Five days driving in France

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.

Base yourself

Nice, Grenoble or Strasbourg

Nights to book

4 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 932.1 miles of driving plus any vignettes or tunnel fees for the countries you cross.