Simplon Pass (driving tour to Domodóssola, Italy)

At Rothwald (1,750 m/5,742ft; inn) the magnificent summit of the Fletschhorn (3,996 m/13,111ft) comes into view above the pass (to right). 100 m/328ft further on a side road on the left runs up through the forest (0.5km/0.25mi) to the commandingly situated Taferna Hotel. The main road now makes straight for the pass, running high above the Taverbach, with beautiful views down into the valley on the right. Schallberg Refuge Hut (Schutzhaus V, 1,934 m/6,345ft).

Gabi or Gstein (1,232 m/4,042ft) is situated at the confluence of the Krummbach and Laggienbach, forming the Diviera or Doviera River, which the road now follows downstream. Beyond the Gabi gallery is the rugged Gondo gorge, one of the wildest and deepest ravine roads in the Alps. The road continues through the Gondo gallery and crosses the Alpienbach, which flows down from the Alpien glacier on Monte Leone, forming beautiful waterfalls.

Berisal (1,526 m/5,007ft) is a little hamlet with accommodation for summer visitors. The road continues to wind its way up the mountainside through forests of larch, with beautiful views of the Bernese Alps.

At the Engeloch (1,795 m/5,889ft) the Simplon Pass road leads down to the valley floor, crosses the Krummbach (1,617 m/5,305ft) to Eggen (1,660 m/5,250ft), at the mouth of the Rossboden or Sengbach valley, from which there was a devastating rock fall and avalanche from the Rossboden glacier in 1901.

The road over the Simplon Pass curves round into the wooded Ganter valley, beyond which (from left to right) are the Bortelhorn (3,194 m/10,480ft), Furggenbaumhorn (2,991 m/9,813ft) and Wasenhorn (3,246 m/10,650ft).

Beyond Ried-Brig (938 m/3,078ft) the road continues uphill through wooded country, passing under a cableway to Rosswald (2,000 m/6,562ft) to the southeast. At the Schallberg Refuge hut (Schutzhaus II, 1,320 m/4,331ft) the view of the pass, with the Bellevue Hotel opens up. To the rear are the Bernese Alps, from the Bietschhorn to the Aletschhorn.

Simplon Dorf (Italian Sempione, 1,479 m/4,853ft) is beautifully situated in an expanse of green Alpine meadows in a wider part of the valley. To the east is Monte Leone, to the south the Fletschhorn (3,996 m/13,111ft) and Weissmies (4,023 m/13,199ft).