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$5600
  • Style/Level Classic 3.5
  • Countries Italy
  • Begin/End Cuneo / Intra-Verbania
See related tours

Overview

What to expect in your European 3 or 4 star hotel

The most important factor when it comes to selecting a hotel is your comfort. We understand a good night’s sleep makes all the difference when you are on an active vacation. We have carefully chosen all our accommodations for their charm and location. They are typically small, family run hotels that offer you a glimpse into the local culture. We prefer hotels near interesting sites in the center of town located along the best cycling route in the area. Because many of the hotels are small, not all the rooms will be exactly the same. We keep this in mind and do our best to distribute rooms fairly by the end of the tour.

  • Hotels will be located centrally but off busy areas so you will have a quiet and, if necessary, sound-proof room.
  • Comfortable rooms and beds for a good night’s rest.
  • Modern amenities, even if A/C may be limited
  • Cleanliness and a welcoming atmosphere.

Read more on what to expect on Air Conditioning in Europe and Rooming Options on tour.

Go to Travel Planning Home

Highlights

  • Piedmont vineyards and wine tastings

  • Gourmet regional cuisine

  • 2 nights in the Langhe area famous for its wine

  • cheese and truffles

  • 2 nights in the Roman town of Acqui Terme

  • Monferrato

  • Lake Maggiore

  • A complete overview of this amazing region

  • Guided visit of Bene Vagienna Archaeological site

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).

  • “The usual” (see Classic tour includes)


Itinerary

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.

Day level: 0.5

Meals : Dinner
Lodging : Hotel Principe

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.

Distance: 77km (48mi) | Gain: 800m (2624ft) | Terrain | Day level: 3.5

Meals : Breakfast
Lodging : Hotel Principe

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.

Distance: 69km (43mi) | Gain: 579m (1899ft) | Terrain | Day level: 3.0

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

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.

Distance: 41km (26mi) | Gain: 790m (2591ft) | Terrain | Day level: 3.0

Meals : Breakfast
Lodging : Hotel Villa Beccaris

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.

Distance: 50km (31mi) | Gain: 791m (2594ft) | Terrain | Day level: 3.0

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging : Hotel Castelli

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.

Distance: 40km (25mi) | Gain: 795m (2608ft) | Terrain | Day level: 3.5

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging : Hotel Monteverde

Today we’ll do a loop ride, so you wish to take the day off this is your chance. Otherwise hop on the bike and head to the hill town of Mombaruzzo, home to one of Italy’s famous “amaretto” makers. Amaretto is a yummy cookie made from a base of almond paste. Take time this afternoon for a guided visit at the Monteverde Gipsoteca before dinner together.

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”.

Distance: 60km (37mi) | Gain: 933m (3060ft) | Terrain | Day level: 4.0

Meals : Breakfast
Lodging : Hotel Aleramo

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.

Distance: 59km (37mi) | Gain: 1131m (3710ft) | Terrain | Day level: 4.0

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging : Palazzo Paleologi

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.

Distance: 87km (54mi) | Gain: 476m (1561ft) | Terrain | Day level: 2.5

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging : Tenimento Al Castello

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.

Distance: 97km (60mi) | Gain: 958m (3142ft) | Terrain | Day level: 4.5

Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Lodging : Grand Hotel Majestic

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.


Dates & prices

Date Price Private room fee Note
Aug 27-Sep 7, 2023 USD$5600 USD$650 Call for availability.   
Sep 17-28, 2023 USD$5600 USD$650

Bikes


Arrival & departure


Photos


Reviews

  • 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