Recapitulation: The Journey in Numbers
As the sun sets on this adventure, it’s time to reflect on the journey in its entirety – the highs, the lows, and everything in between. From the stunning Alpine scenery to the serendipitous beach sightings at high altitudes, this trip has been nothing short of extraordinary. Let’s take a moment to break down the journey by the numbers.
Distance and Time:
In total, I covered 3,778 kilometers by car, which took 79.5 hours of driving time, averaging a speed of 48 km/h. This, of course, does not include the distances covered by trains, cable cars, and on foot.
Fuel Consumption:
During the trip, I burned 237.5 liters of diesel fuel, which cost me 430 euros. This equates to an average fuel economy of 6.28 l/100 km. Considering the weight of my equipment and the aerodynamic challenges posed by the roof racks and large Thule roof box, this was a reasonable consumption rate.
Road Tolls:
The tolls for the journey totaled 190 euros, broken down as follows:
- Italy: 60€
- France: 5€
- Switzerland: 40€ (vignette)
- Mont Blanc tunnel: 53€
- Great St. Bernard tunnel: 32€ (accidentally entered)
Public Transport and Activities:
I took a train from Tasch to Zermatt (18€) and two cable cars up to Sunnegga (51€) to capture a stunning view of the Matterhorn and embark on the ‘5 lakes route’ hike. This brought the total for public transport and activities to 69 euros.
Accommodation:
I opted to stay in campgrounds every night, given the warm weather and my need for a refreshing shower each evening after a day of physical activity. This cost me around 20 euros per night, totaling 180 euros for 9 nights.
Overall Cost:
The overall cost of the trip was approximately 870 euros. While this is a significant sum, there were opportunities for savings. For example, wild camping could have saved around 100 euros, more attentive navigation could have avoided the 32€ Great St. Bernard tunnel toll, opting out of the Mont Blanc tunnel could have saved 53 euros, and using regional roads instead of highways could have reduced tolls, albeit at the expense of driving time. With these potential savings, the trip could have cost around 600 euros without sacrificing much of the overall experience.
Final Thoughts:
As I reflect on this journey, I am filled with gratitude for the experiences I’ve had and the memories I’ve created. From the awe-inspiring peaks of the Alps to the unexpected surprises along the way, this adventure has been one for the books. While the cost of the trip was significant, the experiences and memories gained were priceless.
As the saying goes, “Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” I couldn’t agree more. Until the next adventure, happy trails!
And with that, the series comes to a close. Thank you for joining me on this journey. Your support and encouragement have meant the world to me. Stay tuned for more adventures in the future!
Below you can find my daily approximate routes how are recorded within Google’s TImeline.
Day 1, Zadar – Camping Federico Farm:
Day 2, Camping Federico Farm – Camping Gite d’Etape Champ-Feleze:
Day 3, Camping Gite d’Etape Champ-Feleze – Camping La Foret:
Day 4, Camping La Foret – Camping des Glaciers:
Day 5, Camping des Glaciers – Camping Attermenzen:
Day 6, Camping Attermenzen – Camping Cul:
Day 7, Camping Cul – Camping I Larici:
Day 8, Camping I Larici – Camping Eden:
Day 9, Camping Eden – Camping Alla Baita:
Day 10, Camping Alla Baita – Zadar:
