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Cycling Italy’s Piedmont Plus! Lake Maggiore

Finish this guided bike tour of Piedmont on the shores of Lake Como.
  • Length 12 days
  • From USD$5895
  • Style/Level Classic 3.5
  • Countries Italy
  • Begin/End Cuneo / Intra-Verbania
See related tours
Italy’s Piedmont region is surrounded on three sides by a great arc of the Alps as they rise out of the Mediterranean Sea and curve north and east through France, Switzerland and Italy to Austria. Within this great curve of mountains the Po River rises, forming a broad, fertile plain that forms Italy’s longest river flowing into the Adriatic Sea. It was in the western part of this valley that the Kings of Savoy built castles and fortified cities to protect wine merchants from intrusions by marauding pirates. And it was here that Count Camillo Cavour first proposed the idea of a unified Italian state. The food, the history and the landscape make the Piedmont an ideal destination for cyclists. This cycling tour through the Piedmont region and the Lakes District tour combines the best of Italian and French cuisine and wine with scenic pedaling through rolling hills dotted with vineyards and castles.

***If this sounds great but you prefer a shorter tour check out our Cycling Italy’s Piedmont tour, which features the first 8 days of this itinerary.***

Highlights

  • Piedmont vineyards and wine tastings, Gourmet regional cuisine, multiple 2 night stays, Langhe area famous for its wine, cheese and truffles, Guided visit of Bene Vagienna Archaeological site, town of Asti (home to Asti spumante!)

Includes

  • 12 days, 11 nights accommodation

  • meals as noted in itinerary

  • 2 wine and a cheese tasting

  • guided visit of Bene Vagienna Archaelogical site

  • and the usual (see below).

  • All Classic tour inclusions

Open all days

Highlights: Provincial capital of Cuneo, Alpine views, Arione Bar and Confectionary, welcome dinner

Gather today in Cuneo, south of Turin. We’ll fit bicycles this afternoon, then you will be free to explore the town and to take a warm-up ride. Be sure to look up the Arione Bar and Confectionary, famous for its “cuneese al rhum,” a chocolate rum candy (Hemingway stopped by here to pick up some of these on a trip to Italy in 1954, the year he won the Nobel Prize.) This evening, we’ll celebrate the beginning of our tour with a traditional Piedmontese dinner together.

Meals : Dinner
 Lodging : Hotel Principe

Highlights: Alpine scenery, the 19th century fortress of Vinadio, optional mountain ride

Your ride today follows the Stura di Demonte River valley to the fortress of Vinadio along an historic military road that has now become mainly a bike path. The Vinadio fortress was built by King Carlo Alberto of the house of Savoy in the 1830s and ’40s to protect the Piedmont from possible invasions from France. You’ll be back in Cuneo late afternoon to enjoy a stroll through town.

Meals : Breakfast
 Lodging : Hotel Principe

Highlights: Town of Bene Vagienna or Roman “Augusta Bagiennorum,” the Langhe wine region

Your ride today takes you through the small town of Bene Vagienna as you follow an ancient Roman road. We’ll have a light lunch and guided visit of the large archeological park of Augusta Bagiennorum. Tonight we will be in Monforte d’Alba, one of many picturesque wine villages in the Langhe region of Piedmont.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
 Lodging : Hotel Villa Beccaris

Highlights: Le Langhe wine region and wine villages, including Barolo, wine tasting

A loop ride today takes you through the vineyards of Le Langhe and the famous hills of the Nebbiolo grape. Along the route you’ll pass through the stunning landscape of La Morra, as well as vineyards around Barolo, Verduno and La Mora. The town of Barolo gives its name to Italy’s most famous wine. The village has an interesting ethnographic and wine museum to visit. We’ll enjoy a wine tasting together this evening.

Meals : Breakfast
 Lodging : Hotel Villa Beccaris

Highlights: Beautiful vineyard landscapes, regional wine museum

Your ride today takes you through some of the most beautiful vineyard landscapes in Italy. If you are interested in wine we recommend a stop at the regional wine museum in Mango before continuing on through Neviglie and Trezzo Tinella, villages of less than 500 inhabitants, on the way to Alba.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
 Lodging : Hotel Castelli

Highlights: Alba, Ferrero chocolates and visit to Coppo, one of Italy’s most famous vineyards

You’ll want to take time to visit Alba before leaving this morning. Not only is Alba the capital of the Langhe wine region it is also home to Ferrero Rocher, the chocolate maker that manufactures Nutella and Kinder chocolate. From here you’ll pedal on to Canelli to visit one of the oldest and most famous wineries in Italy, Coppo. Enjoy a wine tasting and lunch before shuttling on to our hotel in Bistagno.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch
 Lodging : Hotel Monteverde

Highlights: Culinary city of Asti, Asti Spumante

Our destination today is Asti, an elegant town famous for its architecture, wines and culinary traditions. Along the way you’ll pass through Monastero Bormida, founded by a grou pof Benedictine monks around 1050. The current castle correspond to the site of the original monastery. Next up — the rich vineyards of Canelli and the Moscato grape, which is believed to be the birthplace of the Italian sparkling wine “Asti Spumante”.

Meals : Breakfast
 Lodging : Hotel Aleramo

Highlights: Rest day or optional loop ride into Monferrato hills and vineyards

Enjoy a rest in Asti today, exploring its lively medieval center with several of the historic “100 towers” that characterized it. Alternatively, enjoy a loop ride into the nearby Monferrato hills, with views of vineyards and gently rolling scenery.

Meals : Breakfast
 Lodging : Hotel Aleramo

Highlights: Small country roads, Moncalvo and fortified hilltop villages, cheese tasting

Head north today through the hills of Monferrato. This is one of the most densely settled agricultural areas in Italy and features a rich network of tiny farm roads and small fortified hilltop villages. Over the years it has become fashionable to convert the town fortress into a villa. Our accommodation tonight is in the Castle of Lu. This afternoon we’ll enjoy a cheese tasting at our hotel.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
 Lodging : Palazzo Paleologi

Highlights: Flat riding, rice farm, views of the Alps

Leave the hills behind and cross the Po River in Casale Monferrato this morning. Casale sits on the south bank of the Po River and enjoys a deep architectural heritage due to its varied history because of its critical position along the Po River. Pedal north through one of the largest rice growing areas in Europe. Along the way, you’ll pass through no less than fifteen small farm villages, including San Nazzaro Sesia, a village built around an 11th-century Benedictine abbey. This afternoon we’ll visit one of the area’s rice producers to discover more about the history of the crop and harvest techniques.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
 Lodging : Tenimento Al Castello

Highlights: Spectacular views of the Alps and pedaling along Lakes Orta, Mergozzo and Maggiore.

Your final day of riding takes you into Italy’s spectacular Lakes District. This breathtaking series of lakes was created as glaciers retreated from northern Italy some 20,000 years ago. Your first lake is Lago d’Orta, then tiny Lago di Mergozzo, and finally Lago Maggiore. The journey ends in Verbania, along the shores of beautiful Lago Maggiore. This evening, we’ll enjoy a farewell dinner together.

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
 Lodging : Grand Hotel Majestic

Highlights: Beautiful Lake Maggiore

You are on your own today in one of Italy’s most beautiful regions. This is a great starting point for further exploration of the Lakes District, or better yet – perhaps you’d like to join our cycling tour through the area! Whatever you choose, have a great time and thanks for joining us!

Meals : Breakfast

Visit our Tour Level page to learn more about terrain levels and how we dermine day and tour levels.

Date Price Private room fee Note
Jun 9-20, 2024 USD$5895 USD$650 Book by November 1 and save $200 per person.
Book it
Aug 25-Sep 5, 2024 USD$5895 USD$650 Book by November 1 and save $200 per person. No Re-Cycle discounts available. Confirmed Departure  
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Sep 15-26, 2024 USD$5895 USD$650 Book by November 1 and save $200 per person.
Book it
DateJun 9-20, 2024
PriceUSD$5895
Private room feeUSD$650
NoteBook by November 1 and save $200 per person.
Book it
DateAug 25-Sep 5, 2024
PriceUSD$5895
Private room feeUSD$650
NoteBook by November 1 and save $200 per person. No Re-Cycle discounts available. Confirmed Departure  
Book it
DateSep 15-26, 2024
PriceUSD$5895
Private room feeUSD$650
NoteBook by November 1 and save $200 per person.
Book it

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  • A great experience, good guides, fun people to ride with and Italy is always beautiful.

    Mary B., Newport Beach, CA

  • Italian wine country at its best. Outstanding food. Great rides. Challenging climbs. The absolute beauty of the hilly wine country…and we were fortunate to have sunny days for those rides.

    Jim B., Incline Village, NV

  • The scenery, food, other bicyclists, tour leaders, routes — all superb. Thank you for providing the opportunity!

    David S., Eugene, OR
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