Mille Miglia & the Italian Lakes
Saturday 10 May
Check in in Dover for your early crossing to Calais. On arrival follow a cross-country route via the battlefields of the Somme to the Champagne region. There will be time to visit the historic Reims Grand Prix circuit before continuing to our delightful hotel where we will enjoy a champagne tasting before dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Sunday 11 May
After breakfast we depart for Burgundy and our hotel in Gevrey Chambertin. This evening we will have a guided tour of the vinyards and a tasting before taking dinner in a local wine cellar.
Monday 12 May
The route today takes us eastwards into the hills of the Jura and over into Switzerland, visiting the Peugeot museum en route. Our destination is Montreux where our hotel overlooks Lake Leman. The hotel has extensive gardens and a pool to relax in at the end of the day.
Tuesday 13 May
Driving through Switzerland and surrounded by the high Alps, we cross the border into Italy over the Simplon Pass, and continue via Lake Maggiore to our hotel set high above and overlooking Lake Iseo. This lake is one of the smallest but the most spectacular in the region. Dinner will be served in the excellent hotel restaurant.
Wednesday 14 May
A restful and car free day (minibus transfers will be arranged), so that you can relax and enjoy the magnificent scenery. We will take a private boat tour across to Monte Isola – where cars are banned – to enjoy a simple lunch with the lake lapping at our feet. The rest of afternoon is free before our evening tasting of local wines and antipasto.
Thursday 15 May
Today we will travel by coach to nearby Brescia for the start of the Mille Miglia. You can spend the day absorbing the atmosphere and viewing the cars at close quarters. We will meet for lunch at one of Brescia’s oldest restaurants. In the evening you can watch the whole field leave from the famous starting ramp, or as they pass through the town. The coach will return us to the hotel at the end of the evening.
Friday 16 May
Today we drive to Mantua to visit this historic city and the very special museum dedicated to its famous son – Nuvolari. Afterwards we continue to Modena to visit some unusual and extensive private collections of cars. Our hotel this evening is close to Maranello and we will have dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Saturday 17 May
We will spend some time today visiting the Galleria Ferrari, passing the Ferrari factory and the Fiorano test track. You can then either drive via Bologna and into the Apennines, or come into Modena for free time then meet at a prearranged bar fronting the route, to watch the Mille Miglia come through during the afternoon. Tonight we will dine at an excellent restaurant near Modena.
Sunday 18 May
From Modena we begin our drive north, stopping in the lovely city of Verona at lunchtime. From there we continue towards the Brenner Pass and into the Dolomites, to stay at Merano in a comfortable hotel with spa facilities. Dinner will be taken at the hotel.
Monday 19 May
Today we have the chance to drive over the Stelvio or one of the nearby passes, depending on weather conditions, and into Switzerland. Dinner and overnight will be in Davos.
Tuesday 20 May
Today we cross through Switzerland and back into France. We have arranged a visit to the Schlumpf Collection at Mulhouse this afternoon. Then we will stay nearby in Alsace in a picturesque wine village and enjoy local cuisine within walking distance of the hotel.
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Wednesday 21 May
We drive up the route des vins, one of the prettiest vineyard trails in the world and then head towards the north of France for our final evening at a Michelin-starred Chateau, you are promised a special dinner here!
Thursday 22 May
Continue with a short drive to Calais to check in for your reserved ferry crossing to Dover.
Prices below are based on two in a car
sharing a twin or a double room.
| Price per person |
£1599 |
| Single room supplement |
£450 |
N.B. Vehicle breakdown insurance not included.
Please not that these were the 2008 prices - 2009 prices will be updated in due course, but should follow similar to 2008. |