Alba and Le Langhe tour
Starting and finishing in beautiful Alba, this circular walk explores the sweet rolling hills of the Langhe, one of Italy's premier wine and food regions, which is scattered with villages and castles that date from Roman times and which is crisscrossed with trails that have been walked for centuries
The tour starts in beautiful Alba, 95 kilometres south of Turin. A handsome town of Roman origin, Alba is the ‘capital’ of the Langhe, a close-knit range of hills and valleys which are crowded with impeccably tended rows of nebbiolo vines, the source of some of Italy’s finest wines. They form a unique and striking landscape, so much so that the district was recently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Italy’s 50th:
“The Piedmont vineyard landscapes constitute an outstanding example of man’s interaction with his natural environment, outstanding for its harmony; the balance between the aesthetic qualities of its landscapes; the architectural and historical diversity of the built elements associated with the wine production activities and an authentic and ancient art of winemaking”. UNESCO citation, June 2014
But Alba and the Langhe are more than this. A neighbour of Bra (the home of the Slow Food Association) Alba is also one of Italy’s gastronomic capitals, well-known for its cheeses, meats, Ferrero chocolates and nougat but particularly famous for its white truffles, found in the surrounding poplar and oak forests, which fill the medieval streets of the towns with their pungent aroma throughout October and November.
An extensive network of well-marked walking trails connect the charming villages, castles and towns of the district, passing over undulating hills, through vineyards, hazelnut orchard (Alba is also the home of Nutella) and forests, providing the perfect way to explore these hidden gems of Piedmont.
This eight day loop takes you right through the heart of the Langhe hills. Starting and finishing in Alba, the first two days’ walking take you through the sweet rolling hills of the Barolo vineyards (‘the king of wines and wine of kings’) with spectacular views to the distant Alps in the north; the second two days take you through a slightly ‘wilder’ part of the district, leaving the vineyards behind and passing through forests and hazelnut orchards; the last two days bring back to Alba, returning via the undulating wine hills around Barbaresco. Along the way, you’ll visit some of the prettiest towns in Italy, as well as eating some very fine food!
Please note, that to ensure we can book the best accommodation available, this walk must start on either a Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
The walks
The trails are well-marked and generally follow unsealed country roads and lanes that take you over rolling hills often through vineyards and orchards regularly passing through towns and villages. There are the occassional rougher sections and a bit of asphalt walking into and out of the larger towns as well.
As each day’s walk is between 9 and 19 kilometres and there are some long steep hills, we have classifed this as a Grade 4 walk (click here for details) however, please note that all the walks can be shortened on request.
The walk is fully-supported: 24-hour phone backup; details daily walk maps and noted (updated annually); access to the exclusive Hidden Italy GPS app.
The accommodation
Alba and the Langhe have a long history of hospitality and offer a range of very comfortable and welcoming accommodation. During the walk you will stay in a variety of accommodation including 4-star hotels (in Alba on Days 1 and 7 and on Day 5); an ex-castle/vineyard which once belonged to the king of Italy (Day 2); a lovely small hotel in the heart of the prettiest village in the district (Day 6) and an agriturismo outside a small hilltop village, which has a pool and an excellent restaurant (Day 4). All the accommodation has ensuite services. Please note, that to ensure we can book the best accommodation available, this walk must start on either a Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
The food
Alba and the Langhe is one of Italy’s gastronomic and wine capitals so you will eat and drink very well during this tour (just as well there are some long walks!). According to Pliny the Elder and Strabo, this area was producing fine wines in Roman times. It’s modern manifestation started in the mid-1800s with the introduction of production techniques from nearby France. Big, bold Barolo, the flagship wine, is recognised as one of the finest reds in Europe.
The area is also famous for its food: the white truffles; cheeses like toma and castelmagno; Carru beef and traditional dishes such as agnolotti (local ravioli); tajarin (‘angel hair’ pasta usually served with truffles or porcini mushrooms); bagna caoda (boiled meats); vitello tonnato; brasato al Barolo (beef stewed in Barolo); coniglio con pepperoni (rabbit slow cooked in white wine with bell peppers) and bonet (a rich chocolate pudding).
Generous breakfasts are included each day (you'll need them for your walks). With notice, the hotels wil be able to prepare a cut lunch for the walk. A range of restaurant recommendations with contact details for booking your dinners in each town/village will be included in your tour notes.
Support on the walk
To guide you through this wonderful walk, you will receive: the Hidden Italy roadbook (an eighty-page A5 booklet that includes comprehensive daily walking notes accompanied by detailed maps, updated and revised each year): access to the exclusive Hidden Italy App to complement the roadbook (the App is downloadable to Apple and Android devices and features information about the routes: maps, GPS tracks, altimetric profiles, etc; GPS navigation on all the routes; an alert function if you stray off the track; and an emergency function); twenty-four-hour phone support from our Florence-based Operations Manager.
Booking conditions
To confirm the booking, a deposit of 25% of the total booking cost is required within 7 days of the issue of the invoice. Please note that in the event of customer cancellation, deposits are refunded, less a cancellation fee of $500 per person per tour. Click here for full T&C’s
Interested in the 1. Northern Italy: Alba and the Langhe Hills, walking in Piedmont Self-Guided Walk?
Don't miss out, places are limited. Make your booking now. Book Now › Make an Enquiry ›This 8 day/7 nights walk explores Alba and the Langhe
-
Cost
$3,050
per person
- Private transfer to and from Turin at the beginning and end of the tour
- Seven nights accommodation
- All breakfasts included
- Reading lists and historical and cultural notes
- Detailed roadbook with maps and daily notes (updated annually)
- Hidden Italy App with GPS to complement the roadbook
- Daily transfers of baggage between hotels each morning
- 24 hour backup from our operations manager
Cost Options
$3050 B&B only per person
Single supplement: $800
** Please note a high season surcharge may apply in July/August/September
Tour costs quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD)
Map
Testimonials
We are just back from a terrific five weeks in Europe. As you know, we have walked with probably a dozen walking companies and we would rate Hidden Italy up there with the best. I would not hesitate in recommending the Piedmont walk.
– GL, Alba and Le Langhe 2017
View all Testimonials ›1. Northern Italy: Alba and the Langhe Hills, walking in Piedmont FAQs
Find out a little more about the 1. Northern Italy: Alba and the Langhe Hills, walking in Piedmont tour by reading some of our most frequently asked questions.
View all FAQs ›
