Tour Des Pyrenees 2024
Wednesday 19th June | Arrive at Plymouth: Ferry crossing to Santander in a 4-berth club class window cabin on board Brittany Ferries Pont Aven. The 22 Hour mini cruise is a great chance to get to know your fellow drivers and navigators and relax ahead of the next 8 days of driving. For those looking for a bit more space and relaxation during the crossing, we have managed to secure some upgraded Deluxe cabins with 2 single beds for the outbound crossing for an extra £150. They are subject to availability, so are on a first come first served basis, please request them on the booking form! Please note: the tour cost also INCLUDES a group dinner with wine and water in the Pont-Aven’s main restaurant, La Flora.
Thursday 20th June | 3.5 hour drive 270km: Disembark the boat in Santander at 1:15pm. As we don’t want to miss a day on these epic roads the route heads into the mountains just 30km outside the city on a great pass that will get you warmed up, and ready for the week ahead. The route will then head back to the motorway to ensure we reach the Spanish city of Pamplona where we will check in slightly later than normal due to the late start.
Friday 21st June | 6.5 hour drive 370km: The Journey East across the Pyrenees on day 2 to Boltana includes some fantastic less well-known cols just north of our hotel, that offer great driving challenges to tick off before stopping for coffee. Couple these with some truly fantastic roads on route to lunch as well as some better known parts of the N260 in the afternoon and you have all the ingredients for a fabulous day on the road.
Saturday 22nd June | 6.5 hour drive 385km: The route across to our most easterly hotel is a fantastic mix of open roads and tighter passes that include a few of our favourites anywhere in Europe, the Collada de Toses and Port de la Bonaigua. This year we will be heading down the Collada West to East for the first time on tour, so offers everyone a completely new challenge. Once at Ripoll we will head down the motorway for the last 100km to reach Hotel Camiral, hopefully in time to have a few ‘apres-drive’ beers or cocktails around the welcoming pool, before getting ready for a fantastic group dinner.
Sunday 23rd June | F1 or Rest Day: It’s your choice today, but the hotels location just 30 minutes from the F1** track in Barcelona makes this the perfect hotel to experience the atmosphere the Spanish GP offers, maybe let your partner pamper herself after a few days in the car and enjoy the F1** on your own, its your choice. If opting to stay at the hotel you can enjoy a fantastic range of sports at the hotel, which includes the best PGA Golf course in Spain. If you want something more relaxing, there is a fantastic Spa to enjoy with every treatment available possible to book (not included in package). Free Night, dinner not included.
Monday 24th June | 5.5 Hour Drive 340km: Todays route launches the journey west with a great section of the N260 before we reach one of our personal favourites, a 30 km section of local rally road that really does require your full attention for 40 minutes! This is followed by some fantastic roads in the foothills of the Pyrenees to one of our new favourite roads, but not until we have enjoyed a lunch at the start-line of this fantastic piece of tarmac! Hotel Can Boix, in the foothills of the mountains in Peramola, is the perfect location for both lunch and tonights accommodation. This means you will have the chance to let your partner grab some sunshine around the tranquil pool, whilst you head off to enjoy 3 hours of some of the best tarmac in Europe, with the added bonus of a lighter car due to less luggage as well!
Tuesday 25th June | 6 Hour Drive 352km: Leaving Lleida you are in for a fantastic day of driving, heading north west on a fantastic route that winds its way across the heart of the Pyrenees to the historic racing city of Pau. We will be staying once again at the beautiful Hotel Parc Beaumont for that sits on the side of the historic street circuit for two nights. On route we will be taking on some of the really well known, as well as some of the lesser known passes, including the Col du Portillon, Col d’Aspin before we reach our superb lunch stop in Bagnères-de-Luchon. Leaving lunch, there is a couple more passes to conquer, including one not for the feint hearted, but the views are spectacular over the Col de Peyresourde on route to Pau. If you haven’t got a head for heights, don’t worry, there is an alternative direct route via the motorway!
Wednesday 26th June | 3.5 Hour scenic drive 160km. Plus track session at Pau Circuit: We have planned a scenic route around some of the Pyrenee’s more well-known passes that include the beautiful Col De Soulor and the Col d’Aubisque, definitely 2 passes that are not for testing your left foot braking techniques. Alternatively you can have a lie-in and use the Spa before checking out, grabbing some lunch and then head to the private track session at the Pau and Arno’s circuit.
This track is special and is not to be missed. It’s completely private and there will only be your cars on track, so you can drive with absolutely no pressure to go any faster than you would like! Please note, helmets are available free of charge (they are not great, but are fit for purpose). Following the track session we have opted to have a 2 night stay at the hotel in Pau as it means less packing and thats always a favourite with the ladies! With the track session being between 4pm and 6pm, it will also give us plenty of time to be ready for the final group dinner of the tour, on land anyway, in the lovely private dining area, or weather permitting on the hotels veranda!
Thursday 27th June | 4 hours 295km: The final drive back to Santander to catch the ferry for a 4:00pm departure means you have a few options for the final day as we don’t need to reach the ferry port until 3:00pm. We have planned a route back to enjoy some of the roads we used when we left the ferry on route to Pamploma, as they are fantastic in this direction as well. However, If you have one too many nightcap’s, the direct route from the hotel is a three and a half hour drive, so enjoy a lie in, maybe a massage and leave around 11am to give yourself enough time. The direct motorway route is pretty special anyway, the choice is yours. The 20-hour crossing back to Plymouth offers you plenty of time to relax and enjoy a few beers and chat over the week’s tour with some old and hopefully new friends.
Friday 28th June | Grab breakfast on the ferry and say your final fair wells, ahead of disembarking the boat at 11:00am for the journey home.
Please note: Routes and exact timings are just a guide to the day’s routes and are subject to change.
** Please Note: The F1 tickets are not included in the standard package, please request them at the point of booking as tickets are on a first come first served basis and subject to availability.
