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

The Alps are your driving playground. This six-day private road trip turns Switzerland and northern Italy into a carefully planned Porsche adventure, with high mountain roads, glacier views, historic villages, and five-star hotels along the way. You drive yourself, set your own pace, and use a programmed GPS and English road book to keep the route moving.

I love the combination of a Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 Roadster and roads such as Furka, Oberalp, Julier, Bernina, Albula, Klausen, and Stelvio. I also like that the support is practical rather than intrusive: the car comes to your hotel, mileage is included, and EPIKdrives remains available by phone or WhatsApp.

The main drawback is the price, $11,629.51 per group of two, before fuel, meals, parking, admission fees, and tourism taxes. The first Zurich hotel is also in an industrial area rather than near the historic center, so the luxury label does not mean every night has the same setting.

The Alpine details that matter most

• Forty-eight hairpins on Stelvio: Italy’s famous pass rises to 2,757 meters and gives you one of the tour’s biggest driving thrills.
• A Porsche for 96 hours: The 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 Roadster is included, along with comprehensive car insurance and all tour mileage.
• The Glacier Express by road: You follow a scenic section of the famous railway route, including Oberalp Pass and the Rhine Gorge.
• Three memorable hotel bases: The package lists two nights at the Renaissance Zurich, two at the GrandHotel Kronenhof in Pontresina, and one at The Chedi in Andermatt.
• Freedom with a safety net: You drive independently, but receive a briefing, programmed GPS, a road book, hotel delivery and collection, and en route support.
• A weather-sensitive itinerary: Mountain passes depend on conditions, so poor weather can lead to a changed date or full refund.

What you are really buying for $11,629.51

At first glance, the cost is eye-watering. This is not a standard group coach trip or a simple rental-car holiday. The price covers two people sharing a private experience, a high-end sports car for four days, five hotel nights, insurance, route planning, delivery and collection of the car, and support during the drive.

That package has real value if you would otherwise spend hours arranging a Porsche rental, finding hotels in several Alpine towns, checking pass roads, and working out how to connect the best routes. You are paying for the plan as much as the car. A well-designed mountain route saves you from wasting your limited time on ordinary roads.

Still, you need to budget beyond the headline figure. Fuel, parking, lunches, dinners, local tourism taxes, attraction tickets, and travel insurance are extra. The Aare Gorge, the Rhone Glacier ice tunnel, Disentis monastery, the Pradaschier toboggan run, the Albula Railway Museum, and the Convent of Saint John in Müstair all require their own admission payments where applicable.

The arrangement suits a special occasion more than a casual holiday. One couple used an EPIKdrives trip to mark a major anniversary, and another praised Stephan’s planning, coordination, car delivery, hotel arrangements, GPS directions, and follow-up. That kind of careful handling is exactly where the cost begins to make sense.

Day one in Zurich: a short handover before the mountains

The experience begins at 5 p.m. with a meet and greet at the Renaissance Zurich Tower Hotel. The first meeting takes about 30 minutes, so this is mainly an orientation and handover rather than a sightseeing day.

Your start point is the Renaissance Zurich Tower Hotel on Turbinenstrasse 20. The hotel is in Zurich’s industrial section, which one past customer considered the weakest part of the trip because it is far from the historic center and good restaurant choices. Plan your expectations accordingly. This night is about getting organized, not wandering out of a charming old town.

The personal briefing matters. Mountain driving is more demanding than ordinary motorway travel, and a clear explanation of the programmed GPS, road book, car controls, and support contact gives you a better start. Since the tour is private, you do not wait for a bus group or follow another vehicle. You and your companion can settle into the Boxster and ask for route help directly.

Day two: Susten, Grimsel, Furka, and the Rhone Glacier

The second day delivers the classic Swiss pass experience. Your route heads toward Lake Lucerne through green meadows and rolling hills, then climbs onto roads cut into steep mountain slopes.

Near Weggis, you have about 20 minutes to enjoy a celebrated view over Lake Lucerne. The stop is brief, but it gives you an early taste of the contrast that defines this journey: calm water below, high rock walls above, and a road that keeps climbing.

Susten Pass is one of the day’s strongest drives. It sits below the Gotthard massif and uses 26 bridges and rock-cut tunnels. The road is a fine match for a Porsche because it mixes open bends with tighter sections and changing views. You have another short 20-minute stop, along with a chance to see Stein Glacier.

The Aare Gorge calls for more time. A two-hour stop lets you walk between tall rock walls carved by the Aare River. Admission is not included, and this is one place where you should resist rushing back to the car. A short walk through the gorge adds variety to a trip otherwise centered on driving.

The route then reaches Grimsel Pass, where the road winds among granite, tunnels, and mountain reservoirs. The pass connects naturally with Furka Pass, one of the best-known roads in Switzerland. You get only about ten minutes listed for the pass itself, but the real pleasure is the driving between stops.

A stroll through the wooden houses of Andermatt breaks up the day. The town is a useful reminder that Alpine travel is not only about hairpins and horsepower. It also gives you a chance to walk after several hours behind the wheel.

At the Rhone Glacier, you can visit a blue ice tunnel and ice chamber cut into the glacier each spring. The tunnel is about 100 meters long, admission is extra, and the stop is scheduled for about an hour. Conditions at glacier attractions can change, so keep your timing flexible.

Furka Pass supplies the cinematic moment. Its view recalls the road scenes from the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger, when Sean Connery’s character drove an Aston Martin DB5. You do not need to be a film fan to enjoy the setting, but the reference adds a bit of fun to an already dramatic road.

The overnight arrangements deserve attention. The package lists one night at The Chedi in Andermatt, while the route description also refers to a beautiful hotel in Interlaken after the Aare Gorge. Confirm the exact night-by-night lodging before booking, since the published accommodation details and driving notes do not describe every stop in exactly the same way.

Day three: the road version of the Glacier Express

Day three follows the route of the Glacier Express panorama train toward Oberalp Pass. You reach 2,033 meters, or about 6,700 feet, at the highest point of the railway journey. Driving gives you a different view from the train: you control the stops and can pause when a bend opens onto a valley.

Disentis offers a cultural pause at its Benedictine monastery, located where the Lukmanier and Oberalp passes meet. The visit lasts about 45 minutes and admission is not included. This is a good stop for anyone who wants more than scenery, though the short schedule means you may need to choose between a full visit and a slower drive.

At the Il Spir viewpoint, you can look into the Rhine Gorge and see its distinctive horseshoe bend. The stop lasts only about ten minutes, but the view is a strong payoff for the short walk and deserves a place on your route.

Pradaschier adds an unexpected burst of family-friendly fun. Its toboggan run is described as the longest in Switzerland, and the stop allows about two hours. Admission is extra. If you would rather keep driving, this is an easy activity to skip, but it helps prevent the trip from becoming six straight days of sitting in a sports car.

Julier Pass takes you into the Engadine Valley at 2,284 meters, or 7,493 feet. The high road leads toward your Pontresina base, listed as the GrandHotel Kronenhof. The hotel gives you two nights in the same place, which is welcome after changing scenery all day.

St. Moritz is an optional one-hour stop. You can stroll near Lake St. Moritz, have coffee, and take in the mountain views. It is polished and expensive, while Pontresina offers a quieter base with traditional architecture and access to walking routes. I would use St. Moritz for a short look, then return to Pontresina for the night.

Day four: Swiss National Park and Italy’s Stelvio Pass

Day four shifts from the central Swiss Alps toward the Italian Tyrol. If you want to learn about local plants and animals, the Swiss National Park is an optional stop before Fuorn Pass. The schedule gives you the choice, which is useful because adding a museum or park visit can make an already full driving day feel hurried.

Fuorn Pass is a fast, sweeping road and serves as the gateway toward Italy. The ten-minute stop is short, so most of your enjoyment comes from the drive itself rather than a long visit at the summit.

The Convent of Saint John in Müstair is one of the day’s most important cultural stops. This early medieval Benedictine monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its exceptionally preserved Carolingian art. You have about 20 minutes, and admission is not included. That is enough for a focused visit, but not a leisurely examination of every detail.

Then comes Stelvio Pass, the headline act for many drivers. The road has 48 numbered hairpins over roughly 47 kilometers, or 29 miles, and reaches 2,757 meters, or 9,045 feet. This is not a road to attack blindly. Use the curves carefully, watch the traffic, and leave room for other vehicles. The reward is the rhythm of the climb and the feeling of crossing from Switzerland into Italy on one of Europe’s most famous mountain roads.

Bernina Pass rounds out the day, running parallel to the UNESCO-listed Rhaetian Railway. The ten-minute stop is brief, but the railway connection adds context. You are not just driving a random mountain road. You are tracing routes shaped by Alpine engineering, rail travel, and old pass crossings.

Day five: Albula’s railway heritage and Klausen’s final curves

Albula Pass follows the Albula River and becomes especially attractive on its northern side. Near Bergün, the road climbs along a cliff with several bends and opens onto views of the Albula Canyon.

The Albula Railway Museum gives the day a different focus. The railway runs near the pass, and with good timing you might see a train crossing one of the striking stone viaducts. The museum visit takes about an hour and costs extra. It is worth considering if you enjoy engineering, railways, or the way transport routes have adapted to Alpine terrain.

Klausen Pass is the final major road in the published route. It connects Altdorf in Uri with Linthal in Glarus, reaches 1,948 meters, or 6,391 feet, and covers about 46 kilometers with 136 curves. Its closeness to Zurich makes it a practical first major pass for a shorter Swiss driving holiday, but here it serves as a fitting final test before the return.

The day does not need to be a race. You have spent several days collecting high passes, and Klausen is best enjoyed with a little patience. Stop safely, allow time for photographs, and remember that a mountain road is shared by local drivers, cyclists, motorcycles, and other cars.

Driving the Porsche: freedom with a few conditions

The included Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 Roadster is the emotional center of the trip. A convertible sports car suits the open views and gives you a more immediate sense of the road, especially on the passes.

You receive 96 hours of rental time, comprehensive car insurance, all tour mileage, and a CHF 3,000 credit-card deposit. The minimum driver age is 23. Fuel remains your responsibility, as do parking and any other normal trip costs not listed as included.

The self-led setup is important. You are not hiring a chauffeur, and there is no daily guide riding along. That gives you privacy and lets you stop for a gorge, monastery, lake, museum, or café when the mood strikes. It also means you must be comfortable with mountain driving, route decisions, and changing weather.

The programmed GPS and English road book reduce the work, while phone and WhatsApp support give you a backup if the route raises questions. Prior customers singled out Stephan’s planning and follow-up as a major strength. That personal coordination is particularly useful on a trip with several passes and international border crossings.

The hotels: luxury, but not one uniform style

The accommodation list includes two nights at the five-star Renaissance Hotel Zurich, two nights at the five-star GrandHotel Kronenhof in Pontresina, and one night at The Chedi in Andermatt. Four- and five-star lodging is part of the appeal, especially after long hours on winding roads.

Pontresina is the most appealing base for a slower Alpine evening. It is quieter than St. Moritz and still close to the Engadine sights. Two nights there mean you are not packing every morning, and the town gives the trip a more relaxed rhythm.

Andermatt fits the route well because it sits close to several major passes. The Zurich property is convenient for the formal start, but its industrial setting may disappoint if you want historic streets and atmospheric evening walks. The accommodation quality is high, yet the setting varies, so ask EPIKdrives to confirm the exact sequence before you commit.

Who will enjoy this road trip most

I would recommend this experience to a couple celebrating a milestone, a Porsche fan, or anyone who would rather drive through the Alps than watch them from a tour bus. It also suits people who like having a plan but do not want to follow a guide’s flag from stop to stop.

You should have moderate physical fitness. The driving itself is the main activity, but the Aare Gorge, glacier tunnel, monastery visits, viewpoints, and optional toboggan run add walking and stairs. If you dislike narrow roads, high passes, or changing weather, this may not be the right luxury holiday.

It is less suitable for someone who wants a slow cultural tour with long meals and extended town visits. The route covers a lot of ground in six days, and many listed stops last only ten or twenty minutes. You will see a broad slice of the Alps, but you will not have hours at every attraction.

Book with care around the seasons and weather. The experience requires good conditions, and poor weather can lead to a new date or full refund. The cancellation terms offer a full refund when you cancel at least six full days before the start, a 50 percent refund when canceling two to six days before, and no refund within two days.

Should you book the nine-pass Alpine drive?

Book it if the thought of a Porsche climbing Stelvio, Furka, Susten, and Oberalp makes you grin. The route is varied, the hotels are upscale, and the planning support removes much of the hard work. The strongest praise has focused on organization, attention to detail, route quality, and the freedom to drive at your own pace.

Think twice if the total price will make you watch every fuel receipt, or if you want a central Zurich hotel and leisurely sightseeing. You also need to confirm the lodging sequence, understand the extra costs, and feel ready for serious Alpine roads.

For the right couple, this is not simply a rental car with hotels attached. It is a tightly planned mountain driving holiday with enough freedom to feel personal and enough support to keep the practical details under control.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour 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 in Zurich.

How long is the Porsche rental?

The Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 Roadster is provided for 96 hours.

What is the minimum driver age?

The minimum driver age is 23 years old.

Is fuel included?

No. Fuel is not included. Parking, local tourism taxes, attraction admission fees, meals, and travel insurance are also excluded.

What hotels are included?

The package includes two nights at the five-star Renaissance Hotel Zurich, two nights at the five-star GrandHotel Kronenhof in Pontresina, and one night at The Chedi Hotel in Andermatt, Switzerland.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

Because the experience requires good weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund if it is canceled for poor conditions.