6-Day Drive 9 Swiss Passes, Glacier Express Route +Stelvio, Italy

The main event here is not a guided sightseeing loop. It is a private Porsche road trip across nine Alpine passes, with the famous Stelvio Pass in Italy and much of the Glacier Express route in Switzerland. You drive yourself, set the rhythm, and stop for gorges, glaciers, monasteries, railways, and mountain towns.

I like the freedom of a self-led route and the fact that the hard planning is done for you. I also like the hotel package, especially two nights at the GrandHotel Kronenhof in Pontresina and one night at The Chedi in Andermatt. The drawback is the price, along with fuel, parking, meals, admission fees, and hotel taxes that remain your responsibility.

The Alpine drive at a glance

• Nine major mountain passes: Susten, Grimsel, Furka, Oberalp, Julier, Fuorn, Stelvio, Bernina, Albula, and Klausen are included in the planned route.
• A Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0: You get 96 hours with the roadster, plus mileage, insurance, delivery, and collection at your hotel.
• A self-led Glacier Express route: You follow the scenic road corridor near the famous train route, reaching Oberalp Pass at 2,033 meters.
• Luxury overnight stops: The package includes two nights in Zurich, two in Pontresina, and one in Andermatt at four- and five-star properties, according to the supplied hotel plan.
• Support without a constant guide: You receive a briefing, programmed GPS, an English road book, and help by phone or WhatsApp.
• Stelvio is the dramatic centerpiece: Italy’s 48 numbered hairpins rise to 2,757 meters, making this the day most likely to test your nerves and your photography skills.

What you are really buying for $11,629.51

The listed price is $11,629.51 per group of up to two people. That is a major outlay, so it helps to separate the driving experience from the hotel and planning costs.

You are paying for five hotel nights, a high-performance Porsche, full mileage, comprehensive car insurance, the rental deposit arrangement, route planning, GPS, delivery and collection, a briefing, and en-route support. You also avoid building a complicated Alpine trip from scratch, arranging a luxury rental, and working out how to link nine mountain roads across Switzerland and Italy.

The value is strongest for a couple celebrating something special, or for someone who wants a ready-made sports-car holiday rather than a basic car rental. The price is harder to justify if your main goal is simply to see the Alps. You can see much of the same scenery for less by booking ordinary transport and simpler hotels.

Remember the extras. Fuel, parking, local tourism taxes, admissions, meals, and travel insurance are not included. The CHF 3,000 rental deposit is held on a credit card, so you need enough available credit as well as the tour price.

This is also a private experience for your own group of up to two. You are not sharing the Porsche or the route with a busload of people. That privacy is part of the appeal, but it also means there is no regular guide in the car to explain every bend or change plans on the spot.

Zurich begins the trip quietly

The starting point is the Renaissance Zurich Tower Hotel, where the meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on the first day. You receive the car briefing and prepare for the route, with the car delivered and later collected at the hotel.

The hotel’s location deserves a careful look before you book. One detailed account called it a low point because it sits in an industrial section, away from Zurich’s historic center and good restaurant choices. That does not make it a poor base for a driving trip, but it does mean you should not choose this package for a classic old-town Zurich stay.

You receive two nights in Zurich. The first functions as your arrival and orientation period, while the final day includes leisure time before departure. If you want museums, old streets, and easy evening dining, allow extra time to arrange that on your own.

Day two brings the big Swiss passes

The route heads toward Lake Lucerne through green meadows and mountain roads. Near Weggis, you get one of the classic views associated with central Switzerland. The scheduled stop is short, only about 20 minutes, so you should treat it as a scenic pause rather than a full lakeside visit.

Susten Pass is one of the best driving roads on the trip. The route includes 26 bridges and tunnels cut into the mountain, with the road running beneath the Gotthard massif. This is the kind of stretch that makes the Porsche relevant, though you still need to drive within local rules and conditions.

At Stein Glacier, you stop for views of the ice. Then comes Aare Gorge, where you can walk between high rock walls along the Aare River. Allow two hours here if you want to make the stop worthwhile. Admission is not included, so carry a separate budget for it.

Grimsel Pass brings granite, tunnels, reservoirs, and a steady series of bends. The road connects naturally with Furka Pass, where the scenery turns more exposed and dramatic. At the Rhone Glacier, you can visit the roughly 100-meter blue ice tunnel and ice chamber, cut anew each spring since about 1870. That visit has a separate admission fee and takes about an hour.

Furka Pass supplies the film connection. A viewpoint recalls the road scenes from the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger, where Sean Connery’s character drove an Aston Martin over the pass. You get only a short scheduled stop, so do not expect a film museum or a long organized visit. The attraction is the view and the road itself.

A walk through Andermatt adds a human-scale break after all the bends. The supplied plan also refers to a beautiful hotel in Interlaken and includes one night at The Chedi in Andermatt. Since those descriptions do not line up perfectly, ask EPIKdrives to confirm the exact overnight location and road order before departure. That small check matters when you are planning dinner, luggage, and driving time.

Following the Glacier Express road corridor

Day three follows the road near the famous Glacier Express train route. The highest point is Oberalp Pass at 2,033 meters. You are not riding the train, but you get a driver’s view of the same grand Alpine corridor and can stop when the road book suggests.

At Disentis, the Benedictine monastery offers a change of pace. The abbey sits where the Lukmanier and Oberalp passes meet, and the visit is scheduled for about 45 minutes. Admission is not included, so decide in advance how much time and money you want to spend inside.

The Il Spir viewpoint gives you a quick look over the Rhine Gorge, especially the horseshoe bend. The stop is listed at only 10 minutes, which is enough for photographs if conditions are clear, but not enough for an unhurried walk.

Pradaschier adds a playful stop to a route that might otherwise become a long sequence of viewpoints. Its toboggan run is described as the longest in Switzerland, with about two hours set aside. Admission is extra, and opening conditions may affect your plans, so do not treat it as guaranteed entertainment without checking.

Julier Pass takes you into the Engadine at 2,284 meters. The road then leads toward St. Moritz and Pontresina. St. Moritz works well as an optional one-hour pause for a walk beside Lake St. Moritz or coffee in town. It is polished and expensive, while Pontresina gives you a quieter overnight base with traditional architecture, mountain scenery, and access to walking routes.

The two-night stay at the GrandHotel Kronenhof in Pontresina is one of the package’s strongest comforts. It lets you stop treating the hotel as a place to drop your bags and instead use it as a proper rest point between long driving days.

Crossing into Italy at Stelvio Pass

Day four is the most international part of the route. Fuorn Pass is a fast, sweeping road and the gateway toward the Italian Tyrol. The route also allows time for the Swiss National Park, where you can learn about local plants and animals. The supplied plan does not specify a visit length or admission arrangement, so treat it as an optional addition rather than a fixed highlight.

At the Convent of Saint John in Müstair, you get a cultural stop after several days of mountain roads. This early medieval Benedictine monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its well-preserved Carolingian art. The scheduled visit is about 20 minutes, and admission is not included.

Then comes Stelvio Pass, the headline road for many drivers. Its 48 numbered hairpins rise to 2,757 meters over roughly 47 kilometers. The route is famous because the road itself is the attraction: tight turns, steep slopes, and an enormous sense of height.

Do not assume Stelvio is simply a fast sports-car playground. Hairpins can be crowded, weather can change, and other vehicles may be moving slowly. The Boxster makes the climb entertaining, but good judgment matters more than speed. Give yourself time for stops, photographs, and the possibility that mountain conditions affect the route.

The Bernina Pass follows, running near the UNESCO-listed Rhaetian Railway. This is a fine pairing with the earlier Glacier Express route because you see how roads and railways share the same high Alpine country. The scheduled stop is short, so the road book and GPS will be important in helping you decide where to pause.

Albula railway country and the final pass

Day five turns toward the Albula Pass. The road follows the Albula River, then climbs through the northern section with several bends beside a cliff. From the pass, you get views into the Albula canyon.

The Albula Railway Museum in Bergün is a useful stop if you like engineering, rail travel, or the way transport shaped these valleys. The railway runs near the pass, and with luck you may see a train crossing one of the stone viaducts. Admission is extra, and the visit is planned for about an hour.

Klausen Pass provides the final major driving challenge. It links Altdorf in Uri with Linthal in Glarus, reaching 1,948 meters over about 46 kilometers and 136 curves. The route is close enough to Zurich to work as a first Alpine pass for a shorter outing, but here it serves as a fitting last chapter to a much bigger road trip.

The planned stop is brief, and admission is not included. That wording suggests the pass is mainly a scenic drive, not a formal attraction with an included entry ticket. Keep the day flexible, since the pleasure comes from moving through the pass rather than checking off a single site.

What the car and support add

The Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 Roadster is the emotional center of the experience. You get 96 hours of rental time, a programmed GPS, all tour mileage, comprehensive insurance, and delivery and collection at your hotel.

That package removes several common rental worries. You do not need to pick up the car at an airport counter, work out a complicated return location, or pay by the mile. The road book gives you a daily framework, while the GPS helps connect the passes and stops.

The route is self-led, so you still need to pay attention. The car does not turn this into a chauffeured holiday. You manage fuel, parking, timing, meals, and admissions. Support is available by call or WhatsApp, which is useful when weather, road conditions, or your own schedule require a question.

A personal briefing is provided at the hotel. Stephan of EPIKdrives is named in the feedback, although his name also appears as Stephen in one account. If you want a face-to-face briefing from him specifically, confirm who will meet you before arrival.

Comfort, stamina, and practical limits

The itinerary is active, even though you spend much of it seated. You need a moderate level of physical fitness for the Aare Gorge walk and for moving around mountain stops. The schedule also includes long days of concentration, repeated bends, changing elevations, and short photo breaks.

The minimum driver age is 23. The tour requires good weather, and poor conditions can lead to a different date or a full refund. That is important for an Alpine trip, where a pass may be less enjoyable or unavailable in bad weather.

Meals are not included. This gives you freedom, but it also means you need to plan fuel for yourself as well as for the Porsche. Parking and local hotel taxes are also extra. Admission costs apply at places such as Aare Gorge, the Rhone Glacier ice tunnel, Disentis, Pradaschier, the Müstair convent, and the Albula Railway Museum.

Cancellation terms are strict close to departure. A full refund requires cancellation at least six full days before the start time. Cancellation two to six full days ahead brings a 50 percent refund, while cancellation less than two full days ahead brings no refund. The weather exception is more generous, with a different date or full refund offered if the experience is canceled for poor conditions.

Who should book this Porsche Alpine tour

I would choose this for a couple who cares as much about the drive as the destinations. It suits you if you want luxury hotels, a private route, a special car, and the freedom to stop without following a guide’s flag.

It is also a strong fit for a milestone celebration. The combination of Stelvio, Furka, the Glacier Express corridor, and five-star hotels feels designed for an anniversary or a once-only driving holiday.

I would think twice if you prefer slow village time, long museum visits, or a fully guided experience. The schedule covers a lot of ground in six days, and some stops are measured in only 10 or 20 minutes. You should also compare the price with a standard rental and independent hotel bookings if the Porsche is not essential.

Should you book it?

Book this if the idea of driving a Porsche over Stelvio and Furka makes you grin, and if you value having the route, GPS, hotels, insurance, and support arranged in one private package. The careful planning is the chief practical strength, and the range of roads gives you a genuine overview of the Swiss Alps rather than one resort town.

Before paying, confirm the exact hotel sequence, especially the references to Interlaken and Andermatt, and ask for the expected fuel, parking, and admission budget. If those details fit your plans, this is an expensive but unusually focused Alpine road holiday. If you mainly want scenery at the lowest cost, choose a simpler self-drive trip instead.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at the Renaissance Zurich Tower Hotel, Turbinenstrasse 20, 8005 Zürich, Switzerland.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How long is the experience?

The tour lasts approximately six days and includes five hotel nights.

How many people can join?

This is a private activity for a group of up to two people.

What Porsche is provided?

The rental vehicle is a Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 Roadster for 96 hours.

What is the minimum driver age?

The minimum driver age is 23.

Is fuel included?

No. Fuel is not included in the tour price.

Are meals and admission fees included?

No. Lunch, dinner, local tourism taxes, parking, and admission fees are not included.

Is a guide with you throughout the drive?

No. The route is self-led, but you receive a personal briefing, a programmed GPS, an English road book, and en-route support by call or WhatsApp.