Silver Ghost Register Alpine Tour

The 1913 Alpine Trial, or Alpenfahrt, was the sternest test in Europe of a car’s engineering, reliability and performance in the pioneering days of motoring. Wounded by failing to finish the previous year after grinding to a halt on the infamous Katschberg Pass, James Radley returned in 1913 as one of the legendary ‘Alpine Eagles’; four Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts whose collective dominant performance ensured that the name of Rolls-Royce was written in legend in the early years of the automobile for their grace and their technical excellence.

To mark the 110th anniversary of this incredible performance Classic Travelling, on behalf of the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club Silver Ghost Register, is re-enacting this tour, but in a more leisurely fashion. The original Alpenfahrt was just 8 days and involved gruelling driving, and long mileages, and tested the endurance of the drivers as well as the cars. For 2023 we shall be taking a leisurely three weeks to enjoy the  1913 route, plus a number of two and three-night stays in lovely hotels.

Starting and finishing in Vienna, the tour follows the route through Austria, Italy, Croatia and Slovenia and include all the important historic alpine passes. The tour will cover around 1850 miles but there are days when you do not need to drive. The tour is organised, but you are not and there is some flexibility to enjoy the trip as you wish each day.

In 1913 the cars were new and the drivers younger but the roads were much more of a challenge and to drive the 1650-mile Alpenfahrt route in 8 days with just one day’s respite was incredible!

THIS TOUR IS FULLY BOOKED

Highlights of the Alpenfahrt 2023 Tour

• Drive the same route (as near as practicable) to the 1913 Alpenfahrt Trials
• Enjoy wonderful scenic routes around Austria, Italy, Slovenia and northern Croatia
• Visit the beautiful Austrian cities of Vienna and Salzburg, with time to explore
• Drive the 19 stunning alpine passes of the 1913 trials, in addition to the famed Stelvio Pass
• Stay in lovely hotels – all four-five star or equivalent
• See the beautiful Italian Lake Garda
• Gaze upon the incredible mountains of the Alps and the Dolomites
• Drive some of the most scenic routes in the Alps
• Explore the Italian city of Trieste, formerly part of the Hapsburg Empire

Itinerary

May be subject to change.

Day 1: 19 May 2023

Arrive in Vienna and check into the fabulous five-star Grand Hotel Wien, in the historic city centre. Parking will be available for all Silver Ghosts in the underground garage.

There will be a welcome drinks reception followed by an excellent dinner at the hotel.

Day 2: 20 May 2023

A day to relax after travelling, so enjoy time to wander at your leisure around Vienna. Many of the main sights are within walking distance of the hotel, such as the incredible museums, Karlskirche, and the stunning building of the Imperial Hapsburg Empire. It’s also worth the short journey to the beautiful Schonbrunn Palace and Gardens, former home of Emperor Franz Josef 1.

Your evening is at leisure. As well as numerous restaurants to sample some Austrian or Viennese specialties, perhaps attend a classical concert with music by Mozart who lived in Vienna, and his contemporaries.

Day 3: 21 May 2023 163 miles

Today’s route is half the drive of the first day of the 1913 trials. Leave Vienna for the first day’s driving, with the route heading over the Semmering Pass, the Neideralpl and through Mariazell. Descend to the valley and stay overnight in a wellness resort hotel. Dinner is included.

Day 4: 22 May 2023 125 miles

Our route deviates from the 1913 route to head into the mountains on a lovely, scenic route. Visit the impossibly pretty village of Hallstatt, idyllically situated on a lake. Continue to the historic centre of Salzburg and the magnificent five-star Sacher Hotel, where we shall stay for two nights. Parking is in the underground garage, Dinner is included this evening.

Day 5: 23 May 2023

Enjoy a relaxing day off to explore Salzburg or the area at your leisure. Visit the excellent Hohensalzburg Fortress for excellent views of the city and surrounds, or explore the alleyways and lanes of this charming small city.

Alternatively, take a short drive to Berchtesgaden, just over the border in Germany. Perhaps visit Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest retreat, the Kehlsteinhaus, now a restaurant with alpine views. The nearby Dokumentation Obersalzberg Museum chronicles the Nazi era. Salzbergwerk Berchtesgaden illuminates the salt mine’s 500-year history.

Dinner is at leisure this evening

Day 6: 24 May 2023 179 miles

Leave Salzburg heading south via the Lueg Pass, Tauern Pass, Katschberg Pass, and Lienz to cross the border into Italy. There is also the chance to visit the excellent little Porsche Museum in Gmund.

Stay overnight in Toblach-Dobbiaco at the same beautiful Tyrolean hotel used for the 1993 and 2013 Alpenfahrt re-creation tours. Dinner is included this evening.

Day 7: 25 May 2023 105 miles

More fabulous driving through the Italian Dolomites and over the Brenner Pass, crossing the border back into Austria. Descend to the Inn Valley. There is an optional visit to the Swarovski Kristallweltnen Museum. Then drive along the valley to Innsbruck for an overnight stay in an excellent, contemporary, city-centre design hotel with views of the surrounding mountains. There is an underground garage for parking. Dinner is included.

Day 8: 26 May 2023 106 miles

Drive along the Inn Valley to Landeck and then climb over the Alps via the Reschenpass, running along the border with Switzerland, but crossing into Italy. Pass Reschensee with the church tower jutting out of the lake. Descend to Mals and then start the climb of the Stelvio. Stay for the next two nights in the village of Trafoi, where we shall be split into two sister hotels.

Dinner is included on both evenings at the larger hotel, a charming, 5th generation family-run alpine hotel with sensational mountain and glacier views. Tonight we shall have a talk from the hotel owner on the motoring history of the Stelvio Pass.

Day 9: 27 May 2023 43 miles

There is the option to drive the magnificent Stelvio Pass on a circular drive which includes traveling through Switzerland and over the Umbrail Pass. These passes were not included in the original 1913 trials as the Swiss, at that time, had banned motor vehicles from mountain roads and would not give permission for the trials. Take time to wander around the very pretty village of Glurns/Glorenza in the valley.

Alternatively, for those not wishing to drive, enjoy a day off and perhaps a walk in the fresh mountain air.

Day 10: 28 May 2023 165 miles

Leave the Stelvio region and drive along the lovely valley filled with fruit orchards to Merano and on to Bolzano and Trento. The route then heads along the Valley of the Lakes, crossing Lago di Toblino and past the Castel di Toblino to Storo, and alongside Lago di Ledro. It’s then a spectacular descent to Lago di Garda (Lake Garda).

Stay for the next three nights in Riva del Garda, at a modern and chic waterfront hotel overlooking the lake and marina. There is excellent garage parking reserved just for the tour. Dinner is included this evening only.

Day 11: 29 May 2023

Enjoy a day off and explore Riva del Garda and the northern end of the lake. Dinner is at leisure for the next two evenings.

Day 12: 30 May 2023 100 miles

There is an optional drive around Lake Garda to encompass the entire lake, visiting Sirmione at the southern end. For those not wishing to travel as far, there is a ferry across the middle of the lake for a northern circular tour.

Day 13: 31 May 2023 200 miles

It’s worth leaving early for a day with plenty of spirited driving and truly sensational scenery through the fabulous Dolomites. Today’s route traverses the Passo del Brocon, Passo di Gobbera to the summit of the Rolle Pass. Descend to the valley and along the Grande Strada delle Dolomiti. Climb some beautiful passes to the chic resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Stay for the next two nights in Toblach-Dobbiaco, in the same wonderful hotel as last week. Dinner is included. There is plenty of parking in the garage and private parking area.

An alternative route of around 150 miles will also be given.

Day 14: 1 June 2023

Enjoy a well-deserved day off and relax in this beautiful alpine area. There is a truly superb spa at the hotel, even great for those who don’t like spas! Perhaps visit the little town of Toblach or take a walk in the rural areas around the hotel. Dinner is included this evening.

Day 15: 2 June 2023 211 miles

An early start to travel from Italy to Austria and Slovenia and back to Italy. Leave Toblach and cross the border back into Austria. Follow the road along the Karnishe Alps to Arnoldstein then over the Wurzenpass into Slovenia. Drive just a few kilometres through Slovenia before crossing back into Italy and tackling the Predil Pass from Treviso back to Slovenia again. It’s a winding route south through Slovenia then back into Italy to the Mediterranean & Adriatic coast at Trieste. Stay for the next two nights in a wonderful hotel right at the waterfront overlooking the Adriatic coast. Dinner is included this evening only.

There will be a shorter route of around 170 miles available as an alternative.

Day 16: 3 June 2023

In the original Alpenfahrt event in 1913, Trieste was also the rest day location. Trieste was Austria’s great port for many centuries and it still retains much Austrian heritage and many 19th-century buildings. Enjoy exploring the town at your leisure.

For those who wish to travel perhaps head over the border for 20 minutes to Lipica in Slovenia and see the Lipizzaner horse stud, which has been on the site for more than 400 years, breeding these fabulous horses for the Hapsburg monarchy.

Alternatively, visit Venice, just two hours away by train or car, or head to the lovely capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana, just 100km/90 minutes drive away.

Day 17: 4 June 2023 140 miles

A roundabout journey with three countries: and four border crossings Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Slovenia and back to Italy. Head to the Croatian coast at the glamorous, 19th-century resort of Opatija before turning back inland and north to Slovenia again.

Visit the fantastic Postojna Caves then drive back through the mountains to Gorizia on the Italian/Slovenian border. Stay nearby in a wonderful castle hotel. There will be a drinks reception in the vaulted cellars followed by a superb dinner in the grounds.

Day 18: 5 June 2023 113 miles

The Slovenian Alps beckon for today’s route. After breakfast in Italy, cross the border once again to Slovenia and enjoy a lovely drive. There is the option to visit Lake Bled if you wish before heading for the famed Loibl Pass to Austria. Stay for the next two nights in a beautiful hotel right on the shore of Worthersee, Austria. Some rooms will be in the hotel’s villas a short walk from the main hotel. Dinner is included this evening.

Day 19: 6 June 2023

After yesterday’s mountain excursions enjoy another rest day. Take a stroll by Lake Worthersee or explore the city of Klagenfurt, capital of the Carinthian province.

Day 20: 7 June 2023 95 miles

A short drive for the penultimate day’s driving. The day starts driving along the mountainous border of Slovenia again, with a brief foray into the country for yet more alpine passes. Then head north to the mountains and stay in a hotel surrounded by the sound of cow bells. Dinner is included this evening.

Day 21: 8 June 2023 194 miles

The final day back to Vienna is a beautiful drive through the Austrian countryside. The final night of the tour will be back in the centre of Vienna, at a different five-star hotel. There will be a well-earned farewell dinner this evening.

Day 22: 9 June 2023

After breakfast depart for home.

Accommodation

A selection of excellent hotels, from superb, five-star, city-centre hotels to charming country hotels. All hotels have parking for the Rolls-Royces.

A limited number of upgrades will be available at some hotels for the tour. Once we have completed the reconnaissance trip (end July 2022) then we shall send all those who have booked the various options.

Requirements

• All passports must be valid for six months after the end of the tour. You will also need your vehicle registration documents, driving licence (a photo-card licence or international permit is best), and an international insurance green card.
• Please check with your travel and motor insurers that you are covered for travel in the required countries.
• You are also required to carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, two fluorescent jackets, set of replacement bulbs and a national identification sticker in your vehicle.
• Each person must have a passport (and any necessary visas for non-EU passport holders) valid for Austria, Italy, Slovenia & Croatia

Other Information

• Transport to and from the start of the tour is at the owners’ expense, including flights. hotels. travel etc.
• We can arrange vehicle transport from the UK to Vienna return. Please contact us to express your interest.
• The Silver Ghost Register Team will set off from the UK and drive to Vienna via North Sea Ferries or the Channel Ports. For those wishing to join, we will arrange to meet up at the end of the first day on European soil, booking five one-night hotel stops along the route, including double bed, breakfast and dinner for two people. We drive through Belgium, Germany and Austria, arriving in Vienna on day six, a journey of some 800 miles.

Payments