Summer 2026 Trip suggestions (The Alps)

[mark61]

There's loads there. Go to a skiing holiday site, find the names, check them out on google.
Cervinia is a good one, cable car up top, you'll be in Switzerland then, then pay about £20 to have a coffee by the Matterhorn, the coffee will be a 5/10 but the view a 10.

 

[barryd]

There's loads there. Go to a skiing holiday site, find the names, check them out on google.
Cervinia is a good one, cable car up top, you'll be in Switzerland then, then pay about £20 to have a coffee by the Matterhorn, the coffee will be a 5/10 but the view a 10.

Its like looking for needles in haystacks though finding the best ones. I found this Sosta at Cervinia. https://tinyurl.com/3h9cab8f

 

[vinner]

I know you didn't feature the Rhône valley (Switzerland) on your suggested map, but I can recommend a campsite in Oberwald that puts you right at the foot of two epic loops in the Swiss Alps - Furka/Susten/Grimsel and Nufenen/Gotthard/Furka. I did both those loops during a window of good weather back in September on my road bike. The campsite is Forest Lodge & Camping. It's a bit quirky and was the only site I stayed at (for 4 nights) during my otherwise off-grid 5-week tour of CH-IT-FR.

These passes can be quite busy/noisy, even out of season. I wouldn't fancy going there in July/Aug.

 

[Boris7]

What’s all this 90 days stuff about ?

 

[vinner]

Regarding dead-end roads off the Aosta Valley, here are some write ups on my blog

Val Ferret
Diga di Place Moulin
Cappella di Chatelet
The Matterhorn

And some dead-end roads off the Rhône valley (near Sion):
Col du Sanetsch
Derborence
Barrage de la Grande Dixence

In fact there are several more roads to dams in that area.

Anyway, thought it might give you some food for thought...

Cheers

 

[barryd]

Regarding dead-end roads off the Aosta Valley, here are some write ups on my blog

Val Ferret
Diga di Place Moulin
Cappella di Chatelet
The Matterhorn

And some dead-end roads off the Rhône valley (near Sion):
Col du Sanetsch
Derborence
Barrage de la Grande Dixence

In fact there are several more roads to dams in that area.

Anyway, thought it might give you some food for thought...

Cheers

Bloody hell!! Thank you thank you thank you! This is my weekend reading sorted. This is exactly the sort of thing I am looking for and your post above with the site recommendation.

What I should re-iterate is these are primarily biking trips not motorhome ones. And these challenging climbs and passes preferably on narrower less busy roads are exactly what we look for. Found some absolute belters in the northern French Alps last summer and a few new ones in the Pyrenees. You must be super fit! Some of them look daunting enough for our little Honda Scooter let alone pedal power! I'm always in awe seeing guys like yourself taking these on.

Amazing stuff. Cheers.

 

[Robmac]

Bloody hell!! Thank you thank you thank you! This is my weekend reading sorted. This is exactly the sort of thing I am looking for and your post above with the site recommendation.

What I should re-iterate is these are primarily biking trips not motorhome ones. And these challenging climbs and passes preferably on narrower less busy roads are exactly what we look for. Found some absolute belters in the northern French Alps last summer and a few new ones in the Pyrenees. You must be super fit! Some of them look daunting enough for our little Honda Scooter let alone pedal power! I'm always in awe seeing guys like yourself taking these on.

Amazing stuff. Cheers.

Must admit Barry, I only read the first one as I've no interest in going abroad these days.

But certainly interesting stuff otherwise and a comprehensive guide for anybody doing so.

 

[vinner]

Bloody hell!! Thank you thank you thank you! This is my weekend reading sorted. This is exactly the sort of thing I am looking for and your post above with the site recommendation.

What I should re-iterate is these are primarily biking trips not motorhome ones. And these challenging climbs and passes preferably on narrower less busy roads are exactly what we look for. Found some absolute belters in the northern French Alps last summer and a few new ones in the Pyrenees. You must be super fit! Some of them look daunting enough for our little Honda Scooter let alone pedal power! I'm always in awe seeing guys like yourself taking these on.

Amazing stuff. Cheers.

It's true they are bike routes, but most would be OK for your scooter (not the gravel bit round the back of the lake on the Cappella di Chatelet ride), but you'll be able to see from my route map (and sometimes at the end of videos) where I've parked my van. The write-ups for the big Swiss passes is still in the pipeline, as are about 20 other rides from this year! Good luck and let me know if you need any more info.

Cheers

 

[mark61]

Regarding dead-end roads off the Aosta Valley, here are some write ups on my blog

Val Ferret
Diga di Place Moulin
Cappella di Chatelet
The Matterhorn

And some dead-end roads off the Rhône valley (near Sion):
Col du Sanetsch
Derborence
Barrage de la Grande Dixence

In fact there are several more roads to dams in that area.

Anyway, thought it might give you some food for thought...

Cheers

That's a superb blog and the fantastic pictures.
Going to have a study of that too.

 

[barryd]

I know you didn't feature the Rhône valley (Switzerland) on your suggested map, but I can recommend a campsite in Oberwald that puts you right at the foot of two epic loops in the Swiss Alps - Furka/Susten/Grimsel and Nufenen/Gotthard/Furka. I did both those loops during a window of good weather back in September on my road bike. The campsite is Forest Lodge & Camping. It's a bit quirky and was the only site I stayed at (for 4 nights) during my otherwise off-grid 5-week tour of CH-IT-FR.

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These passes can be quite busy/noisy, even out of season. I wouldn't fancy going there in July/Aug.

I think I found it. Not much info but it looks like its mainly lodges. I presume you went in a motorhome though? Like you say, ideally placed for those passes.

FOREST LODGE & CAMPING - Holiday Camp Burch AG

Einmalige Unterkunft mitten in der Natur. Für Gruppen, Vereine, Seminar, Familien,Feste und vieles mehr. Holiday Camp Oberwald mit neuem Namen und Auftritt

www.forest-lodge.ch

 

[barryd]

Must admit Barry, I only read the first one as I've no interest in going abroad these days.

But certainly interesting stuff otherwise and a comprehensive guide for anybody doing so.

Its an absolute brilliant blog. I often look on some of the cycling sites but mainly for routes and gradient charts. There isn't much in the Alps or Pyrenees I wouldn't want to take the little Honda up in fact due to all the switch backs (U bends Michelle calls them) the gradients are not usually as steep as what you get here in places like the Lake district, just much longer but what I try to avoid is long drags up major road passes. The minor ones you don't meet lorries, coaches and loads of traffic are preferred. In fact I prefer to be in amongst the cyclists.

 

[vinner]

I think I found it. Not much info but it looks like its mainly lodges. I presume you went in a motorhome though? Like you say, ideally placed for those passes.

FOREST LODGE & CAMPING - Holiday Camp Burch AG

Einmalige Unterkunft mitten in der Natur. Für Gruppen, Vereine, Seminar, Familien,Feste und vieles mehr. Holiday Camp Oberwald mit neuem Namen und Auftritt

www.forest-lodge.ch

Yep that's it - I was in my motorhome. There were several there. There are no marked pitches - you just park wherever you like! It does have EHU if you want it (I didn't) and the showers/facilities are nice. It has grey and black water drainage, etc. As I say it's a bit quirky but I prefer that to more commercial sites. The only reason I went on a site is that I couldn't find anywhere to park up in the area, and given the epic nature of the roads I was happy to just stay there a few nights and not have to think about my van while I'm out all day on my bike.
Cheers

 

[vinner]

That's a superb blog and the fantastic pictures.
Going to have a study of that too.

Thanks

 

[mark61]

Search in German terms like, Ligurischem, westalpen, there ain't a pass out there the Germans haven't done a vlog of.

 

[barryd]

Search in German terms like, Ligurischem, westalpen, there ain't a pass out there the Germans haven't done a vlog of.

Actually I have friend in Germany who is a motorhomer. I might ask her as I know she is in a few German motorhome groups. I did once join an Austrian motorhome forum. I have all winter though. Ill find them and plan it all meticulously. I know exactly what I am looking for after this year and what I want to avoid.

 

[suty455]

SchartnerAlm: Camping und Ferienwohnungen im Herzen von Südtirol

Ob Sie Urlaub auf dem Campingoder in einer Ferienwohnungen machen - auf der SchartnerAlm am Rittner Sonnenplateau, bei Bozen, Südtirol geht beides.

www.schartneralm.info

Camping und Appartements Erlengrund in Bad Gastein

Willkommen auf der Seite von Kur-Camping & Appartement-Haus Erlengrund in Bad Gastein. Wir bieten Camping und Ferienwohnungen 365 Tage im Jahr.

www.kurcamping-gastein.at

If you dont fancy a long drive on day 1 or need a stop off on the way back this site in France is brilliant with a brilliant restaurant cheap too

Camping La Pointe | Beautiful campsite in Brittany

lapointecamping.com

Did 5 Months in and around the Dolomites and Austria this year with our young pup just after new year -15 at times but well worth it then on down to Sicily via Venice, Rome and round there back via Amalfi, lake Garda, Como etc and up through France I would suggest going a little earlier unless you want the hot weather it got mighty warm in summer when we went last year

 

[barryd]

SchartnerAlm: Camping und Ferienwohnungen im Herzen von Südtirol

Ob Sie Urlaub auf dem Campingoder in einer Ferienwohnungen machen - auf der SchartnerAlm am Rittner Sonnenplateau, bei Bozen, Südtirol geht beides.

www.schartneralm.info

Camping und Appartements Erlengrund in Bad Gastein

Willkommen auf der Seite von Kur-Camping & Appartement-Haus Erlengrund in Bad Gastein. Wir bieten Camping und Ferienwohnungen 365 Tage im Jahr.

www.kurcamping-gastein.at

If you dont fancy a long drive on day 1 or need a stop off on the way back this site in France is brilliant with a brilliant restaurant cheap too

Camping La Pointe | Beautiful campsite in Brittany

lapointecamping.com

Did 5 Months in and around the Dolomites and Austria this year with our young pup just after new year -15 at times but well worth it then on down to Sicily via Venice, Rome and round there back via Amalfi, lake Garda, Como etc and up through France I would suggest going a little earlier unless you want the hot weather it got mighty warm in summer when we went last year

Thanks. As most of it will be at altitude or around the Italian lakes I don't think it will be too hot. Will probably do the Italian lakes in June anyway. Its tricky as its mainly a biking tour you kind of want it as warm and dry as possible. As you will know some of the bigger passes can remain closed until right up to the end of May as well.

How did you manage 5 months? I presume you have EU citizenship?

 

[TJBi]

<snip>
If you dont fancy a long drive on day 1 or need a stop off on the way back this site in France is brilliant with a brilliant restaurant cheap too

Camping La Pointe | Beautiful campsite in Brittany

lapointecamping.com

<snip>

Looks like a fairly long drive from most French entry points other than perhaps Roscoff, and certainly not exactly on the way to countries east/south-east of France.