Lake Alps Off-Road

Day 1 – Arrival in Cuneo

After arriving, we’ll meet at a hotel in Cuneo, where we can relax and recover from the rigors of the trip. We’ll stay at this hotel for the duration of the tour, and each day we’ll take you on impressive star-shaped routes.

Day 2: Introduction to the Maritime Alps

After a group briefing in the morning, we head straight out into the breathtaking mountain scenery.

The first day of driving is meant to get the vehicles and drivers in the right mindset for the upcoming stages. The route winds up into the Maritime Alps along winding back roads and the first gravel roads.

On the very first day, we get a sense of the region’s scenic diversity: green valleys give way to rocky high-mountain landscapes, while fantastic views of the Piedmontese mountains open up time and again.

At lunchtime, we bring our own food. That way, we can take breaks whenever and wherever the scenery is most beautiful.

In the evening, we’ll head back to Cuneo. A group dinner at a traditional Piedmontese restaurant will be the perfect way to end the first day.

Day 3 – Alta Via del Sale

A major highlight of the trip is scheduled for the second day: the Alta Via del Sale.

This historic high-mountain road winds through spectacular scenery along the Italian-French border region. Following old military trails, it takes you through a world of rugged cliffs, deep valleys, and vast plateaus.

The route offers exactly what makes a Western Alps off-road tour so special: long gravel sections, tight hairpin turns, varying terrain, and fantastic viewpoints at every turn.

We’ll take time for photo stops and a long lunch break away from civilization.

In the afternoon, we’ll head back to Cuneo.

In the evening: dinner together at a local restaurant.

Day 4 – Maira-Stura Valley and Old Military Roads

On the fourth day , we head into the Maira-Stura Valley, one of the most scenic regions of the Piedmontese Maritime Alps.

Here we find a mix of small mountain villages, secluded side valleys, and historic military trails. Off the beaten path, we experience a much quieter side of the Western Alps.

Depending on conditions, we combine various trails and high-altitude paths into a varied day hike. The goal isn’t to cover as many kilometers as possible as quickly as possible—the journey itself is the destination.

We’ll spend our lunch break once again eating our own food in the middle of the mountains.

After a long day of driving, we return to Cuneo and round off the evening with Piedmontese cuisine and a good glass of wine.

Day 5 – Cresta dell’Arpa, Mas Fleuri, and Rocca Spina

The fifth day is all about spectacular high-altitude trails.

With the Cresta dell’Arpa, Mas Fleuri, and Rocca Spina, there are several interesting off-road destinations on the itinerary that take us deep into the mountainous landscape of the Maritime Alps.

Parts of the route follow narrow ridge trails and military paths. Time and again, impressive views open up onto the surrounding valleys and the peaks of the Maritime Alps.

This day offers a particularly varied mix of driving fun and scenic beauty. Winding roads alternate with technically challenging sections and relaxing stretches offering panoramic views.

We take our lunch break wherever the scenery invites us to linger.

In the evening, we’ll head back to Cuneo.

In the evening: dinner together at a select local restaurant.

Day 6 – Forte Centrale and the Fortresses of the Border Region

The Maritime Alps are not only scenic. Traces of their military past can be found everywhere.

On the sixth day, we’ll therefore focus on the region’s historic forts and military installations. The Forte Centrale and other surrounding fortifications will serve as the key stops along our route.

Old military roads connect the various sites and allow us to experience the region’s history in a particularly impressive way.

Of course, between visits to the historic sites, there will be plenty of time for off-road driving fun and enjoying the spectacular scenery.

Depending on how the day goes, additional trails and scenic overlooks may be included.

In the evening, we’ll head back to Cuneo again.

Day 7 – Finale: Mountains or the Mediterranean

The last day offers a special choice.

If you’d like to experience another action-packed day in the mountains, you can take another off-road tour through the Maritime Alps. Depending on conditions, we can head out to some particularly beautiful trails and high-altitude paths.

Or we could take a detour to the beach. From the mountains, we head toward Liguria. Within a few hours, the landscape changes completely: the Alpine peaks give way to Mediterranean vegetation and, finally, to the deep-blue Ligurian Sea.

A group lunch on the coast or a walk by the sea offers a wonderful way to end the trip before we drive back over the mountains to Cuneo.

And so our six-day trip comes to an end with one final striking contrast: in the morning, we were still high up in the Maritime Alps, and just a few hours later, we were at the Mediterranean Sea.