Drivers AtlasThe world's best roads

Two weeks · France

Two weeks driving in France

Route Napoleon, the Vercors balconies, the Verdon rim and the highest paved pass in Europe.

Two weeks changes the shape of the trip. Move every second day rather than every day, and treat the long transit legs as the price of the good ones.

Days

14 days, 13 nights

Rough distance

2609.8 mi

Daily average

186.4 mi

Best months

May to October

Checked by the Drivers Atlas desk

Scored and written by the Drivers Atlas editorial desk, drawing on driven routes across the UK and Europe, mapping data and member road reports. Daily distances are set for enjoyable driving rather than maximum ground covered. How we score roads.

Last reviewed 15 June 2026

Day by day

How the trip breaks up

Day 1

Col de la Bonette and Col du Galibier

  • Col de la Bonette · 14.9 mi · 9.7 / 10. A looping summit road above 2800 metres that circles the peak itself for maximum theatre.
  • Col du Galibier · 11.2 mi · 9.6 / 10. The spine of the Route des Grandes Alpes, a relentless climb to one of driving's holiest summits.

About 186.4 mi and 5 hr behind the wheel including transit.

Day 2

Gorges du Verdon, Corniche Sublime and Col de l'Iseran

  • Gorges du Verdon, Corniche Sublime · 14.9 mi · 9.6 / 10. Cliff hugging ledge road staring straight down into Europe's grandest limestone canyon.
  • Col de l'Iseran · 9.9 mi · 9.6 / 10. The roof of the Route des Grandes Alpes, a stark granite amphitheatre above 2700 metres.

About 186.4 mi and 4 hr 58 min behind the wheel including transit.

Day 3

Calanques de Piana and Col d'Izoard

  • Calanques de Piana · 7.5 mi · 9.6 / 10. Impossibly narrow ledge road through blood red granite pinnacles above the Gulf of Porto.
  • Col d'Izoard · 20.5 mi · 9.5 / 10. Hairpins through larch forest give way to the lunar Casse Deserte, a surreal high altitude finale.

About 186.4 mi and 5 hr 4 min behind the wheel including transit.

Day 4

Col du Tourmalet and Route des Cretes, Verdon

  • Col du Tourmalet · 11.8 mi · 9.5 / 10. The highest paved pass in the Pyrenees and the Tour de France's most storied climb.
  • Route des Cretes, Verdon · 14.3 mi · 9.4 / 10. A vertiginous loop skimming the canyon rim with balcony viewpoints at every bend.

About 186.4 mi and 5 hr behind the wheel including transit.

Day 5

Col d'Aubisque and Col Agnel

  • Col d'Aubisque · 18.6 mi · 9.4 / 10. Cliff cut hairpins and cirque views link two valleys via the dramatic Litor shelf.
  • Col Agnel · 13.7 mi · 9.3 / 10. Remote high altitude pass to the Italian frontier with tight ribbons and stark empty scenery.

About 186.4 mi and 5 hr 10 min behind the wheel including transit.

Day 6

Gorges du Tarn and Grande Corniche

  • Gorges du Tarn · 32.3 mi · 9.3 / 10. A river hugging road beneath towering limestone cliffs, one of the Massif Central's great drives.
  • Grande Corniche · 9.9 mi · 9.3 / 10. Napoleon's high road above Monaco, immortalised on film, staring down onto the principality.

About 186.4 mi and 5 hr 1 min behind the wheel including transit.

Day 7

Scala di Santa Regina and Col de Bavella

  • Scala di Santa Regina · 15.5 mi · 9.3 / 10. A narrow gorge road blasted into red granite walls, the gateway to Corsica's high interior.
  • Col de Bavella · 23.6 mi · 9.3 / 10. Needle like granite spires tower over this pass linking Corsica's interior to the east coast.

About 186.4 mi and 5 hr 7 min behind the wheel including transit.

Day 8

Col de la Croix de Fer and Gorges de l'Ardeche

  • Col de la Croix de Fer · 18.6 mi · 9.2 / 10. Turquoise lakes and jagged aiguilles frame this classic crossing of the Grandes Alpes.
  • Gorges de l'Ardeche · 19.9 mi · 9.2 / 10. A dramatic corniche skimming turquoise river bends beneath the Pont d'Arc natural arch.

About 186.4 mi and 5 hr 8 min behind the wheel including transit.

Day 9

Col de Turini and Route des Cretes, Cassis

  • Col de Turini · 10.6 mi · 9.1 / 10. Legendary Monte Carlo Rally stage stitching together forested hairpins above the Roya valley.
  • Route des Cretes, Cassis · 9.3 mi · 9.1 / 10. A clifftop road above Europe's highest maritime cliff with the Mediterranean glittering below.

About 186.4 mi and 4 hr 45 min behind the wheel including transit.

Day 10

Col de la Cayolle and Col du Soulor

  • Col de la Cayolle · 29.8 mi · 9 / 10. A quiet pastoral pass with a gorge finale through the narrow Gorges du Bachelard.
  • Col du Soulor · 11.8 mi · 9 / 10. A dramatic balcony road along the Litor cliff face connecting straight into the Aubisque.

About 186.4 mi and 5 hr 1 min behind the wheel including transit.

Day 11

Col du Lautaret and Col de la Madeleine

  • Col du Lautaret · 23.6 mi · 8.9 / 10. A broad glacier flanked highway linking the Romanche and Guisane valleys beneath the Meije massif.
  • Col de la Madeleine · 12 mi · 8.9 / 10. A punishing Tour de France staple threading pine forest to a panorama of the Vanoise peaks.

About 186.4 mi and 4 hr 54 min behind the wheel including transit.

Day 12

Corniche de l'Esterel and Moyenne Corniche

  • Corniche de l'Esterel · 15.5 mi · 8.9 / 10. Red volcanic rock plunges into azure sea along this coastal corniche below the Esterel massif.
  • Moyenne Corniche · 9.9 mi · 8.9 / 10. The middle ribbon of the three Riviera corniches, threading Eze's clifftop village.

About 186.4 mi and 4 hr 44 min behind the wheel including transit.

Day 13

Route Napoleon and Alpe d'Huez

  • Route Napoleon · 44.7 mi · 8.8 / 10. Sweeping historic highway tracing Napoleon's 1815 march through lavender country and pine ridges.
  • Alpe d'Huez · 8.6 mi · 8.8 / 10. Twenty one numbered switchbacks, each hairpin named for a Tour de France stage winner.

About 186.4 mi and 5 hr 13 min behind the wheel including transit.

Day 14

Vallee de la Restonica and Pas de Peyrol, Puy Mary

  • Vallee de la Restonica · 9.9 mi · 8.8 / 10. A tight riverside track climbing into a glacial valley beneath jagged Corsican granite peaks.
  • Pas de Peyrol, Puy Mary · 16.8 mi · 8.7 / 10. A steep col cresting a green volcanic ridge with huge views over the Cantal massif.

About 186.4 mi and 4 hr 45 min behind the wheel including transit.

Practical

Where to start and what it costs

Base yourself

Nice, Grenoble or Strasbourg

Nights to book

13 nights. On anything longer than five days, book two nights in the best base rather than moving hotel every evening.

Fuel and tolls

Budget for roughly 2609.8 miles of driving plus any vignettes or tunnel fees for the countries you cross.

Other lengths

More time, or less, in France