Bentley Italian Lakes & Swiss Alps

May 31, 2025

This tour is exclusively for members of the Bentley Drivers’ Club and is organised on behalf of the BDC North West section by Classic Travelling.

The Italian Lakes conjure a dreamy image of romance and beauty, amongst the bucolic landscapes. All around mountains tumble steeply into ribbons of blue, islands float enticingly just offshore, whilst mellowed villas sit in perfect gardens along the shorelines. The Swiss Alps are renowned for their splendour, incredible scenery and world-class mountain drives. This Italian Lakes & Swiss Alps tour has it all!

Explore Lakes Maggiore, Orta, Como, together with the surrounding areas which exhibit an enchanting combination of Mediterranean foliage set against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains. There are some of the most beautiful towns and striking gardens in the whole of Europe to be visited. Experience aristocratic villas, glorious sunsets, boat trips to islands with magical villages, a fascinating range of cuisines, truly superb wines and, of course, the lakes themselves and all they have to offer.

The tour will start and finish in Switzerland, crossing the Simplon Pass into Italy and staying on Lake Maggiore then Lake Como. Drive across the famed Stelvio Pass and back into Switzerland, with a night near beautiful St Moritz. Then drive some of the world’s best mountain passes to stay the final two nights on the shores of Lake Brienz.

Tour Highlights

Drive around the Italian lakes of Maggiore, Orta & Como
Discover the Borromean Islands in Lake Maggiore
Explore the pretty towns of Bellagio, Varenna & Orta
Enjoy wonderful scenic routes around and between the lakes
Stay in the wonderful Swiss Alpine resort of Pontresina
Drive stunning alpine passes including the Stelvio, Bernina, Julier, Furka and Simplon passes
Stay in exquisite hotels – all luxurious, unique and very special
See the beautiful Swiss lake of Brienzee
Gaze upon the incredible Swiss Alps
Taste the perfect cheese fondue
Visit the fabulous Maison Cailler world of chocolate
Explore the medieval hilltop village of Gruyères
Drive through the enchanting vineyards and wine-growing villages that border Lac Leman

Tour Map

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Rougemont, Switzerland

Drive across the Jura mountains into Switzerland. Visit the beautiful, medieval hilltop town of Gruyeres, famous for its cheese, and see how the cheese is made in the local alpine farms. Or indulge yourself at the fabulous Maison Cailler chocolate factory, to see how chocolate is made.

Stay in the gorgeous chalet-style Hotel de Rougemont in the French-speaking part of Switzerland in the little town of Rougemont, in a stunning alpine valley.

Day 2: Over the Simplon Pass to Lake Maggiore, Italy

160 Miles

Drive through Gstaad and over some lovely passes down to Martigny. Head along the valley and then over the Simplon Pass into Italy. Descend into the Ossola valley and drive along the shores of Lake Maggiore to Stresa. Stay for two nights at the fabulous grand Hotel La Palma, overlooking the lake and the Borromean Islands.

Day 3: Visit Lake Orta

38 Miles

A short tour today to circumnavigate Lake Orta and visit the captivating town of Orta San Guilio, set entirely on its own garden peninsula. Take a short boat ride across to the island in the middle of the lake. The lanes are too narrow for cars so take a few hours to discover the town on foot. The scenic journey around the perimeter of the lake makes for a gentle and interesting drive.

Day 4: Drive around Lake Lugano to Lake Como

83 Miles

Take the ferry across Lake Maggiore to Laveno. Drive up the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore, which is dotted with religious sanctuaries and churches, decorated with fine frescoes. Head inland on some sensational mountain roads to Sacro Monte, a holy way that winds 2km to the sanctuary at the top, and is lined with 14 chapels decorated with frescoes and statues.

Drive to Lake Lugano and cross the border into Switzerland and drive around its southern shore before crossing over to Lake Como, where you will spend the next two nights at the wonderful Palace Hotel, right on the lake in the centre of Como.

Day 5: A Day to Relax in Como

40 Miles

Explore the lovely little walled city of Como and its fine monuments. Take a scenic drive around the southern half of Lake Como – Italy’s prestigious romantic lake since the early Roman times. Then drive along the lake edge to visit Bellagio, a town as charming as its setting, then take the ferry across to the western shore and back to the hotel.

Day 6: From Lake Como to Switzerland

162 Miles

Drive some fabulous mountain roads, past the spa town of San Pellegrino and onto Lake Iseo.

From there it’s north to Switzerland, crossing the Bernina Pass to Pontresina where there is a two-night stay at the fabulous Hotel Walther. Dinner is included this evening.

Day 7: Stelvio Pass

126 Miles

There is the option of a circular drive to encompass the Stelvio Pass and Umbrail Pass, crossing into Italy. Dinner is at leisure.

Day 8: Swiss Alpine Passes

163 Miles

Today is a day of sensational alpine passes. Visit St Moritz then drive over the beautiful Julier Pass, descending to the medieval town of Chur. Drive along the incredible Rheinschlucht Gorge, then climb over the Oberalp Pass to the town of Andermatt, before driving the Furka Pass, immortalised by the car chase scene from James Bond’s Goldfinger.

Finally the Grimsel Pass to Meiringen. See the famed Reichenbach Falls and stay for two nights at the GrandHotel Giessbach, right next to the stunning Giessbach Falls on Lake Brienz. Dinner is included both evenings.

Day 9: Day at Leisure

A day to relax and enjoy your surroundings. Either take a lake cruise to Brienz or walk up to see the Giessbach Falls.

Day 10: Depart for Home

After a superb breakfast feast in the restaurant, depart on your journey homewards…

Where we'll stay

We have hand-picked some sensational, beautiful and luxurious hotels that you’re going to love. There are quintessentially traditional Swiss-chalet hotels, grand belle-epoque lake-side Italian palaces and exquisite mountain retreats. Each one is individual, unique, luxurious and fantastically memorable. All of the hotels on this tour are top-quality and truly exceptional.

Suitable parking is a feature of each hotel, although it’s not always covered or garage parking.

All the hotels have wonderful character and individuality, whilst being of an excellent standard. Due to the nature and age of these hotels, all the rooms are different, and will vary from charmingly comfortable to the utmost luxury. We have hand-picked and visited each hotel to ensure it has an enchanting atmosphere, as well as suitable parking for your car.

What's included

- Nine nights beautiful hotel accommodation
- Full breakfast each morning
- Three-course dinner on 4 evenings
- Wine with dinners (half a bottle per person)
- Tour Book with easy-to-follow directions, route maps, and detailed information on walks, and everything to do, see and visit each day
- Rally plate and ties
- GPS files for your own device/smartphone, if required
- Experienced Tour Director, Sarah Dowding & assistant to ensure the tour goes smoothly

Requirements

Each person must have a passport (and any necessary visas for non-EU passport holders) valid for Italy, Switzerland and any other countries you may visit to participate on the tour. 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).
We strongly suggest and recommend you have European breakdown cover, and ensure you are covered for the countries to be visited.
Please check your travel and motor insurance that you are covered for travel in the required countries.
You are also required to carry this safety equipment: carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, fluorescent jacket, set of replacement bulbs and a national identification sticker.
However, the most important requirement is that you take pleasure in motoring through fabulous scenery, and relish individual, character hotels.

Gallery

Fully booked

Price from £7,995 per car/two people sharing

Founded 2003

Since 2003 Classic Travelling has specialised in driving tours and motoring holidays for classic, vintage, and sports cars of all ages in the UK, Europe, USA and South Africa.