerful licensed two way radios – these units are 8 times more powerful than the usual high street walkie-talkies and provide a method for the group to communicate with each other during the day.
TRAVEL PACK
Each car has a travel pack which includes – itinerary - summery route for each day – suggested lunch stop – petrol stops – hotel and local information including emergency numbers.
SUPPORT CAR
2 staff from Driving Adventures will be on this tour to provide support throughout the duration of the trip
The trip in more detail:
Day 1 - Sunday 1st May 2011 Calais to near Paris, France (175 miles)
We’ll catch a late morning Eurotunnel crossing from Folkestone to Calais then set off
along the French coastline
before heading towards our
Chateau near Paris.
Our 4* Chateau, new for this year’s tour, is a magnificent building set within stunning grounds. This really is a superb choice to rest up and meet old and new faces and share in the anticipation of the adventure ahead.
Although it’s highly likely you’ll dine in the chateau for the first evening, we’ve booked it on a B&B basis so you have the option to eat elsewhere.
| Our magnificent 4* chateau set in the Auverge region of France, is booked on a B&B basis and has all the facilities one would expect to allow you to rest up and recharge the batteries for an exciting day of driving which lies ahead. |
|
Those facilities include a gastronomic restaurant, bar, panoramic terrace as well indoor and outdoor swimming pools.
Day 3
Tuesday 3rd May 2011 Clermont Ferrand to Gorge near Millau, France (220
miles)
|
The day starts with a wonderful 50 mile drive snaking through the undulating terrain of the Auverge region.
By design we then use an unusually enjoyable section of Autoroute to take us south. |
For those who prefer the twisty stuff, there will be an “option B” programmed into each Sat Nav which takes a more involving route south but adds another 35 miles and 1 hour to the journey time.
Either route you choose, the prequel to lunch you’re sure to not forget as it’s one of worlds most awe inspiring design and engineering feats - the Millau Bridge.
Stretching over the Gorge Du Tarn in the Massif Central, reaching up to 300 metres (984 ft), it’s taller than the Eiffel Tower! Not even the picture on this tour page can prepare you for the real life experience of seeing this engineering marvel for yourself.
For lunch, we’ve located a restaurant with lovely surrounding views and plenty of parking. Afterwards, we’ll venture onto a viewpoint under the bridge which is actually more incredible than being on it - a photo stop for sure!
| Then it’s a short journey into the mouth of the nearby gorge to arrive at our hotel. This superb 3* hotel enjoys a premium position in the mouth of the gorge. |
|
It has modern Zen styled amenities which complement the intriguing period building and historic surroundings while also benefiting from an outdoor swimming pool and private parking. Due to its very remote location, we’ve booked tonight’s stay on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.
Day 4
Wednesday 4th May 2011 Gorge to Monaco (300 miles)
|
Today starts with an epic drive!
Demanding maximum concentration from the driver, the passenger can enjoy the awe inspiring views of our morning gorge run.
|
Some of the roads may look familiar if you are a Top Gear viewer, as they used some of them to put 3 supercars (Pagini Zonda, Ferrari F430, Ford GT) through their paces. If they’re good enough for Top Gear……
Later, we embark on an entirely different kind of route enjoying wide open roads of a national park area which one client previously described as the “drive of my life”.
After a morning enjoying some of the most incredible terrain the Massif Central has to offer we’ll have some lunch before heading onto the
Autoroute to refuel then cover some mileage before descending into Monaco for a 2 night stay.
Set right along the coastline, our magnificent 4* premium hotel enjoys a host of facilities including various ocean view pool areas and is located a short walk from the heart of Monte Carlo. Both evenings here are booked on a B&B basis.
Day 5
Thursday 5th May 2011 Rest day
| We expect most people will choose to leave the car in the garage, enjoy our
hotel's facilities and location and head into Monaco on
foot. |
|
For those who want to get in the car, then why not explore the Col De
Turini, the infamous Monte Carlo rally route located a short drive north of the principality.
Day 6
Friday 6th May 2011 Monaco to near Briancon, France (255 miles)
|
We can confidently say that today will provide you with some of the most memorable
driving you’ve ever experienced including some new routes not used on previous Riviera tours
|
Not only are great roads on today’s agenda but you’ll also experience awe inspiring sites in the form of the Gorges Du Verdon.
Often compared to the mighty Grand Canyon, it certainly isn’t on the same scale but actually has better roads to drive on and that’s the most important aspect to us. Once again if you’re a Top Gear viewer you’ll see some familiar scenery if you remember when Jeremy Clarkson lost a race in an Audi RS4 against 2 rock climbers!
We’ve again found a little known restaurant for our lunch stop which enjoys wonderful panoramic views across the gorge.
After we’ve marvelled at this incredible area we’ll head north using the twisting roads of this region. |
|
By late afternoon we’ll delight in taking you away from the expected route and into no mans land to drive one of our favourite roads – all 50 miles of it! It’s one of those special finds that proves that often the most enjoyable roads to drive are actually not the main headlining routes that most people know of.
|
Tonight’s 4* hotel sits proudly on top of a beautiful mountain pass. A true ski lodge style hotel, this offers a new dimension of accommodation than experienced on the tour so far.
Booked on a B&B basis, it enjoys some of the most spectacular views of the entire tour.
|
It has an external pool should you require a final dip before heading home.
It’s highly unlikely that you’ll choose to dine elsewhere in the evening (which is our intention!) so as usual we expect to have a
memorable group finale.
|
|
Day 8
Sunday
8th
May
2011 Dijon to Calais, France (365 miles)
Our last day but don’t think that means its just mile eating motorways to endure. We’ll start with a 70 mile cross country route to guide us through rural France before using the
Autoroute to take us to our lunch stop on the outskirts of Reims. For those who haven’t visited it, the old Grand Prix pits are just around the corner. After lunch we’ll head north to catch our afternoon Eurotunnel crossing back to Folkestone.
Upon arriving back in the England we’ll bid farewell as we all slip back into the grim reality of driving on our less than inspiring motorway network to lead us all home.
Until next time……
MAY 1st - 8th 2011
MONACO, FRENCH ALPS,
MILLAU BRIDGE & GORGES
7 Nights / 8 Days
| DAY |
DATE |
TYPE |
MILES |
TUNNEL |
DEPART |
ARRIVAL |
LOCATION |
HOTEL |
1
SUN |
01
MAY |
DRIVE |
175 |
08:20 |
N/A |
17:30 |
Near
Paris, FR |
4*
CH |
2
MON |
02
MAY |
DRIVE |
255 |
|
09:00 |
16:30 |
Nr
Clermont
Ferrand, FR |
4* CH |
3
TUE |
03
MAY |
DRIVE |
220 |
|
09:00 |
15:30 |
Gorge near Millau, FR |
3*+
H |
4
WED |
04
MAY |
DRIVE |
300 |
|
09:00 |
17:00 |
Monaco
MC |
4*+ H |
5
THU |
05
MAY |
REST |
N/A |
|
N/A |
N/A |
Monaco
MC |
4*+ H |
6
FRI |
06
MAY |
DRIVE |
255 |
|
09:00 |
17:00 |
Nr
Briancon, FR |
4* H |
7
SAT |
07
MAY |
DRIVE |
235 |
|
10:00 |
17:00 |
Near Dijon, FR |
4* CH |
8 SUN |
08 MAY |
DRIVE |
365 |
13:20 |
09:00 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| |
|
Total |
1805 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| KEY |
B&B = Bed &
Breakfast | D,B&B
= Dinner, Bed &
Breakfast |
|
C = Castle | CH = Chateau
|
H = Hotel | M = Manor House |
|
Country Codes
AT = Austria | BE =
Belgium | FR =
France | DE =
Germany | IT = Italy
| LU = Luxembourg
MC
= Monaco | CH =
Switzerland | GB =
United Kingdom | US
= United States of
America |
|
|
|
All times of arrival
are estimated on
normal road and
traffic conditions
and include assumed lunch stops of
1 1/2 hours (3 hours on Day 4 to include ski lifts)
and
additional 30 minute breaks at
the petrol stops. |
|
|
