Italy: Piedmont, Langhe & the Italian Riviera

Your vacation is about to begin! Spend your first night aloft and arrive ready for an unforgettable trip.

Start off your first day in Turin right by having a VBT representative greet you at the airport. A complimentary car service will whisk you to your centrally located 5-star hotel. From here, you are perfectly positioned to explore this charming city at your leisure.

After an included breakfast at the hotel, the morning is yours to explore Turin at your leisure. At 12:30 p.m., a VBT representative will be in the lobby to meet you. Please have lunch before meeting the rest of the group.

All guests will travel to Tenuta di Fontanafredda (approximately one hour southeast of Turin), in Piedmont’s lovely Langhe region. Arrive at the beautiful grounds of the Tenuta, a sprawling estate of vineyard-cloaked land spread over 48.5 acres (120 hectares). Founded at the end of the 19th Century by Emanuele Alberto, son of Italy King Vittorio Emanuele II, the village incorporates several historical buildings, wine cellars, a beautiful park with rare plants and trees, a lovely pristine lake, and meditation zones. It thrives with many cultural and foody activities, including a theatre, an Eataly shop and a Michelin starred restaurant. After a safety and bike-fitting session, don your bike gear and follow your trip leaders on a short warm-up ride through the hotel’s surroundings.

This evening, browse the hotel’s unique library or stroll the trails around the pond, before gathering for a welcome cocktail at the hotel, sampling local wines, cheese, and hazelnuts.  Enjoy dinner at the hotel newly restored restaurant of Cascina Galarey, with open views of the surrounding hills.

Today’s Ride Choices

Afternoon: Warm-up — 11 km (7 miles)

What to Expect:

The warm-up ride is a loop from/to your hotel, toward Grinzane Cavour. After the first two miles a steady 1 km uphill takes you to the hilltop village, crowned by a castle. Then you ride downhill back to your hotel. It’s a good ride to test your gears and ‘sample’ the views of the tour.

Cumulative Distance Range: 11 km (7 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning’s hearty breakfast features dishes cooked with fine local ingredients.

Your route today leads you through some of Piedmont’s stunning farmlands and natural beauty to the ancient Roman city of Pollenzo, nowadays a timeless village whose architecture spans the ages. Though most of the remains of ancient Rome have been destroyed, the shape of the ancient amphitheater is still visible, as you’ll see by walking among the terraced houses built upon the site. In the town piazza, admire the neo-gothic monuments built by the Royal Savoy family, whose King Charles Albert made Pollenzo his favorite holiday resort.

Today Pollenzo is home to the internationally known University of Gastronomic Sciences, established in Corte Albertina in 2004 by the Slow Food Organization. The university embraces the latest models of agriculture and the preservation of biodiversity. At the adjacent Wine Bank, more than 300 winemakers regularly select, store and preserve their best vintages, making the history of Italian wines available for future generations. Discover Pollenzo and its treasures on your own during a short stop.

Afterward, shuttle across the River Tanaro, the natural northern border of the Langhe, birthplace of the great wine Barolo. The breathtaking hilly landscapes you’ll traverse, or langa, are famous for wines, cheeses and truffles. Here, the winemaking culture, traditions and terrains are among Europe’s finest examples of man’s harmonious relationship with nature and are considered an aesthetic archetype of European vineyards, earning this entire area a place as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Arrive in La Morra and enjoy lunch on your own. It is truly a privilege to cycle here.

Continue cycling these gorgeously landscaped routes, mostly downhill. As you coast through the valley, you’ll savor spectacular views of the hilltop villages of Verduno and Roddi, each crowned by stately castles.

Back at your hotel, join an expert truffle farmer, or trifolao, and his dog on the grounds of your Tenuta. Together, you set out in search of the precious underground fungus. During this invigorating outing, you will learn how to choose truffles and how to preserve them. Your hunt follows the trails of one of the last unspoiled woods in the area, home to over 40,000 age-old plants and trees – the Wood of Thoughts.

Enjoy dinner at the hotel Disguido restaurant: the chef is the same of the Michelin-starred restaurant Guido, a gracious Italian kitchen committed to using the finest Piedmont ingredients.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: Guarene to Pollenzo — 27 km (17 miles)

Afternoon: La Morra to Hotel — 14 km (9 miles)

What to Expect:

Departing from the hotel, a shuttle ride will take you to the hilltop village of Guarene. From there you’ll ride into the Roero forested region on an undulating route with little car traffic, arriving in Pollenzo before lunch. In Pollenzo, we offer an 8-km (5-mile) shuttle to avoid traffic and the long uphill into La Morra, your lunch stop. The afternoon ride is mostly downhill and flat, with only one rolling hill, on paved country roads. On the final stretch you will cycle through a village with some car traffic.

Cumulative Distance Range: 14 – 41 km (9 – 26 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today, shuttle to the hilltop town of Roddino to begin an invigorating ride along an easy route, tracing a crest that offers beautiful sweeping views of manicured vineyards and farms. You will ride though the medieval village of Monforte, worth a stop and stroll along its scenic and picturesque alleyways. En route to Barolo note the region’s rectangular cascine farmhouses, unique to Piedmont. The longer sides of these buildings face the sun for warmth in winter and are embellished with an arcaded terrace, stone floors and iron railings overflowing with colorful flowers.

Before lunch, pedal into Barolo and admire its impressive castle. This quaint medieval village gave the world-famous, light-colored red wine its name. You will have time to explore and enjoy lunch on your own at a local café. Perhaps you’ll sample wine at one of the many cantinas or stroll the cozy streets, full of little quaint shops and cafés. You may also visit the interesting WIMU, the wine museum located in the castle of Barolo.

Then, cycle downhill back to your hotel or add miles for a scenic ride to Sinio in the Talloria Valley.

Later today at the hotel, follow our expert guide through the underground historic wine cellars of Tenuta di Fontanafredda, among the 100 finest cellars in the world. The King of Italy Vittorio Emanuele II bought the estate in 1858 and 12 years later decided to cut most of the forest to plant the first vineyards. His son, the Prince Emanuele Alberto, later transformed the estate into a formidable wine business by partnering with the Marques Falletti and Count Cavour to create the now-famous Barolo wine.

This evening shuttle to Alba, the capital of white truffles, for a stroll or maybe some shopping before dining on your own. You must try the delicious ravioli del plin or tajarin pasta!

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: Fontanafredda to Barolo — 24 km (15 miles)

Afternoon: Barolo to Hotel — 6 km (4 miles) OR Barolo to Sinio and Hotel — 26 km (16 miles)

What to Expect:

A steady and gradual uphill takes you up to Roddino. Ask your leaders for a van shuttle if you prefer to skip the first uphill 10 milometers. From Roddino, you enjoy a panoramic ride along the crest of a hill through the village of Monforte on your way to Barolo. The afternoon short ride is easy and downhill, taking you back to your hotel. The optional longer ride in the Talloria Valley includes a long and very gradual uphill to Sinio, followed by a gradual downhill back to the hotel. All routes are well paved with little car traffic. Today may offer an additional independent ride for experienced cyclists. Ask your trip leader for details.

Cumulative Distance Range: 6 – 50 km (4 – 31 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Today your ride follows a high route into Alta Langa, a stunning patchwork of hazelnut trees, towering oaks, and wide-open views of the Alps. You cycle an ancient road that Napolean traveled during his first war campaign in the region. Later, you descend into a valley that follows the ancient Roman trade route linking France and Italy. Coastal Ligurians traded wine, cheese, honey and especially salt in Piedmont and France. Pause for lunch in one of the most beautiful villages of Italy: sleepy Millesimo, reclining on the banks of the Bormida River. Its ancient bridge dates to the 12th century, sure to be one of the best photo ops of your vacation.

Continue your ride on an easy winding route along the Bormida into the Italian region of Liguria. At ride’s end, join a shuttle to our next hotel, built on the sandy beach of San Lorenzo al Mare on the Italian Riviera. Enjoy a welcome aperitivo and settle in, stroll on the beach, or swim in the azure waters of the Ligurian Sea. In 2020, the Foundation for Environmental Education awarded this stretch of sea with the Blue Flag for the cleanliness of its beaches and seawater and its sustainable tourism.

You dine at the hotel restaurant tonight.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: Bossolasco to Millesimo — 35 km (22 miles)

Afternoon: Millesimo to Calizzano — 24 km (15 miles)

What to Expect:

Your ride is particularly scenic this morning as you cycle an easy rolling panoramic route in Alta Langa, at an altitude of about 2,000 feet. There’ll be little traffic, with the exception of some motorbikes. After about 28 km (17 miles), you descend into the Bormida River valley and stop for lunch. The afternoon ride is almost flat or very gradually ascending as it follows the river upstream. You are picked up at the end of the ride to shuttle to your next hotel. Routes are well paved, with little car traffic.

Cumulative Distance Range: 24 – 59 km (15 – 37 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, cycle from your hotel on an easy scenic bike path, built on former railway tracks that trace the breathtaking Ligurian coast. The path is paved and well maintained, enjoyable for fast riders, beginners, and locals. This leisurely and utterly pleasant ride offers a feast for the eyes as you pass Mediterranean shrub, vibrant flowers, palms, little villages, high belfries and of course the blue waters of the Ligurian Sea. You later coast into pretty, seaside San Remo. This resort town has hosted emperors and empresses and was the site of the San Remo Conference after World War I. If you wish, stop here to visit the synagogue and stroll the shop-lined pedestrian zone.

Continue your journey to the fishing village of Ospedaletti, known as the pearl of this colorful “Coast of Flowers.” You arrive here by riding through a tunnel that doubles as a gallery of portraits from the famous Milano-San Remo Spring classic cycling race. This sprinters classic—a one-day, 185.2-mile competition—held its inaugural in 1907 and today is one of the five prestigious “Monuments” of the bike racing circuit. En route back to your hotel, explore the quaint coastal villages of Riva Ligure and Santo Stefano al Mare at leisure. You might stop to stroll the maze of caruggi, the characteristic narrow medieval streets, or perhaps pick a café for lunch on your own. And nothing goes with an Italian bicycle ride like a delicious gelato.

Dinner is on your own this evening in San Lorenzo al Mare. You have many eateries to choose from and a lovely seaside setting for an after-dinner stroll.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: San Lorenzo to Ospedaletti — 24 km (15 miles)

Afternoon: Ospedaletti to Borgo Prino to San Lorenzo — 32 km (20 miles)

What to Expect:

Enjoy a relaxing flat ride, on a dedicated well-paved bike path. There are four well-lit tunnels along the 24 km (15 mile) route. You retrace much of the same route on the way back to the hotel, with the exception of a few miles along the coastal road that passes through two villages.

Cumulative Distance Range: 24 – 56 km (15 – 35 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Your culinary bike tour of Italy leads you into the Argentina River valley on your last day, where you’ll follow an easy bike path that leads to Taggia, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Here, local guide and food expert Roberta introduces you to the Mediterranean culture and diet. During a visit to an old olive oil mill still in operation, you’ll taste fragrant Canestrelli bread and borage grissini with extra virgin olive oil and olive tapenade. Then enjoy a special treat as you head into the heart of an authentic medieval village—complete with fortified portals and coats of arms identifying past noble families. Here, with the help of Roberta and other local cooks, you prepare the region’s renowned pesto sauce, using local basil and other fresh ingredients, a marble mortar, and a wooden pestle. Then, learn to prepare fresh handmade parpaiui, butterfly pasta that perfectly matches the sauce. Then it’s lunchtime as you savor the meal you’ve helped prepare. Later, Roberta leads us on a short walk on the cobbled street of Taggia.

After, you retrace your route back to the hotel to relax. A longer route takes you to up the San Lorenzo River to Torre Paponi. Avid cyclists can test their abilities on their own on some popular uphill roads, right behind our hotel.

This evening, celebrate your Piedmont cycling discoveries during a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: San Lorenzo to Taggia — 15 km (9 miles)

Afternoon: Taggia to San Lorenzo — 15 km (9 miles) OR Taggia to Torre Paponi to San Lorenzo — 26 km (16 miles)

What to Expect:

Today’s route is on an easy bike path. The afternoon longer option includes a very gradual ascent of about 5 km (3 miles) and is moderate. All roads and bike paths are well paved and far from traffic. Today may offer an additional independent ride for experienced cyclists. Ask your trip leader for details.

Cumulative Distance Range: 15 – 41 km (9 – 25 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, travel to Nice*, the capital of the French Riviera. The rest of the day is free to enjoy the city and use VBT city information to guide your adventures.

If you have chosen the independent Post-Trip Extension to Nice*, you will remain at this hotel for three nights.

*NOTE: if you are booked on PDB:2023-09-11 departure, you will remain one more night at Hotel Riviera dei Fiori because our Nice hotels are not available this weekend. The Post-Trip Extension is not offered for this departure.

Included Meals: Breakfast

After an included breakfast this morning, complimentary transportation to the Nice airport will be provided (an approximately 20 to 30 minute drive, depending on traffic) for your departing flight.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Your vacation is about to begin! Spend your first night aloft and arrive ready for an unforgettable trip.

Start off your first day in Turin right by having a VBT representative greet you at the airport. A complimentary car service will whisk you to your centrally located 5-star hotel. From here, you are perfectly positioned to explore this charming city at your leisure.

After an included breakfast at the hotel, the morning is yours to explore Turin at your leisure. At 12:30 p.m., a VBT representative will be in the lobby to meet you. Please have lunch before meeting the rest of the group.

All guests will travel to  Canale  (approximately one hour southeast of Turin), in Piedmont’s lovely Roero region. Arrive at your beautiful agriturismo, a country resort and working farm set on an estate of 86 acres. After a safety and bike-fitting session, don your bike gear and follow your trip leaders on a short warm-up ride through the hotel’s surroundings.

Your culinary bike tour of Italy begins with truffle hunting. Join an expert farmer, or trifolao, and his dog Willy on the property grounds. Together, you set out in search of the precious underground fungus. During this invigorating outing, you will learn how to choose truffles and how to preserve them. Your hunt will be rewarded with a tasting.

This evening, gather for a welcome cocktail back at the hotel, sampling local wines and cheese. Your welcome dinner is at the estate’s restaurant, complemented with wines from their farm. Their delicious array of products fresh from their gardens offer a wonderful introduction to Piedmont’s locally sourced cuisine.

Today’s Ride Choices

Afternoon: Warm-up — 11 km (7 miles)

What to Expect:

After an initial downhill from your agriturismo, enjoy an easy ride toward Canale and into the countryside. You may tackle the steep hill on the way back or avoid it by walking a very short distance.

Cumulative Distance Range: 11 km (7 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning’s hearty breakfast features dishes cooked with fine local ingredients.

Your route today leads you through some of Piedmont’s stunning farmlands and natural beauty to the ancient Roman city of Pollenzo, today a timeless village whose architecture spans the ages. Though most of the remains of ancient Rome have been destroyed, the shape of the ancient amphitheater is still visible, as you’ll see by walking among the terraced houses built upon the site. In the town piazza, admire the neo-gothic monuments built by the Royal Savoy family, whose King Charles Albert made Pollenzo his favorite holiday resort.

Today Pollenzo is home to the internationally known University of Gastronomic Sciences, established in Corte Albertina in 2004 by the Slow Food Organization. The university embraces the latest models of agriculture and the preservation of biodiversity. At the adjacent Wine Bank, more than 300 winemakers regularly select, store and preserve their best vintages, making the history of Italian wines available for future generations. Discover Pollenzo and its treasures on your own during a short stop.

Afterward, shuttle across the River Tanaro, the natural northern border of the Langhe, birthplace of the great wine Barolo. The breathtaking hilly landscapes you’ll traverse, or langa, are famous for wines, cheeses and truffles. Here, the winemaking culture, traditions and terrains are among Europe’s finest examples of man’s harmonious relationship with nature and are considered an aesthetic archetype of European vineyards, earning this entire area a place as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Arrive in La Morra and enjoy lunch on your own. It is truly a privilege to cycle here.

Continue cycling these gorgeously landscaped routes, mostly downhill. As you coast through the valley, you’ll savor spectacular views of the hilltop villages of Verduno and Roddi, each crowned by stately castles. Your destination is the majestic Tenuta di Fontanafredda. Spread over 296 acres (120 hectares) of vineyard-cloaked land, this sprawling estate and wine village incorporates several historical buildings, wine cellars, a beautiful park with rare plants and trees, a lovely pristine lake, and meditation zones. Browse through the hotel’s unique library or stroll the trails of its vast park, the Woods of Thoughts to relax and explore this unique place.

This evening, enjoy dinner at the hotel restaurant of Cascina Galarey, with open views of the surrounding hills. the chef is the same of the Michelin-starred restaurant Guido, a gracious Italian kitchen committed to using the finest Piedmont ingredients.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: Canale to Pollenzo — 30 km (19 miles)

Afternoon: La Morra to Hotel — 14 km (9 miles)

What to Expect:

Departing from the hotel, you’ll ride into the Roero forested region on an undulating route with little car traffic, arriving in Pollenzo before lunch. In Pollenzo, we offer an 8-km (5-mile) shuttle to avoid traffic and the long uphill into La Morra, your lunch stop. The afternoon ride is mostly downhill and flat, with only one rolling hill, on paved country roads. On the final stretch you will cycle through a village with some car traffic.

Cumulative Distance Range: 14 – 41 km (9 – 26 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today, ride or shuttle to the hilltop town of Roddino. Your invigorating ride, initially uphill till Roddino, will continue along an easy route, tracing a crest that offers beautiful sweeping views of manicured vineyards and farms. You will cycle though the medieval village of Monforte, worth a stop and stroll along its scenic and picturesque alleyways. En route to Barolo note the region’s rectangular cascine farmhouses, unique to Piedmont. The longer sides of these buildings face the sun for warmth in winter and are embellished with an arcaded terrace, stone floors and iron railings overflowing with colorful flowers.

Before lunch, pedal into Barolo and admire its impressive castle. This quaint medieval village gave the world-famous, light-colored red wine its name. You will have time to explore and enjoy lunch on your own at a local café. Perhaps you’ll sample wine at one of the many cantinas or stroll the cozy streets, full of little quaint shops and cafés. You may also visit the interesting WIMU, the wine museum located in the castle of Barolo.

Then, cycle downhill back to your hotel or add miles for a scenic ride to Sinio in the Talloria Valley.

Later today at the hotel, follow our expert guide through the underground historic wine cellars of Tenuta di Fontanafredda, among the 100 finest cellars in the world. The King of Italy Vittorio Emanuele II bought the estate in 1858 and 12 years later decided to cut most of the forest to plant the first vineyards. His son, the Prince Emanuele Alberto, later transformed the estate into a formidable wine business by partnering with the Marques Falletti and Count Cavour to create the now-famous Barolo wine.

This evening shuttle to Alba, the capital of white truffles, for a stroll or maybe some shopping before dining on your own. You must try the delicious ravioli del plin or tajarin pasta!

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: Fontanafredda to Barolo — 24 km (15 miles)

Afternoon: Barolo to Hotel — 6 km (4 miles) OR Barolo to Sinio and Hotel — 26 km (16 miles)

What to Expect:

A steady and gradual uphill takes you through the hilltop wine village of Serralunga to Roddino. To skip these first 10 km, you can ask for a van  shuttle. From Roddino enjoy a panoramic ride along the crest of a hill through the village of Monforte on your way to Barolo. The afternoon short ride is easy and downhill, taking you back to your hotel. The optional longer ride in the Talloria Valley includes a long and very manageable uphill to Sinio, followed by a gradual downhill back to the hotel. All routes are well paved with little car traffic.

Today may offer an additional independent ride for experienced cyclists. Ask your trip leaders for details.

Cumulative Distance Range: 6 – 50 km (4 – 31 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Today your ride follows a high route into Alta Langa, a stunning patchwork of hazelnut trees, towering oaks, and wide-open views of the Alps. You cycle an ancient road that Napolean traveled during his first war campaign in the region. Later, you descend into a valley that follows the ancient Roman trade route linking France and Italy. Coastal Ligurians traded wine, cheese, honey and especially salt in Piedmont and France. Pause for lunch in one of the most beautiful villages of Italy: sleepy Millesimo, reclining on the banks of the Bormida River. Its ancient bridge dates to the 12th century, sure to be one of the best photo ops of your vacation.

Continue your ride on an easy winding route along the Bormida into the Italian region of Liguria. At ride’s end, join a shuttle to our next hotel, built on the sandy beach of San Lorenzo al Mare on the Italian Riviera. Enjoy a welcome aperitivo and settle in, stroll on the beach, or swim in the azure waters of the Ligurian Sea. In 2020, the Foundation for Environmental Education awarded this stretch of sea with the Blue Flag for the cleanliness of its beaches and seawater and its sustainable tourism.

You dine at the hotel restaurant tonight.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: Bossolasco to Millesimo — 35 km (22 miles)

Afternoon: Millesimo to Calizzano — 24 km (15 miles)

What to Expect:

Your ride is particularly scenic this morning as you cycle an easy rolling panoramic route in Alta Langa, at an altitude of about 2,000 feet. There’ll be little traffic, with the exception of some motorbikes. After about 28 km (17 miles), you descend into the Bormida River valley and stop for lunch. The afternoon ride is almost flat or very gradually ascending as it follows the river upstream. You are picked up at the end of the ride to shuttle to your next hotel. Routes are well paved, with little car traffic.

Cumulative Distance Range: 24 – 59 km (15 – 37 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, cycle from your hotel on an easy scenic bike path, built on former railway tracks that trace the breathtaking Ligurian coast. The path is paved and well maintained, enjoyable for fast riders, beginners, and locals. This leisurely and utterly pleasant ride offers a feast for the eyes as you pass Mediterranean shrub, vibrant flowers, palms, little villages, high belfries and of course the blue waters of the Ligurian Sea. You later coast into pretty, seaside San Remo. This resort town has hosted emperors and empresses and was the site of the San Remo Conference after World War I. If you wish, stop here to visit the synagogue and stroll the shop-lined pedestrian zone.

Continue your journey to the fishing village of Ospedaletti, known as the pearl of this colorful “Coast of Flowers.” You arrive here by riding through a tunnel that doubles as a gallery of portraits from the famous Milano-San Remo Spring classic cycling race. This sprinters classic—a one-day, 185.2-mile competition—held its inaugural in 1907 and today is one of the five prestigious “Monuments” of the bike racing circuit. En route back to your hotel, explore the quaint coastal villages of Riva Ligure and Santo Stefano al Mare at leisure. You might stop to stroll the maze of caruggi, the characteristic narrow medieval streets, or perhaps pick a café for lunch on your own. And nothing goes with an Italian bicycle ride like a delicious gelato.

Dinner is on your own this evening in San Lorenzo al Mare. You have many eateries to choose from and a lovely seaside setting for an after-dinner stroll.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: San Lorenzo to Ospedaletti — 24 km (15 miles)

Afternoon: Ospedaletti to Borgo Prino and San Lorenzo — 32 km (20 miles)

What to Expect:

Enjoy a relaxing flat ride, on a dedicated well-paved bike path. There are four well-lit tunnels along the 24 km (15 mile) route. You retrace much of the same route on the way back to the hotel, with the exception of a few miles along the coastal road that passes through two villages.

Cumulative Distance Range: 24 – 56 km (15 – 35 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Your culinary bike tour of Italy leads you into the Argentina River valley on your last day, where you’ll follow an easy bike path that leads to Taggia, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Here, local guide and food expert Roberta introduces you to the Mediterranean culture and diet. During a visit to an old olive oil mill still in operation, you’ll taste fragrant Canestrelli bread and borage grissini with extra virgin olive oil and olive tapenade. Then enjoy a special treat as you head into the heart of an authentic medieval village—complete with fortified portals and coats of arms identifying past noble families. Here, with the help of Roberta and other local cooks, you prepare the region’s renowned pesto sauce, using local basil and other fresh ingredients, a marble mortar, and a wooden pestle. Then, learn to prepare fresh handmade parpaiui, butterfly pasta that perfectly matches the sauce. Then it’s lunchtime as you savor the meal you’ve helped prepare. Later, Roberta leads us on a short walk on the cobbled street of Taggia.

After, you retrace your route back to the hotel to relax. A longer route takes you up the San Lorenzo River to Torre Paponi. Avid cyclists can test their abilities on their own on famous uphill roads of the Milano-San Remo race, right behind our hotel.

This evening, celebrate your Piedmont cycling discoveries during a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: Hotel to Taggia — 15 km (9 miles)

Afternoon: Taggia to San Lorenzo — 15 km (9 miles) OR Taggia to Torre Paponi to San Lorenzo — 27 km (17 miles)

What to Expect:

Today’s route is on an easy bike path. The afternoon longer option includes a very gradual ascent of about 5 km (3 miles) and is moderate. All roads and bike paths are well paved and far from traffic.

Today may offer an additional independent ride for experienced cyclists. Ask your trip leader for details.

Cumulative Distance Range: 14 – 29 km (9 – 18 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, travel to Nice, the capital of the French Riviera. The rest of the day is free to enjoy the city and use VBT city information to guide your adventures.

If you have chosen the independent Post-Trip Extension to Nice, you will remain at this hotel for three nights.

Included Meals: Breakfast

After an included breakfast this morning, complimentary transportation to the Nice airport will be provided (an approximately 20 to 30 minute drive, depending on traffic) for your departing flight.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Your tour starts at 12:30 p.m. at our Turin hotel. A VBT representative will be in the lobby to meet you. Please have lunch before leaving the hotel. If your arrival at our Turin hotel is going to be later than 12:30 p.m. or if you are delayed, please call the hotel and ask the front desk to pass the message on to the VBT representative.

All guests will travel to Tenuta di Fontanafredda (approximately one hour southeast of Turin), in Piedmont’s lovely Langhe region. Arrive at the beautiful grounds of the Tenuta, a sprawling estate of vineyard-cloaked land spread over 48.5 acres (120 hectares). Founded at the end of the 19th century by Emanuele Alberto, son of Italy King Vittorio Emanuele II, the village incorporates several historical buildings, wine cellars, a beautiful park with rare plants and trees, a lovely pristine lake, and meditation zones. It thrives with many cultural and foody activities, including a theatre, an Eataly shop and a Michelin starred restaurant. After a safety and bike-fitting session, don your bike gear and follow your trip leaders on a short warm-up ride through the hotel’s surroundings.

This evening, gather for a welcome cocktail at the hotel, sampling local wines, cheese, and hazelnuts. Enjoy dinner at the hotel newly restored restaurant of Cascina Galarey, with open views of the surrounding hills.

Today’s Ride Choices

Afternoon: Warm-up — 11 km (7 miles)

What to Expect:

The warm-up ride is a loop from/to your hotel, toward Grinzane Cavour. After the first two miles a steady 1 km uphill takes you to the hilltop village, crowned by a castle. Then you ride downhill back to your hotel. It’s a good ride to test your gears and ‘sample’ the views of the tour.

Cumulative Distance Range: 11 km (7 miles)

Included Meals: Dinner

This morning’s hearty breakfast features dishes cooked with fine local ingredients.

Your route today leads you through some of Piedmont’s stunning farmlands and natural beauty to the ancient Roman city of Pollenzo, nowadays a timeless village whose architecture spans the ages. Though most of the remains of ancient Rome have been destroyed, the shape of the ancient amphitheater is still visible, as you’ll see by walking among the terraced houses built upon the site. In the town piazza, admire the neo-gothic monuments built by the Royal Savoy family, whose King Charles Albert made Pollenzo his favorite holiday resort.

Today Pollenzo is home to the internationally known University of Gastronomic Sciences, established in Corte Albertina in 2004 by the Slow Food Organization. The university embraces the latest models of agriculture and the preservation of biodiversity. At the adjacent Wine Bank, more than 300 winemakers regularly select, store and preserve their best vintages, making the history of Italian wines available for future generations. Discover Pollenzo and its treasures on your own during a short stop.

Afterward, shuttle across the River Tanaro, the natural northern border of the Langhe, birthplace of the great wine Barolo. The breathtaking hilly landscapes you’ll traverse, or langa, are famous for wines, cheeses and truffles. Here, the winemaking culture, traditions and terrains are among Europe’s finest examples of man’s harmonious relationship with nature and are considered an aesthetic archetype of European vineyards, earning this entire area a place as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Arrive in La Morra and enjoy lunch on your own. It is truly a privilege to cycle here.

Continue cycling these gorgeously landscaped routes, mostly downhill. As you coast through the valley, you’ll savor spectacular views of the hilltop villages of Verduno and Roddi, each crowned by stately castles.

Back at your hotel, join an expert truffle farmer, or trifolao, and his dog on the grounds of your Tenuta. Together, you set out in search of the precious underground fungus. During this invigorating outing, you will learn how to choose truffles and how to preserve them. Your hunt follows the trails of one of the last unspoiled woods in the area, home to over 40,000 age-old plants and trees – the Wood of Thoughts.

Enjoy dinner at the hotel Disguido restaurant: the chef is the same of the Michelin-starred restaurant Guido, a gracious Italian kitchen committed to using the finest Piedmont ingredients.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: Guarene to Pollenzo — 27 km (17 miles)

Afternoon: La Morra to Hotel — 14 km (9 miles)

What to Expect:

Departing from the hotel, a shuttle ride will take you to the hilltop village of Guarene. From there you’ll ride into the Roero forested region on an undulating route with little car traffic, arriving in Pollenzo before lunch. In Pollenzo, we offer an 8-km (5-mile) shuttle to avoid traffic and the long uphill into La Morra, your lunch stop. The afternoon ride is mostly downhill and flat, with only one rolling hill, on paved country roads. On the final stretch you will cycle through a village with some car traffic.

Cumulative Distance Range: 14 – 41 km (9 – 26 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today, shuttle to the hilltop town of Roddino to begin an invigorating ride along an easy route, tracing a crest that offers beautiful sweeping views of manicured vineyards and farms. You will ride though the medieval village of Monforte, worth a stop and stroll along its scenic and picturesque alleyways. En route to Barolo note the region’s rectangular cascine farmhouses, unique to Piedmont. The longer sides of these buildings face the sun for warmth in winter and are embellished with an arcaded terrace, stone floors and iron railings overflowing with colorful flowers.

Before lunch, pedal into Barolo and admire its impressive castle. This quaint medieval village gave the world-famous, light-colored red wine its name. You will have time to explore and enjoy lunch on your own at a local café. Perhaps you’ll sample wine at one of the many cantinas or stroll the cozy streets, full of little quaint shops and cafés. You may also visit the interesting WIMU, the wine museum located in the castle of Barolo.

Then, cycle downhill back to your hotel or add miles for a scenic ride to Sinio in the Talloria Valley.

Later today at the hotel, follow our expert guide through the underground historic wine cellars of Tenuta di Fontanafredda, among the 100 finest cellars in the world. The King of Italy Vittorio Emanuele II bought the estate in 1858 and 12 years later decided to cut most of the forest to plant the first vineyards. His son, the Prince Emanuele Alberto, later transformed the estate into a formidable wine business by partnering with the Marques Falletti and Count Cavour to create the now-famous Barolo wine.

This evening shuttle to Alba, the capital of white truffles, for a stroll or maybe some shopping before dining on your own. You must try the delicious ravioli del plin or tajarin pasta!

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: Fontanafredda to Barolo — 24 km (15 miles)

Afternoon: Barolo to Hotel — 6 km (4 miles) OR Barolo to Sinio and Hotel — 26 km (16 miles)

What to Expect:

A steady and gradual uphill takes you up to Roddino. Ask your leaders for a van shuttle if you prefer to skip the first uphill 10 milometers. From Roddino, you enjoy a panoramic ride along the crest of a hill through the village of Monforte on your way to Barolo. The afternoon short ride is easy and downhill, taking you back to your hotel. The optional longer ride in the Talloria Valley includes a long and very gradual uphill to Sinio, followed by a gradual downhill back to the hotel. All routes are well paved with little car traffic. Today may offer an additional independent ride for experienced cyclists. Ask your trip leader for details.

Cumulative Distance Range: 6 – 50 km (4 – 31 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Today your ride follows a high route into Alta Langa, a stunning patchwork of hazelnut trees, towering oaks, and wide-open views of the Alps. You cycle an ancient road that Napolean traveled during his first war campaign in the region. Later, you descend into a valley that follows the ancient Roman trade route linking France and Italy. Coastal Ligurians traded wine, cheese, honey and especially salt in Piedmont and France. Pause for lunch in one of the most beautiful villages of Italy: sleepy Millesimo, reclining on the banks of the Bormida River. Its ancient bridge dates to the 12th century, sure to be one of the best photo ops of your vacation.

Continue your ride on an easy winding route along the Bormida into the Italian region of Liguria. At ride’s end, join a shuttle to our next hotel, built on the sandy beach of San Lorenzo al Mare on the Italian Riviera. Enjoy a welcome aperitivo and settle in, stroll on the beach, or swim in the azure waters of the Ligurian Sea. In 2020, the Foundation for Environmental Education awarded this stretch of sea with the Blue Flag for the cleanliness of its beaches and seawater and its sustainable tourism.

You dine at the hotel restaurant tonight.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: Bossolasco to Millesimo — 35 km (22 miles)

Afternoon: Millesimo to Calizzano — 24 km (15 miles)

What to Expect:

Your ride is particularly scenic this morning as you cycle an easy rolling panoramic route in Alta Langa, at an altitude of about 2,000 feet. There’ll be little traffic, with the exception of some motorbikes. After about 28 km (17 miles), you descend into the Bormida River valley and stop for lunch. The afternoon ride is almost flat or very gradually ascending as it follows the river upstream. You are picked up at the end of the ride to shuttle to your next hotel. Routes are well paved, with little car traffic.

Cumulative Distance Range: 24 – 59 km (15 – 37 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, cycle from your hotel on an easy scenic bike path, built on former railway tracks that trace the breathtaking Ligurian coast. The path is paved and well maintained, enjoyable for fast riders, beginners, and locals. This leisurely and utterly pleasant ride offers a feast for the eyes as you pass Mediterranean shrub, vibrant flowers, palms, little villages, high belfries and of course the blue waters of the Ligurian Sea. You later coast into pretty, seaside San Remo. This resort town has hosted emperors and empresses and was the site of the San Remo Conference after World War I. If you wish, stop here to visit the synagogue and stroll the shop-lined pedestrian zone.

Continue your journey to the fishing village of Ospedaletti, known as the pearl of this colorful “Coast of Flowers.” You arrive here by riding through a tunnel that doubles as a gallery of portraits from the famous Milano-San Remo Spring classic cycling race. This sprinters classic—a one-day, 185.2-mile competition—held its inaugural in 1907 and today is one of the five prestigious “Monuments” of the bike racing circuit. En route back to your hotel, explore the quaint coastal villages of Riva Ligure and Santo Stefano al Mare at leisure. You might stop to stroll the maze of caruggi, the characteristic narrow medieval streets, or perhaps pick a café for lunch on your own. And nothing goes with an Italian bicycle ride like a delicious gelato.

Dinner is on your own this evening in San Lorenzo al Mare. You have many eateries to choose from and a lovely seaside setting for an after-dinner stroll.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: San Lorenzo to Ospedaletti — 24 km (15 miles)

Afternoon: Ospedaletti to Borgo Prino to San Lorenzo — 32 km (20 miles)

What to Expect:

Enjoy a relaxing flat ride, on a dedicated well-paved bike path. There are four well-lit tunnels along the 24 km (15 mile) route. You retrace much of the same route on the way back to the hotel, with the exception of a few miles along the coastal road that passes through two villages.

Cumulative Distance Range: 24 – 56 km (15 – 35 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Your culinary bike tour of Italy leads you into the Argentina River valley on your last day, where you’ll follow an easy bike path that leads to Taggia, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Here, local guide and food expert Roberta introduces you to the Mediterranean culture and diet. During a visit to an old olive oil mill still in operation, you’ll taste fragrant Canestrelli bread and borage grissini with extra virgin olive oil and olive tapenade. Then enjoy a special treat as you head into the heart of an authentic medieval village—complete with fortified portals and coats of arms identifying past noble families. Here, with the help of Roberta and other local cooks, you prepare the region’s renowned pesto sauce, using local basil and other fresh ingredients, a marble mortar, and a wooden pestle. Then, learn to prepare fresh handmade parpaiui, butterfly pasta that perfectly matches the sauce. Then it’s lunchtime as you savor the meal you’ve helped prepare. Later, Roberta leads us on a short walk on the cobbled street of Taggia.

After, you retrace your route back to the hotel to relax. A longer route takes you to up the San Lorenzo River to Torre Paponi. Avid cyclists can test their abilities on their own on some popular uphill roads, right behind our hotel.

This evening, celebrate your Piedmont cycling discoveries during a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: San Lorenzo to Taggia — 15 km (9 miles)

Afternoon: Taggia to San Lorenzo — 15 km (9 miles) OR Taggia to Torre Paponi to San Lorenzo — 26 km (16 miles)

What to Expect:

Today’s route is on an easy bike path. The afternoon longer option includes a very gradual ascent of about 5 km (3 miles) and is moderate. All roads and bike paths are well paved and far from traffic. Today may offer an additional independent ride for experienced cyclists. Ask your trip leader for details.

Cumulative Distance Range: 15 – 41 km (9 – 25 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast transportation is provided to the nearby railway station of Arma di Taggia, arriving around 9:00 a.m. Your tour ends here; frequent train connections can take you to Genova, Milan, or back to Turin’s Porta Nuova station. Please check the Trenitalia train timetable in advance as the train schedule changes mid-June. You are responsible for your own train travel and transportation to the airport for your flight home.

If you would like to travel to Nice, France, let your tour leaders know in advance and you are welcome to board our coach at 8:30 a.m., arriving at our Nice hotel around 10:00 a.m., and there make your connections on your own.

*NOTE that if you are booked on PDB:2023-09-11 departure, transportation is provided to Arma di Taggia railway station only, as the option to travel to Nice is not available.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Your tour starts at 12:30 p.m. at our Turin hotel. A VBT representative will be in the lobby to meet you. Please have lunch before leaving the hotel. If your arrival at our Turin hotel is going to be later than 12:30 p.m. or if you are delayed, please call the hotel and ask the front desk to pass the message on to the VBT representative.

All guests will travel to  Canale  (approximately one hour southeast of Turin), in Piedmont’s lovely Roero region. Arrive at your beautiful agriturismo, a country resort and working farm set on an estate of 86 acres. After a safety and bike-fitting session, don your bike gear and follow your trip leaders on a short warm-up ride through the hotel’s surroundings.

Your culinary bike tour of Italy begins with truffle hunting. Join an expert farmer, or trifolao, and his dog Willy on the property grounds. Together, you set out in search of the precious underground fungus. During this invigorating outing, you will learn how to choose truffles and how to preserve them. Your hunt will be rewarded with a tasting.

This evening, gather for a welcome cocktail back at the hotel, sampling local wines and cheese. Your welcome dinner is at the estate’s restaurant, complemented with wines from their farm. Their delicious array of products fresh from their gardens offer a wonderful introduction to Piedmont’s locally sourced cuisine.

Today’s Ride Choices

Afternoon: Warm-up — 12 km (7 miles)

What to Expect:

After an initial downhill from your agriturismo, enjoy an easy ride toward Canale and into the countryside. You may tackle the steep hill on the way back or avoid it by walking a very short distance.

Cumulative Distance Range: 12 km (7 miles)

Included Meals: Dinner

This morning’s hearty breakfast features dishes cooked with fine local ingredients.

Your route today leads you through some of Piedmont’s stunning farmlands and natural beauty to the ancient Roman city of Pollenzo, today a timeless village whose architecture spans the ages. Though most of the remains of ancient Rome have been destroyed, the shape of the ancient amphitheater is still visible, as you’ll see by walking among the terraced houses built upon the site. In the town piazza, admire the neo-gothic monuments built by the Royal Savoy family, whose King Charles Albert made Pollenzo his favorite holiday resort.

Today Pollenzo is home to the internationally known University of Gastronomic Sciences, established in Corte Albertina in 2004 by the Slow Food Organization. The university embraces the latest models of agriculture and the preservation of biodiversity. At the adjacent Wine Bank, more than 300 winemakers regularly select, store and preserve their best vintages, making the history of Italian wines available for future generations. Discover Pollenzo and its treasures on your own during a short stop.

Afterward, shuttle across the River Tanaro, the natural northern border of the Langhe, birthplace of the great wine Barolo. The breathtaking hilly landscapes you’ll traverse, or langa, are famous for wines, cheeses and truffles. Here, the winemaking culture, traditions and terrains are among Europe’s finest examples of man’s harmonious relationship with nature and are considered an aesthetic archetype of European vineyards, earning this entire area a place as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Arrive in La Morra and enjoy lunch on your own. It is truly a privilege to cycle here.

Continue cycling these gorgeously landscaped routes, mostly downhill. As you coast through the valley, you’ll savor spectacular views of the hilltop villages of Verduno and Roddi, each crowned by stately castles. Your destination is the majestic Tenuta di Fontanafredda. Spread over 296 acres (120 hectares) of vineyard-cloaked land, this sprawling estate and wine village incorporates several historical buildings, wine cellars, a beautiful park with rare plants and trees, a lovely pristine lake, and meditation zones. Browse through the hotel’s unique library or stroll the trails of its vast park, the Woods of Thoughts to relax and explore this unique place.

This evening, enjoy dinner at the hotel restaurant of Cascina Galarey, with open views of the surrounding hills. the chef is the same of the Michelin-starred restaurant Guido, a gracious Italian kitchen committed to using the finest Piedmont ingredients.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: Canale to Pollenzo — 30 km (19 miles)

Afternoon: La Morra to Hotel — 14 km (9 miles)

What to Expect:

Departing from the hotel, you’ll ride into the Roero forested region on an undulating route with little car traffic, arriving in Pollenzo before lunch. In Pollenzo, we offer an 8-km (5-mile) shuttle to avoid traffic and the long uphill into La Morra, your lunch stop. The afternoon ride is mostly downhill and flat, with only one rolling hill, on paved country roads. On the final stretch you will cycle through a village with some car traffic.

Cumulative Distance Range: 14 – 41 km (9 – 26 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today, ride or shuttle to the hilltop town of Roddino. Your invigorating ride, initially uphill till Roddino, will continue along an easy route, tracing a crest that offers beautiful sweeping views of manicured vineyards and farms. You will cycle though the medieval village of Monforte, worth a stop and stroll along its scenic and picturesque alleyways. En route to Barolo note the region’s rectangular cascine farmhouses, unique to Piedmont. The longer sides of these buildings face the sun for warmth in winter and are embellished with an arcaded terrace, stone floors and iron railings overflowing with colorful flowers.

Before lunch, pedal into Barolo and admire its impressive castle. This quaint medieval village gave the world-famous, light-colored red wine its name. You will have time to explore and enjoy lunch on your own at a local café. Perhaps you’ll sample wine at one of the many cantinas or stroll the cozy streets, full of little quaint shops and cafés. You may also visit the interesting WIMU, the wine museum located in the castle of Barolo.

Then, cycle downhill back to your hotel or add miles for a scenic ride to Sinio in the Talloria Valley.

Later today at the hotel, follow our expert guide through the underground historic wine cellars of Tenuta di Fontanafredda, among the 100 finest cellars in the world. The King of Italy Vittorio Emanuele II bought the estate in 1858 and 12 years later decided to cut most of the forest to plant the first vineyards. His son, the Prince Emanuele Alberto, later transformed the estate into a formidable wine business by partnering with the Marques Falletti and Count Cavour to create the now-famous Barolo wine.

This evening shuttle to Alba, the capital of white truffles, for a stroll or maybe some shopping before dining on your own. You must try the delicious ravioli del plin or tajarin pasta!

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: Fontanafredda to Barolo — 24 km (15 miles)

Afternoon: Barolo to Hotel — 6 km (4 miles) OR Barolo to Sinio and Hotel — 26 km (16 miles)

What to Expect:

A steady and gradual uphill takes you through the hilltop wine village of Serralunga to Roddino. To skip these first 10 km, you can ask for a van  shuttle. From Roddino enjoy a panoramic ride along the crest of a hill through the village of Monforte on your way to Barolo. The afternoon short ride is easy and downhill, taking you back to your hotel. The optional longer ride in the Talloria Valley includes a long and very manageable uphill to Sinio, followed by a gradual downhill back to the hotel. All routes are well paved with little car traffic.

Today may offer an additional independent ride for experienced cyclists. Ask your trip leaders for details.

Cumulative Distance Range: 6 – 50 km (4 – 31 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Today your ride follows a high route into Alta Langa, a stunning patchwork of hazelnut trees, towering oaks, and wide-open views of the Alps. You cycle an ancient road that Napolean traveled during his first war campaign in the region. Later, you descend into a valley that follows the ancient Roman trade route linking France and Italy. Coastal Ligurians traded wine, cheese, honey and especially salt in Piedmont and France. Pause for lunch in one of the most beautiful villages of Italy: sleepy Millesimo, reclining on the banks of the Bormida River. Its ancient bridge dates to the 12th century, sure to be one of the best photo ops of your vacation.

Continue your ride on an easy winding route along the Bormida into the Italian region of Liguria. At ride’s end, join a shuttle to our next hotel, built on the sandy beach of San Lorenzo al Mare on the Italian Riviera. Enjoy a welcome aperitivo and settle in, stroll on the beach, or swim in the azure waters of the Ligurian Sea. In 2020, the Foundation for Environmental Education awarded this stretch of sea with the Blue Flag for the cleanliness of its beaches and seawater and its sustainable tourism.

You dine at the hotel restaurant tonight.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: Bossolasco to Millesimo — 35 km (22 miles)

Afternoon: Millesimo to Calizzano — 24 km (15 miles)

What to Expect:

Your ride is particularly scenic this morning as you cycle an easy rolling panoramic route in Alta Langa, at an altitude of about 2,000 feet. There’ll be little traffic, with the exception of some motorbikes. After about 28 km (17 miles), you descend into the Bormida River valley and stop for lunch. The afternoon ride is almost flat or very gradually ascending as it follows the river upstream. You are picked up at the end of the ride to shuttle to your next hotel. Routes are well paved, with little car traffic.

Cumulative Distance Range: 24 – 59 km (15 – 37 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, cycle from your hotel on an easy scenic bike path, built on former railway tracks that trace the breathtaking Ligurian coast. The path is paved and well maintained, enjoyable for fast riders, beginners, and locals. This leisurely and utterly pleasant ride offers a feast for the eyes as you pass Mediterranean shrub, vibrant flowers, palms, little villages, high belfries and of course the blue waters of the Ligurian Sea. You later coast into pretty, seaside San Remo. This resort town has hosted emperors and empresses and was the site of the San Remo Conference after World War I. If you wish, stop here to visit the synagogue and stroll the shop-lined pedestrian zone.

Continue your journey to the fishing village of Ospedaletti, known as the pearl of this colorful “Coast of Flowers.” You arrive here by riding through a tunnel that doubles as a gallery of portraits from the famous Milano-San Remo Spring classic cycling race. This sprinters classic—a one-day, 185.2-mile competition—held its inaugural in 1907 and today is one of the five prestigious “Monuments” of the bike racing circuit. En route back to your hotel, explore the quaint coastal villages of Riva Ligure and Santo Stefano al Mare at leisure. You might stop to stroll the maze of caruggi, the characteristic narrow medieval streets, or perhaps pick a café for lunch on your own. And nothing goes with an Italian bicycle ride like a delicious gelato.

Dinner is on your own this evening in San Lorenzo al Mare. You have many eateries to choose from and a lovely seaside setting for an after-dinner stroll.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: San Lorenzo to Ospedaletti — 24 km (15 miles)

Afternoon: Ospedaletti to Borgo Prino and San Lorenzo — 32 km (20 miles)

What to Expect:

Enjoy a relaxing flat ride, on a dedicated well-paved bike path. There are four well-lit tunnels along the 24 km (15 mile) route. You retrace much of the same route on the way back to the hotel, with the exception of a few miles along the coastal road that passes through two villages.

Cumulative Distance Range: 24 – 56 km (15 – 35 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Your culinary bike tour of Italy leads you into the Argentina River valley on your last day, where you’ll follow an easy bike path that leads to Taggia, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Here, local guide and food expert Roberta introduces you to the Mediterranean culture and diet. During a visit to an old olive oil mill still in operation, you’ll taste fragrant Canestrelli bread and borage grissini with extra virgin olive oil and olive tapenade. Then enjoy a special treat as you head into the heart of an authentic medieval village—complete with fortified portals and coats of arms identifying past noble families. Here, with the help of Roberta and other local cooks, you prepare the region’s renowned pesto sauce, using local basil and other fresh ingredients, a marble mortar, and a wooden pestle. Then, learn to prepare fresh handmade parpaiui, butterfly pasta that perfectly matches the sauce. Then it’s lunchtime as you savor the meal you’ve helped prepare. Later, Roberta leads us on a short walk on the cobbled street of Taggia.

After, you retrace your route back to the hotel to relax. A longer route takes you up the San Lorenzo River to Torre Paponi. Avid cyclists can test their abilities on their own on famous uphill roads of the Milano-San Remo race, right behind our hotel.

This evening, celebrate your Piedmont cycling discoveries during a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning: Hotel to Taggia — 15 km (9 miles)

Afternoon: Taggia to San Lorenzo — 15 km (9 miles) OR Taggia to Torre Paponi to San Lorenzo — 27 km (17 miles)

What to Expect:

Today’s route is on an easy bike path. The afternoon longer option includes a very gradual ascent of about 5 km (3 miles) and is moderate. All roads and bike paths are well paved and far from traffic.

Today may offer an additional independent ride for experienced cyclists. Ask your trip leader for details.

Cumulative Distance Range: 14 – 29 km (9 – 18 miles)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast transportation is provided to the nearby railway station of Arma di Taggia, arriving around 9:00 a.m. Your tour ends here; frequent train connections can take you to Genova, Milan, or back to Turin’s Porta Nuova station. Please check the Trenitalia train timetable in advance as the train schedule changes mid-June. You are responsible for your own train travel and transportation to the airport for your flight home.

If you would like to travel to Nice, France, let your trip leaders know in advance and you are welcome to board our coach at 8:30 a.m., arriving at our Nice hotel around 10:00 a.m., and there make your connections on your own.

Included Meals: Breakfast