Trip Notes GASTRONOMIC BAROLO CYCLING

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1 Trip Notes Trip Code: LHB Country: Italy Amended: August 2012 Edition No: CT Valid from: 01 Jan - 31 Dec 2013 GASTRONOMIC BAROLO CYCLING HIGHLIGHTS Luxury hotels, gourmet cuisine and outstanding wines Easy cycling through an undiscovered corner of Italy Stunning mountain views - as far as Mont Blanc on a clear day SUMMARY If you enjoy fine food, fine wine and fine cycling, then look no further than the region of Piedmont in north-west Italy. This exciting new ride is quite simply a mecca for cycling foodies, with numerous colourful markets, atmospheric enoteche and two nights in a Michelin-starred restaurant. The cycling itself takes you through softly rolling hills, sun-drenched hamlets and via the pretty wine towns of Barbaresco and Barolo where there will be ample opportunity to sample the world-famous local produce. The rides are relaxed but cover enough distance to burn off a few calories and work up an appetite for the next memorable meal. We pass historic castles, frescoed chapels and pretty mediaeval villages en route to sophisticated hotels with luxurious rooms, elegant lounges and panoramic pools. All in all the perfect recipe for a healthy, relaxing holiday. IS THIS TRIP FOR YOU? Cycling conditions This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to cycle independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodations, provide you with a map and route notes so that you can cycle at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next. It is important that you are happy reading maps and following route notes, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked. Where possible we stick to cycle tracks and quiet roads to make the journeys as pleasant as possible, however, on occasion we have to use busier routes. As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The routes notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the hotels are normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service. Grade: A/B (Please see the introductory pages of the cycling holidays brochure or our website for more important information on classification and grading). Av. daily ride: 29km (18 miles). Please note that the average distance given here is the average of the shortest routes. Alternative routes, which are longer distances, are also shown in the detailed route notes that are provided before departure. No. of days cycling: 6 (including 2 optional rides). Terrain & route: the suggested cycling mainly follows quiet tarmac roads with a few sections on dirt roads. The terrain is mainly through rolling countryside but does not require any particular athletic ability. Alternative routes are available on most days and are detailed in the route notes. LAND ONLY ITINERARY The entries in bold at the end of each day indicate the meals included (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner). Day 1 If you are joining the transfer we meet you at Turin airport and take you to your stunning hotel (1 hour 50 mins) just below Benevello. The chef here trained under Marco Pierre White so you're in for a real treat! (D) Day 2 We have the perfect start to our cycling with a gentle ride along an open road with balcony views over the breathtaking Langhe countryside. You will visit lovely Treiso, formerly a summer retreat for Alba's noble families, before reaching Barbaresco for lunch and cheese-tasting in the piazza. We recommend trying some wine too in the enoteca, housed in a 19th Century church built by the locals in thanks for a good grape harvest! There will also be time to visit Neive, Exodus Travels Ltd Grange Mills, Weir Road, London SW12 0NE Sales & Reservations: (44) Fax: (44) sales@exodus.co.uk

2 d'alba, here the lovely honey-coloured old town seems to cling enchantingly to the hillside. Ride Approx. 21km. (B, D) Day 7 Your hotel in Monforte, an 18th century villa, is pretty special so you may well find it difficult to tear yourself away. However, it would be a shame not to explore the mediaeval town itself. It is a lively town with attractive buildings grouped around an atmospheric cobbled piazza. Once you have had a look around it is also worth journeying a little further to Dogliani, dominated by its beautiful onion-domed church. It is a town of two halves. The lower part is located next to the Rea river and the upper part is situated around the castle, which maintains its mediaeval layout with a small piazze and the original walls still visable in parts. The town is famous for being at the heart of Dolcetto wine production and there is an enoteca in the town hall if you wish to try some. (B, D) officially one of Italy's prettiest villages and home of Romano Levi, a renowned grappa maker. The final part of the ride is a panoramic climb through Moscato vines to our lovely hotel in Castiglione Tinella. Ride Approx. 35km. (B, D) Day 3 Castiglione is a great place to spend a lazy day, especially by our hotel's panoramic pool. However, a short journey away is Acqui Terme, a spa town with two major thermal centres. The sulphuric waters of the town were renowned during Roman times for their therapeutic properties. The symbol of the town is a marble fountain called 'La Bollente' (the boiling spring), from which flows water at a temperature of up to 75 degrees. Alternatively, you can cycle across to the spumante capital of Asti, with its quaint cobbled historic centre - each September the main piazza is home to a crazy palio horse race to rival Siena's! The town has an ancient history and was one of Italy's first free communes which received the right to mint its own coins in 1140, later it became one of Italy's wealthiest regions. Optional Ride. (B, D) Day 4 Today your ride starts with an exhilarating whizz through vineyards to Castagnole Lanze. You will then have time to explore the cobbled streets and bustling piazze of chocolate-perfumed Alba. Alba is the capital of the Langhe region located along the banks of the Tanaro river. The town is another one with an ancient history but it is most famous for being the home of Nutella and Ferrero Rocher. The factory here is still the towns biggest employer and fills the air with the delicious smell of hazelnutty-chocolate. Alba is also revered by gastronomes the world over for its links to the white truffle. Our ride will then continue on to Grinzane Cavour where a warm welcome awaits at the elegant Casa Pavesi. Ride Approx. 38km. (B, D) Day 5 Today is free to explore the area. Grinzane Cavour itself is little more than a few houses clustered around a very impressive castle, dating back to the 11th Century. The castle now houses the Enoteca Regionale Cavour, which was the first Piedmontese wine cellar to be established in the region. Here wines are on display to try and purchase. Once you have had a look around it is then well worth making a trip to visit nearby Bra, a gastronomic treasure trove where the Slow Food movement was initiated - so plenty of choice for a long, lazy lunch! There is lots to explore in the town too, including the 18th Century rococo church and the strange octagonal Zizzola, where local witches held their meetings! For the best views in the region, walk or cycle to La Morra, 'Balcony of the Langhe', spread out along a panoramic ridge above the vineyards. Day 8 Your final cycling day starts with a gentle coast along the Rea valley before a steady climb takes you to a stunningly panoramic ridge. You will weave through fields of wild flowers and sleepy hamlets until you reach Serravalle Langhe. The village is split over two levels, the upper half of the village is older and has fantastic views over the surrounding countryside. It is a great lunch spot. Onwards, you pedal alongside chestnut carpeted hills with delightful vistas which will lead you back to your beautiful country hotel at Benevello. If you time it right there will be time to enjoy the pool and jacuzzi before a final dinner. (B, D) Day 9 Trip ends in Benevello. If you are joining the transfer it has been arranged to leave the hotel for the airport at (B) ACCOMMODATION All hotels have been specially selected for their warm welcome, location and regional cuisine. They are classed as premium based on these specifics in addition to the star rating. On this trip we use one 3 star hotel and three 4 star hotels; all have en suite facilities and some have swimming pools. Single Accommodation: All prices are based on 2 persons sharing, so if there is an odd number of people travelling in your party or you are travelling alone, there will be a compulsory single room supplement of 440 (or approx. US$770) charged. FOOD & TRANSPORT Food 8 breakfasts and 8 dinners included. This is a gastronomic tour so the food it central to your experience. The food of Piedmont is a fusion of the best of Italian and French food and certainly won't disappoint gastronomes. The key is simple dishes using exceptional ingredients. Regional specialities include white truffles which are found almost exclusively in the woods around Alba. Hazelnuts are another locally produced ingredient that feature heavily on the menu. They are harvested in Langhe's woods and groves in late August and then appear as tasty treats such as biscuits, Optional Ride. (B, D) Day 6 This morning your ride will take you first through sunflower fields to Roddi, then onto Barolo. Barolo is revered by wine lovers the world over and there are plenty of places to try 'the king of wines' as well as pick one of the many trattorie for a tasty lunch. Aside from the wine, Barolo is a very pretty, ochre-hued village perched above its worldfamous vineyards - the tangle of mediaeval streets are dominated by the Marchesi Falletti's 11th Century castle. You will then pedal on through the archetypal Langhe countryside to Monforte 2

3 nougat and cake, not forgetting Nutella and Ferrero Rocher which are made in Alba. Cheese is also widely produced in Piedmont, such as Murazzano, made with full-cream sheep's milk. Meals in the region always start with bread, your primo (first course) will usually be a pasta dish, such as agnolotti. Your secondo (main course) will then be something hearty like beef gently braised in Barolo wine. Meats such as pork, beef and veal are the popular choice of the region. If you have room you should try one of the many delicious desserts of the region, such as torta di nicciole (hazelnut cake), panna cotta or zabaglione (amaretti biscuits dipped into a mixture of eggs, marsala and sugar). Piedmont's wine is famous throughout the world. The most famous are the wines of the Langhe, which produces Barolo, Barbaresco, Dolcetto, Barbera as well as whites such as Asti and Moscato. Transport Your luggage will be transported between the hotels by our local representative. The hotels are often able to dispatch a taxi should you need it, but may wish to charge you for this service. You will be pedaling under your own steam but the emergency number for our local operator is in the trip notes if you need assistance. WEATHER AND SEASONALITY 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. JOINING THE TRIP IN BENEVELLO 9 days, normally start Benevello Sun, end Benevello Mon Your trip normally starts at our hotel in Benevello on the afternoon of Day 1 of the itinerary listed below. Hotel check-in times are normally from around 4pm. We can book your flights from London to Benevello based on the following flight times: Outbound - British Airways from London Gatwick to Turin 13.30/16.15 (transfer to hotel, 1hr 50 mins, provided). Inbound - British Airways from Turin to London Gatwick 17.25/ For Saturday arrivals and departures the above flights do not operate so we will use Easyjet flights (transfers will be provided to match these flight times): London Gatwick to Turin 06.30/09.20 Turin to London Gatwick 11.00/11.45 If you arrive into Turin airport independently then you can take advantage of a free transfer if you arrive for (09.20 on Saturdays). Likewise on the return journey a transfer will be arranged back to the airport at If these times do not suit you then please make your own way to and from the start hotel. 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. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM Tourism can be a real help to local communities, providing income, positive cultural exchanges and a financial incentive to protect their natural environment. Ours is a 'total approach' to responsible tourism, covering everything from the way we plan and operate our trips to the practices of Exodus as a company. As a self-guided trip you will be pedalling under your own steam and at your own pace. You will not be part of a group so the impact of your visit on the landscape and communities you pass will be absolutely minimal. Our local operator works with local suppliers and hoteliers to ensure that we support the communities we visit, maximising the benefit to them and also our enjoyment of the region. We will stay in characterful, locally run hotels and the route notes will often give you hints and tips of local restaurants you can try, giving you a taste of the local cuisine while helping to support these establishments. Moreover, we encourage you to journey by train to minimise your carbon footprint. For full details of our Responsible Tourism Policy please visit: PRACTICAL INFORMATION Passports and Visas All nationalities require a full passport that must be valid beyond the intended length of stay. It is your responsibility to have the correct personal documents and to obtain your own visa, if one is necessary, in accordance with the regulations of the country you are to visit. The information offered below is to help you with that process. We are not responsible for the actions of local immigration and customs officials, whether at points of entry or otherwise, and any subsequent effects. No visa required for British passport holders. Please note in Italy it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times. Visa regulations can change without notice: please check the current regulations in good time to obtain a visa if one is required. Vaccinations and Health Travel health can often be something people forget about before going away, but a little preparation and knowledge can go a long way to help you stay fit and healthy while abroad. There are no specific health risks on this trip. The above information can change at short notice; as we are not qualified to answer all your questions about travel health we strongly recommend you contact your Medical Professional or a Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks prior to departure for up-to-date information. Insurance - are you adequately covered? You must have adequate travel insurance, and if you are joining a trip which goes to high altitude, you must check that you are covered up 3

4 to the maximum altitude of the trip. If you are resident in the UK we strongly recommend Exodus travel insurance, which is specifically designed to cover all activities on your trip. Local Time GMT + 1 hr Electricity European plug - 2 round pins. Group, Staff and Support As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. A local representative is on hand to assist you and will meet you at the beginning of the week to set up your bike and go through the route notes and point out particular places of interest. Your luggage is transferred and route notes and maps are provided. The route notes contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number. In an emergency, the local representative or the hotels are normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service. The minimum age of clients on this trip is 14 years. Please note that anyone aged under 18 must be accompanied by (and share accommodation with) a parent or legal guardian. MONEY MATTERS Currency Information The national currency of Italy is the Euro (EUR), with an exchange rate of 1.2 to the UK and 0.75 to the US$. Exchange rates are correct at the time of publication. ATM availability/credit Card Acceptance/Travellers cheques ATMs are widely available, but we recommend taking some Euros cash with you in case you can't get to a bank at the start of the trip. Extra Expenses and Spending Money You will only need money for lunches, snacks and drinks and any sites you wish to visit. Lunches can be inexpensive if you buy produce from local markets or shops and make up a picnic. However, if you stop at a café you can easily spend 15. We would recommend budgeting for 5-15 for lunches and allow an additional 10 a day for any extras. WHAT TO TAKE Essential Equipment and Clothing Self-Guided Hire Bikes All bikes are supplied with: - 1 handlebar map holder - 2 rear panniers - 1 bike lock per 2 people - 1 puncture repair kit per 2 people, which includes 1 spare inner tube and a pump. - Water bottle Seat and handlebar heights will have been set up in advance from the heights you have given us on booking. However, when you receive your bike there will be the opportunity to test and adjust. Our representative will be on hand to assist you and can fit pedals and your saddle if you wish to bring these with you. Bike Repairs As you are riding unaccompanied, it is wise to know at least how to repair or change an inner tube before setting off on your bike! The bikes are serviced before being rented out so there should be no problems but there are emergency numbers provided in the Route Notes for more complex problems. Optional items: - warm top and legging for the early spring and autumn departures - swimming costume - windproof and waterproof layer - comfortable shoes and clothes for the days off the bike if you want to explore the towns Reading List: - Cadogan Italian Riviera and Piedmont - Turin and Piedmont: The Purple Guide - Cucina Piemontese: Cooking from Italy's Piedmont - Bonding with Piedmont If you are interested in any of these books then you can order them from our own Exodus shop, 'Exodus Travel Essentials', JOIN THE EXODUS ONLINE COMMUNITY Don't forget to visit the Community area on our website. You can view the range of Exodus videos and podcasts, read trip write-ups which have featured in the national media and take advantage of some special deals on travel gear and equipment. In the Compass Café forum you'll find the Departure Lounge where you can discuss your trip with fellow travellers before you depart. When you get back from your holiday remember to upload your images to the relevant trip page on our website. This helps other people see what our holidays are really like and you'll be entered automatically into our monthly photo competition. To make full use of the Compass Café you'll need to join My Exodus. It's free, registration is simple and easy, so what are you waiting for? IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL CLIENTS Exodus operates a 24 hour duty office for emergencies, which can be contacted on 0044 (0) Every time that you travel abroad you should take the time to read the warnings in the essential information in the brochure or at www. exodus.co.uk/about-exodus/essential-information? Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers, and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately 2 to 3 weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent. The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; in order to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, as stated in our brochure, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons - climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary. As fuel prices, airport taxes and exchange rates fluctuate, and airlines manage their rates to match demand, it is proving harder than ever to guarantee our Flight Inclusive prices. Although we endeavour to keep our website as accurate as possible, daily fluctuations mean that our Flight Inclusive price may be out of date. For accurate prices we recommend that you contact one of our Travel Experts, or your Travel Agent. Prices and exchange rates were correct at the time of publication. The most up-to-date prices can be found on the Exodus website. Exodus Travels Ltd. ATOL 2582/FTO 4

5 HOW TO BOOK YOUR TRIP 1. Check availability Go online to check availability, or contact us by phone or Secure your place You can provisionally hold a place on this trip, usually for between three and seven days. 3. Complete your booking and payment When you re ready to book, go to for online booking, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay by cheque. Book with confidence: Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582 issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA - The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all monies paid to us for your trip are fully protected. 5