Following the success of the inaugural Four Seasons Drive Experience through Tuscany, the hotel company has created two new itineraries for 2023 that will showcase the best of the European Alps and the Napa Valley.
From behind the wheel of a luxury vehicle, guests can look forward to once-in-a-lifetime dining experiences, customized routes and insider access to local talent and unique cultural offerings, allowing discovery of each destination from a new perspective. Four Seasons Drive Experience in the Heart of the Alps from June 12 to 18, 2023 and Four Seasons Drive Experience Through Napa Valley from October 29 to November 4, 2023, will deliver driving experiences that showcase the best of these new itinerary destinations. When not on the road, guests in the Alps will stay at Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva and Four Seasons Hotel Megève. While in Napa Valley, travellers will stay at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley.
From the accommodations and trip itinerary to the exclusive excursions and tailored local experiences, all will be delivered with the attention to detail, exceptional quality, and caring service for which Four Seasons is renowned. Guests booking a Four Seasons Drive Experience will enjoy expertly curated experiences with lesser-known wonders and hidden locales tailored to each traveller, organized by the Four Seasons team, for a truly unparalleled journey.
From start to finish, both itineraries are designed to celebrate the romance of road travel and savour every moment of the journey as well as the destination, whether from a guest’s own luxury vehicle or one coordinated by the dedicated guest services team.
Four Seasons Drive Experience in the Heart of the Alps
The week-long itinerary will begin at Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva, which will serve as home base for the next few days, with enchanting views of Lake Geneva and an iconic backdrop of snow-capped Alps. A welcome dinner will provide the perfect setting for getting acquainted with fellow travellers. While in Geneva, guests will visit Gruyère Village – regarded as one of the most beautiful villages in the region and home to the well-known Swiss cheese. Thereafter, they will embark on a panoramic tour across UNESCO World Heritage Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces – a 19 mile stretch of land with striking hillside terraces – before being escorted through historical wine estates dating back to the Middle Ages for a Swiss wine and cheese pairing.
In the days that follow, travelers will journey towards the final destination of Megève, stopping along the way to learn about the timeless art of watchmaking – from design and prototype development to machining. The afternoon will include an adrenaline-fueled drive passing through Chateau d’Avully, known for soaring towers and iconic architecture before arriving at Four Seasons Hotel Megève to rest and recharge.
Programming in Megève includes an exhilarating trip to the Alpine town of Annecy winding through the mythic Aravis roads and crossing sky-piercing mountains; a visit to Mont Blanc Massif – an awe-inspiring mountain range featuring arresting 360-degree views of the French, Swiss and Italian Alps; and taking on the remote Grand Saint Bernard Mountain pass that connects Italy and Switzerland to conclude their journey back to Megève.
Four Seasons Drive Experience Through Napa Valley
This itinerary for food and wine enthusiasts is centred around the best wineries and culinary experiences that promise to invigorate palates and tantalize tastebuds. In one of the food and wine capitals of North America, guests will arrive at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley, home for the next seven days.
The journey will begin with a celebration of innovative gastronomy – a welcome dinner at the property’s Vineyard Barn featuring an architectural design that embodies Napa’s rich farming heritage, framed by picturesque forests and unobstructed views of the mountains. The next day will start with a scenic drive to Tomales Bay for an immersive oyster farming experience followed by a gourmet lunch overlooking the bay. In the evening, guests will enjoy a sumptuous dinner for the senses, complimented by the region’s specialty wines.
The following days will be dedicated to discovering unique flavours and being immersed in fragrant wine notes touring Napa’s most talked about wineries, only accessible to Four Seasons Drive Experience guests, including Opus One Winery, born from the collaboration between two of the most esteemed winemaking figures: Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild and Robert Mondavi.
For the final days of the itinerary, guests will take a private ferry tour around San Francisco Bay and end the seven-day experience in the clouds with hot-air balloon rides that offer panoramic views of the vineyards and undulating mountains