Gastronomic Barolo Walk

Activity Level

Moderate

Activity

Walking & Trekking

Overview

Superb hotels, world-famous wines and exceptional cuisine are just some of the reasons to choose this 8-night walking holiday!

On this self-guided, hotel-to-hotel walking holiday, you’ll explore the beautifully tranquil Langhe region of Piedmont, a gastronomic gem quietly tucked into Italy’s north-western corner. Recently recognised by UNESCO, the countryside is a glorious mix of gently rippling, wave-shaped hills cloaked by layers of vines, sunflowers and oak forests, crowned with honey-hued hamlets and majestic Savoy castles.

Your route starts and ends in Benevello, nestling in the hazelnut-clad Alta Langa hills, from where you follow the limpid Tanaro River before climbing through a string of hamlets to your hotel in Fontanafredda, a renowned wine estate that was once owned by the first king of Italy! It’s then on to La Morra, an atmospheric wine village known as the balcony of the Langhe for its stunning panorama over the surrounding rolling landscape. As you approach beautiful Monforte d’Alba, whose ochre-coloured houses seem to cling enchantingly to the hillside, you visit Barolo, home of the revered eponymous wine. This rich and fertile land produces some of Italy’s finest food and wine, from robust Barolo and sweet Moscato to aromatic white truffles (exclusive to Alba), crunchy hazelnuts and tangy cheeses.

Key Information

Trip Code: W08PD
Ways to Travel: Self-Guided Holidays
Countries: Italy

What's Included

All continental breakfast and 4 gastronomic evening meals
Headwater navigation app provided
Luggage transfers between hotels
Walking transfers

4 days of Walking & Trekking

Terrain:

The walks are mainly through vineyards on earthen paths, forest trails and some asphalt sections. Walking boots are essential and poles are recommended for the ascents and descents through the vineyards which may be uneven underfoot.

Day 2: 14 km / 8.7 miles
Day 4: 15 km / 9.3 miles
Day 6: 17 km / 10.6 miles
Day 8: 16 km / 9.9 miles

Highlights

Superb walking in truly undiscovered, yet highly sophisticated Italy
Imposing Savoy castles, tiny frescoed chapels, sun-drenched hamlets
Atmospheric wine villages and boundless vineyards
Luxury hotels; 4 out of 8 nights, with panoramic swimming pools
Excellent cuisine, prized white truffles, hazelnuts and chocolate!
World-famous wines including the 'King of Wines', Barolo

Itinerary

First Destination: Benevello
Next Destination: Benevello

Meals included:Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Benevello
Next Destination: Benevello

Arrive at your hotel in time for a swim before dinner. (Staying at Villa d’Amelia)

Meals included:Dinner

After a short transfer you follow a gentle path alongside the clear waters of the Tanaro River, next to which pheasants and partridges rustle in the oak forest. It’s on to Roddi (the castle here used to house the University of Truffle Dogs!) and Grinzane Cavour with its wonderful megalithic castle with amazing views. End the day in Fontanafredda, a gorgeous wine estate nestled amongst rolling vineyard carpeted hills.
You stay at the Hotel Le Case dei Conti Mirafiore (breakfast and evening meal included)

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy wine tasting in the historic wine cellars at your hotel, once owned by Italian royalty, or walk to the wine village of Serralunga d’Alba, with its 13th century castle that seems to surge towards the sky – you still need to cross the drawbridge to visit it. Gastronomic capital, Alba, is easily reached (you may wish to take a taxi there, then walk back); explore the cobbled crimson squares and bustling porticoed streets.
You stay at the Hotel Le Case dei Conti Mirafiore (breakfast and evening meal included)

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Ascend through vines to hilltop Castiglione Falletto, before continuing to the tiny village of Annunziata with its frescoed chapel and excellent farmhouse trattoria. Then on through sun-dappled hamlets and vines to La Morra, known as the ‘balcony of the Langhe’ for its breathtaking views.
You stay at Uve Rooms (breakfast included)

Meals included:Breakfast

There are plenty of wine tasting opportunities in La Morra’s bustling centre – even Julius Caesar stopped here to try some! Alternatively, drink in the superb views on one of the circular walks from La Morra’s evocative main piazza.
You stay at Uve Rooms (breakfast included)

Meals included:Breakfast

Descending gently to the Talloria Valley, you follow the stream’s poplar-shaded path towards the ochre-hued 16th century castle of Barolo, which stands guard over the village’s world-famous vineyards. Maybe visit panoramic Novello, a belvedere town built as a summer retreat for the residents of Alba, before continuing through fields ablaze with colourful wild flowers to reach our elegant villa hotel at Monforte d’Alba.
You stay at Villa Beccaris (breakfast included)

A shorter optional walk is also available.

Meals included:Breakfast

Situated in its own scented garden with views across medieval Monforte and beyond (even Mont Blanc on a clear day), Villa Beccaris offers a tempting swimming pool and a sun-trap courtyard. Alternatively, explore this pretty town with twisting streets clinging to the hillside. There are also plenty of opportunities for wine tasting. (Staying at Villa Beccaris)

Meals included:Breakfast

Take a lift to lovely Serravalle Langhe, from where you join the Sentiero della Valle Tanaro. First, shaded by hazelnut, oak and poplar trees, you reach Albaretto della Torre dominated by its 13th century Duecentesca tower. After lunch the panorama opens out with spectacular views back to Alba and the Tanaro Valley as you descend gently towards Benevello. (Staying at Villa d’Amelia)

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

The tour ends in Benevello after breakfast.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Skip the hassle: We’ll handle your trip from start to finish, with competitive flight prices, dates that suit you, 24-hour support, loyalty discounts, and peace of mind for delays or disruption.

Call us on 1 844 462 4317

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Accommodation

Hotels

You will stay in our carefully picked hotels, often with pools, and full of character and contrasts, from a gorgeous wine estate that was once owned by Italian royalty in Fontanafredda, to a beautifully restored 19th century family villa, complete with its own converted chapel and superb restaurant in Benevello.

Essential Information

Activity level: Moderate

This is a self-guided tour, as such there will be no group or tour leader and you are free to complete the walks at your own pace. Please bear in mind that although this is a self-guided holiday, the atmosphere in the hotels tends to be quite social and they will sometimes place walkers together at breakfast and dinner. We have suggested that 8yrs is the minimum age for this trip, but as it is self-guided and you will be leading your own family we will ultimately leave this decision up to you.

Your route starts and ends in Benevello, nestling in the hazelnut-clad Alta Langa hills, from where you follow the limpid Tanaro River before climbing through a string of hamlets to Grinzane Cavour where you’ll enjoy gorgeous balcony views from the hotel terrace! It’s then on to Castiglione Falletto, dominated by its distinctive C11 castle. As you approach beautiful Monforte d’Alba, whose ochre-coloured houses seem to cling enchantingly to the hillside, you visit Barolo, home of the revered eponymous wine. Distances are reasonably short, leaving plenty of time to try the many regional specialities en route. This rich and fertile land produces some of Italy’s finest food and wine, from robust Barolo and sweet Moscato to aromatic white truffles (exclusive to Alba), crunchy hazelnuts and tangy cheeses.

The tour itself normally begins at the start hotel in Benevello on the afternoon of Day 1 of the itinerary.

British Airways Gatwick to Turin 13:25/16:15 Monday-Thursday & Sunday departures & Lufthansa Heathrow to Turin via Frankfurt 08:30/13:50 Friday & Saturday departures then transfer to hotel 1 hour 50 minutes. Return: Transfer to airport 1 hour 50 minutes British Airways Turin to Gatwick 17:00/17:50 if travelling home Monday-Friday & Lufthansa Turin to Heathrow via Frankfurt 14:25/18:45 if travelling home Saturday/Sunday. Business/club/first class seats are available on request.

Italy

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Italy. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/italy
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/italy
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Italy.html

Please note: it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times in Italy.

All breakfasts and 5 gastronomic evening meals.

Italian food is one of the country’s most revered exports and Piedmont is a region that won’t disappoint gastronomes! The cuisine is a fusion of the best of Italian and French food. However, the region’s rural nature means that dishes are predominantly simple but use exceptional quality and flavoursome ingredients.

Piedmont’s wine is famous throughout the world, and justifiably so. The
most famous are the wines of the Langhe, which produces Barolo,
Barbaresco, Dolcetto, Barbera as well as whites such as Asti and
Moscato.

The trips run from May through to October. In the early and late departures you will need to be prepared for slightly lower temperatures, with highs of 23 degrees in May and 20 in October. There is more chance of rain in October, but the trip only runs into the early part of the month. In July and August the temperatures are likely to reach highs of 28/9 degrees celcius, there will still be the chance of rain, but it will be reduced. Facilities in some of the hotels such as the pools may not be available for early and late season departures.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.