Active Journeys Self-Guided Road Bike tour

Italy Piemonte means “at the foot of the mountains”, which accurately depicts this region of northwestern Italy set between the Alps and the Apennine Tour descriptions mountain range. This is the land of fine cuisine and delectable truffles, as well as world famous wines such as Barolo and .

Day 1 Our 8 day tour combines moderately paced rides along mostly paved coun‐ Arrive Alessandria try lanes with plenty of opportunities to sample an array of gourmet delica‐ cies. As well, baroque and art nouveau palaces and castles impressively Day 2 52 kms dominate along the route. It’s a region that accurately depicts the “slow To food” movement of recent years. Beginning in Alessandria, famous for its Day 3 54 kms white truffles, each day consists of approximately 30‐55km rides between To Alba destinations. As it is a mountainous area, there are days with slight in‐ Day 4 41 kms clines. To Asti Accommodations are in traditional establishments within spa towns and Day 5 34 kms ancient wine producing estates. Bicycles are 21‐speed hybrids complete Circular Route with repair kit, lock and map holder. Torino is the capital of this region and Day 6 53 kms worth a visit before or after your tour. Art, nature, and fine cuisine make To Casale Monferrato this a perfect treat to oneself. Day 7 47 kms To Alessandria

Day 8 Tour ends

Tour Details Dates: Saturdays from Apr 13 to Oct 12 Fast Facts Length: 8 days / 7 nights   Cost: $1195 per person Lovely accommodations, always Internal transfers where applicable with private facilities Single Room Upgrade: $350  Discover a stunning part of Italy of  Buffet breakfasts Bike/Equipment: $ 150 the “beaten track”  Luggage transport Grade: Moderate  Route notes and maps Starts/Ends: Alessandria

Active Journeys Contact: 1-800-597-5594 or 416-236-5011 Email : [email protected]

This is a one week tour crossing over rolling green hills with the white peaks of the Alps as a backdrop, following the varied cradle of the ‘slow food’ movement through the famous of Gavi, Barolo and Bar‐ baresco. Taste the most famous regional dish: the spicy ‘Bagna Cauda’, many fine chocolates, cheeses and tasty salamis and of course, the king of truffles, the famous white truffle of Alba. The lands of the and Monferrato, still to a great extent unknown to many, are unique places.

You’ll visit charming historical cities like Casale and Asti, both with laby‐ rinths of cobbled streets and palazzo's built from yellow Tuff stone. You continue on to Benevello passing the ‘hundred towered’ city of Alba, with Roman, Baroque and Gothic Architecture. From Benevello you make a circular tour meandering over watersheds with astonishing views, through hazelnut woods and past several chapels.

Day 1 Alessandria Arrival in Alessandria, a city divided by the river . Worth a visit is Piazza della Libertà and Piazza Duomo with its wonderful neoclassical cathedral.

Day 2 Alessandria–Acqui Terme 52 km You cycle for a few kilometres along the Strada Franca, an ancient road dating back to 1454. You will pass across smooth hills, woods and small isolated vil‐ lages where you will be able to taste typical products and excellent local wines (Barbera and d’Aqui among others). Aqui Terme: famous for its spring waters, like the “Bollente” situated in the historical centre.

Day 3 Acqui Terme–Alba 54 km You come across the famous hills of the Langhe, the countryside and the vine‐ yards as well as the splendid small villages of , and . The stage ends in Alba, home of the most precious of the truffles, the Tartufo Bianco, and of the famous “Dolcetto d’Alba”.

Day 4 Alba–Asti 41 km Today’s route takes you through vineyards and along panoramic paths which will eventually take you to Asti in the heart of Monferrato. Do visit the histori‐ cal centre with its famous towers, the romantic monuments and the splendid gothic cathedral.

Day 5 Asti–(Torino)–Asti 34 km Today you have a choice between cycling across the Asti hills and their natural parks and a trip to Torino. You can reach Torino, the first capital of Italy, by train taking your bike along. It is a city with splendid monuments, tree‐lined roads and ancient cafés, which offer a choice of chocolate‐based specialties.

Day 6 Asti–Casale Monferrato 53 km Take advantage of the hospitality of the wine cellars and restaurants along the way, which offer an excellent oeno‐gastromomical choice. In Monferrato you will eventually meet the river Po, the longest river in Italy.

Day 7 Casale Monferrato–Alessandria 47 km Further cycling across green hills and cultivated lands. Passing through the small villages on the right side of the Po river you will return to Alessandria where the tour ends.

Day 8 Alessandria Departure.

What to Expect Getting There What will the weather be like? The daytime temperature will be around 20 to mid-27’s degrees C ( 60’s to 80’s F), Best arrival & departure airports‐ with very little rainfall. It is the hottest in July and August, while other months have Milan Malpensa or Linate, Torino or a nice breeze. Genoa airports.

How many hours of cycling a day? From Torino Porta Nuova to Alessan‐ Be prepared to ride between 4 to 6 hours daily. This is not a supported tour, so you dria: the journey takes 1 hour, trains must ride the route once you set out. depart about every 30 minutes from 06.05 to 22.25. What are the bikes like? 27 speed hybrid ( or mtn bike style) Rapid Fire Deore Shimano gears with Gel sad- From Milan Central to Alessandria: the dles, aluminum frame, puncture resistant 28” tires, side saddle bags, bike computer, journey takes about 1.5‐2 hours, trains lock, repair kit and handlebar bag. You can bring your own pedals to attach. depart every hour from 05.15 to 21.10.

How fit do I need to be? The fitter the better, so you will enjoy the rides each day. There are few rolling hills throughout the trip. ATTENTION: On Sundays and Bank Holi‐

days there are fewer services than on What is the food like? We have included a buffet breakfast each day. Most of the hotels offer some working days. For further information on cheeses, fruits, meats and yogurts. For lunch, you can stop in a local restaurant for a timetables and prices you can consult full meal or mid-day snack. For dinner, our notes will offer some suggestions close the following websites: www.trenitalia.it by.

What are the hotels like? They are chosen for their charm and location. Properties are charming B&B’s, well- located in the towns. All the rooms have private facilities.

How to book your holiday

 Contact our office to make sure there is space available. One of our travel planners will walk you through the entire proc- Extra Services ess.

Private transfers can be arranged in ad-  Download the reservation form from our site and send in vance. completed form by fax or email. Once this is done, your space is confirmed and a pre-departure packet will be sent. Extra hotel nights in Milan, Rome, Venice and Florence, by the airport or downtown  A deposit is required immediately, and final payment is due 60 days prior to the trip departure. Terms & conditions are are priced starting from 150€ per night. outlined in our Reservation Form.

Extra nights in  Plan your air travel as soon as possible. Alessandria $175  We encourage you to purchase travel insurance, either per room (double) through us or a travel insurance provider directly.

Helmet rental (to  Ensure you are in proper health for the trip chosen. Contact be paid locally) is us, for more information on vaccinations, inoculations, and 15€. fitness requirements.