If the high cost of the Euro is making an Italian cycling vacation sound way too expensive, then this bike tour is for you! The tour features great riding, fantastic scenery, comfortable lodgings and a very LOW PRICE.

Join us on a magnificent tour in Italy's Southern Piedmont "the Undiscovered Cyclist's Paradise"! Nestled between France, Switzerland and the Mediterranean, the Piedmont is a rich agricultural province most famous for its exceptional cuisine and superb wines, but the hidden gem is the remarkable bicycling. We will be riding on quiet roads that wind through vineyard-covered hillsides dotted with quaint medieval villages and regal castles. The visuals are truly astounding!

The tour begins in the quiet little town of Barolo, a perfect place for a warm up ride and to sample the great wine from the region.  Our days will be spent cycling uncrowded roads through an undulating countryside that provides a constantly varying landscape. Daily, the stunning panoramas will make you glad you are riding a bike! 

Many Italians think the Piedmont has the best food and wine in all of Italy! During our ride, we pass through a number of important wine producing areas and will taste Barbera, Barolo, Barbaresco, Dolcetto, Gavi and Italy's most famous sparkling white, Asti Spumante. A distinguishing feature of the wines from this region is that most production is done on small family estates that are nestled in the picturesque rolling hills.

Our nightly accommodations are a wonderful mix of old-world style inns and delightful agritourismos to give you a good feel for the history and charm of this unique area. An agriturismo is a rural country house, similar to a B&B, which produces most of the food it serves right on the property. This style of accommodation is very popular in Italy and we know you will enjoy your stay.

This is a moderately hilly trip that fit riders of all abilities will enjoy. Our routes follow winding secondary roads and average 30 - 60 kilometers per day, and more riding is always available for the hearty. Each day you can choose to ride with the group or travel independently at your own pace. All riders will have their own map with route directions, and your baggage will be transferred to your lodging so you only carry what you need for the day on your bike. But please note, this is only a baggage service and not a sag vehicle. Chuck and Judy Nichols will accompany this tour and be there to handle bike maintenance and logistics..
 
If you have ever said to yourself, "I wish I had seen it before it got discovered," well, this is your chance!

PLEASE NOTE: Exact distances may vary from those stated due to local road conditions or decisions made by tour leaders. Additional mileage can be arranged for those who want more riding.

Day 1: Meet in Barolo in the early afternoon for tour orientation, bike fitting and welcome dinner. Alba is the closest train station to Barolo.

Day 2: No need to pack up as today we have a spectacular loop ride. We'll visit the historical town of Monforte where there is a patrician residence built on the walls of an old castle, a 13th century bell tower and a parish church dating to the 10th century. Return to our hotel in Barolo.

Day 3: We ride through so many beautiful little wine producing villages in the Langhe district to our destination for the night, a wonderful historic agriturismo/farmhouse in Calamandrana. Ride: Barolo to Calamandrana, 60 km

Day 4: We continue riding across the Monferrato district and have lunch in Cassine. Then we descend into the Pianura Padana or Upper Po River Valley. Our ride ends in the thermal spa town Acqui Terme where we stay for two nights.
Ride: Calamandrana to Acqui Terme, 55 km

Day 5: We ride into the Apennines to Gavi, a little paradise set amid rolling hills and castles. Gavi's white wine is a must to taste, and we will spend tonight in a fantastic villa. Ride: Acqui Terme to Gavi, 65 km

Day 6: Continuing through the Apennines, we enter the Liguria region and ride the Valle Vobbia, a magical valley that passes through a narrow canyon of sculpted rock. Our night's lodging is in Savignone in a beautifully restored 16th century noble house. Ride: Gavi to Savignone, 45 km

Day 7: Our final ride to the sea is stunning, and we finishin Camogli onParadise Bay with the shimmering blue waters of the Mediterranean as our reward - spectacular! Ride: Savignone to Camogli, 60 km

Day 8: After breakfast we say our goodbyes and depart for home or other destinations. Please let us know if you would like additional lodging in Camogli. You can explore the magnificent coast on a great hiking trail from Camogli to Portofino and then return by boat.

TOUR BEGINS / ENDS: Alba, Italy / Genova, Italy TOUR DATE: 8 Days, September 11 ­ 18, 2009 TOUR TOUR PRICE: €1,400 Euros/pp double occupancy, €250 Euros single supplement
TOUR TOUR PRICE INCLUDES: 7 nights hotel , 7 breakfasts, 7 dinners, luggage transfers (but not a sag wagon), maps and route directions, Chuck and Judy Nichols will personally accompany this tour and be there to handle bike maintenance and logistics.
TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: lunches, beverages, bike rentals

Complete Trip Detail Request

Check out our other Italy Bike Tours:
Cycling the Best of Tuscany & Umbria l Sardinia Cycling