Crossing the Alps with a caravan.
My son and wife are coming over to northern Italy from Australia for a wedding. We are planning on going to meet them by travelling from our summer holiday location at Esterel Caravaning near Argay in the South of France. My question is what would be the best route back to Calais from Camping La Riva, Sorico, Italy. My car is a 2 litre Audi Q5 towing a Lunar Clubman SI. I’ve towed many thousands of miles, but have never towed across the Alps and would appreciate any advice.
thanks.
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Under the Alps is easier than over. Suggest you go via St Gotthard tunnel.
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Yes, I would go along with what eurortraveller has said. The obvious route from Sorico to Calais would take you through the St Gotthard tunnel, In Switzerland it will be motorway all the way so there are no mountain passes to negotiate if you take the tunnel.
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Might be worth some time thinking about how you will get back onto the motorway system from Sorico. The road south of the town on the western side is not over wide but the road on the eastern side is dual carraigeway. When we stayed at La Rive we basically retraced our steps as we were en route to Garda. I don't know how feasible it is to go north from Sorico and into Switzerland that way. Hope you enjoy the trip.
David
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The route north from Sorico into Switzerland involves crossing the Maloja pass. It's a steep ascent going north with many hairpin bends and I would suggest a solo run from Sorico first to consider things. The Club's Touring Europe book has guidance on the matter, but it's a wide road and tourist coaches do go that way
From the top of the Maloja it's an easier and gentler slope all the way past St Moritz down the Engadine valley (river Inn) to Landeck in Austria. It's single carriageway so no Swiss vignettes required, you will need just one vignette to cross Austria, and then it's toll free across Germany.
It's attractive to cross Switzerland that way and misses the possible queues at the St Gotthard, but even so will take longer.
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Hi,
The 'Via Michelin' logical route of the 3 options from your Italy location back to Calais is using the St Gotthard tunnel, as stated above, on a cost time distance and ease from nasty roads basis. NB choose the 'Caravan' from the options drop down to get more accurate toll charges etc.
Given you'll then have the e71.50 potential toll cost for just Switzerland, which the Via Michelin options accounts for, I would be having a re-think about your plans & durations. Maybe have a few days in beautiful Switzerland given you'll have paid the Toll or it will become an expensive days drive through if not.
Enjoy the Q5 experience & drive - it will breeze through it !.
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Hi, We have stayed at Piano Porlezza and as David has hinted at it can be a tad stressful when towing in that area. We had issues with very narrow and busy roads when heading back to Switzerland to pick up the motorway North and I think I would opt for the route down the East of Lake Como and via Lecco
We considered the Maloja Pass route a few years back, but going from Austria via St Moritz, and found the route via Germany to the Fern Pass a very pleasant change from our usual route through Switzerland and would be tempted to give that a go.
One point is that if you travel via Landeck town, and not the Landecker Tunnel then there are no toll charges at all.
There are a number of videos on youtube that may help you decide but one I saw previously showing a VW Golf Cabriolet towing a van seems to have disappeared!
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