Gastronomic Barolo Walk

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9 Days Excluding Flights

9 Days from

£ 2259

£ 2609

Walking & Trekking

Activity Level

Easy & Moderate

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays

Activity :

Walking & Trekking

Ages :

18+

Trip Code :

W08PD

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.

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

Key Information

8 Nights, hotel-to-hotel
4 Days walking with an optional walk on day 5
Departs on selected Thursdays and Fridays
Route notes and maps provided
Luggage transfers between hotels
Walking transfers
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent

Countries visited: Italy

What's Included

All continental breakfast and 4 gastronomic evening meals
Route notes and maps provided
Luggage transfers between hotels
Walking transfers
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
Arrival and departure transfers (for flight inclusive packages)

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single supplements (available on request - compulsory supplement)
Solo traveller supplements (where only one person is travelling on a departure date)
Arrival and departure transfers (for land only packages)
Visas and vaccinations

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

Responsible Travel

At Exodus we believe in the power of Responsible Travel.

Every time we travel, we are part of a global movement that creates jobs, builds more sustainable societies, encourages cultural understanding and safeguards common natural and cultural heritage. To learn more about what Responsible Travel means to Exodus click here…

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W08PD - Gastronomic Barolo Walk

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Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Itinerary

Benevello Benevello London London

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)

Distance covered: 9mi (14km)

Activity hours: 4.5

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)

Distance covered: 9mi (15km)

Activity hours: 4.5

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

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.

Distance covered: 11mi (17km)

Activity hours: 5.5

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)

Distance covered: 10mi (16km)

Activity hours: 5

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

The tour ends in Benevello after breakfast.

Meals included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Is this trip for you?

Activity level: Leisurely/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.

Joining Instructions

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.

Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

Location start: Benevello
Location end: Benevello

Transfer Details

Air prices include our standard flights/transfers
Out: British Airways Heathrow to Milan Malpensa then transfer to hotel 2 hours 10 minutes
Return: Transfer to airport 2 hours 10 minutes British Airways Milan Malpensa to Heathrow

Business/club/first class seats are available on request. Airport transfers are available at a supplement for land only bookings.

Vaccinations and Health

Italy

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Visa

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.

Food & Drink

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.

Weather

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.

Weather Charts

TRIP

W08PD - Gastronomic Barolo Walk

Departure Date

Number Of Passengers*

Message*

To enquire about an existing booking click here

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone *

Keep me up to date with news and offers from Exodus by email.

Thank you for contacting Exodus Travels.

Find out more about how we use your data

Request a Brochure

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

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.

TRIP

W08PD - Gastronomic Barolo Walk

Departure Date

Number Of Passengers*

Message*

To enquire about an existing booking click here

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone *

Keep me up to date with news and offers from Exodus by email.

Thank you for contacting Exodus Travels.

Find out more about how we use your data

Request a Brochure

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

For flights call us on 0203 733 5948 or enquire when booking online

Regional flights available

Competitive flight prices

Specialist Flight Support

ATOL protected

Gastronomic Barolo Walk

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

4 Days of Walking & Trekking

Responsible Travel

Thank you for contacting Exodus Travels.

Itinerary

Benevello Benevello London London

Essential Info

Is this trip for you?

Joining Instructions

Transfer Details

Vaccinations and Health

Italy

Visa

Italy

Food & Drink

Weather

Weather Charts

Thank you for contacting Exodus Travels.

Hotels

Thank you for contacting Exodus Travels.

Reviews