Piedmont: Barolo & Truffles

Gourmand’s bicycle tour of Italy’s greatest wine region

Cycle along lesser traveled paths that make way for some gorgeous sights and smells in this wine region

Destination

Piedmont, Italy

Activity

Biking

Level

Intermediate

Duration

8 days / 7 nights

You are a food and wine connoisseur who wants to take a deep dive into the world's most coveted wine region and taste abundant variations of Barolo, Barbaresco and Barbera.

2023

2024

From $5,895 PP 8 days / 7 nights

From $5,950 PP

Book Now

Schedule A Call

Download Itinerary

You are a food and wine connoisseur who wants to take a deep dive into the world's most coveted wine region and taste abundant variations of Barolo, Barbaresco and Barbera.

Savor all the beauty and pleasures of Piedmont, considered Italy’s greatest single wine region, on this unforgettable eight-day bicycle tour. Our route traverses the region’s most important and distinct vineyard centers of Gavi, Acqui Terme, Alba, and lower Monferrato. We’ll be fortified on our journey by sumptuous meals pairing great wines with delightfully complementary Piemontese cuisine, a blend of northern Italian and French influences, with truffles and mushrooms as seasonal key players. In the fall, the cycling tour may coincide with the “Fiere del Tartufo,” the International Truffle Fair, which attracts gourmands and top chefs to the fairytale towns of Alba, Moncalvo and Acqui Terme. Here we savor the delicacies produced by local culinary artisans and experience the enchantment of the Tartufo Bianco, the revered white truffle!

Tour Essence

Less-traveled, gorgeous country roads
Sumptuous dinners at Enoclub in Alba and Schiavia in Acqui Terme
Introduction to world-famous local wines such as Barolo, Barbaresco & Barbera with our local hosts and sommeliers
Meet with a truffle hunter & his dog for a lecture on truffles
Emerald valleys and vineyard-laden hillsides
Barolo, Barbaresco and Barbera
Private wine tastings by our local hosts and sommeliers

What to Expect

Terrain

Rolling

Start Location

Gavi

End Location

Penango

Mileage

Average Daily: 35 miles Total: 248 miles

Elevation

Average Daily: 2,705 ft Total: 18,940 ft

Biker in a field of yellow flowers in Piedmont

Recognition

This tour was featured in Outside's "Trip of the Year" in 2007.

Once you have a trip confirmed, we will feed you a steady diet of additional pre-departure information that includes: How to train, prepare, pack and all the wonderful, inspirational and practical things you want and need to know before you go! Our Travel Advisors will be available to help plan your pre- and post-tour travel.

What’s Included

Van support
Expert, bilingual guides
Guided walking tour of Alba
Truffle hunting demonstration
3 wine tastings
3 cycling clinics
Shuttle at the end of the tour

What’s Included

Use of our exclusive carbon road bike, La Classica Ribelle (or Equivalent Carbon Road Bike)
Garmin Edge Touring GPS loaded with the GPX tracks of your rides
Two water bottles
Saddle bag with repair kit
Optional: Map holder on handlebar

Pedal Options

Flat pedals
Half-toe pedals (without straps)

What’s Not Included

Helmet
Optional: clipless/SPD pedals with shoes
Optional: your own saddle

All accommodations
All breakfasts
2 lunches
5 dinners

Exemplifying the best of European biking tours, we’ll cycle lesser-traveled country roads through the emerald valleys and vineyard-laden hillsides of Barolo and Monforte, framed by majestic views of the Alps, and of Dolcetto, Cortese and Moscato. We’ll stop to discover both world-famous local wines such as Barolo, Barbaresco and Barbera, shared by vineyard owners and sommeliers. The castles of Monferrato, each guarding a unique medieval village, the famed thermal waters of Acqui, and the hypnotic geometry of the Nizza hills are among the many highlights on our glorious route. We’ll visit the world’s most famous bicycle museum of champions, join a local truffle hunter and his dog for a demonstration, enjoy five-star meals at the famous restaurants Enoclub in Alba and La Schiavia in Acqui Terme, and conclude our Piedmont bike trip at the elegant and romantic Relais il Borgo da Beppe. No bicycle tour brings you closer to the spirit, the people, and the treasures of the Italy’s famed Piedmont!

Dates

2023

Sep 3-10

Sold Out

Oct 4-11

White Truffle Fair in Alba!

2024

Jun 8-15

Available

Aug 25-Sep 1

Available

Sep 21-28

Available

Oct 12-19

Available

2023

2024

From $5,895 PP 8 days / 7 nights

From $5,950 PP

$800 Optional Single Supplement

Book Now

Schedule A Call

Download Itinerary

Any of our tours can be made private. Contact us to learn more.

Go Private

Itinerary

Download Itinerary

Start Location

Gavi

Fly Into

Turin-Caselle Airport

End Location

Penango

Fly Out Of

Turin or Milan

Download Itinerary

STYLED MAP

Day1

Monterotondo di Gavi

We meet in the hotel lobby at 12:30 pm for lunch, introductions, bike fitting and an orientation to the trip. Our itinerary starts in the southeastern corner of the region, near the village of Gavi Ligure. This historic area has been the border between Liguria and the inland for centuries. The area is famous for its White Cortese grapes and vineyards; in 2021 our hotel, Villa Sparina was named "European cellar of the year" by the Wine Enthusiast. We follow tiny roads through vineyards to Novi Ligure, the birthplace of cycling champions Costante Girardengo and Fausto Coppi. We visit the Museo Dei Campionisimi, the Cycling Museum of Champions dedicated to the history of cycling. Our local tour leaders, who are passionate of the "heroic era'' of cycling will be perfect guides for this unforgettable visit to historic heart of international cycling. Once back at our Hotel, the Villa Sparina Estate, we are introduced to their historic cellars and enjoy a tasting of their best wines and a gourmet dinner at La Gallina restaurant.

Meals Provided

Lunch, Dinner

Average Mileage

13 miles

Elevation Gain

870 ft

Riding Terrain

Rolling

Meals Provided

Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations

L’Ostelliere Villa Sparina

The Villa Sparina Resort is where hospitality comes to life. The hotel is located in the gentle hills of Gavi, dotted with vineyards, surrounded by untouched nature in a quiet, relaxed atmosphere. Charming rooms bursting with personality of the Ostelliere will pamper your soul and revitalize your spirit.

Luxury Level

Day2

Gavi to Acqui Terme

Today we pedal from Gavi to Acqui, crossing two unique areas. First we cycle through Gavi Ligure, a tiny town with narrow streets, home of delicious ravioli and an austere fortress designed by a monk in the XVI century. Pedaling along we spin through an area known as "The Castles of Alto Monferrato", a series of hilltop villages each dominated by a medieval castle, typical of a regional border. The ride peacefully unfolds on quiet roads with gentle climbs and for those who want more challenge we offer an extra loop along the banks of the Apennines. The landscape is dramatic-- layered hillsides alternating with dense forests, and home to delicious porcini mushrooms, wild boar, reindeer and wolves. Here we are very close to the Apennines, the longest mountain range of Italy. On the last descent towards Acqui Terme, the vineyards of Dolcetto, Cortese, and Moscato come alive as the theatrical stage of the last part of the ride. Crossing the bridge that leads to the town your eyes will be fixed on the 2000 year old arches of a Roman aqueduct. Acqui, in fact, was named by Roman conquerors Acquae Statiellae, (waters of the Stazielli, the ancient inhabitants). Here in typical Ciclismo educational immersion fashion, we share the history and culinary traditions of the city, the gateway of Alto Monferrato. Before dinner, a local guide leads us through town to discover the most important monuments of Acqui and visit its regional Enoteca. During our stay, we’ll have the chance to enjoy the thermal baths and uncover the secrets of local gastronomy and wines at the local "regional enoteca."

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Average Mileage

37 miles

Elevation Gain

3,025 ft

Riding Terrain

Rolling with some gradual climbs

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations

Il Sambuco Innamorato

Il Sambuco innamorato is a small piece of paradise nestled in the green hills of Acqui Terme and close to the historical center. The quality of the environment, the silence and peace of this place is ideal for those who want to get away from the stress of every day.

Luxury Level

Day3

Acqui Terme

Today’s ride will show the magnificent geometrical layout of the Monferrato vineyards. We start with gently rolling and flat roads, between orchards and poplar grooves, until we climb slowly to the medieval town of Cassine, a hidden gem built on the side of a hill overlooking the Bormida valley. Past Cassine wel climb into fantastic zig zagging world of the vineyards of Monferrato. In 2014 UNESCO declared this ancient area of vineyards to be a World Heritage area. Towards the end of the ride we reach the home of a Ciclismo friend, a winemaker who introduces us to his family-run winery followed by a scrumptious Ciclismo picnic. The last stretch of the ride is a gradual climb and a fun rolling descent to the center of town. After lunch, if you have the energy, we climb to Castelletto d'Erro, an iconic climb for local cyclists. Here you’ll enjoy a different landscape of ravines, dramatic castle ruins and endless ridges that lead all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. Dinner on your own

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch

Average Mileage

37 miles

Elevation Gain

2,400 ft

Riding Terrain

Rolling with some steep and short climbs

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodations

Il Sambuco Innamorato

Luxury Level

Day4

Acqui to Alba

This morning we head to Alba along the Bormida Valley with a majestic view of the Alps on our side for almost the entire ride. Our first regroup is in the lovely village of Monastero Bormida with its medieval bridge, built 800 years ago and the only bridge that resisted a terrible flood in 1994. The route follows narrow roads with no cars at all, towards the "Alta Langa", a region that is known for its hazelnuts orchards where Signor Ferrero invented Nutella, the beloved world-famous chocolate-hazelnut spread. We'll ride a very quiet area until Cortemilia in the province of Cuneo where the hazelnut cake is a national treasure. Your guides will offer plenty of samples of this amazing "Ciclismo Super Snack." After Cortemilia we climb to Castino, one of the landscape “balconies” of the Langhe. After a well deserved lunch at a local trattoria we climb again to Manera followed by a long descent through an endless landscape of picture perfect vineyards to Alba. In Alba, also known as "Città delle Torri" "Town of Towers' we’ll stroll its historic center of medieval architecture. Tonight an elegant feast at one of our favorite restaurants.

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Average Mileage

40 miles

Elevation Gain

3,630 ft

Riding Terrain

Rolling with two gradual climbs

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations

Hotel Calissano

Set in a former 19th-century winery, the Hotel Calissano lies 1.1 km from the Romanesque Alba Cathedral and 8 km from Castle of Grinzane Cavour, a UNESCO World Heritage monument. The hotel is also located near the central Piazza M. Ferrero, one of the most beautiful squares in Piedmont, known as “the drawing-room of Alba” because it is a meeting place for people from the town and surrounds. Each year thousands of connoisseurs and tourists are attracted to this town of Roman and medieval origins by its great Wines and excellent cuisine, and the heady aroma of the White Truffle of Alba.

Luxury Level

Day5

Loop to Barolo

If you're a wine lover, this IS your day. We pedal through the vineyards of Nebbiolo that gave birth to the King of Wines: Barolo. Each road sign, or view, or castle, will remind you of a label, a Cru, a bottle for the wine collection or of your dreams! We ride a bike path out of town and continue with a climb to Verduno, the first of the Barolo villages that we'll pedal through. An easy spin along ridges to La Morra, famous for its Belvedere where you enjoy a breathtaking view of the Langhe area. After a fun downhill we stop at the Barolo’s Castle for a special wine tasting and continue to Monforte for lunch. On a clear day you will see across the Po Valley and enjoy a spectacular view of the Alps. Today we have a special treat-- a local truffle hunter will give us a demonstration with his loyal dog. Dinner on your own.

Meals Provided

Breakfast

Average Mileage

35 miles

Elevation Gain

2,500 ft

Riding Terrain

Several 1-2 mile climbs

Meals Provided

Breakfast

Accommodations

Hotel Calissano

Luxury Level

Day6

Cioccaro di Penango

Leaving Alba we reach Barbaresco, home of another great Piedmont red. Once again we pedal along the” amphitheater of vineyards,” along ridges covered zig zagging vines and plenty of photo stops. We reach Neive, an old village in perched on a ridge and has been awarded "one of the most charming towns of Italy". Past Neive we have created the perfect route through a maze of super quiet small roads where we discover hidden treasures, like Costigliole d'Asti or a ridge road that ends in Castello D'Annone. Here, after crossing the Tanaro river, we'll enter the Basso Monferrato. Here the hills are smoother and covered with fields that produce wheat and other cereals . The majestic landscape of endless views and peaceful villages are devoid of tourists and inspire discovery, relaxation and pure cycling Nirvana. You'll feel as if you are painting with your pedals as you dive into a Renaissance painting of subtle hues and magical light. Its a long ride but you will be rewarded with a relaxing pool and all the amenities of a country hotel. Dinner at the hotel

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Average Mileage

49 miles

Elevation Gain

3,575 ft

Riding Terrain

Rolling hills

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations

Relais Sant’Uffizio

The Relais Sant’Uffizio is located in the heart of Monferrato, surrounded by vineyards and pretty red-brick villages, tucked away in the green hills.

Luxury Level

Day7

Loop to Vignale Monferrato

Today’s final ride is an extremely pleasant grand finale to our exclusive bicycle experience of Piedmont--nothing but soft hills and sweet landscapes. This is the area of wines that most people have not heard of Ruchè and Grignolino but have been traditionally made here for centuries. We are in the region where we will see the "Infernot" "little hell", which are the most remote parts of the wine cellar, hand dug centuries ago in soft limestone underneath houses. Bottles have been aging in these cool caves for years. The Infernot is another area known and protected by UNESCO as a World heritage site. After lunch we have a fantastic visit to a historic distillery to learn about Grappa considered by many as "rocket fuel." Our final dinner will be at celebration of our incredible gastronomic, cultural and historical experience of the worlds finest wine region.

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Average Mileage

37 miles

Elevation Gain

2,940 ft

Riding Terrain

Hilly with a tough climb

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations

Relais Sant’Uffizio

The Relais Sant’Uffizio is located in the heart of Monferrato, surrounded by vineyards and pretty red-brick villages, tucked away in the green hills.

Luxury Level

Day8

Arrivederci!

After breakfast around 9 am, we provide one shuttle to Vercelli train station (40-minute ride), where the group can catch trains to all other destinations in Italy. We are happy to assist you with your travel plans!

Meals Provided

Breakfast

Meals Provided

Breakfast

Accommodations

Piedmont: Barolo & Truffles

Luxury Level

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Piedmont: Barolo & Truffles

Gourmand’s bicycle tour of Italy’s greatest wine region

Download a Detailed Itinerary

Destination

Activity

Level

Duration

Tour Essence

What to Expect

Terrain

Start Location

End Location

Mileage

Elevation

Recognition

What's Included

What’s Included

Pedal Options

What’s Not Included

La Classica Ribelle

Bianchi C-Sport 2.5

Cannondale Road Tandem 2

Honey Bikes Tandem

Co-Motion Periscope Torpedo Tandem

E-Bikes

Dates

2023

2024

Itinerary

Start Location

Fly Into

End Location

Fly Out Of

Monterotondo di Gavi

Meals Provided

Average Mileage

Elevation Gain

Riding Terrain

Meals Provided

Accommodations

Gavi to Acqui Terme

Meals Provided

Average Mileage

Elevation Gain

Riding Terrain

Meals Provided

Accommodations

Acqui Terme

Meals Provided

Average Mileage

Elevation Gain

Riding Terrain

Meals Provided

Accommodations

Acqui to Alba

Meals Provided

Average Mileage

Elevation Gain

Riding Terrain

Meals Provided

Accommodations

Loop to Barolo

Meals Provided

Average Mileage

Elevation Gain

Riding Terrain

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