PASSO GAVIA – The MOST BEAUTIFUL mountain pass of the Alps

PASSO GAVIA – The MOST BEAUTIFUL mountain pass of the Alps

(uplifting music) – In the heart of the Italian Alps, where the air thins and
the world falls silent, a road dares to cut through
the mountains, Passo Gavia. Narrow, unpredictable, and
breathtakingly beautiful. It’s not just about the
curves or the climb, it’s about the feeling of freedom that comes with every turn. Come with me to one of my
all-time favorite mountain passes and enjoy the ride to Gavia. (uplifting music) Hello everyone, welcome to a new video. And today, I will take you somewhere where I wanted to take you for ages. One of my favorite mountain
passes in the Alps. And the good thing is we
have to ride from Switzerland to Italy to get to this pass, which means many beautiful
mountain passes on the way. Our ride was supposed to
take us to Passo Gavia, a high mountain pass in the Italian Alps. And the most pretty way to get there is riding over Swiss mountain passes like Flüela and Ofenpass. We are in a beautiful Engadin Valley now and we’re going this direction now, which is up to Livigno,
which is an Italian town. I actually don’t know
the name of the pass, but I think it’s just Passo Livigno. So that’s where we go
now and straight to Italy and then to one of our favorite passes of the whole Italian country. Guys, I know I have said
this before in another video, but Ofenpass is really one
of the most underrated passes in Switzerland, in my opinion. And also, I already said this before, but I promised to make a video about more of the Swiss
mountain passes at one point. But now, first we head to Gavia. Sorry if I wasn’t too precise
at this point of time. Gavia was actually not our
final destination for this day. It was the Alpine skiing village, Bormio, from where Gavia is easily accessible. Bormio sits at the crossroads of some of the most iconic
Alpine roads in the world. From the east, riders can descend over the legendary Passo dello Stelvio. From the west, the road from Livigno spread through high valleys and over Frocola and Foscagno passes, where the peaks tower on every side. So we were on our way to
access Bormio over Livigno. Well, I don’t know how you guys feel about one-way mountain tunnels, but I have, at the same
time, a fascination, but also always need to
think about what to do if we would get stuck. That’s really not a lovely thought or if there would be an accident or don’t even want to think about it. (upbeat music) So, you have to pay for
driving through this tunnel. I actually forgot that. And if you want to avoid it, you can take an alternative
route over Bernina Pass and from there to Livigno
over Passo Forcola, I think it’s called. Just in case, I think that’s
a very good alternative. The passes are also lovely. Tucked high in the Alps, Livigno is more than just a mountain town. Known as Little Tibet
for its remote valley, it sits at over 1,800 meters, surrounded by peaks and passes. Livigno is a duty-free zone, making it a heaven for
riders and travelers alike. And in winter, it transforms into one of Italy’s premier ski resorts, a place of extremes where nature, culture, and adventure meet at
the roof of Lombardy. We are in Livigno now, which means that we just
entered Italy from Switzerland. And from here, we go to the
next bigger mountain pass, which is the Livigno Pass. And I’m looking super forward to it. I think I’ve only ridden
it once in my life. So very excited about this. And then we already end up in the place we’re gonna stay tonight. And that’s a very lovely Italian city. So we continue. There’s actually a mountain pass when riding from Livigno to Bormio. And that’s what we’re gonna do. And then we will stop there and enjoy a lovely
summer evening in Italy. From Livigno, the road to Bormio begins with a steady climb
toward the Foscagno pass. At the top, you pass through
the old customs house, a reminder that Livigno
is still a duty-free zone, set apart from the rest of Italy. From there, the road opens into wild bends and mountain views before
dropping into the valley. It’s a direct and beautiful ride, linking the isolated world of Livigno with the historic town of Bormio. ♪ Stay up all night singing
songs on the terrace ♪ ♪ We didn’t mind sitting out in the cold ♪ ♪ It wasn’t possible to
make us embarrassed ♪ ♪ We were free ♪ ♪ When we were seventeen ♪ Our ride today took me right into Bormio, as you can see here. It’s a lovely little city, town. I don’t even know if it’s a city, but it’s basically the
start to our next pass that we’re going to do tomorrow. But first we can enjoy a very
nice Italian evening here. Bormio sits at the heart
of the Italian Alps, a mountain town known for
its history, hot springs, and as a gateway to legendary
passes like Stelvio and Gavia. For centuries, travelers have stopped here to rest in its natural thermal baths, some still in use today. In winter, it transforms into
a world-class ski resort, while in summer, cyclists and riders from around the globe arrive to take on the high alpine roads. When walking through Bormio, I quickly realized that some things are very different than normally. Bormio is one of the hosts for
the upcoming Winter Olympics and excitement is building
in the whole valley. Walking through the streets, you can feel the anticipation. Olympic banners line the squares, countdown clocks mark the days, and signs proudly announce
the town’s role as a host. And well, I got kind of excited too, even though it was the midst of summer. (people chattering) As everyone knows who
has been to Italy before, food is amazing pretty much everywhere. But if you come to Bormio, make a reservation at
Ristorante Vecchia Combo. We unfortunately failed to do so this time and couldn’t get a table no more. But if you do, you can thank me later. Good morning, everyone. We are going now to one of
my absolute favorite passes in Italy and also in the Alps. I think it’s absolutely stunning. Unfortunately, we were not
up as early as I thought because I thought we’re
going to leave at like, I don’t know, six,
because I once did that. I once rode this pass at 5:00 AM. And it was one of the
most beautiful things that I ever experienced in this region. But unfortunately, I slept long. Now it’s eight and we’re
going to go to now. Hope it’s not too full. (gentle music) Welcome to this very
special morning, everyone. We are going to Passo Gavia now, and I’m super, super excited. Here we go, and it’s
actually not that busy yet. Oh, so nice. Leaving Bormio, the road to Passo Gavia begins with gentle curves
through pine forest. But soon the climb grows
deeper, the road narrower, twisting tightly along the mountainside. Old stone tunnels echo with
the sound of the engine, while sudden openings reveal
vast views across the Alps. Higher up, the landscape changes. Trees give way to rocky
slopes and alpine meadows. (light music) So we are now halfway up to Gavia Pass and it’s absolutely stunning. A lot of traffic today, which is not surprising since
it’s weekend and main season. So I always recommend to go to Dolomites and to this kind of passes in autumn for a very early spring
and early in the morning. And we didn’t do any of those, but it’s still absolutely
stunning and beautiful. I mean, look at all this
beautiful nature around us. It’s really, really nice. Isn’t this so pretty? What I love most about riding in the Alps is when you get to the altitude where no trees grow no more, and all of a sudden you
come like out of the forest and have these wide and
super dramatic views. I think it’s just the best feeling. If you’re wondering, here in the Alps, the tree line sits at around 1,900 meters. In other parts of the
world, it’s very different. Take Colorado, for example, where trees grow up to about 3,600 meters. The reason behind this are many. Climate, latitude, and
geography all play a part. And if we ever meet in person, I’ll be more than happy to give you the full lecture on tree lines. On the climb to Passo Gavia, you will spot Rifugio Analdo Berni, nestled at 2,541 meters and named after Captain Analdo Berni, a mountain troop officer who went missing during the Battle of San
Matteo in World War I in 1918. Just besides the Refugio,
a small chapel stands alongside a war monument,
quietly paying tribute to the fallen of those
mountains wartime stories. It’s a touching reminder that even here, where these days nature seems to rule, history is never far off. And also kept reminding myself of those who are living in conflict
zones right at this time. Guys, it’s not far no more. The top of the pass is very close. And if I recall it right, the ride will get even more spectacular on the way down on the other side. So stay tuned. At the summit of Passo Gavia, you’ll find Lago Bianco, the White Lake. Fed by glacial meltwater, its surface often shines with an almost milky turquoise color. On calm days, it reflects the surrounding
peaks like a mirror. So this is the popular Passo Gavia. At 2,621 meters, we have made
it to the top of Passo Gavia. This pass is one of the
highest paved roads in Italy, and it’s even featured in the Giro Italia, where cyclists often battle snowballs still standing well into summer. So that also explains
all the bicyclists we met at the top of the pass. (dramatic music) Oh no, it seems like there’s
quite some fog in front of us. Oh, not so great. And I hope it’s not all the way because the views are stunning and right below us is
another beautiful lake. I would like to show you guys, so I hope you can see
it in the foreground. (dramatic music) So here should be the lake. Ah, I think we might be lucky. The clouds are just above us because the views here
are really spectacular. Below the summit of Passo
Gavia lies another lake, Lago Nero, the Black Lake. Its dark waters, reflecting the peaks in deep shades of blue and black, give it a more mysterious character than the brighter Lago Bianco above. Like many alpine black lakes,
it carries a touch of legend. Locals once believed that
deep dark lakes like this were bottomless or even haunted. (gentle music) I have to admit that I completely forgot how tight these roads are here at Gavia. It’s definitely not for people
who are scared of altitudes because there are quite some steep drops right next to the road. Oop, very tight here if
you meet other vehicles and yeah, if you are at
the outside lane like I am. But also I’m happy we’re not in a car. (uplifting music) So this is where the trees start again, means we reached much
lower altitudes again. And luckily, soon, it’s lunchtime and we will stop at a very special place. After descending from Passo
Gavia toward Ponte di Legno, there’s one more place
that is a must stop, Osteria Pietra Rossa. It’s an old mountain inn built from stone that for centuries offered
shelter to travelers braving this wild road. Today it still stands as a reminder of how tough crossing the Gavia once was, long before smooth asphalt
and modern motorcycles. Really good. Best Italian food. Stop here and it’s easy to imagine varied traders, soldiers, or pilgrims warming up at the fire before continuing their
journey through the Alps. But how much time changed,
you might realize, when trying to snatch a table. If you come around the
popular lunch hours, it’s highly advised to make
a reservation beforehand. So after having accomplished
the ride on Gavia, the biggest question when arriving on the southern end of Gavia
is always what to do next, because there are actually
not that many roads you can take from here, and they lead you in completely
different directions. So you really have to choose wisely and not just take a road for
the sake of taking a road. Well, for me, the decision what to do next after Gavia is always easy. If you go east, you will
be in the lovely Dolomites within three hours. And that’s why we continued
over one more mountain pass direction the city Bolzano. This is the road up to Passo Tonale. It’s a very open mountain pass, curvy but not so tight and no hairpins. So it’s kind of nice after the
small Gavia Road, actually. At 1,883 meters, you roll
over the top of Passo Tonale, and suddenly it feels less
like a wild alpine pass and more like a lively mountain hub. Hotels, cafes, ski lifts, it’s all here. In winter, it’s packed with skiers. In summer, it’s full of riders
and cyclists taking a break. It might not have the raw
drama of Gavia or Stelvio, but I will not be the one complaining about having the pleasure to
ride another mountain pass right after the previous. So this is the top of Passo Tonale, the east way of Gavia, if you want to go more
east to the Dolomites. And it’s a quite nice ride if you have nobody in front of you. Now it’s gotten very busy, but we had a very nice ride up. So off we go, now direction Bolzano. (gentle music) So this stretch here that we’re on from Passo Tonale to Bolzano is actually not so high altitude anymore. And it’s very, very hot at
the moment, nearly 40 degrees. And yeah, that happens. You go down from Gavia
where it’s kind of like cool and you’re down here in the lower lands and it gets really warm. And you drive kind of like
by some hills with grapes where wine is produced
and fruit is growing. And it’s not so high alpine roads no more. ♪ Try not to hold me down ♪ ♪ Feeling light when I’m in this town ♪ ♪ Look at those beautiful stars ♪ ♪ I wanna drive a faster car ♪ ♪ Nothing can break me ♪ ♪ No, no, nothing can break me ♪ ♪ Look at the beautiful stars ♪ ♪ I wanna drive a faster car ♪ (people chattering) And just like that, a few hours flew by and we were in Bolzano,
the end of our Gavia trip. but the start of a beautiful
ride in my beloved Dolomites. So my dear virtual travel crew, that was the lovely Gavia Pass ride. And I hope it didn’t disappoint. We’re in the middle of
Bolzano, as you can see. And I hope to see all of you next month when it’s time to get to go again. Here’s our hotel now. Bye-bye, take care. You guys heard it. See you again next month
when it’s time to get to go. But before, leave a thumbs up
and comment below this video and let me know which is your favorite
mountain pass on earth. Chances are big that it might inspire me to go there one day. But for now, ride safe
and see you in four weeks. (light music)

In the heart of the Italian Alps, where the air thins and the world falls silent, a road dares to cut through the mountains: Passo Gavia. narrow, unpredictable, and breathtakingly beautiful. It’s not just about the curves or the climb; it’s about the feeling of freedom that comes with every turn. Come with me to one of my all-time favorite mountain passes and enjoy the ride to Gavia.

00:00 Intro to Passo Gavia
00:57 Going to Italy over Swiss mountain passes
02:19 Road and tunnel to Livigno
04:15 Livigno – a special Italian mountain town
05:13 Passo di Foscagno – ride over the Foscagno pass to Bormio
06:21 Bormio – a must visit and the gate to Gavia (and the best restaurant in the area…)
08:08 Climb to Passo Gavia
11:09 Rifugio A. Berni – a historical stop on the way
12:00 Top of the Gavia mountain pass – including Lago Bianco and Lago Nero
14:58 A narrow descent with beautiful views
15:58 Best Lunch spot in the area: Osteria Pietra Rossa
17:13 Passo Tonale – a fun mountain pass close to Gavia
20:09 Bolzano – the perfect city to end a trip to Passo Gavia

// NEW EPISODE OUT MONTHLY EVERY FIRST THURSDAY 19.30 CET

// Support my journey and help me to stay independent!
– BUY ME A TANK OF FUEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/got2go

// My book GOT2GO about my solo motorcycle trip around the world is OUT NOW!
Order the paperback book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095556HPG
Order the ebook for kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092MYKGLF
Or access the book over the Amazon page of your country by searching for “Got2Go” “Lea Rieck”

// Driving a Ducati Multistrada and Honda Africa Twin

//Filmed with:
Drone: DJI Mavic 4 Pro
Camera: Sony FX3
Iphone 15
Tripod: Manfrotto BeFree
Editing Program: Final Cut Pro X

//Follow me on:
https://www.instagram.com/lea_rieck
https://www.facebook.com/got2go.de/

Home

#passogavia #gaviapass #mountainpass #got2go #learieck