There’s a certain type of traveller who, when confronted with the suggestion of “slow travel,” pictures linen trousers, Tuscan olive groves, and maybe a non-refundable yoga retreat. But what if slow travel came with a gear shift? What if your winding journey through Europe’s Alpine heartland came not on the back of a bicycle—but behind the wheel of a Ferrari 488?
Enter Ultimate Driving Tours and their ultra-luxurious Swiss Supercar Tour, a July itinerary for those who prefer their mindfulness with Michelin stars and their nature immersion set to the sound of a V12 engine. It’s a six-day, five-night road trip-slash-private escape through Switzerland’s summer landscapes, carefully choreographed to resemble a very high-end film montage—think Bond meets Vogue Living, but with more horsepower.
This isn’t your uncle’s Swiss holiday. No fondue pots in sight. Instead, the experience begins in Zurich at the grand Dolder, a hilltop hotel that could be mistaken for a Wes Anderson fever dream—if Wes Anderson served aperitifs on the terrace while guests handed over keys to Lamborghinis.
After introductions and a welcome dinner at Saltz (yes, of course it’s award-winning), guests ease into the tour, winding through UNESCO biospheres, lakeside roads, and mountain passes with names like “Furka” and “Gotthard”—the sort of routes car commercials dream about.
Each stop is punctuated by luxury that leans into the drama of the terrain. One night it’s The Chedi in Andermatt, where Swiss-Asian “Japandi” minimalism meets spa-palace maximalism. The next it’s Park Hotel Vitznau, a literal castle on Lake Lucerne that makes “fairytale” feel like an understatement. Michelin-starred restaurants await at every pause—The Japanese (at 2,300m above sea level, naturally) and The Grill Terrace’s open-fire “caveman style” gastronomy among them.
But what really defines the Swiss Supercar Tour is its unapologetic indulgence in the art of the journey. There’s no “rush to get there” mentality. Instead, the convoy of supercars—Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens—becomes a roving symbol of a new kind of slowness. Less about speed for speed’s sake, more about marinating in every twist and turn of a mountain road like it’s a tasting menu.
And if you’re still not ready to hang up your driving gloves on Day Six, there’s an optional finale: guests can board a jet to London and be chauffeured straight to the Goodwood Festival of Speed. It’s a very British contrast to the introspective quiet of the Alps—think champagne bars, rosette-awarded dining, and the kind of access only billionaires and extremely well-connected auto-journalists typically enjoy. You'll toast on the Duke and Duchess of Richmond’s lawn (yes, that lawn), party in the Library Garden, and watch the iconic Sunday Shootout in tailored hospitality suites. Because when was the last time a good thing had to end on time?
With prices starting at £14,990 (or $18,990 USD, for those wondering), it’s not exactly a budget break—but that’s the point. This is luxury without compromise. And for the kind of traveller who sees a mountain not just as a view, but as a challenge to ascend in style, the Swiss Supercar Tour is the stuff of summertime dreams.
Slow travel, it turns out, doesn’t have to be slow.
