Off-road feeling at last!

Our night in a very modern, newly renovated apartment was quiet, and the beds were comfortable and cozy – with very large comforters.

The first stop brought us directly to coffee and croissants after just 500 meters, which we took back with us. The coffee gets 3 out of 5.

Then we hit the highway with a toll, which is pretty expensive for us tourists.
We took our first real break at a rest stop with a wonderful mountain panorama: we ate croissants and got another coffee – which unfortunately only got a 2 out of 5.

Let’s continue. Google Maps reports a traffic jam and a 5-minute delay. It becomes a single lane. As we are just before our exit, we expect to see roadworks. But no – it’s the Fréjus road tunnel, also known as the Mont-Cenis road tunnel. A toll highway tunnel in the Alps between France and Italy, on the route between Modane and Bardonecchia. It costs us a hefty €58, but at 12.87 km in length it’s also quite impressive. At least there was a flyer with tips on how to behave and emergency information.

Immediately after the tunnel, we had to take a sharp right and we were already on the feeder road to the Colle de Sommeiller. Despite the asphalt, this narrow road was a real challenge: tight bends and hardly any room for oncoming traffic. Then a small village appeared – even with a restaurant – and the first real sign for today’s pass.

We mounted the Insta on the roof and drove on until we paid today’s off-road toll at a small hut. From here: 25 km one way directly into the massive Alps. A few years ago there was a hotel at the highest point at just over 3,000m. It has since been demolished. Incidentally, Colle Sommellier is the highest point in the Alps that you can officially and legally reach by car.

For the first few kilometers, we drove four-wheel drive over narrow gravel roads, while motorcycles and other off-roaders kept coming from behind and in front. It was really busy. We reached a large dam wall with a turquoise-blue lake – fantastically beautiful. Shortly afterwards, we came to a junction with a food truck and rest area – and this is where the real fun began: the real off-road part.

Narrow hairpin bends, steep passages, the path became increasingly rocky. We left the tree line behind us, there were fewer bushes and instead a herd of cows climbed relaxed through the slopes and watched us calmly as we maneuvered. A few motorcyclists also took a break in the narrow bends. Even with our short Vitaralino, we had to turn two or three times. The surface became increasingly challenging, with bigger and bigger stones and boulders lining the road. The landscape looked like a lunar landscape: just rubble, stone and the occasional small flower.

At the top of the former hotel site there is now a small information center with a picture gallery and two dormitories for 8-10 people each – simple wooden frames designed for sleeping mats and sleeping bags.

The weather was mixed: dry, but the peaks were full of clouds that drifted wildly over the mountains. It was 13 degrees with a decent wind. Nevertheless, we decided to walk a little further and break the 3,000-meter mark. We did it! Phew. What a start.

Marco unpacked the copter, took aerial photos and we treated ourselves to our second croissant. Shortly before heading back, we had a cuddle session with our dog Kira – thank you and best wishes at this point!

It was easier rolling downhill. Stones and potholes demanded our attention, but as most of the off-roaders had already left, we often had the route to ourselves. We had a small evening meal at the snack bar and then headed back quickly. Now we’re sitting at the blog, sorting through pictures and reviewing the day.

Conclusion: The Colle de Sommeiller offered us everything we could dream of on an off-road day: tight hairpin bends, scree, dusty metres in altitude, animal encounters, a cloudy atmosphere – and the feeling of really being at the top. An introduction that makes you want more. 🚙⛰️