3 Road Trips you won't want to miss....
Bella Italia
As a specialist in Italy it was inevitable this would come first. The well know SS163, or the Amalfi Coast route follows the shoreline from Sorrento south to Salerno in Italy. This is one of the best, and most heart thumping coastal drives in the entire country. After all, the stunning Amalfi offers nothing but beautiful scenery all around, sheer drops, vistas of blue and green and colourful houses clinging to rock sides. The road is famous for its hairpin bends, zigzags, and the extreme narrowness in some parts, a feat of engineering built at a very steep angle, it winds around the cliffs leading you from one paradise to another.
A multi-centre in Italy is a must and I have some fantastic itineraries (tried and tested) which can be tailormade just for you with some of the most beautiful accommodation choices in converted convents, chic boutiques and even palatial villas along the way. The well-known Amalfi Coast route follows the shoreline from Sorrento south to Salerno in Italy. This is one of the best coastal drives in the entire country.
Chapman's Peak Drive
Chapman’s Peak Drive or the "Chappies" as it is fondly known is in Cape Town and takes drivers on a 5.5-mile winding route from Hout Bay to Noordhoek. It was initially constructed during WWI and is 9km long with 114 curves, bends and other distractions as it skirts Chapman's Peak, the 593m high southerly extension of Constantia Berg. It follows the rocky coastline to unfold breath-taking views whichever way you approach it.
Starting at the picturesque fishing harbour of Hout Bay, the climb winds steeply up to Chapman's Point, revealing jaw dropping (and heart stopping) views of the sandy bays down below, until the road reaches lower levels again at Noordhoek. You'll need to obtain a day pass from the Hout Bay side, although the first 3km of the drive are free there is a toll road in place. This is the gateway between Cape Town and the South Peninsula and is known as one of the most scenic stretches of road on the planet. Some of the vantage points are up to 1,945 feet above sea level and you can often see whales and dolphins dancing in the ocean below.
Ask me about a touring holiday on the Garden Route, I know some very special, quaint and different places to stay and can get you involved in everything from weaving to wood working, meeting locals from the cooperatives and getting to grips with a very different lifestyle - or relax in your 5* chalet by the lake before heading up into the mountains for an off-piste driving adventure. It’s all here!
Norway
The Atlantic Road in Norway is not for those who can't cope with a scenery overdose. In 2005, this National Tourist Route was acclaimed as the world’s most beautiful drive and has been voted the “Norwegian construction of the century”- and it gets my vote! Not that I'm biased because my roots are in this amazing country. The bridge connects Averøy with the mainland via a series of small islands and inlets spanned by a total of eight micro-bridges over 8km. Opened in 1989, it is one of the most famous roads in the world because of its proximity to the ocean’s edge; taking you from lush coastal landscapes and heaths to bare rocks along the exposed Hustadvika, where you can see the sun sink into the horizon.
The time to do this is June, when the midnight sun teases you, but if you need a challenge, tackling this on a stormy day might just be your thing! But this isn't just for the drivers amongst you...try it on a bike! Combine this with a coastal cruise and a week’s road trip and you will have Norway nailed.
Find out more in this video https://youtu.be/LrISN2rtZc0
For more information on these road trips get in touch - I love talking adventures!
vanessa.devere@travelcounsellors.com
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