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Alps 4X4 Adventure Tour
Summer 2026
This fabulous tour comprises of an anti-clockwise circuit of the French and Italian Alps, in the outstanding region located between Val d'Isere to the north and Nice to the south. We meander slowly southwards on the French side, and return northward on the Italian side, with each as majestic and spectacular as the other. John Pearson of LRO magazine covered our trip a few years ago, his recognisable 110 features in the photos. This epic adventure is particularly well suited to families with kids, not least because we take lots of leisure time out of the vehicles, immersing ourselves in some of the most striking Alpine splendour. On the July tour, my own family join me (wife, boy 18, girl 15), and they are great at welcoming and integrating the other kids of all ages. We are fortunate to enjoy 2 nights wild camping, all located in pristine wilderness locations. We pass the other nights at the best quality well-appointed campsites, most of which also have their own swimming pool. Route includes 3 National Parks; Parc National de la Vanoise, Parc National Des Ecrins and Parc National Du Mercantour. Fully catered as always, and also including outdoor adventure activities.
Start - We meet at a campsite near Lanslebourg in the late afternoon preceding Day 1, to enjoy a welcoming BBQ, followed by the briefing.
Finish - At a campsite near Sanfront, Italy on the morning following Day 10, where after a farewell breakfast we go on our separate ways.
Included - Full catering 3 meals per day for the duration of the tour, outdoor adventure activities as detailed in the itinerary, all campsite fees from start to finish, including the meet campsite preceding Day 1.
Prices - per person based on 2 adults @ £1,795pp, additional adult @ 50%, single supplement @ 50%, child U16 @ 50%.
Highlights - Outstanding off-road driving, including sections of Hannibal’s Trail, in the region around Lac du Mont Cenis. Additional spectacular off-roading along the renowned French Col del Finistre and the Italian Strada del Assietta passes, including visits and exploring the remains of numerous old military forts, and driving over the highest road in all Europe. Three very special nights of camping out wild in the most beautiful, secluded and unspoiled Alpine wilderness locations, one of which is situated in an area with plenty of firewood, so the kids can enjoy toasting marshmallows on the bonfire. Frequent walks and picnic lunches at some pristine mountain, river and lake settings, affording opportunities to swim. An exhilarating morning of river rafting, which includes some small rapids but no rough turbulent ‘white water’ as such. Some of the best off-road driving to be found anywhere in Europe, through exciting terrain offering unbeatable views. Almost all of the campsites have swimming pools, while one that does not is located on the shore of an enormous lake. Another exhilarating outdoor adventure activity is the off-road scootering all the way down the famous Parpaillon track. The next day you will drive your own vehicle up that same track, through the Tunnel du Parpaillon, down the other side! Stunning views of Mont Blanc, from a twisty mountain track. Plus so much more...everybody loves this tour, from the grandchildren to the grandparents, just read the reviews...
Similar Tour - Pyrenees 4X4 Adventure (also 10 days, fully catered and including outdoor adventure activities)
Previous participants' reviews of this tour
"Fantastic experience! Been on several trips with Barry since 2019, an each trip has brought its own amazing memories and experiences!
From quad biking in the Moroccan desert to white water rafting in the Alps or surfing in Portugal - all things I would have never experienced if it wasn't for Active 4x4 Adventures! With regards to the food ... I have never gone hungry (and I'm a very fussy eater). I'm already looking to book my next trip in 2024 :)" Mitch Randle
"Just finished the Alps Trip with Barrie. Another brilliant itinerary, great tracks, fantastic views and great fun. Plus a good day rafting and of course great meals. Couldn't fault it." Bob Churcher
"This was our first time leaving the UK and we thought we would go on a big adventure. We were very well looked after on our trip with Barrie, Jana, and Abbie the dog. We saw some stunning sights, drove some very winding tracks, and had a great time with the group. We packed much more than was needed and we were very well fed. A great adventure and we have taken home some amazing memories. Thank you!" John & Louise Trowbridge
"We would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your family for one of the best holidays we have ever had. My wife, daughter and myself had an amazing time. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour of the Alps, and the scenery and trails we encountered were awesome. The food and meals you prepared and served us were of the highest standard and the portion sizes were huge! I’m amazed that you can get better than restaurant quality from your mobile kitchen. The other holiday guests were fantastic company and the whole setup worked perfectly. We are looking forward to booking our next holiday with you in the near future. Best regards." Jon, Kerry & Meg Matthews
"Fantastic tour, taking you to some outstanding locations. Activities were great fun and made a break from driving. Added advantage and no pressure to find shops etc to buy food as fully catered. Met a great group of people and had the best holiday." Jane & Richard Gilmore
"Very well organized and catered. Barrie was a wealth of knowledge on all areas of the trip and very helpful in all ways, nothing was too much trouble. The views on the trip were breathtaking and I’ll definitely be going again with him. I would recommend one of these trips to anybody, it’s a real life experience. Just brilliant …" Jeremy Gillbanks
"Thank you for making the dream trip more than I imagined. It's not often this is possible but Barrie blew my mind! The food, the people, the hospitality, the Alpine scenery and the way that you brought 23 people together was just amazing. I can't wait to join you on the next trip. Anybody thinking of going on any of Barrie's trips need not think twice - just book, you will definitely not be disappointed. All the best to you and your lovely family." Andy Booker & Jack Bromley
"Barrie and his family were very friendly and we all got on really well and enjoyed their company. The food was really good. We would recommend him and do another tour." Donna & Neil Ashford
"Thank you Barrie, Jana, Louis and Amelie for a great holiday in Les Alpes. We had a great time in stunning scenery with good company and obviously great food! Had a nice trip up to Chatel and a nice end to our holiday in a posh hotel. Left after breakfast yesterday and made it home by 1am! Busy at Calais and had to wait but club lounge eased the pain with champagne and open sandwiches! Cheers and travel with you again in the future." Charles & Jane Bagnall
"Hi Barrie, Thank you for such a memorable trip to the Alps. Even though it was our first 4X4 tour, we felt completely at ease because of your professionalism. It was great to meet your lovely family and the rest of the group, the incredible support we had from them and yourself when my disco broke down was overwhelming, once again thank you. Kind regards." Colin & Julia Guest
"Thank you for an amazing time. This was our first ever off-roading experience and we were unsure what to expect. We have not had any off-road tuition nor any experience of this kind of trip before. Your knowledge of the terrain and all the places you took us far exceeded expectations. Your guidance over the challenging parts was reassuring and put us at ease, which in turn gave us confidence. Your catering skills are to be commended and made every evening as enjoyable as the days. We had the most fantastic time and we cannot wait for our next trip with Barrie to Portugal." Sean Pollard & Clive Morton
"The Alps was our first off road family holiday and everyone enjoyed the experience thoroughly. This was advertised as a family holiday so we were not sure how tough the trails would be, however we were not disappointed and we encountered tracks which provided a good mix of terrain, obstacles and scenery. There were one or two hairy moments, the highlight being a team effort to dig a path through a steep expanse of frozen snow covering the trail. And the food provided by Barrie was consistently excellent with each of us having our own favourite. It was not all about driving offroad however, with an unexpected visit to Monaco, which went down well with the girls. We would certainly travel with Barrie again and would recommend the Alps Tour, especially to those looking for a great introduction to off road adventures." Kenny, Lynne, Eilidh & Hannah Cuerden
"Barrie is very professional and supplied excellent food. The alps tour was superb although our vehicle low range failed so we did the tour in high which was challenging at times but we succeeded. Very scenic and beautiful and being our first event I'd highly recommend it. Just make sure your low range works!!" Amanda & Andy Lowe
"Thank you Barrie for a brilliant trip through the Alps, we look forward to joining you again soon.” Ross & Amanda Howard
"Thank you for the effort and hard work you put into the Alps trip. We had a fantastic time and will be recommending you to our friends."
Ian & Nicki Rubie
"Just a thank you for a brilliant trip through the French & Italian Alps." David & Christine Pickles
“Sorry we haven't been in touch earlier, no sooner had we got back then we were away again. However, now back at the 'coal face' and have a chance to write and thank you for a really enjoyable time in the Alps! Your cooking was second to none and mealtimes were so enjoyable. It was a real break for me to not have to cook on a holiday, but still enjoy all of the adventure of over landing and wild camping. We loved the amazing tracks and awesome views and you were really kind and patient with our two young boys. Thank you so much for giving us a great family holiday and we have sung your praises to all that listen!” Pete, Jo, Ben & Luke Forshaw
“As a ‘gear test’ for a planned off-road trip next year, we decided to take the Alps tour with Barrie. Apart from taking advantage of Barrie’s local knowledge of the tracks and terrain, we'd decided that we’d quite enjoy being pampered for a change as we're normally completely "solo" and self-sufficient. We wouldn’t have to feed ourselves or work out where to go but instead enjoy the company of like-minded people and the scenery while testing our kit in more demanding situations than are possible at home. Barrie would take care of the rest. We were not disappointed! The tour was everything we expected it to be - almost... We were definitely not prepared for the quality of Barrie's organisation and customer support. This was excellent, a notable aspect of the trip and was clearly thought out. As is often said, “it’s not the destination but the journey” which is the best part of travelling, and our journey through the Alps this Summer was one of the more enjoyable trips we’ve completed. The company was excellent, the scenery magnificent, the food superb. Even the rather mixed bag of weather we experienced added an unexpected ingredient to the mix – there’s something rather eerie - but magical - in driving ut of the trees and tops of the clouds into brilliant sunshine having been enveloped in mist for an hour or two. Overall impression? Excellent value - and a good mix of activity given that Barrie has to conjure up a plan that will suit all comers in all weathers. The downside? Well, I don't usually plan to come home from a mountain holiday weighing five pounds more than when I left......Would we do it again? Absolutely." Mike & Sue Wood