Falcade

Our first stop after leaving St Moritz was the view of the Bernina Glacier. It is located in the Bernina Range of the Swiss Alps and is one of the largest glaciers in the region, covering an area of approximately 6 square kilometres.

We then drove over the Bernini Pass on our way to the Stelvio Pass. The Bernini Pass is on the Italian border, and the Guardia di Finanze watch every car going through the border, spot-checking the occasional. We got stopped and asked for our passports. The border guard spoke excellent English, so it wasn't long before we were on our way.

The Stelvio Pass is located in northern Italy near the Swiss border and is the highest paved mountain pass in the eastern Alps, with an elevation of 2,757 metres (9,045 feet) above sea level. The pass is known for its stunning scenery and hairpin turns. It was on my bucket list for this trip, and everyone told me I must drive the Stelvio Pass. And it didn't disappoint. The tight hairpin turns make it a genuinely stunning road to drive, and the surrounding scenery is picturesque. We drove up the pass twice to take in the road before heading over the pass and down the other side. The descent down the other side was just as magnificent as the ascent. I can now say that the Stelvio Pass has been the best road on tour.

In the afternoon, we drove over the Sella Pass in the Dolomite Mountains. And though the road wasn't as stunning as the Stelvio Pass, the Dolomite mountains were spectacular with their sheer rock cliffs. It is as if the mountains are pushed straight up from the ground. I marvelled at these vertical mountains and the wonder of how they formed.

We said farewell to Switzerland today. After traversing the Alps over the past week, I am satisfied that I have driven the best mountain passes that Switzerland has to offer.Read more