| Piedmont Bike details |
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Duration: 9 Days/8 Nights
Departures: Private departures from May to October.
Departing from: Novi Ligure, 9:00 a.m. Day 2
Tour finishes: Asti train station, morning Day 9
Price: Trip price depends on number of participants. Please enquire for details. |  |
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Lunch on the road
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The barrels are all French oak
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The famous Nebbiolo grape
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Dramatic medieval nights
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Romantic landscapes
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Carol will show you around
her grandfather's village
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Truffles are a local specialty!
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Piedmont Bike |
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Piedmont Bike Itinerary
Preview - Bordered on three sides by the snow-capped Alps, Piedmont is one of the most dramatic regions in Italy. The royal House of Savoy ruled over the territory for almost a thousand years, and gave birth to the independence movement that led to the creation of the Italian state in 1859. The capital, Turin, is one of the most sophisticated and beautiful cities in Europe, and the royal residences of the Savoy are now part of the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Piedmont is also renowned for its fabulous wines, the most famous being Barolo and Barbaresco. The cuisine compliments these robust wines, drawing inspiration from both French, Austrian, and Italian traditions. Try a filling, meaty bollito or a creamy-cheesy fonduta, made with the precious white truffle, one of the most prized and expensive ingredients in the world.
Come bike through vineyards and rolling hills to beautiful villages and hilltop castles, then relax at night with a delicious meal and a glass of intoxicating wine. You will be in good hands with guide Carol Sicbaldi, whose family is originally from Piedmont and who still has cousins we'll visit along the way. Our Piedmont bike trip combines the freedom and thrill of biking with the culture and cuisine you expect from Italy.
Day 1 - Saturday: Arrive interpedently in Novi Ligure, which is less than an hour by train from Genoa and just over an hour from Turin (Torino in Italian). Overnight Novi Ligure. Dine independently tonight. Hotel included.
Day 2 - Sunday: Meet your guide(s) after breakfast this morning at 9:00 a.m. for a safety talk and bike fitting. Our first ride takes you through the green pastures surrounding our beautiful four-star hotel in a renovated manor-house. We go to the wine hamlet of Gavi, and stop to visit the Romanesque church of San Giacomo and the remarkable16th century Genoese Fort. Overnight Novi Ligure. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 3 - Monday: Today we ride past vineyards, elegant Italian gardens, and historical Savoy villages to the 15th century Spinola Castle. We’ll visit a small family-run winery and then return home through a rolling, serpentine valley. Overnight Novi Ligure. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 4 - Tuesday: We begins with a 45-minute shuttle that takes us into the spa area of Acqui. Ride through the rolling hills of the southern Monferrato to Acqui Terme, a spa town noted for its curative waters. Roll along the Tanaro River and explore Le Langhe as we descend to medieval Alba, famous for its vineyards and intoxicating white truffles, sold at over $1,000 a pound. Overnight Alba. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 5 - Wednesday: This morning we have a loop ride to La Morra, offering views of the snow-capped Alps. We stop at Ristorante Belvedere for some polenta and wild greens before visiting the Renato Ratti Vineyards to learn the history of the region's winemaking. You'll have ample time to explore the ancient streets of Alba and indulge in one of the village’s most famous products, homemade peach gelato. Tonight is a “free night” for dinner, so you can go light or else indulge in one of the city’s fine restaurants. Overnight Alba. Hotel, breakfast included. Dinner not included.
Day 6 - Thursday: A spectacular ridge-top ride awaits you today, through hazelnut orchards to Grinzane Cavour, the birthplace and restored castle of Camillo Cavour, the founding father of the Italian nation. Lunch at the world-renowned Da Cesare. Overnight Alba. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 7 - Friday: Today's route winds to Canale, famous for succulent peaches and delicate Arneis white wine. Climb a panoramic ridge to Castello di Govone. Built of red brick and golden tufa rock, it is the ideal romantic setting for a garden picnic. We then head to Asti, famous not only for its wine but also for the quality of the wild mushrooms and truffles found in the surrounding countryside. After your ride, take some time to explore the town’s tranquil medieval streets. We stay nearby in a restored 15th century Benedictine abbey perched above rolling farmland. The owner, Signora Firato and her family, prepare a wonderful meal of local specialties for you tonight. Overnight near Asti. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 8 - Saturday: Ride north to peaceful Monferrato today, situated high on a ridge. Follow the spectacular crest to Vignale Monferrato, the wine capital of the region, with immense communal wine cellars and a colorful dance festival. Overnight at Firato Abbey near Asti. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 9 - Sunday: Morning goodbyes and shuttle to Asti train station, about an hour by train from Turin (Torino) and Genoa. Breakfast included.
Useful Links -
Wines from Piedmont: general information on some great wines
Truffles: good site from Alba on this amazing (and expensive) fungus!
The House of Savoy: brief history of this royal dynasty (still poised to come back to Italy if the Monarchists had their way!)
Torino tourism: helpful site on the city and its surroundings
Piedmont Tourist Authority: general information on the region
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Italy has more sites on the list than any other country!
General Information
Note on Itinerary: Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.
Qualifications: This trip is rated moderate to challenging, it is suitable for anyone who is physically fit and regularly cycles. Because of vehicle support, cyclists of all ability levels may join. We generally ride about 50 to 60 km (30-35 miles) per day, which translates into about 4 hours of riding a day, more or less equally divided between morning and afternoon. This may sound like a lot, but we take frequent breaks to take pictures, enjoy a cappuccino, or simply stop and admire the view. However, we recommend that all participants undertake a conditioning regimen beginning at least 3 months prior to departure. This will get you in shape and ensure that you are comfortable in the saddle, allowing you to enjoy all that this wonderful trip has to offer. In other words, get your bum used to a bike seat before you arrive to avoid suffering during the trip! There is a support van to move the luggage and also to help tired bikers in case of need. Most importantly, the rides are absolutely beautiful!
The Bikes: Our hybrid bikes are lightweight KTM "Life Sprint" aluminum frames with high-end Shimano Deore and Deore XT components. They are very comfortable, with a relatively upright riding position as well as climbing bars which enable you to change your hand position. They have 27 speeds with index shifters on the handlebars. They have a low gearing ratio to make hill climbing especially easy, and the upright sitting position reduces shoulder and neck fatigue. A more upright position also means that you get to look at the beautiful countryside instead of just the asphalt in front of your wheel! The bikes come with a small front handlebar bag suitable only for light things, a separate map case, water bottle, pump, spare tube, and a rear carrier rack. We HIGHLY recommend that you bring a strap-on rear carrier bag that sits on top of the rear rack (not a side pannier). You can bring your own pedals and seat, which we can mount for you. The bikes are sized based on the information that you send to us, so be as accurate as you can! Road bikes are also available for a small extra charge. Feel free to e-mail us for more detailed information about the bikes. You must bring your own helmet.
Weather: We have scheduled our departures to avoid mid-summer heat and crowds while still benefiting from an ample amount of sunshine. Temperatures generally range from 75° to 85° F during the day, dropping approx. 10 degrees at night. Some rainfall is possible on any of the departures requiring participants to arrive equipped with appropriate raingear (see Gear List).
Trip Cost includes: All accommodations (3 nights in a 4-star hotels, 5 nights in 3-star hotels); 8 breakfasts and 6 dinners; all luggage transfers; wine tastings and visits as noted in itinerary; bilingual guide(s); all van transfers including the final transfer to Asti train station on Day 9.
Not included: round-trip airfaire; visa fees; insurance (compulsory on all trips), lunches and snacks, two dinners, alcoholic beverages; and spending of a personal nature.
Reservations and payment: In order to reserve a space on the trip, a non-refundable deposit of $200 USD or Euro 200 (depending on the trip) is required. Please contact us at info@customwalks.com or go to the Reservations page on our website for more information. We will send you a trip agreement that outlines the terms and conditions of payment and cancellation.
Getting there (this will redirect you to our "Getting to the Trip" page).
General Information: This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the CustomWalks Ltd. reservation information and trip agreement. Please read this information carefully and e-mail us (or use the "Contact Us" page) if you have any questions. We highly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance which you can do through CustomWalks Ltd or by clicking on the logo below (another window will open up on your screen).
We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited. Send us an email or fax to reserve your trip. Full trip details including detailed pre-departure information, train timetables, and a gear list are sent upon receipt of deposit.
Come join us! |
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