Enjoy One Of Europe's Scenic Drives

With our never-ending desire to dash from one destination to another, speed and the clock have become kings, often banishing the joy in the journey. These European scenic drives are not designed to be taken at speed, but rather savoured and embraced. On your next trip to Europe, why not step off the autobahns and motorways and relive the lost art of touring.

Austria: The Grossglockner High Alpine Road
Commencing near Zell am See, south of Salzberg, this famous 47-mile alpine road transports you through thickly wooded valleys and quaint rural landscapes, past plunging waterfalls and between rugged, snow-capped alps and sweeping emerald green hillsides into the wonderland of Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Hohe. Take a break from driving and walk the trail above Austria's longest glacier, the Pasterze, plunging through several tunnels on the way, or take a Treasure Tunnels or Gamsbrube Panorma Trail national park tour. The well-maintained Grossglockner Road, named after the 3,798 metre high Grossglockner, the highest mountain in Austria, is open for summer drives only July to September.

Switzerland: The San Bernadino Pass and Via Mala Road
Though most choose to travel the modern 4-lane motorway which races through tunnels bypassing the natural landscape, you can still experience the stunning beauty of the polished glacial rocks, sweeping moors and Lago Moesola lake taking the quieter 2,065 meter San Bernadino Pass alpine drive.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience the ominous 1000 meter long Via Mala (Latin for bad or evil road), Switzerland's deepest gorge. Here the Hinterrhein valley narrows to the gorge where a winding and dangerous trail was first carved out of the 500 meter high limestone walls above the swirling Hinterrhein River in the 15th century. An easy 321 step walk into the ravine reveals extraordinary rock structures including the stunning textures and formation of the Lost Hole, and remnants of the precarious old bridges.

Perched on an escarpment at the entrance to the plunging Via Mala, the Hohen Ratien castle is also worth a delay in your journey.

Italy: The Dolomites
Two-hours north of the ancient city of Verona in northern Italy, home of the Arena, the ancient Roman amphitheatre, the Brenner Pass cuts through the magnificent natural heritage listed Dolomites mountain region. This one-hour drive winds along 65 miles of road between the towns of Bolzano and Cortina revealing an almost surreal landscape. Massive rock formations, many rising 3,000 meter high, create a drive where around every corner you'll discover ever more spectacular landscapes rich with spectacular, ever-changing light and colour.

Italy: The Amalfi Drive
South of Naples and the ruined city of Pompeii, the Amalfi Drive winds along the Amalfi Coast between the towns of Sorrento and Amalfi offering magnificent un-spoiled views over the Tyrrhenian Sea - and an edge-of-your-seat driving experience. The road has been literally carved from the mountain sides in many areas and the sheer drop to the sea on one side and the towering cliffs on the land side makes for an exhilarating drive in parts. Beware the call of the sirens; this coastal region is their legendary home.

France: The Ardeche Drive
The Ardeche Drive will take you on one of the most scenic strips in France. The Ardeche is a 125 klm emerald-green river in the district of Provence, an area renowned for its picturesque villages, villas and ancient castles. The road moves with the country, sometimes drawing close to the riverbank, sometimes snaking along cliffs many meters above the river. In the 30 kilometer Ardeche Gorge, white limestone cliffs reach 300 meters high and create ideal, relatively safe conditions for kayaking. Take a picnic and laze on the white sands by the Pont d'Arc, a natural 60 meter stone arch spanning the Ardeche, swim in the warm waters and discover the myriad other arches and caves along the river.

Portugal: The Isle of Madiera
Have you ever driven on a road that takes you through a waterfall, or comes within inches of the pounding surf? This winding full-day drive twists through the rugged interior, passes though tunnels, skirts perilously close to the high tide, and affords the most magnificent views over the Atlantic Ocean.

Also in beautiful Portugal, why not explore the Algarve coast, a region of pure sandy beaches, picturesque villages, and the imposing white lighthouse, Cabo de Sao Vincente, on the southwestern most point of Europe.

Other magnificent European scenic drives include the Picos de Europa in Spain, where twisting two-lane roads transport you through rugged mountains and past raging rivers across the highest mountain range on the Spanish Atlantic coast. Pass through cobbled-stone villages and view the riverboats on a journey along the Rhine, or head to the UK to experience the stunning drive along the Causeway Coast in Ireland and tour the rugged landscape and narrow highland lanes of northwest Scotland.