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Rundtour von Ascona ueber das Centovalli und Simplonpass sowie Nufenenpass
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert David Ruprecht
Last edit: 09-04-2025
Route Summary
From Ascona on Lake Maggiore, the route leads through the once beautiful Centovalli and then over the Simplon Pass north into Valais. We follow this pass eastward up the valley to Obergoms, the uppermost part of the Rhone Valley. There, we turn southeast and cross the highest mountain pass in Switzerland. We follow the Fiume Ticino all the way down to Lake Maggiore and thus to Ascona.

Even though we "only" cross two passes, this trip still offers twists, variety, and spectacular views. That's why it receives 4.5 stars.

The route is easily navigable throughout and, except for a short section just before Brig, presents no challenges. This section is narrow, but also paved and features many smooth curves that even beginners can easily handle.
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Verdict
Duration
10h 19m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
261.04 km
Countries
The View on the Nufenenpass
RouteXpert Review
We start at the Hotel Ascona Lodge, a highly recommended small hotel near the center of the lakeside village. Already in Losone, the neighboring village of Ascona, we turn west and follow the Melezza into the Centovalli. In this "valley of a hundred valleys," as it is literally translated, we will encounter countless valley mouths that flow into the main valley of the Melezza.

But we'll always stay in the Valley of the Chimney Sweeps, as it was once called. From the 16th century to the early 20th century, children from this valley were often hired out to northern Italy as spazzo camino, chimney sweep assistants, for economic reasons. They had to work there under the most horrific conditions, and many died in the process. We don't notice much of the region's poverty at that time; only a few old ruins along the way perhaps provide a glimpse or two.

Shortly after the village of Centovalli, near the main town of the valley, Intragna, we stop for the first time. We park our bikes, walk back a few meters along the road, and then descend, again in the direction of travel, following the signs to the Ponte Romana, the 16th-century bridge. It swings idyllically over the Melezza and bears witness to old mule tracks. A wonderful photo opportunity.

After this approximately 20-minute walk (10 minutes each way), we continue on. Six kilometers later, we descend to the dam, where Lake Palagnedra reveals itself at its most beautiful. If you don't want to take the time for the detour, you can also stop at one of the parking lots along the main road and take a photo of the lake; there are also spots there with beautiful views.

We take the three bends back up to the main road and follow the valley uphill. There are always beautiful spots to take photos of the forests, mountains, the wild riverbed, or even the small villages clinging to the hillsides. Everyone is welcome to make one or two additional stops. Shortly after Camedo, we cross into Italy. We'll be traveling on Italian soil for about 45km before crossing back into Switzerland.

We stop in Malesco, one of the picturesque villages, and enjoy a stroll through the old alleys, fortifying ourselves with a coffee and croissants. A few kilometers later, we pass Druogno. From this village onward, we no longer follow the Melezza Orientale, the eastern Melezza, but the Melezza Occidentale, the western Melezza. From here, the valley also has a different name: Valle Vigezzo.

This Valle Vigezzo flows into the Toce Valley, but we actually only cross this valley and follow the Diveria upstream further west. In Gondo, we admire and photograph the Stockalper Tower right next to the customs station. The village, which experienced a natural disaster in 2000, has not yet recovered. The tower bears witness to an interesting personality, Kaspar Stockalper. He lived from 1609 to 1691, was an entrepreneur and politician, and became wealthy through the expansion and management of the Simplon Pass. He built a huge castle in Brig and was even ennobled several times by the Pope and princes. Then came his great downfall at the hands of opponents who wanted to break his dominance. His empire was shattered, and he was forced into exile. Only after political changes could he return to Valais. His towers and buildings still bear witness to his empire today and make a beautiful photo subject.

We continue up the well-maintained pass road to the summit, where we have lunch, enjoy the view, and, of course, take some photos. Refreshed, we descend into the Rhone Valley, taking a short final section on a side road that's a bit more winding and, above all, less busy than the main road.

The Rhone Valley, which we now travel uphill, is considerably larger and wider than the landscapes we've traversed so far, but no less beautiful. We're driving through the region with the most four-thousand-meter peaks in Europe, occasionally catching glimpses of these impressive giants in the distance (especially to the south!). In Ulrichen, just before entering Goms, the uppermost section of the Rhone Valley, we turn south and climb the beautiful route to the Nufenen Pass. At 2,439 meters above sea level, this is the highest mountain pass located entirely in Switzerland. We enjoy the view of the mighty mountains all around with another coffee and a slice of cake. The fruit cakes in the restaurant are highly recommended.

We descend through the Bedretto Valley to Airolo and continue along the Ticino River through the Leventina, the river that gives the canton its name. Shortly after Bodio, we stop again at the Alptransit Information Center to gain insight into the construction of the railway base tunnel. It's impressive to see the machines used, the planning required, and the history of the Gotthard Railway Tunnel and European transport policy is equally fascinating. After this broadening of our general knowledge, we set off for the final kilometers to Lake Maggiore and Ascona.

Tip: It is worth staying in Ascona for several days to visit other beautiful, very special valleys such as the Maggia Valley or the Verzasca Valley, as well as towns such as Locarno, Brissago and excursion destinations such as Monte Brè.
Simplonpass
Ponte Romana
Links
Hotel Ascona Lodge
Ponte Romana
More about Kaspar Stockalper
Hotel Monte Leone, Simplonpass
Alptransit Information Center
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Valais
About this region
Valais (in French) (UK: VAL-ay, US: val-AY, French: [valɛ] (listen); Arpitan: Valês), or Wallis (in German) (German: Wallis [ˈvalɪs] (listen)), more formally the Canton of Valais, is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of thirteen districts and its capital and largest city is Sion. The flag of the canton is made of thirteen stars representing the districts, on a white-red background.
Valais is situated in the southwestern part of the country. It borders the cantons of Vaud and Bern to the north, the cantons of Uri and Ticino to the east, as well as Italy to the south and France to the west. It is one of the three large southern Alpine cantons, along with Ticino and the Grisons. It is a bilingual canton, French and German being its two official languages. Traditionally, the canton is divided into Lower, Central and Upper Valais, the latter region constituting the German-speaking minority.
Valais essentially coincides with the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. A major wine region, the canton is simultaneously one of the driest regions of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley and among the wettest, having large amounts of snow and rain up on the highest peaks found in Switzerland, such as Monte Rosa and the Finsteraarhorn. Although a major hydroelectricity producer, Valais is essentially renowned for its tourism industry and for its numerous Alpine resort towns, notably Crans-Montana, Saas Fee, Verbier and Zermatt. Overlooking the latter town, the Matterhorn has become an iconic landmark of the canton.
In 1529, Valais became an associate member of the Swiss Confederation. After having resisted the Protestant Reformation and remained faithful to the Roman Catholic Church, it became a republic under the guidance of the prince-bishop of Sion in 1628. In 1815, Valais finally entered the Swiss Confederation as a canton.
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Route Collections in this region
The 24 Most Beautiful Alpine Routes
The Alps, The Alps are a mountain range in Europe, stretching from the French Mediterranean coast in the southwest to the Pannonian Plain in the east. The area of the mountain range is more than 200,000 km².

In other words Passes and Mountain Roads!

Driving through the mountains is great! Especially over the mountain passes with hairpin bends and narrow winding roads. Every bend a different view where you can enjoy. There are many beautiful mountain passes in the Alps.

A selection that has also been incorporated into these routes:
The Stlevio Pass:
The Stelvio Pass, also known as Passo dello Stelvio, is mainly known for the stage in the Giro d'Italia. Due to the length and the difference in height, this pass is seen as one of the toughest tests in cycling. The Stelvio Pass reaches a maximum height of 2758 meters and is therefore one of the highest in the Alps. The pass connects the towns of Bormio and Prato Allo Stelvio. In winter the pass is closed due to heavy snowfall.

The Reschenpass:
The Reschenpass, also known as Passo di Resia, connects the Austrian state of Tyrol with the Italian province of South Tyrol. The pass reaches a maximum height of 1,504 meters and has been one of the most important north-south connections in the Alps in recent centuries. The pass was used long before Roman times. Along the way you will pass several highlights and historical relics. One of the highlights is the Reschensee. This lake was created after the construction of the dam and has completely submerged the village of Graun. The only thing that reminds of that is the clock tower in the middle of the lake.

Col du Galibier:
The French mountain pass Col du Galibier connects the towns of Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne and Briançon via the Col du Lautaret in the south and the Col du Télégraphe in the north. The mountain pass is part of the Tour de France and very much feared, due to the fact that it can only be reached via the other two mountain passes. The pass reaches a maximum height of 2646 meters. From there you can take a walk to the viewpoint at 2704 meters. You can admire the peaks of the Grand Galibier, Mont Blanc and La Meije here.

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road:
With a height of 3798 meters the Grossglockner is the highest mountain in Austria. To fully enjoy this impressive mountain, you can drive over the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and the accompanying pass. The route starts from Bruck am Grossglockner and ends in Heiligenblut. Of course you can drive in two directions. The pass reaches a maximum height of 2504 meters and is closed in winter due to heavy snowfall. Along the way you pass several stops with fun activities, information points, mountain huts and viewpoints. A visit to the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe and Pasterzen Glacier is highly recommended.

The Col d'Izoard:
Just like the Col du Galibier, the Col d'Izoard is also part of a stage of the Tour de France. The mountain pass connects Briançon with the valley of the river Guil. The pass is partly located in the Regional Natural Park du Queyras and reaches a maximum height of 2360 meters. What is special about the Col d'Izoard is the barren and rocky landscape. Sometimes it feels like driving a car over the moon! Along the way you can stop at several points to enjoy the beautiful view.

The Bernina Pass:
The Bernina Express is one of the most famous rail trains in Switzerland and the Alps. The route is beautiful and partly included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Parallel to the railway lies the Bernina pass, which connects the Veltlin valley with the Egandin valley. This beautiful Alpine road has a total length of 56 kilometers and reaches a maximum height of 2328 meters. Along the way you can enjoy views of the Morteratsch Glacier.

The Sella Pass:
The Sella Pass, also known as Passo di Sella, takes you over one of the most impressive mountain ranges in the Dolomites: the Sella massif. The pass connects Valle di Fassa with Val Gardena and reaches a maximum height of 2236 meters. At this height is also the border of the Italian provinces of Trentino and Bolzano. Along the way you can enjoy the view of this spectacular mountain world. Admire, for example, the three peaks of the Sasso Lungo massif, the Sella massif or the peaks of the Marmolada. You can also drive the Sella pass in combination with the Gardena pass, Pordoi pass and Campolongo pass.

The Grimsel Pass:
The Grimsel Pass connects Goms in Wallis with the Halis Valley in the Bernese Oberland. The pass reaches a maximum elevation of 2165 meters and is closed in winter due to snowfall. Over the centuries, the mountain pass has played an important role in trade between Switzerland and Italy. Now it is mainly the reservoirs that have an important function. These are used to generate electricity. The landscape you drive through is rugged, rocky and impressive. On top of the pass is a hotel and a restaurant with a special marmot park. The Dodensee (Totensee) is also located here. This lake owes its name to the many soldiers who died in the time of Napoleon.

The Gotthard Pass:
The Gotthard Pass, also known as Passo del San Gottardo and Saint Gotthard, connects the Swiss towns of Airolo and Andermatt. The mountain pass and associated tunnel are especially known among holidaymakers driving from Switzerland to Italy. But where the majority opt for the tunnel, it is precisely the pass that really completes the holiday. The Gotthard Pass has a length of about 26 kilometers and reaches a maximum height of 2106 meters. The route is beautiful and takes you along old villages and beautiful views.

The Silvretta High Alpine Road and Silvretta Pass:
The Paznaun Valley in Tyrol and the Montafon in Vorarlberg are connected by the Silvretta High Alpine Road. The route has a length of 22.3 kilometers and leads from Galtür to Partenen in 34 hairpin bends, via the 2032 meter high Bielerhöhe. The Silvrettasee is also located at this point, where you can enjoy a lovely walk. The pass is closed in winter due to snowfall.

The Simplon Pass:
Just like the Gotthard Pass, many holidaymakers also travel over the Simplon Pass every year. This mountain pass connects the Rhone Valley in the canton of Valais with the Valle d'Ossola in Piemonte. The pass is open all year round and reaches a maximum height of 2005 meters. Along the way you pass a number of buildings, including the well-known Simplon Hospiz from 1825. The hospiz is managed by the monks of St. Bernard. From the highest point on the pass, all kinds of hiking routes are possible and you will also come across a hotel where you can spend the night.

The Gerlos Pass:
The Gerlos Pass connects the Salzach Valley in the Salzburgerland with the Zillertal Valley in Tyrol. The pass is part of the Gerlos Alpenstraße and runs right through the Hohe Tauern National Park. Along the way you can enjoy beautiful views of the surroundings. The pass has a length of 12 kilometers and reaches a maximum height of 1531 meters. A ride over the Gerlos Pass can be ideally combined with a visit to the Krimmler Wasserfälle.

The Great St. Bernard Pass:
The Great St. Bernard Pass, better known as Col du Grand Saint Bernard, connects the Italian province of Valle d'Aosta with the Swiss canton of Valais. The pass is one of the highest in Switzerland and reaches a maximum height of 2469 meters. Like a number of other mountain passes in this list, the Great St. Bernard Pass has also been used as a connecting road for centuries. The pass is named after the St. Bernard dogs that used to help stranded travelers along with the monks. The pass is closed in winter.

The Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road:
The Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road connects the towns of Sölden in the Ötztal and Meran in South Tyrol. Tolls must be paid on the Hochgurgl - Moos route. Via a mountain road with about 60 hairpin bends you drive through a beautiful mountain world. With the Timmelsjoch Experience you can learn more about the history, the road and the environment via various stations. You can also visit the Top Mountain Crosspoint museum.

Col de l'Iseran:
With a maximum pass height of 2770 meters, the Col l'Iséran is one of the highest mountain passes in the Alps. The pass connects Bourg-Saint-Maurice with Bonneval-sur-Arc. Via a road full of hairpin bends you pass, among other things, Val-d'Isère and a side valley of the Maurienne that lies entirely in the National Park de la Vanoise. You can spot animals such as marmots and chamois and there is also a restaurant with a chapel on top of the pass.

The Gavia Pass:
The Gavia Pass (Italian Passo di Gavia) is a mountain pass in the Italian Alps, in the Lombardy region.
It is one of the highest pass roads in Europe. The road leads through the unspoilt Stelvio National Park. The road was built in the First World War to supply Italian soldiers who fought in the Italian-Austrian border area. The pass height is one of the most beautiful in the Alps. Here is the large Lago Bianco with, to the north, the mountain San Matteo (3684 meters). Lago Nero is slightly lower on the south side of the pass. Here the mountain group of the Adamello determines the view. There are many well-marked walks in the area. During the winter the pass is closed due to the heavy snowfall. The pass is often closed until May and June due to the large amount of snow.


Promoter has made a selection of the 24 Most Beautiful Alpine routes that they have set out in recent years.

The routes go through:
France
Austria
Switzerland
Italy

The most beautiful roads, the most beautiful views, the most beautiful viewpoints. The highest mountains, the fastest descents, hairpin bend after hairpin bend, you name it you can't get enough of it.

If you go on holiday in this region, take advantage of it, ALL routes in this collection have been checked and made equal for TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation by a MyRoute-app RouteXpert.

Have fun with this collection and while driving one of these routes. Enjoy all the beauty that the Alps and the Dolomites have to offer. Click on “View route” to read the review of the chosen route.

I would like to hear your findings about the route(s).



View Route Collection
24 Routes
8059.29 km
171h 24m
Pass Parade Alps and Dolomites
The Alps, a mountain range in Europe that stretches from the French Mediterranean coast in the southwest to the Pannonian plain in the east, almost always guarantee beautiful routes. It can hardly be boring there. The many passes, vistas and variations in the landscape make the Alps a true motorcyclist's paradise. Driving around in the Alps is really quite an experience. You haven't gone through one bend yet or the next one is already on its way. Climbing from the valley, see the landscape change from wooded slopes with splashing waterfalls to alpine meadows where no trees can be found and asphalt roads that cut through the eternal snow. Arriving on top of the mountain, enjoy phenomenal views over the surrounding snow-capped peaks, as if you were on the roof of the world.

The Dolomites also form a fantastic mountain world. They are located east of the Eisacktal, through which the “Brenner Autobahn” runs, which only ends at Bolzano. The area is located in the southernmost part of the Alps, but offers a fantastic, often rugged and unreal sight due to the huge rocky peaks. Peaks that rise steeply above the green wooded slopes and Almen. Truly breathtakingly beautiful roads have been built between the peaks.

How nice would it be if these two areas were strung together by a number of routes that take in a selection of the most beautiful passes in both areas? This collection provides you with that. Starting point is the Postillion Hotel in Arnhem, where you can visit both these beautiful areas in 10 days/routes and get 35 great passes under your wheels. The 'big boys' such as the Stelvio, Timmelsjoch, Pordoi and Gardena are on the list, but also the less well-known passes in the south of the Dolomites, such as the Passo Staulanza, the Passo Rolle and the Passo Duran. In the meantime, visiting the highest asphalted point in Austria at 2829 meters is also possible. After more than 3100 kilometers you end up at the Postillion Hotel in Arnhem.

A number of sights are discussed in the review for each route. These often tell you what you see and what to do. Fun facts, quite educational. Often there are also places indicated where you can find some entertainment, for example a suspension bridge at a great height. You are completely free to visit these sights, you can of course also determine your own points of interest.
But the main thing you most likely traveled to these areas for is simply driving. And as mentioned above, you are in a true motorcycle paradise where the steering is fantastic!

Each route ends at a hotel. It is of course not an obligation to use these hotels, you can always find another place to stay in the area, that is entirely up to you. However, my experience is that they are all simple but good hotels for a very reasonable price. They are known at/can be booked via booking.com (subject to change)

The routes of these collections:

R01 Arnhem to Riol, 355km
R02 Riol to Voehrenbach, 311km
R03 Voehrenbach to Innertkirchen, 257km
R04 Innertkirchen to Susch, 303km
R05 Susch to Selva di Val Gardena, 301km
R06 Selva di Val Gardena to Castello Molina di Fiemme, 272km
R07 Castello Molina di Fiemme to Reutte, 289km
R08 Reutte to Voehrenbach, 273km
R09 Voehrenbach to Riol, 367km
R10 Riol to Arnhem, 341km

Have fun driving these routes!

View Route Collection
10 Routes
2772.71 km
74h 22m
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