What Is a Group Driving Tour? How a Route GT Tour Works
You’ve got the car. You’ve got a few roads on your wish list. What you haven’t got is the time to bring it all together: finding the route, choosing the hotels, planning the stops and finding people to share it with.
A group driving tour does that for you. You drive your own car, follow a planned itinerary and enjoy the roads alongside other enthusiasts, while a team hosts the trip.
At Route GT, we keep every tour to a maximum of 20 cars, combining rewarding driving with comfortable hotels, shared dinners and time to enjoy the places we visit. Here’s how it works if you’ve never joined one, from arrival to the closing event.
What is a driving tour?
A driving tour is a trip built around the journey. We choose roads because they’re worth driving: flowing corners, changing landscapes, coastal views or a mountain crossing you’ll still be talking about months later.
On a group tour you share that route with other drivers, with set meeting points, stops and evenings together. It’s also a chance to enjoy your own car somewhere new, and to see how it feels on roads you’ve never driven.
We handle the planning and hosting. You can see where we’re heading next on our driving tours page.
Arrival: meeting the people behind the cars
Your tour starts at the meeting venue. You check in, meet the Route GT team and start getting to know the other guests. With no more than 20 cars, there’s room for a good mix of people while it still feels personal. Some guests arrive as couples, some bring a friend, and some come alone.
If it’s your first tour, the cars make it easy. Everyone has a story about what they drive, a road trip they still talk about or a place they’ve been meaning to visit.
The driver briefing, sat nav and radio
Before setting off, the briefing brings everyone together. We cover the day’s route and stops, how to use your loan sat nav and radio, how to drive as a group and regroup, any road hazards, and how to reach the team if you need help. You can ask questions while parked, with the team on hand.
The sat nav means you don’t have to keep the car ahead in sight. The radio keeps the group informed about updates along the way.
The convoy: sharing the road at your own pace
It’s a pleasure to see the other cars pulling away from the hotel and arriving together at a stop. But the convoy is flexible. Traffic lights and junctions create gaps, and cars travel in smaller groups during the day.
There’s no need to stay glued to another car or rush to catch up. Follow your navigation, leave sensible space and rejoin the group at the next planned stop. Our tours are non-competitive, and every driver is responsible for their own driving and for observing road laws. Our terms explain this.
If you’re looking for a guided driving tour in the UK, this is the idea: a hosted tour with a planned route, shared stops and support, while you stay in control of your own drive.
A typical day, hour by hour
Every itinerary is different, so treat this as an example, not a timetable.
| Time | What the day might look like |
|---|---|
| 08:00 | Breakfast at the hotel |
| 09:00 | Briefing and equipment checks |
| 09:30 | First driving section |
| 11:00 | Coffee and regroup |
| 13:00 | Lunch with the group |
| 16:30 | Arrive at the hotel and check in |
| 19:00 | Dinner together |
The balance matters: enough time behind the wheel to enjoy the roads, and enough breaks to appreciate where you are. A coffee stop can turn into a chat about someone’s first sports car. By dinner, there’s a whole day of shared experience to talk about.
Hotels, dinners and your on-tour team
A touring hotel has to work for the journey as well as the night. We choose accommodation alongside the roads, stops and timings, so you arrive somewhere comfortable and have time to unwind. You can read more in Why Route GT. Check each tour’s inclusions for the hotels and meals provided, as they vary.
The Route GT team hosts the whole tour. We welcome guests, run the briefings, help with the sat nav and radio, coordinate stops and keep everyone informed, including if anything affects the plan. Our support sits alongside your own responsibility for your car and driving, including insurance and breakdown cover. More practical details are in our tour FAQs.
Who does a group driving tour suit?
- Solo drivers: you get your own drive and the company of a group when you stop. Shared meals make it easy to meet people, and you don’t need to bring anyone with you.
- Couples: a break together with roads, scenery, hotels and evenings out. Pick a route you both like the sound of, because the passenger’s enjoyment matters too.
- Friends: you can drive separately and meet at the planned stops, with the wider group on top.
The closing event: one last time together
The closing event is a final chance to catch up before everyone heads home. By then, the faces you met on arrival are the people you’ve shared roads, meals and stories with. There are photos to swap and favourite moments to revisit, and perhaps another trip already being planned.
How to choose your first Route GT tour
Start with the place you most want to explore. Then think about how long you want to be away, how much driving you want and who’s coming with you. Read the itinerary and inclusions so you know what’s covered. If you’re not sure a route suits you or your car, ask the team before you book.
Your first group driving tour starts with a simple decision: making time for a proper drive.
