Piedmont walking holiday, Vineyards of Barolo
Description of Piedmont walking holiday, Vineyards of Barolo
This self-guided, Piedmont walking holiday through the vineyards and exquisite valleys of Barolo, is a gentle and gastronomically gorgeous way to explore the tranquil Langhe region of Piedmont, in the north-west of Italy. The Barolo vineyards of this region have been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, and the countryside that envelops these vineyards is award-winning too. With gently rippling hills, sunflower-filled meadows and ancient oak woods, the honey-coloured hamlets and historic castles that pepper your trails just add to the aesthetic beauty of it all.
This walking holiday is a circular route, starting and ending in Benevello, a hamlet in the Alta Langa hills. From here you follow a walking trail along the Tanaro River, which takes you through a series of more pretty Piedmont villages to Grinzane Cavour, with its impressive castle overlooking the town. Castles are a feature of this walking holiday as you will see in Castiglione Falletto, dominated by its distinctive 11th century castle.
Another stunning stop on this holiday is the ancient, fortified town of Monforte d'Alba, with ochre houses clinging to its hillside and a lively café and cuisine culture vibe. All influenced by the Barolo vineyards that envelop it. Which is why, on this holiday, you get a chance to sample plenty of the local wine but also the wonderful food that emanates from these valleys. As well as the world-famous Barolo wine, you will find sweet Moscato, white truffles, hazelnuts and an array of cheeses.
Not surprisingly for such a foodie area, there are some fantastic hotels to stay at on this walking holiday, with your bags being transferred for you as you enjoy your time walking. Most of them have swimming pools, and they include a 19th century family-run villa, with its own converted chapel and a Michelin- starred restaurant. Heavenly.
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Reviews
2 Reviews of Piedmont walking holiday, Vineyards of Barolo
Reviewed on 10 Jun 2018 by Richard Kerr
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Beautiful walks through what seems like an almost undiscovered part of
Italy. The food and hospitality were superb
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
We extended the trip to stay in Turin which was well worth a visit.
The walking was not too difficult but if it rains - we had a thunderstorm
overnight on one occasion - be prepared for very muddy and slippery
conditions in the vineyards. And be prepared to put on half a stone!
The food was beautiful and plentiful!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, I think staying in small family run hotels was ideal and the walks were all
on well established trails
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Superb, we would definitely return to this part of Italy and also book similar
holidays again
Reviewed on 24 Aug 2017 by Anne Teal
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The beautiful countryside. We appreciated the variety of walks and, being exceptionally hot on our week, it was great to have the transfer walks on alternate days.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Probably best not to pick a date in August. It seemed to be the month the local enterprises chose to go on holiday, not withstanding Le Langhe being a destination for visitors.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Reasonably well for the first aim. As far as we could tell the hotels and restaurants used were local rather than chains. So presumably income remained in the local economy.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent. Our first holiday with the tour operator and we were very impressed with the quiet helpfulness and professionalism of their representatives.
Responsible Travel
Planet and people
UK Office:We are well aware of the impact tourism has at home and abroad, and we make every effort to balance the environmental impact of travelling with the immense benefits sustainable tourism can bring to destinations and the people who live there. So we start in the office: we turn off all electrical equipment every night; we use energy-efficient bulbs; we measure print and paper consumption, and re-cycle wherever possible; we print our brochures on paper from sustainable sources, and send them out in bio-degradable packaging.
Leaders & local suppliers:
This region is at the heart of Italy’s “Slow Food” movement promoting the pleasure of taking time to enjoy a meal, savouring tastes and recognising local cuisines, wines and seasonal ingredients. Throughout your walking holiday, you will enjoy a variety of Italy’s finest local dishes: from our Michelin-starred restaurants in Benevello and Castiglione Falletto to an optional lunch at the roadside Spaghettoteca Campoleone where you’ll have 250+ pasta sauces to choose from!
Staff:
Staff will suggest places to see and visit locally. Many of our overseas staff have worked for us for many years now – in fact, the 20 returning staff this summer have, between them, clocked up an impressive 189 years!
Group size:
Having no minimum number means that groups sizes can be small and therefore the trips have less impact on the environment.
Activity:
Walking has minimal impact on the environment as you provide most of the energy yourself and, when you’re strolling from village to village, you can enjoy a relationship with locals in a way motorists passing through never can. On foot, you get off the beaten track, and you’ll find that people treat you as a visitor rather than a tourist. Also, by walking independently, and not having to worry about keeping up with a group, you set the pace so you can soak up the sights, sounds and scents of your surrounds and really get under the skin of the place you’re visiting.
We proactively encourage walking clients to think about travelling responsibly too: packing light, saving water, buying locally and re-cycling all maps and route notes at the end of their trip.
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