Itinerary
Tucked away in northern Italy, Piedmont is a region brimming with vineyard covered, softly rolling hills, sun-drenched hamlets, world-class wines and incredible hotels. Your cycling holiday is varied and mainly follows quiet, traffic-free country roads. Starting in the lush hazelnut hills, you'll wind through terraces of swaying vines, verdant pine forests and rippling rivers to discover pretty hilltop hamlets and ancient castles. The region boasts an incredible array of fine wine towns, including Barbaresco and Barolo, both ideal lunch stops on your cycling days or free days. Other highlights include Alba's crimson, cobbled streets (where you can sample the local chocolate), the expansive views as you freewheel out of Mango, and strolling amongst the tangle of streets and geranium-decked houses of Monforte d'Alba's wonderful centre.
Tour program
Arrive in Benevello (dinner)
Benevello to Neive (breakfast)
At Neive (breakfast)
Neive to Fontanafredda (breakfast,dinner)
At Fontanafredda (breakfast,dinner)
Fontanafredda to Monforte d'Alba (breakfast)
At Monforte d'Alba (breakfast)
Monforte d'Alba to Benevello (breakfast,dinner)
Leave Benevello (breakfast)
Tour Details
accommodation
The hotels we've chosen are, quite simply, fabulous! In Benevello your 4 star hotel is a stunningly restored 19th century family villa; in Neive you're the guest of Patrizia at her 12-room country house with a breathtaking panoramic pool and in Monforte d'Alba private tastings can be organised in the hotel's vast wine cellar. All prices are based on 2 persons sharing, so if there is an odd number of people travelling in your party or you are travelling alone, there will be a compulsory single room supplement. Please call your sales consultant for prices and availability.
flights
- International flights are not included
guide
As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. A local agent is on hand to assist you and will meet you at the beginning of the week to set up your bike and go through the route notes and point out particular places of interest. Your luggage is transferred and route notes and maps are provided. The route notes contain an emergency assistance telephone number. In an emergency, the local agent is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.
insurance
meals
All buffet breakfasts and 4 gastronomic dinners included. You'll enjoy gastronomic menus everywhere, either dining at your hotel, or at a specially selected restaurant close by. The cuisine in the Piedmont region is different to most other Italian regions, a fusion of the best of Italian and French food and certainly won't disappoint gastronomes. Regional specialities include white truffles which are found almost exclusively in the woods around Alba. Hazelnuts are another locally produced ingredient that feature heavily on the menu. Cheese is also widely produced in Piedmont, such as Murazzano, made with full-cream sheep's milk. Meals in the region always start with bread, your primo (first course) will usually be a pasta dish, such as agnolotti. Your secondo (main course) will then be something hearty like beef gently braised in Barolo wine. Meats such as pork, beef and veal are the popular choice of the region. Piedmont's wine is famous throughout the world. The most famous are the wines of the Langhe, which produces Barolo, Barbaresco, Dolcetto, Barbera as well as whites such as Asti and Moscato. Other highlights include Alba's crimson, cobbled streets where you can sample the local chocolate.
optional
- Other activities and services not included
others
- Route notes and maps
- Local bike hire
— Travel insurance — Single accommodation (available on request - compulsory supplement) — Solo traveller supplements (where only one person is travelling on a departure date) — Visas or vaccinations — Arrival & departure transfers
transport
Your luggage will be transported between the hotels by our local agent. They are often able to dispatch a taxi should you need it, but may wish to charge you for this service. You will be pedaling under your own steam but the emergency number for our local operator is in the trip notes if you need assistance.
Air prices include our standard flights/transfersOut: British Airways Heathrow to Milan Malpensa then transfer to hotel 2 hours 10 minutes Return: Transfer to airport 2 hours 10 minutes British Airways Milan Malpensa to Heathrow Business/club/first class seats are available on request. Airport transfers are available at a supplement for land only bookings.
Good to know
Currency
Euro
Italy
Plugs and adapters
