Language
English,
Transportation (C)
Train, Bus, walking
Departure from
Alba
Arrival to
Cortemilla
Accomodation
3 to 4*
Comfort Level
3-4
Meals
some meals included
Luggage
Stress Free Luggage
Level of difficultly
2
Guiding method
Self-guided
Minimum Age
18
Destinations
Piedmont, Langhe area
Activities
Walking Packages
Trip Type
Stress free luggage
Trip Tag
Self guided Tour

Highlights

Itinerary

Map

Dates & Costing

Inclusions

Accommodation and Meals

Additional Information

Payment and Cancellation

Piedmont is an Italian paradise for true foodies with delicious food, truffles and impressive wines. Located between the Alps and the Apennines, the Langhe region is blessed with fertile soils that produce the Tuber Magnatum (precious white truffle) and Italy’s most famous red wines.
Barolo and Barbera. Discover a stunning array of local specialties treasured around the world, including gourmet cheeses, pastries and chocolates. This trek takes you through spectacular landscapes of rolling hills dotted with picturesque little villages, elegant castles and feudal towers, through vineyards and hazelnut forests, to charming and cozy little rural village.

Level of difficulty 2 = Moderate day walks of 3-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) in hilly to mountainous areas using well-maintained, sometimes stony paths.

Comfort level 3 to 4 = Good hotels, inns, B&Bs, agriturismo (farmhouses) with en-suite private bathroom, often well-located and serving good meals, as well as special hotels with excellent food, ambience and service.

Highlights

An infinite selection of incredible wines, cheese, sweets and chocolates to taste along the way
White truffles (between September and December)
Vineyard walks and carefully groomed hazelnut forests
Small, comfortable, family run accommodation some with prize winning restaurants on site or near by
Spectacular views of the snow capped alps on clear days
Friendly people
Quiet foot paths

Day 1 :

Arrive in Alba

Arrive in Alba, the heart of Piedmont’s wine region, a charming medieval town with a “hundred tower” and a treasure trove of flavors and aromas. After checking in, why not take a stroll to explore the city and tantalize your taste buds by stopping at one of his many divine patisseries. Enjoy the sweet taste of Italy.

Breakfast

Day 2 :

Rodi to Barolo ((4hr transfers+ walking: +509 -383, 15km)

Today’s itinerary begins with a transfer to Roddy. Drive over some hills to reach the rustic mountain village of La. From Morra, continue to the town of Vergne. On the route, there are several wine-tasting options. Visible on a sunny day Alps and Monviso are still covered in snow until the beginning of summer. In La Morra, you can visit and learn about the Ratti Museum. The history, traditions and art of good wine. Stop by the cantina Comunale (closed Tuesdays) offers a wide range of wines to taste and purchase and many videos about local wines and gastronomy. Departing from Verduno instead of Roddi shortens the hike by about 4 km.
Depending on when you booked, the trek can end in Vergne or Barolo, subject to availability at the time of your request.

Breakfast

Day 3 :

Barolo to Monforte d'Alba (4hr walking: +447 -390, 8-12km)

Pass by the old village of Novello with its medieval towers. Arrive in the wine capital of Barolo, home to its famous wines produced. Spend some time exploring the recently opened WiMu – Wine Museum in Castello dei Marchesi Faletti. Lunch at a wonderful local trattoria. On foot from here, which it takes you through vineyards and forests to Monforte Darba, a lovely mountain village

Breakfast

Day 4 :

Monforte d'Alba to Cissone (3-4 hr walking: +680 -565, 17-19km)

The landscape is much more varied than the day before. Leave the vineyard behind and climb through the clean hazelnut forest and wild forest around the old settlement of Serralunga d’Alba. From here, a steep climb leads to Roddino, and then the long descent leads to the final climb up to Cissone.

Breakfast

Day 5 :

Cissone round walk (5-6 hr walking: +680 -565, 8 km)

A glass of local wine from a traditional cantina in the centre of the village is a lovely way to celebrate this day of relaxing and taking it easy. After a short circular walk in the surroundings of Cissone, unwind and admire the splendid views from the farm.
The scenery is a unique spectacle, embroidered with vineyards and dotted with towers and castles.

Breakfast

Day 6 :

Cissone to Cravanzano (5-6 hr walking: +600 -665, 13-20 km)

The landscape of the high Langhe area around Cissone is characterised by hazelnut forests and those slopes that are too steep to be cultivated are covered by oaks. This is also the area where you find the most precious of the local treasure: the ‘Tuber Magnatum’, also known as ‘the white truffle of Alba’ and, if you don’t find it underground, you are sure to find it at the local restaurant.

Breakfast

Day 7 :

Cravanzano to Cortemilla (5 hrs walking: +450 -790, 13km)

Today the landscape is as varied as the walk itself. You visit the villages of Torre Bormida and Bergolo that you reach crossing hazelnut plantations and dense chestnut woods using broad forest paths, small grassy trails and narrow cobbled streets until you reach the town of Cortemilia. On clear days the view on the hills and the Alps is breath-taking.

Breakfast

Day 8 :

Final day

Our services end after breakfast unless you have booked another service with us. To reach Alba where you could take the train to Turin or Milan for your ongoing journey, an additional transfer may be required. ( around A$160 for 1 or 2 people)

Breakfast

Accommodation and varies

Accommodations are carefully selected because of their location, atmosphere and/or unique services.
We choose comfortable hotels, farmhouses and B&Bs where all rooms have private en-suite bathrooms.
You can find below the standard hotels for this trip. If a hotel is fully booked, then we will book a similar one for you and inform you about the alternative booked.
Extra overnight: You can book additional night(s) at any of the accommodations along the way.

Hotel Calissano**** (Alba) – The new Calissano Hotel is located near the central Piazza M. Ferrero, one of the most beautiful squares in Piedmont, known as “the drawing-room of Alba” because it is a meeting place for people from the town and surrounds.

Agriturismo Ca’ San Ponzio (Barolo) – is a restored farmhouse, surrounded by serenity, peace and nature. Rustic rooms are very comfortable, spacious and well-finished. Every room has a balcony with a view of a beautiful landscape on the Langhe’s hills. Owners are courteous and helpful. Breakfast is very good with home-made products.

Hotel Grappolo d’Oro (Monforte D’Alba) – is in Piazza Umberto I, the main square in Monforte D’Alba. Rooms and apartments have a traditional design with tiled floors and wooden furniture. Services include free Wi-Fi, TV and a private bathroom. Breakfast is good. It’s suggested the restaurant.

Agriturismo Balcone sulle Langhe (Cissone) – is in a quiet location. Rustic rooms are comfortable, spacious and well-furnished. It’s suggested that the restaurant offers traditional dishes with local products. Rooms have a balcony, fridge, kitchenette, air conditioning/heating, TV, and telephone.

Hotel Da Maurizio (Cravanzana) – is set in its spacious garden surrounded by the Langhe Hills and offers rooms decorated in a classic style with a balcony. Some of these are fitted with tiled floors, and some have parquet floors. The hotel restaurant is very good and very appreciated.

Hotel Villa San Carlo (Cortemilia) – A nice hotel restaurant located in Cortemilia. Family-run hotel with welcoming staff and comfortable rooms. It also offers an outdoor swimming pool and a restaurant with some of the local delicacies.

Extras on request:

Additional nights before, during or after the walk
Single Room Supplement(s)
Solo Traveller Supplement
Transfer from the airport to Alba
Transfer from Cortemilia to the airport

Technical Information

The walks are along vineyards, uneven footpaths, mule tracks and small gravel roads (strade bianche). The trails through the vineyards can become slippery, muddy, and difficult to navigate when wet or after it has rained. The trails do not always have markings.

Luggage transfer is included in your package; this is typically provided by the accommodation itself or by a local taxi service. The allowance is: only 1 piece of luggage of 20kg per person (if they have it’s really big, they must mention it at the time of booking, additional cost may be required)

A note on our self-guided adventures and Fitness preparation:

Self-guided walking or cycling requires individuals to use problem-solving skills, be adaptable and have a keen eye. It is recommended that you are comfortable with map reading, referring to route notes and that you have a good sense of direction (or are willing to work on improving this!) Sometimes, route finding, losing your way, finding it again and asking the locals for help is all part of the adventure. If you’ve never been on a self-guided trip, after the first couple of days, you will get the hang of it, as the vast majority of our first-time travellers attest. Please be assured that our written material issued to you for route finding is updated regularly, and we provide a 7-day service hotline in the event of any problems. There is a certain level of the unknown that comes with self-guided trips; however, with a methodical approach, potential problems will be averted. The freedom of a self-guided trip is something that, once experienced, is sought time and time again.
Fitness preparation: The concept behind most of our trips is active holidays, and the fitter you ar,e the more easily you will adjust and enjoy yourself. We expect participants to take responsibility for their fitness and preparations consistently before departure, and to increase the regular weekly training schedule in the two months leading up to departure. That way, when you start walking, you will feel relaxed and comfortable and strong, having done more than sufficient preparation for the trip. You will also have more energy to enjoy the views, take photos and explore the sights in your spare time, rather than just make it to the next hotel. During the day, is when the most interesting features of interest will be found, and being fit allows you to optimise every situation you encounter. As a minimum, we recommend 40 minutes of aerobic-type exercise; running, swimming, biking, hill walking, or gym work two to three times a week for two to six months leading up to your walk. Note the best training is the activity that you are actually going to be doing: walking up and down hill, and cross-country. Practice this as much as possible. Training should be stepped up as you get closer to departure, to an amount you feel appropriate (you don’t want to cause yourself an injury!). Using your gear before departure (boots, day pack, clothing, etc.) gives familiarity and comfort whilst on the walk. It makes sense to know that all your gear ‘works for you’ BEFORE departure, rather than discovering how things work or fit (or don’t!) on the trip you have invested so much in. Use the philosophy of ‘getting fit to go walking’, rather than ‘going on a walk to get fit’, to avoid problems.