Road trip from Nice to Embrun to GAP to Marseille

hi, i am going for my summer vacations to nice. I am planning to a have long nice road trip from

NICE TO Parc National du Mercantour

then

from Parc National du Mercantour to Embrun

then from Embrun to GAP and then from there to marseille.

i have never driven through that region and i am wondering that have i selected the fine route for travelling and is it safe? And would the travelling be dramatically slow or is it possible to have single day long drive. i just love driving!!!

thanks

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You might just about manage to do this in a long day. But the Col de la Bonette across to Barcelonette is incredibly slow, narrow and winding. And because it%26#39;s the highest pass in the whole of the Alps it gets a lot of traffic (for the quality of road) in peak season.

I haven%26#39;t been across the Col de la Cayolle, but I should imagine this is as slow or worse.

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thanks for this.

so what is your opinion in this regard? i am planning to pas through that region on 6 or 7th of june (next month).

should i avoid going through that route? and is there any alternate?

or you think i should take a break and top either in embrun or gap?

i am really dependent on your tips as i do not want to get into any trouble! thanks!!!!

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one more thing to add. i will an ordinary car...regular renault 2 doors with 4 seats which i will hire from marseille airport. please condier that car while givig suggestions that can i make it on that car?

thanks a lot!!!!!!!!

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Should be beautiful, with very little traffic. Better check it%26#39;s open before you leave http://meteonice.free.fr/Cols.html

but I think it%26#39;s usually clear from late May.

Any car should be OK. From the best of my memory the gradients aren%26#39;t too bad (though I haven%26#39;t been over it for years and that was in a Subaru Impreza with dual ratio 4WD, so I didn%26#39;t need to think abut hills very much). Anyway, cyclists do it!

Whether you want to stop or not is up to you - depends whether you just want to drive or do other things. I think you%26#39;ve got reasonable time (particularly if you don%26#39;t go to Embrun over the Col de Vars). Remember it%26#39;s autoroute all the the way from Gap to Marseille, so the last part is fast.

Enjoy!

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thanks a lot. you were of great help. it really helped me in planning!

now to finally wrap up the things:

i am taking the final route:

Nice to Isola (also pass through Mercenatour)

Islo to Col de la Bonette (and barcelonette)

Col de la Bonette to Savines-le-lac

planning to stay a night in %26quot;Savines-le-lac%26quot;

Then Embrun to Gap

Gap to Marseille.

Final few questions:

1) You think this is a nice rout to enjoy the maximum beautiful scenary in short time. Any diversions you would recommened for making more pleasant?

2) anything very beautiful which i must explore while going through that area?

3) finally do you think Savines-le-lac is right place to stay or you prefer any other place to stay which is nearby and more beautiful?

again thanks a lot,

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I%26#39;m not really an expert on this area. I just drive through it going between Italy and England (usually on the N202 between Nice and Digne, but sometimes taking alternative routes for fun). But for what it%26#39;s worth...

St Dalmas is a pretty little place a few kilometres off the route from Isola to the pass.

Embrun might be a more interesting place to stay overnight than Savines, though it is not so rural.

If you have the time to go a little further up the valley from Embrun, Chateau-Queras is beautiful.

Unless you have a reason to visit Gap, you might avoid it - it always looks fairly ordinary driving through (though I%26#39;m sure that those who know it better might disagree)

After you%26#39;ve joined the autoroute, Sisteron is a pleasant little place with an impressive castle.

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thanks a lot. it was of great help:)

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