Gastronomic Barolo Cycling

Location: Piedmont, Italy. Holiday type: Independent cycling, hotel-to-hotel. Managed locally by Headwater employed rep. Activity level: 2 bikes Duration: 9 days (8 nights) Hotels: Luxury/stylish. Meals: Continental breakfast and evening meals. Prices from: Please call. Departs: Every two days from 11 May '12 to 14 Oct '12   JFMAMJJASOND

Highlights Superb hotels, world-famous wines and exceptional cuisine are just some of the reasons to choose this 8-night cycling holiday! The cycling takes you through softly rolling hills, sun-drenched hamlets and via the pretty wine towns of Barbaresco and Barolo.

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive at Benevello

We meet you at Cuneo train station and take you to your stunning hotel (75 mins) just below Benevello. The chef here trained under Marco Pierre White so you're in for a real treat!

Day 2 - Benevello to Castiglione Tinella 35km/22mi

A perfect start with a gentle ride along an open road with balcony views and hawks soaring high above the breathtaking Langhe countryside. You visit lovely Treiso, formerly a summer retreat for Alba's noble families, before reaching Barbaresco for lunch and cheese-tasting in the piazza. Try some wine too in the enoteca, housed in a 19C church built by the locals in thanks for a good grape harvest! Time to visit Neive, officially one of Italy's prettiest villages and home of Romano Levi, a renowned grappa maker, before a panoramic climb through Moscato vines to Claudia's lovely hotel in Castiglione Tinella.

Day 3 - At Castiglione Tinella

Castiglione is a great place to spend a lazy day, especially by our hotel's panoramic pool. However, a short journey away is Acqui Terme, a spa town since Roman times, with two major thermal centres. Or head across to the spumante capital of Asti, with its quaint cobbled historic centre - each September the main piazza is home to a crazy palio horse race to rival Siena's!

Day 4 - Castiglione Tinella to Grinzane Cavour 38km/24mi or 42km/26mi

The day starts with an exhilarating whizz through vineyards to Castagnole Lanze. Time to explore the cobbled streets and bustling piazze of chocolate-perfumed Alba (Ferrero Rocher come from here!). Then it's on to Grinzane Cavour where a warm welcome awaits at the elegant Casa Pavesi.

Day 5 - At Grinzane Cavour

Explore the castle - wine tasting on offer here too. Then perhaps visit nearby Bra, a gastronomic treasure trove where the Slow Food movement was initiated - so plenty of choice for a long, lazy lunch! Lots to explore in the town too, including the 18C rococo church and the strange octagonal Zizzola, where local witches held their meetings! For the best views in the region, walk or cycle to La Morra, 'Balcony of the Langhe', spread out along a panoramic ridge above the vineyards.

Day 6 - Grinzane Cavour to Monforte d'Alba 21km/13mi or 28km/17mi

Cycling first through sunflower fields to Roddi, then onto Barolo, an ochre-hued village perched above its worldfamous vineyards - the tangle of mediaeval streets are dominated by the Marchesi Falletti's 11C castle. Pedalling on through archetypal Langhe countryside to Monforte d'Alba, whose lovely honey-coloured old town seems to cling enchantingly to the hillside. Your hotel here is pretty special too!

Day 7 - At Monforte d'Alba

You might not want to leave your gorgeous 18C villa hotel with private swimming pool, but it'd be a shame not to explore mediaeval Monforte. It's a lively town with attractive buildings grouped around an atmospheric cobbled piazza.Maybe strike out a little further to Dogliani, dominated by its beautiful onion-domed church and famous for being at the heart of Dolcetto wine production.

Day 8 - Monforte d'Alba to Benevello 21km/13mi or 35km/22mi

Your final cycling day starts with a gentle coast along the Rea valley before a steady climb takes you to a stunningly panoramic ridge, weaving through fields of wild flowers and sleepy hamlets to Serravalle Langhe - a great lunch spot with belvedere views. Onwards, you pedal alongside chestnut carpeted hills with delightful vistas once more to reach your beautiful country hotel at Benevello. Time to enjoy the pool and jacuzzi before dinner.

Day 9 - Leave Benevello

NB: Please note that, from spring 2011, cycling helmets are compulsory in Italy for under 16's. As we cannot provide these, we strongly recommend that you bring your own.