Italy’s Piedmont region is surrounded on three sides by a great arc of the Alps as they rise out of the Mediterranean Sea and curve north and east through France, Switzerland and Italy to Austria. Within this great curve of mountains the Po River rises, forming a broad, fertile plain that forms Italy’s longest river flowing into the Adriatic Sea. It was in the western part of this valley that the Kings of Savoy built castles and fortified cities to protect wine merchants from intrusions by marauding pirates. And it was here that Count Camillo Cavour first proposed the idea of a unified Italian state. The food, the history and the landscape make the Piedmont an ideal destination for cyclists. This cycling tour through the Piedmont region and the Lakes District combines the best of Italian and French cuisine and wine with scenic pedaling through rolling hills dotted with vineyards and castles.
***If this sounds great but you prefer a shorter tour check out our Cycling Italy’s Piedmont tour, which features the first 8 days of this itinerary.***
Highlights
Piedmont vineyards and wine tastings, Gourmet regional cuisine, multiple 2 night stays, Langhe area famous for its wine, cheese and truffles, town of Asti (home to Asti spumante!)
Penciling in on a tour is a great way to temporarily hold a space while you think about your travel logistics and find some friends to join you. We encourage you to book your space on the tour dates that interests you as soon as possible. Many departures are already sold out.
Highlights: Provincial capital of Cuneo, Alpine views, Arione Bar and Confectionary, welcome dinner
Gather today in Cuneo, south of Turin. We’ll fit bicycles this afternoon, then you will be free to explore the town and to take a warm-up ride. Be sure to look up the Arione Bar and Confectionary, famous for its “cuneese al rhum,” a chocolate rum candy (Hemingway stopped by here to pick up some of these on a trip to Italy in 1954, the year he won the Nobel Prize.) This evening, we’ll celebrate the beginning of our tour with a traditional Piedmontese dinner together.
Highlights: Alpine scenery, the 19th century fortress of Vinadio, optional mountain ride
Your ride today follows the Stura di Demonte River valley to the fortress of Vinadio along an historic military road that has now become mainly a bike path. The Vinadio fortress was built by King Carlo Alberto of the house of Savoy in the 1830s and ’40s to protect the Piedmont from possible invasions from France. You’ll be back in Cuneo late afternoon to enjoy a stroll through town.
Highlights: Town of Bene Vagienna or Roman “Augusta Bagiennorum,” the Langhe wine region
Your ride today takes you through the countryside around the Roman city of Augusta Bagiennorum, founded in 25 BC as an important agricultural and economic trading center with the Ligurian Tribes of the Bagienni. Remains of the theater, the forum and other buildings are still visible from the road. A short climb will take you to Novello, where you have the first great views over the wine area of Langhe. Tonight you sleep in Monforte d’Alba, one of many picturesque wine villages in the Langhe region of Piedmont.
Highlights: Le Langhe wine region and wine villages, including Barolo, wine tasting, Grinzane vineyard museum
A loop ride today takes you through the vineyards of Le Langhe and the famous hills of the Nebbiolo grape. You’ll pass through the stunning landscape of La Morra, as well as vineyards around Barolo, Verduno and La Morra. The town of Barolo gives its name to Italy’s most famous wine. The Castle hosts an interesting ethnographic and wine museum. Further on along the loop, in Grinzane Cavour, a nice stroll around the castle ends at an open air vineyard museum offering great views over the surrounding vineyards.We’ll enjoy a wine tasting together this evening.
Your ride today takes you through some of the most beautiful vineyard landscapes in Italy. If you are interested in wine we recommend a stop at the regional wine museum in Mango, home of the sweet and sparkling Moscato wine, before continuing on through Neviglie and Trezzo Tinella, villages of less than 500 inhabitants, on the way to Alba.
Highlights: Alba, Ferrero chocolates and visit to Coppo, one of Italy’s most famous vineyards, shuttle to Asti
You’ll want to take time to visit Alba before leaving this morning. Not only is Alba the capital of the Langhe wine region it is also home to Ferrero, the chocolate maker that manufactures Nutella and Kinder chocolate. From here you’ll pedal on to Canelli to visit one of the oldest and most famous wineries in Italy, Coppo. Enjoy the underground cellars and a wine tasting before shuttling on to our hotel in Asti, an elegant town famous for its architecture, wines and culinary traditions.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Lodging : Hotel Lis
Highlights: Roero wine region, Govone Castle, Hilltop villages and countryside
Enjoy a rest in Asti today, exploring its lively medieval center with several of the historic “100 towers” that once characterized it. Alternatively, take a lovely loop ride into the nearby Roero and Monferrato hills, with views of vineyards, hilltop castle and villages and rolling scenery. Stop by Govone Castle, one of the royal palaces in the area and enjoy the views from its courtyard before heading back to Asti.
Highlights: Small country roads, Moncalvo and fortified hilltop villages, cheese tasting
Head north today through the hills of Monferrato. This is one of the most densely settled agricultural areas in Italy and features a rich network of tiny farm roads and small fortified hilltop villages. Over the years it has become fashionable to convert the town fortress into a villa. Our accommodation tonight is in the Castle of Lu. This afternoon we’ll enjoy a cheese tasting at our hotel.
Highlights: Flat riding, rice farm, views of the Alps
Leave the hills behind and cross the Po River in Casale Monferrato this morning. Casale sits on the south bank of the Po River and enjoys a deep architectural heritage due to its varied history because of its critical position along the Po River. Pedal north through one of the largest rice growing areas in Europe. Along the way, you’ll pass through no less than 15 small farm villages, including San Nazzaro Sesia, a village built around an 11th-century Benedictine abbey. This afternoon we’ll visit one of the area’s rice producers to discover more about the history of the crop and harvest techniques.
Highlights: Spectacular views of the Alps and pedaling along Lake Orta, enjoy San Giulio Island
Today we’ll pedal the last bit of the plain to reach the foothills of the Alps. Pass by the old village of Ghemme with its typical structure on your way to Lake Orta, a gem set in the green of the Piedmont Alps. You’ll have time to visit San Giulio Island, renowned for its storybook beauty, 12th century basilica and benedictine monastery. The views from the island are worth the short boat ride. Before dinner together, explore the village of Orta with its timeless buildings and walls surrounding Piazza Motta.
Highlights: Lakes Orta, Mergozzo, and Maggiore, Borromeo Islands
Your final day of riding takes you to Italy’s spectacular Lake Maggiore and the heart of the Lakes District. This breathtaking series of lakes was created as glaciers retreated from northern Italy some 20,000 years ago. Enjoy some riding north along Lake Orta, then stop by tiny Lake Mergozzo, and finally, spectacular Lake Maggiore. The journey ends in Verbania along the shores of the lake. Take some time for an excursion to Isola Bella or Isola Madre, and discover some of the best views over Italian style gardens surrounded by the lake and the Alps. This evening, we’ll enjoy a farewell dinner together. Hotel for September 14, 2025 departure pending.
You are on your own today in one of Italy’s most beautiful regions. This is a great starting point for further exploration of the Lakes District, or better yet – perhaps you’d like to join our cycling tour through the area! Whatever you choose, have a great time and thanks for joining us!
Meals : Breakfast
Visit our Tour Level page to learn more about terrain levels and how we determine day and tour levels.
Surcharge: $300 for 6-8 days; $375 for 9-15 days; $600 for 16+ days
Frame : Alloy with carbon fork
Type : E-Road
Plan your trip
Your tour starts with a complimentary ExperiencePlus! shuttle pick-up on Day 1. Your spot on the shuttle is already reserved for you. The drive will take 1.5 hours. If you can't make the shuttle, you will be responsible for your own transportation to the tour start location in Cuneo (1-1.5 hours by train, or private transfer, arranged by the hotel, around EUR 130).
Shuttle pick-up time: Day 1 at 11 AM
Meeting point: Cafe-bar "Roma già Talmone" right by the Torino Porta Nuova train station, where you can grab a snack for the drive.
As you are planning, remember that the hotels listed in our itineraries are our primary hotels and are – in rare cases – subject to change. Before you make arrangements, check with us if your tour departure is guaranteed. If your tour departure is out further than 6 months, please also check with us as there might be slight changes to the itinerary.
The below information will help you plan your arrival. For more tips or other routes, you might like Rome2Rio. The fare and timing information listed below is approximate.
Airport: We recommend flying into the Turin/Torino Airport (TRN).
From the Turin/Torino airport to the Torino Porta Nuova train station:
Arriva bus from the Turin/Torino airport to Torino Porta Nuova train station (every 20 minutes; 50 min/EUR 7-8)
or Taxi (30 min/EUR 40-45)
From the train station to the meeting pointfor the ExperiencePlus! shuttle:
The below information will help you plan your departure. For more tips or other routes, you might like Rome2Rio.
Airport: We recommend flying out of the Milano Malpensa Airport (MXP).
Getting from the tour ending location to the Malpensa airport:
Walk or taxi to the bus stop “Piazza Gramsci” (5 min/EUR 10-15). You can verify the appropriate bus stop with Tour Leaders.
Airport Shuttle from “Piazza Gramsci” (listed under Verbania Pallanza) to the Malpensa airport (reservations required but payment in cash only on board) (1.5 hours/EUR 15). See the time table.
Or
Taxi from the ending hotel to the Malpensa Airport (1 hour/EUR 200 minimum)
*Note: If you are planning to depart by train, the train station name is Verbania-Pallanza. It is located 10km outside of the village. A taxi to the train station from the ending hotel costs around EUR 20-25.
Wonderful tour of Piedmont, challenging but not overly difficult
Jeffrey C., Pace, FL – August 2024
Varied landscape from amphitheatres of vineyards to cobblestone small villages rice fields abandoned villages
Louise R., Melbourne, VIC – August 2024
Challenging, long mileage, beautiful scenery most of the time and excellent wine, cheese and food in general.
Carol O., Menlo Park, CA – September 2022
Challenging cycling trip through the hilly Piedmont wine country ending with a quick cycle across the interesting rice fields and into the magnificent lake district.
Katherine S., Portland, OR – August 2022
Beautiful vineyard-covered rolling hills. Fantastic food and wine. Great routes. Good workout but not overly challenging.
Mary Ann D., Pleasanton, CA – June 2022
Wonderful rolling cycling through attractive countryside with fascinating cultural experiences included. Excellent accommodation and food especially the wine and cheese.
Robyn L., Melbourne, Australia – July 2019
Beautiful vistas, delicious food and wine, great rides through low traffic roads and bike paths. FANTASTIC trip – thank you!
Kristen L., Cambridge, MA – July 2018
If you love really good Italian wine and really good Italian food and really gorgeous views of the vineyards, this is the tour for you. You know how much of an Experience Plus fan I am!! Love me some arrows 🙂 Best way to ride. Thanks for everything!!!
NIkki J., Portland, OR – September 2017
A beautiful hilly ride through wonderful scenic wine country filled with delicious food! Once again a wonderful experience, which is why we keep coming back. I love that fact that you use local guides that know the country and can give some interesting background information to the area we are cycling. While the cycling and scenery can be fantastic… the guides are the ones that make the trip memorable! Thank you!
Deborah D., Owen Sound, ON, Canada – September 201
Great guides.
Great fun.
Great company.
Billy W., Mt Pleasant, SC
It was wonderful riding through a lesser-traveled part of Italy. The scenery was gorgeous from day 1 all the way through the end of the ride and the hills were challenging – but rewarding! This was our 10th EPlus! tour and I can”t wait to pick and go on our 11th!
Laura E., Tacoma, WA
I thought this was a great tour–our best yet. Keep up the good work.
Sharon S., Eugene, OR
This was our second trip with EP and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Your arrow system cannot be beat. Such a relief not to have to try to read directions while riding! This is how we prefer to travel and we will be back.
Pat D., West Chester, PA
Biking, scenery, amenities, service, leaders … all outstanding.
Terry D., West Chester, PA
There were many “favorite” experiences but I can”t pick one in particular…beautiful landscape, challenging riding, excellent tour leaders, great food, nice cultural opportunities, fabulous Italian culture.
Gary F., Fort Collins, CO
Wonderful experience – great guides – great routes – great towns – great riding – great food and wine.
Jeff E., Pittsburg, PA
The scenery, food, other bicyclists, tour leaders, routes — all superb. Thank you for providing the opportunity!
David S., Eugene, OR
Italian wine country at its best. Outstanding food. Great rides. Challenging climbs. The absolute beauty of the hilly wine country…and we were fortunate to have sunny days for those rides.
Jim B., Incline Village, NV
A great experience, good guides, fun people to ride with and Italy is always beautiful.
