Overview
Known for its slow food, fine wines, regal palazzi and authentic French-influenced atmosphere, Piedmont is one of Italy’s most diverse regions. This tour will reveal you the highlights of one of Italy’s most beautiful areas. Cycling in Piedmont Wine Country takes you across rolling hills covered with vineyards, you explore various treasures of culinary, architectural and cultural nature at your own relaxed pace.
- Authentic country towns and villages: Asti, Acqui Terme, Casale Monferrato
- Magnificent panoramic views of the snow-topped mountains
- Fantastic views of the Barolo wine region
- Alba – the capital of truffles
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Alba
Depending on your arrival time, you can enjoy the town of Alba – the heart of Piedmont wine country. Known as the gastronomic capital of the Piedmont region, Alba offers an enticing blend of culinary delights, stunning landscapes, and rich historical and cultural experiences.
- Accommodation: Hotel Calissano or similar in Alba. From mid-September until November, there is an additional supplement of 50 EUR per room/per night for overnight on Fridays and Saturdays
Day 2: Alba to Benevello | 48km
Cycle through the Langhe region’s gentle hills and delightfully green countryside. Stop for a winery visit and sip some delicious Barolo reds or sample up to 30 varieties at the Enoteca Regionale del Barolo. The WiMu at Barolo Castle makes for another interesting stop. The final climb is well worth the effort when you arrive at tonight’s comfortable, stylish accommodation housed in a renovated historic farmhouse.
- Cycling for the day: 48km, ↑900m ↓600m
- Accommodation: Hotel Relais Montemarino or similar in Borgomale
Day 3: Benevello Loop | 31-68km
Today, you have two options: a North cycle route to explore the hills surrounding Cassano Belbo or a longer but very panoramic ride to the highest village of the Langhe region, Mombarcaro, at nearly 1000m above sea level, where on a clear winter day you may see the sea. Or you can choose to visit a winery and relax at the accommodation.
- Cycling for the day: approx. 31km, ↑600m ↓600m (optional loop via Mombarcaro: 68km, ↑1500m ↓1500m)
- Accommodation: Hotel Relais Montemarino or similar in Borgomale
Day 4: Benevello to Acqui Terme | 50km
Embark on the route to Acqui Terme with a relaxing section along the Bormida River. Pass by the ancient villages of Cessole and Bubbio and marvel at the medieval monastery and sturdy sonte bridge in Monastero Bormida. Once in Acqui Terme, hit the old town for some Italian-style shopping or relax at the SPA.
- Cycling for the day: 50km, ↑800m ↓700m
- Accommodation: Hotel Valentino or similar in Acqui Terme
Day 5: Acqui Terme Loop | 34-37km
You have two cycling options and have to decide whether to head north or south. The northern loop coincides partially with tomorrow’s route and leads to stunning wine villages like Fontanile, Alice Bel Colle and Strevi. Select a trattoria for lunch, sip a bit of wine and crunch on grissini. The southern loop is slightly more challenging and takes you to panoramic Ponzone, where you can stop to replenish your energy with coffee and local delicacies at a village bar. Leave time later to explore more of Acqui Terme’s city centre.
- Cycling for the day: 34km, ↑850m ↓850m (optional northern loop: 37km, ↑700m ↓700m)
- Accommodation: Hotel Valentino or similar in Acqui Terme
Day 6: Acqui Terme to Asti | 53km
Today, you ride to Asti, famous for its sparkling Spumante wines. Heading north, you roll through hills carpeted with vineyards. Try to spot Chris Bangle’s Big Benches open-air art installations and stop off in the town of Nizza Monferrato to linger on quiet lanes. Asti is the main commercial centre of Piedmont’s wine area, with the vineyards surrounding the city producing 40% of the region’s wines, including its most famous varietal Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti. Don’t miss to get a birdseye view of the town atop Troyana Tower.
- Cycling for the day: 53km, ↑850m ↓900m
- Accommodation: Hotel Palio or similar in Asti
Day 7: Asti to Alba | 38km
From Asti to Alba, take the historic Via Francigena cycle route, following it out of town past little villages and imposing castles such as Govone, Guarene and Magliano Alfieri. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Castello Govone, like Turin’s Venaria Reale, was the royal residence of the Savoy dynasty. Guarene Castle has been turned into a 5-star hotel. Alba is known for its white truffles. The long-running International white Alba truffle Fair (Fiera Internazionale del Tartufo Bianco d’Alba) starts in October and ends in November.
- Cycling for the day: 38km, ↑600m ↓700m
- Accommodation: Hotel Calissano or similar in Alba. From mid-September until November, there is an additional supplement of 50 EUR per room/per night for overnight on Fridays and Saturdays
Day 8: Departure
The tour ends after breakfast. Departure on your own or add extra days.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of 3-star and 4-star hotels. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms. Please note there is a supplement if you stay in Alba on Fridays and Saturdays.
Click to view default hotels
- Hotel Calissano (Alba)
- Hotel Relais Montemarino (Borgomale)
- Hotel Valentino (Acqui Terme)
- Hotel Palio (Asti)
Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included each day. Packed lunches can be pre-ordered at the accommodations, or you can buy food from local shops. Dinner is available either from the restaurant in your accommodation or in the town where you stay overnight.
Difficulty and terrain
This is a moderate to demanding cycling trip on hilly terrain with daily climbs between 600m and 900m. The rides follow mostly well-asphalted country lanes and secondary
roads with little traffic. Near and in the larger towns, you cycle on roads with heavier traffic. The tour is suitable for fit and frequent cyclists (read more about difficulty grades). We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This tour runs from the start of April until the end of October. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date in the season – so please indicate the desired beginning date when booking.
During May, June, September and October, you are most likely to experience good weather with pleasant average temperatures of 20C – 25C. Most rainfall is seen in October. July is the driest and the hottest month, with an average daily temperature of 27C. Spring and autumn are magical in the famous wine-growing zones, with a rainbow of colours reflecting off every hill and valley. Wine harvest in September and October is an ideal time to visit and taste the wines and drink in the atmosphere. Summer is the time for long lunches and moonlight dining in Piedmont’s great restaurants.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended arrival/departure airports for this holiday are the ones at Turin, Milan, Genoa.
By train or bus
- From Genoa, you can take either a bus or a train; check the website www.aeroportodigenova.it
- From Turin Airport, there is a bus service to and from downtown. It has several stops en-route including Porta Nuova, via Borgaro and Caselle city centre. For information and timetables, visit www.sadem.it. Check www.ferroviedellostato.it for the updated times of departure. From Milan Malpensa and Linate airports, you can visit www.sea-aeroportimilano.it/en for up-to-date detailed info about travelling from the airport to downtown Milan, where you take the train to Alba.
- From Malpensa Airport, there is also a train connection with Milan every 30 minutes and the journey takes about 40min.
- Trains in Italy can be checked here: trenitalia.com or you can use the Omio planner above
- If you arrive by car, you can park at the parking lot of Hotel Calissano; the cost is € 50 for the whole week to be paid on the spot.
Inclusions
Included
- 7 overnight stays in selected hotels
- 7 breakfasts
- Luggage transfer between the hotels (1 piece up to 20kg per person)
- Detailed digital holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps. Please note that the info pack is emailed to you prior to departure, and no printed documents are mailed or provided on-site
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Bike rental
- Local tourist tax and entry fees (payable on the spot)
- Personal expenses such as phone calls, extra transfers, tips, etc.
- Any items not specifically mentioned as ‘included’ in the programme
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Bike rental; helmet rental is free but needs to be booked in advance
- Supplement for overnight in Alba on Fridays and Saturdays
- Extra nights
- The tour can be arranged as a 5-day/4-night option
Bike rental
In case you would like to rent a bike from us, we can offer a different variety of bikes. All bikes are equipped with a phone holder, 1 rear bag, an odometer, a repair kit and a padlock. Helmets are for free, but they have to be requested when booking.
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