Piedmont, located in the northwest corner of Italy, is a region that offers a perfect blend of mountainous terrain and rolling hills, making it an ideal destination for cycling enthusiasts. Bordered by France and Switzerland, Piedmont’s varied landscape is more challenging and rewarding than its name, which means "the foot of the mountains," might suggest.
The Langa and Monferrato regions of Piedmont are among Italy's most renowned wine-producing areas, earning UNESCO World Heritage status in 2014. Embark on what truly is one of the best rides in Italy, where you'll cycle through the heart of the Barolo region and much more. This tour takes you over rolling hills, past ancient castles, and through hidden hilltop hamlets, all while surrounded by endless vineyards. These peaceful secondary roads provide an unparalleled cycling experience, offering both challenge and tranquility.
Vineyards blanket the hills of Piedmont, producing world-famous wines such as Barolo (often called the King of Wines), Barbaresco, Barbera, and Nebbiolo. Each day of your Piedmont cycling vacation will be complemented by gastronomic delights that perfectly pair with these exquisite wines. Towns like Barolo, Acqui Terme, and Alba are must-visit stops, where you can wander through cobbled streets, relax in vibrant piazzas, and savor a glass of local wine at charming cafes and wine bars. You'll quickly notice how deeply the local people are connected to their land and how much pride they take in their produce.
The first part of your cycling adventure centers around Alba, where you'll spend two nights. As the capital of the Langa region, Alba is a charming midsize town rich in history. A local guide will introduce you to its deep ties to agriculture, which, alongside wine and truffle tourism, forms the economic backbone of Langa.
The second half of the tour takes you to Monferrato in the province of Alessandria. Here, you'll explore the areas of Novi and Gavi, renowned for their white wines, particularly Gavi made from Cortese grapes. This region is a paradise for wine lovers and cyclists alike.
The tour of the Barolo region offers hilly, scenic rides that are both challenging and breathtaking. While the daily distances are moderate (with the exception of a longer ride on day four), the terrain requires bursts of power, each rewarded by stunning panoramic views. On clear days, you can spot snow-capped peaks like Mount Blanc and Mount Rose in the distance. To the west, the distinctive triangular shape of Mount Viso, where the Po River originates, is a sight to behold as you ride through this picturesque region.
Whether you're a seasoned cyclist or looking for an unforgettable E-bike tour in Italy, the Piedmont Hills of Barolo Bike Tour offers a unique blend of challenging rides, world-class wines, and rich cultural experiences. Join us for the ultimate cycling adventure through one of Italy's most beautiful and historically rich regions. E-bikes will make the hills seem like an afterthought.
Ask for custom dates
2024
USD 3,675
Private room (single supplement) USD 495
2025
USD 3,675
Private room (single supplement) USD 495
6 days (5 nights)
Best trip ever!
Doug Cheshire Piedmont Cycling Tour
[fa icon="quote-right"]Alba - Barbaresco - 20 mls - Rolling
After a transfer from Turin (about 1 hr), we’ll make it to Alba and ride from there. The area southwest of Alba is part of the Barbaresco wine production zone. The three villages where Nebbiolo grapes for Barbaresco wine can be grown are Neive, Treiso, and Barbaresco.
The original, small, and elegant village of Barbaresco will be part of our ride today. As you approach Barbaresco, its imposing 12th-century tower stands out in the landscape. The tower is what is left of an imposing fortification that once crowned the hilltop where Barbaresco rises. Down a winding ridge, we’ll head towards Treiso before an exhilarating descent back to Alba. Enjoy some free time before dinner.
We spend two nights in Alba, the elegant capital of the white truffle, also nicknamed the town of a hundred towers. Only a few of these fine red-brick towers have survived, but they still give the town its distinctive appearance. A tour program description will precede our first group dinner.
La Morra and Barolo - 28 or 35 mls - Hilly
Today’s ride starts out with an ascent to La Morra. La Morra is considered the balcony of the Langa region because of its wonderful views of the entire area. In Barolo, we’ll visit a producer where you will have an instructive explanation of the King of Wine’s production and differences. Between La Morra, Barolo, and Monforte, you’ll ride past rows of nebbiolo vines cultivated by such legendary producers as Renato Ratti, Bartolo Mascarello and Roberto Voerzio.
We will then ride on a beautiful ridge that borders the Alta Langa and continues with some ups and downs all the way to Serralunga d’Alba, and then Grinzane Cavour. The 13th-century Grinzane Cavour castle, once home to the famous strategist Cavour and now a Regional Wine Cellar, also hosts a literary prize and a world-famous white truffle auction. If we are lucky, majestic view of the Alps will accompany us for the majority of today’s ride. This evening, we will partake in an Italian tradition: l’aperitivo. Dinner is at one of the best restaurants in town. Tomorrow we say farewell to the Barolo area.
Alba - Benevello - 27
Today we’ll say farewell to Alba and ride to the Alta Langa (high Langa) area past more vineyards, while gaining elevation. Our first stop is in Neive. Neive is not on the usual wine routes but for that reason, it is still very authentic. Take your time here and have your cameras ready.
Next is the unpretentious village of Mango and that is where lunch is planned. Time to enjoy life and to appreciate slow-travel the Tourissimo way! We then pedal on a ridge, which is part of the Alta Langa, the highest and wildest portion of this territory. The views are stunning. The vegetation changes as hazelnut-topped woodland covers the northern side of the round and gentle hills. These hazelnuts are harvested by the ton and transported to the Ferrero factory in Alba to make the famous Nutella spread, as well as Italian Gianduja chocolates, which you should of course try!
Benevello - Gavi - 56 or 29 mls - Hilly
This morning, we pedal from Alba to the hills of Acqui Terme via the Bormida River Valley. Monferrato is not as well-known as Langa and wine tourism does not bring very many people there. That said, we consider it a hidden gem for cycle tourism.
We stop along the way in the authentic village of Monastero Bormida for a nice picnic of focaccia and local specialties, such as robiola di Roccaverano cheese. We won’t spoil it, but this place offers a good photo op with a unique landmark.
In a few more easy miles we are in Acqui Terme. Founded by Greek colonists, Acqui Terme has been well-known for its hot springs since Roman times. We’ll regroup in Piazza della Bollente where a fountain with thermal water stands in the middle. Hint: we know the best gelato place in Acqui Terme and you surely deserve to try it out. The last part of the ride will end on the hills of Gavi at Villa Sparina, a charming wine resort.
We finish the day with aperitivo with a view of the sunset.
Gavi - Castellania 32 or 40
A fairytale ending is planned among more cortese vineyards and on the uncelebrated training ground of the legendary Italian cyclist Fausto Coppi.
The route takes us to Castellania, which is the birthplace of Coppi. Coppi’s modest house is now a museum and pilgrimage destination for cyclists. We’ll then cross Novi Ligure, once an important trading spot on the way to and from the Mediterranean Sea, and in a few miles we are back at the hotel.
Enjoy some free time before a short drive to Gavi. Gavi is an unpretentious village in the Lemme River Valley. The first thing you notice is the impressive medieval fortress that was meant to control the way from the Ligurian Sea towards Piedmont and the north. It served its purpose as a defensive fortress until the mid 800’s when it became a prison.
Gourmet dinner and farewell to Piedmont at Villa Sparina's restaurant.
Transfer
Transfer to the Turin airport after breakfast.
It is possible to extend your stay in Turin or at Villa Sparina.
• Two professional tour guides throughout the program
• All accommodations in two 4-star hotels, and one 3-star
• All breakfasts, all lunches, and four dinners
• Wine and beer with meals, coffee, cappuccino, and gelato stops
• Tastings of wine and local specialties
• Logistical support during the tour and luggage transfer
• Shuttle at the beginning and at the end of the tour
• All activities mentioned in the day-by-day description
• Bianchi bike rental
• GPS navigation and maps (digital)
• Pre-tour hotel stays and post-tour hotel stays
• Personal expenses such as laundry and cell phone
• Guide gratuity
• E-bike upgrade
The territory offers first class ingredients, that together with traditions handed down from generation to generation, allow you to enjoy the authentic Piedmontese dishes. The egg pasta used to prepare the tajarin, or plin, ravioli is homemade and the precious veal meat from the Province of Granda (name of the province of Cuneo in local dialect) is the basis for the preparation of ancient recipes like hand-chopped raw meat, cold veal with tuna sauce and red wine braised meat. The simplest dishes are usually the most delicious and they look like they have been specially created to espouse the most precious autumnal ingredient, the Alba White Truffle, which will enhance their perfumes and tastes. In fact, the Slow Food movement was born in Bra (near Alba). The regional wine production boasts the most DOCG appellations of any other region in Italy, and during the week we will learn about Barbera, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo, Arneis and many other indigenous grapes.
The riding itself is hilly and extremely scenic with beautiful ridges and rolling hills. Days are fairly short (except for day 4) but the terrain will ask for several power bursts which are always rewarded by stunning views. On a clear day, snow-capped Mount Blanc and Mount Rose appear closer than they really are and are easy to spot. On the western side, one can easily recognize the triangular shape of Mount Viso where the Po River rises (the main river in Italy running all the way to the Adriatic Coast south of Venice).
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