Piedmont Truffle Bike Tour
- Region: Italy
- Destination: Piedmont
- Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights
- Level: Three
- Price From: $5395
- Single Supplement: $975
| Oct 17 - Oct 22, 2017 | $5395 | Book Now |
| Oct 16 - Oct 21, 2018 | $5395 | Book Now |
Celebrate white truffle season in Piedmont, the gourmet capital of Italy. Join a local truffle hunter and his dog on a hunt, learn how to cook Piemontese delicacies with a Michelin-starred chef, and pedal into Alba’s annual truffle festival. Work up an appetite with incredible riding along quiet roads that wind through some of Italy’s most scenic countryside, and sample the famous Barolo, Barbera, and Barbaresco wines of Piedmont on this gourmet bike tour. You’ll never forget the sweeping vistas overlooking the Dolcetto and Moscato vineyards, your delectable lunch at Gianni and Mina’s “hidden” ristorante, or the family welcome you received at Guido’s farmhouse. Buon appetito!
Tour by Day
Day One: Exploring the Monferrato
Your guides will meet you at the Tortona train station and whisk you into the countryside to meet our friend, a local truffle hunter, for a truffle hunt in his favorite patch of woods. Savor the fruits of the day’s labor during lunch at the region’s classic truffle restaurant, then hop on the bikes for a ride along vine-clad ridges to the town of Acqui Terme. Explore the historic center before climbing up to Guido’s beautiful farmhouse hotel where we will spend the night. Drink a glass of Guido’s wine, relax by the pool, or join his mother, Clara, in the kitchen to learn the secrets of Piedmontese cuisine.
Meals: Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Alice Bel Colle, Castel Rocchero, Acqui Terme
Accomplished: 21 miles / 35 km, elevation gain: 504 meters
Accommodations: Cascina Marcantonio
Day Two: Meet the Chef in Acqui
This morning we’ll meet a Michelin-starred chef in bustling Acqui Terme to shop for ingredients and head into the kitchen to transform them into a gourmet lunch. If cooking isn’t your thing, you can enjoy Acqui’s famous thermal baths or take a morning ride. After regrouping for lunch, we’ll hop on our bikes and pedal over the famous Langhe Hills, a landscape filled with vineyards, truffles, and gracious medieval towns like Montabone and Rocchetta Palafea. Our destination is Relais San Maurizio, a luxurious Relais & Châteaux property with an incredible spa, unsurpassed views over the Dolcetto and Moscato vineyards, and finely manicured grounds. Tonight we’ll dine at their Michelin-starred restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Langhe Hills, Montabone, Rocchetta Palafea
Accomplished: 27 miles / 45 km, elevation gain: 660 meters (Longer options available)
Accommodations: Relais San Maurizio
Day Three: Canelli Loop
Enjoy a scenic loop ride through the vine-covered hills and valleys of the region. This area was recently designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the outstanding beauty of its landscape. Pedal through Castiglione Tinella, Calosso, and historic Canelli before tackling an incredible winding climb to lunch at our friends Gianni and Mina’s house, where he oversees the garden and wine list while she commands the kitchen. After lunch, get some extra miles in or head straight back to the hotel to enjoy the spa. This evening, another Michelin-starred meal awaits at La Ciau del Tornavento, our friend Maurilio’s restaurant in Treiso. He has one of the best-stocked wine cellars in Italy—the perfect way to take full advantage of being in the heart of the Barbaresco region.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Castlione Tinella, Calosso, Canelli
Accomplished: 34 miles / 54 km, elevation gain: 922 meters (Longer option: 46 miles / 74 km)
Accommodations: Relais San Maurizio
Day Four: Hazelnut Ride
Say goodbye to San Maurizio as we ride to the Barolo region. Our route follows the crest of the Langhe ridgeline with views towards the Apennines and Alps. The hills here are lined with hazelnut trees that yield the raw material for Nutella, a local innovation, and countless Piedmontese dishes. Stop for a mouthwatering tajarin pasta at our friend Massimo’s hilltop trattoria, then embark on a thrilling descent to our final hotel in the midst of Barolo vineyards. This evening, dine wherever you please in the thriving local restaurant scene.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Destinations: Mango, Benevello, Roddino
Accomplished: 22 miles / 36 km, elevation gain: 590 meters (Longer option 32 miles / 53 km)
Accommodations: Boscareto Resort
Day Five: The Truffle Fair in Alba
Enter the epicenter of the Barolo region, biking through La Morra and the village of Barolo itself. Famous producers line our route and, depending on the season, a few may still be harvesting their last Nebbiolo grapes. Our destination is Alba, the well-heeled gourmet capital of the world at this time of year, with the Fiera del Tartufo (white truffle fair) in full swing. Stroll the streets, savor a truffle-themed lunch, and purchase truffles to take home before riding back to our hotel. This evening, we’re treated to a final wine tasting with a local Barolo producer before a short walk through Monforte’s cobbled streets to a wonderful farewell dinner paired with more world-class Piedmont wines.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Barolo, La Morra, Alba, Monforte
Accomplished: 23 miles / 38 km, elevation gain: 493 meters (Longer option: 33 miles / 54 km)
Accommodations: Boscareto Resort
Day Six: Off to Asti
Challenge yourself with an optional morning loop ride or sleep in and enjoy a relaxed final breakfast at the hotel. Your guides will then transfer you to the train station in Asti as you head on to your next destination.
Meals: Breakfast
