NB: Prices correct on 28-Mar-2025 but subject to change.
This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry
Tour Overview
Embark on a luxurious cycling adventure through the picturesque landscapes of Piedmont, Italy, with the Barolo Gastronomic Cycling tour. This journey takes you through the UNESCO-listed vineyards, offering scenic rides and the chance to explore historic castles and charming medieval villages. Stay in exquisite accommodations, including a beautifully restored 19th-century villa in Benevello and a country house in Neive with a panoramic pool. Delight in gastronomic experiences with included breakfasts and four gourmet dinners, and enjoy private wine tastings in Monforte d'Alba. Cycle through renowned wine regions, visit the birthplace of famous Italian writers, and savor the unique fusion of Italian and French cuisine. With high-quality bikes and detailed route notes, this tour promises an unforgettable blend of culture, history, and culinary delights.
Highlights
Scenic cycling in the UNESCO vineyards of Piedmont
Stay in luxury hotels with stunning locations - most with panoramic pools
A mecca for foodies: atmospheric enoteche, gourmet cuisine, outstanding wines
Discover historic castles and medieval villages
Itinerary
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Dinner tonight is in the exclusive restaurant at Villa d'Amelia.You stay at Villa d'Amelia (breakfast and evening meal)
Day 2
:
Benevello to Neive
Location: Neive
Accommodation Name: 3-star hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Option: 1 You'll start today with a gentle ride along an open road, with hawks soaring high above the breathtaking Langhe countryside. You visit lovely Mango, with its beautiful castle rich in WW2 history. Then onto San Stefano Belbo, the birthplace of one Italy's greatest writers, Cesare Pavese; the pretty old town makes for a lovely lunch stop. Then it is on to Neive, where your cycle ride will take you past the famous moscato vineyards before arriving at your 3-star hotel, which boasts wonderful views over the verdant hills with vineyards cascading down. Option: 2 Leaving the hotel behind, you cross the Belbo Valley following tiny roads with stunning views. After another climb you drop down to the town of Canelli then cross the river at Santo Stefano Belbo. Beautiful roads then lead you to Castiglione Tinella and onto Castagnole delle Lanze before following the river to the famous wine town of Barberesco, just 5 km from your hotel. Maybe take time for a well deserved glass of wine before heading to your hotel in Neive for the next two nights.
Day 3
:
At Neive
Location: Neive
Accommodation Name: Comfortable Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Officially one of Italy's prettiest villages, you can wander Neive's cobbled streets that are lined with brightly-coloured flower boxes. After a morning spent by the panoramic pool, cycle (optional 9 km ride - directions provided) or take a public bus to nearby Barbaresco for lunch and cheese-tasting in the piazza. Enjoy some wine in the enoteca or head across to the spumante capital of Asti, with its quaint cobbled centre.
Day 4
:
Neive to Fontanafredda
Location: Alba
Accommodation Name: Comfortable Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Option: 1 Leaving Neive behind, you undulate through the vineyards to Castagnole Lanze before heading downhill to the River Tanaro and a lovely gentle ride along the river to Alba. There's time to explore the cobbled streets and bustling piazze of chocolate-perfumed Alba (the home of Ferrero Rocher). Then it's on to Grinzane Cavour where and the elegant Casa Pavesi. Option: 2 From Neive, you soon cross the Tanaro river before heading to the undulating Roero hills, passing a series of pretty villages. Baldissero, with its beautiful castle and Medieval centre, is worth a stop. Cross the river once more and, after a challenging climb, you come to the pretty wine village of La Morra, another ideal wine stop before a long downhill to your hotel in Grinzane Cavour.
Day 5
:
At Fontanafredda
Location: Serralunga d'Alba
Accommodation Name: Comfortable Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy wine tasting in the historic wine cellars at your hotel, once owned by Italian royalty, or head to the atmospheric wine village of Serralunga d'Alba. For the best views of the region, cycle to La Morra, 'Balcony of the Langhe', spread out along a panoramic ridge above the vineyards.Stay at Hotel le Case dei Conti Mirafiore (breakfast and evening meal included)
Day 6
:
Fontanafredda to Monforte d'Alba
Location: Monforte d'Alba
Accommodation Name: Comfortable Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today's cycle takes you through sunflower fields to Roddi, then on to Barolo, an ochre-hued village perched above its world-famous vineyards. The tangle of mediaeval streets are dominated by the Marchesi Falletti's 11th century castle. Pedal on through archetypal Langhe countryside to Monforte d'Alba, whose lovely honey-coloured old town clings enchantingly to the hillside. Your hotel here is special too.
Day 7
:
At Monforte d'Alba
Location: Monforte d'Alba
Accommodation Name: Comfortable Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Monforte is a lively medieval town with attractive buildings grouped around the cobbled piazza; or visit Dogliani (19km optional ride - directions provided), famous for Dolcetto wine production and dominated by its lovely church.
Day 8
:
Monforte d'Alba to Benevello
Location: Benevello
Accommodation Name: Comfortable Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
A steady climb takes you to a stunning panoramic ridge. From here, cycle to Serravalle Langhe, a great lunch spot with belvedere views, before returning to your country hotel at Benevello, with dinner included in the hotel's wonderful restaurant.
Day 9
:
Leave Benevello
Location: Benevello
Meals Included: Breakfast
The trip ends in Benevello.
What's Included
All breakfasts and 4 gastronomic dinners
All accommodation (see accommodation section)
Luggage transfers
GPS route navigation
High Quality E-Bikes
What's Not Included
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
Food
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.
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.
Mode of Transport
The tour includes high-quality bike hire for scenic cycling through the UNESCO vineyards of Piedmont. Luggage transfers are provided, and arrival and departure transfers are available if booking a flight-inclusive package. Route notes and maps are also included to guide your journey.
Check out our Q&As
What type of accommodation can I expect during the Barolo Gastronomic Cycling tour?
During the tour, you will stay in luxury hotels, including a stunningly restored 19th-century family villa in Benevello, a country house with a panoramic pool in Neive, and a hotel with a vast wine cellar in Monforte d'Alba. All accommodations are based on two persons sharing, with a compulsory single room supplement for solo travelers.
Are meals included in the Barolo Gastronomic Cycling tour?
Yes, the tour includes all breakfasts and four gastronomic dinners. You will enjoy gastronomic menus at your hotel or at specially selected nearby restaurants, featuring regional specialties such as white truffles, hazelnuts, and local cheeses.
What activities are available during the stay in Neive?
In Neive, you can wander the cobbled streets of one of Italy's prettiest villages, spend a morning by the panoramic pool, or cycle to nearby Barbaresco for lunch and cheese-tasting. Alternatively, you can visit the spumante capital of Asti.
What can I do during the day at Fontanafredda?
At Fontanafredda, you can enjoy wine tasting in the historic wine cellars at your hotel or visit the atmospheric wine village of Serralunga d'Alba. For the best views of the region, you can cycle to La Morra, known as the 'Balcony of the Langhe.'
What is the highlight of the cycling route from Fontanafredda to Monforte d'Alba?
The cycling route from Fontanafredda to Monforte d'Alba includes a visit to Barolo, an ochre-hued village with a famous 11th-century castle, and offers stunning views of the world-famous vineyards. You will end the day in Monforte d'Alba, where you can choose from various restaurants for your evening meal.
What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Reviews of this operator
Gergana Racheva
Very helpful and prompt service
06-Jan-2023
Very helpful and prompt service.
I called to check for an already booked trip and once we sorted this, the agent was ready to help me with another booking as well. He actually waited for me to book my flight tickets, answered all my questions, informed me of all my options. Exodus is a tour company I am using regularly due to the quality of their trips, ease of booking and helpfulness of their customer service team
Trustpilot
Tim Hardy
Stunning walking. Walking the Amalfi Coast
04-Nov-2021
This trip takes you through the most beautiful parts of the Mediterranean walking with a guide and also discovering the wonders of Pompeii and Vesuvius. The hotel had a nice feel as family run, spotless and comfortable rooms, we were well looked after for breakfasts and dinner each day, and the barmen fixed some mean cocktails for us.!
paul green (Google Reviewer)
Went on a tour of...
14-Jan-2022
Went on a tour of morocco in October and loved it ,mohamed the tour guide was excellent, probably go with exodus to India next year
Paul Green
It's amazing what you can do in a week! Cycling the Dalmatian Coast.
08-Oct-2021
This holiday was extremely enjoyable. The itinerary is well planned and the route takes you to a variety of destinations. Not having been to Croatia before I didn't know there were so many beautiful small islands and I loved the ferry and catarmaran rides. The coastal route we took was dramatic and the World Heritage sites in Split and Dubrovnik very interesting and worth visiting. The Adriatic Sea was warm, blue and inviting, good for swimming even in October. The hotels we stayed in varied in size from medium to large. I particularly liked the one just outside Dubrovnik as I had a sea view. Tourists were plentiful in Split and Dubrovnik but in the other places we stayed there was an end of season feel and it was quiet on the roads and in the resorts. The food was good and our guide was always able to recommend a nice restaurant for our evening meal. The weather in October was good for cycling - not hot, partly cloudy most days and one day it rained!
Roger Wells (Google Reviewer)
We have just returned from...
12-Feb-2025
We have just returned from a 2 week Exodus trip to Egypt, Alexandria to Aswan. We had a great time, enjoyable company, with an excellent guide, Sayed. All worked out as described. The 3 day Red Sea extension was relaxing. Even the train journey, Cairo to Aswan, was a great part of the experience
Mrs Y Morrison
Fabulous company and trip
06-Jan-2023
We went overland from Cape Town to Zimbabwe through Botswana and Namibia. What a fantastic trip. Our first time with Exodus although we have travelled extensively around the world. We would highly recommend this company for such a brilliant trip - we got everything and more all at a good price. Thanks to everyone involved. We are looking at our next trip!
Trustpilot
Alison Payton (Google Reviewer)
I've done 8 trips in...
17-May-2023
I've done 8 trips in the last 14 years with Exodus, and have been rewarded with a 10% discount on all future bookings. I feel very confident that I'll receive pleasant, efficient service, and have the unusual holiday experience that I'm looking for each time. I've trekked to the top of snow-capped peaks, wild-camped in the desert, seen amazing spectacles of nature, visited 4 capital cities in a week, and learned about local culture and experienced local hospitality in a way that I simply wouldn't on a conventional holiday.
The quality of the accommodation and guides can vary, but this is mainly down to cultural differences and things that Exodus can't control. I've only ever complained once, my complaint was taken seriously, and I was sent a discount voucher - you can't say fairer than that.
I remain a loyal customer.
David (Google Reviewer)
Exodus are generally a good...
21-Aug-2024
Exodus are generally a good travel company. Things tend to run smoothly and trips well organised.
Their customers tend to be at retirement age. Trips are a bit overpriced. I would also avoid trips in Europe, as these often focus on more coffee stops and meals, rather than walking.
I would also recommend making sure your guide records any accidents you have, hopefully not applicable. I had one on Sierra de Aitana which the guide saw and knew about, but he and Exodus said it never happened when I followed up after the trip. I wasn’t putting in a claim, just suggested a safety improvement. They have since apologised and acknowledged this as an error.
They are a good reliable option for outside of Europe trips.
Jacquelyn Moore (Google Reviewer)
Food came quickly. Staff very...
07-Mar-2024
Food came quickly. Staff very friendly and polite . However the chef or person preparing the food did not seem to read the menu! If it says a meal should come with vegetables, you should not have to ask for them. They served shepherds pie with garlic bread! The munchies ice cream sundae said it should come in a glass with a flake but came in a little bowl with just a few munchies! When asking the staff were happy to replace and correct but customer should get what they order and what menu says first time round!!
johanna leonor (Google Reviewer)
If you like to be...
07-Sep-2023
If you like to be mistreated Exodus is perfect for you. If you enjoy terrible choices for hotels and pseudo restaurants Exodus is perfect for you.
Careless about their clients and loveless about their propositions. Exodus has been a dissatisfaction and disappointment about every dealing i and my group have had with him. Especially a man called Simone who just cares about the money he can get from you couldn’t care less about service.
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of
25%
or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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People that have booked this tour have also searched for the following:
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