France
Route Napoléon Road Trip: The Ultimate French Alps Driving Route
Follow in Napoleon’s footsteps from the Côte d’Azur to the French Alps.
6 days / 5 nights · From £749 per car based on two sharing
In 1815, Napoleon escaped from Elba and marched north through the French Alps to reclaim his throne. The road he took is now the Route Napoléon, and it’s one of the most spectacular drives in France — climbing from the lavender fields of Provence into the mountain gorges of the Hautes-Alpes. You’ll follow it on day two, and by the time you reach the top, you’ll understand why an army bothered.
From there, the trip heads into the high passes. The Col de la Bonette — the highest paved road in Europe, above 2,800 metres where nothing grows and the views are enormous. The Col du Galibier and the Col du Lautaret, which the Tour de France has made legendary. The Gorges du Verdon, which is basically Europe’s Grand Canyon with a road along the rim. Five nights based in the mountains, with your hotel in the foothills and the passes radiating out in every direction.
The drive from the UK is a full day to Provence, and the same heading home, but the roads in between make it worth every mile. This is the French Alps at their wildest and most dramatic — less polished than Switzerland, more raw, and with a fraction of the traffic.
Group Road Trip
From £749 pp twin share
Deposit: £250
✓ Eurotunnel/ferry return
✓ 5 nights hotels
✓ Route Napoléon route
✓ Alpine passes
Why This Trip
What Makes It Special
Route Napoléon
Route Napoléon — 325 km from Golfe-Juan to Grenoble.
Col de la Bonette
At 2,802m, one of Europe’s highest paved roads. A raw, exposed climb through lunar landscapes with views stretching to the Mediterranean on clear days. — the roads the Tour de France peloton fears most. Now it’s your turn, but with an engine.
Tour de France passes
Col de Turini, Col de la Couillole, Col de Valberg — the roads the Tour de France peloton fears most. Now it’s your turn, but with an engine.
French Alpine gastronomy
French Alpine gastronomy: raclette, tartiflette, Beaufort, Savoie wines.
Price Includes
What’s Included
✓ Eurotunnel/ferry return
✓ 5 nights hotels
✓ Route Napoléon route
✓ Alpine passes
✓ Breakfast daily
✓ Restaurant recommendations
✓ Driving notes
Booking for a group?
Get in touch to find out about our group discounts. Whether it’s a car club, a birthday, or just a group of mates — we’ll put together a package that works.
Day by Day
The Itinerary
Day 1
Home to Provence
Drive south through France to Provence. Arrive at your hotel in a Provençal village — stone walls, lavender, and dinner under the plane trees.
Day 2
Route Napoléon
Drive the Route Napoléon — the historic road Napoleon took on his return from exile in 1815. Wind through Castellane, Digne-les-Bains, and up to Gap, climbing through increasingly dramatic Alpine scenery.
Day 3
Col de la Bonette & High Alps
One of Europe’s highest paved roads. The Col de la Bonette climbs above 2,800m through a raw, exposed lunar landscape. Descend into the remote Ubaye valley — wild, beautiful, and almost traffic-free.
Day 4
Tour de France Passes
Drive the cols that define the Tour de France — the Galibier, Lautaret, and your choice of the Col de la Madeleine or the Col de l’Iseran (highest paved pass in the Alps at 2,770m). These are the roads that make and break champions.
Day 5
Gorges & Valleys
A day of contrast. Drive the Gorges du Verdon — Europe’s Grand Canyon with turquoise waters 700m below — or explore the Écrins National Park on quiet mountain roads through glacial valleys.
Day 6
French Alps to Home
Interested in Route Napoléon & the French Alps?
Highlights
- Route Napoléon — historic driving road
- Col de la Bonette — 2,800m+
- Tour de France passes
- Gorges du Verdon
- Provençal villages
- French Alps high altitude roads
- Eurotunnel crossing included
