
Gastronomic Barolo Walk
Superb hotels, world-famous wines and exceptional cuisine are just some of the reasons to choose this 8-night walking holiday! The route takes you through softly rolling hills, sun-drenched hamlets and via the pretty wine towns of Barbaresco and Barolo.
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Reviews 76 Reviews5/5
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Vacation Style Holiday Type
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Luxury
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Self Guided
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Walking
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Activity Level Moderate
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On this self-guided, hotel-to-hotel walking holiday, you’ll explore the beautifully tranquil Langhe region of Piedmont, a gastronomic gem quietly tucked into Italy’s north-western corner. Recently recognised by UNESCO, the countryside is a glorious mix of gently rippling, wave-shaped hills cloaked by layers of vines, sunflowers and oak forests, crowned with honey-hued hamlets and majestic Savoy castles.
Your route starts and ends in Benevello, nestling in the hazelnut-clad Alta Langa hills, from where you follow the limpid Tanaro River before climbing through a string of hamlets to Grinzane Cavour where you’ll enjoy gorgeous balcony views from the hotel terrace! It’s then on to Castiglione Falletto, dominated by its distinctive C11 castle. As you approach beautiful Monforte d’Alba, whose ochre-coloured houses seem to cling enchantingly to the hillside, you visit Barolo, home of the revered eponymous wine. Distances are reasonably short, leaving plenty of time to try the many regional specialities en route. This rich and fertile land produces some of Italy’s finest food and wine, from robust Barolo and sweet Moscato to aromatic white truffles (exclusive to Alba), crunchy hazelnuts and tangy cheeses.
This is all complemented by our carefully picked hotels, often with pools, and full of character and contrasts, from Serena’s friendly, family-run hotel in the centre of Castiglione Falletto, to a beautifully restored C19 family villa, complete with its own converted chapel and Michelin starred restaurant in Benevello.
- 8 Nights Accommodations, hotel-to-hotel, in a mix of ***, **** and ***** hotels
- All continental breakfast and gastronomic evening meals
- Route notes and maps provided
- Services of your local Headwater Representative
- Luggage transfers between hotels
- Walking transfers
- Flights
- Arrival & departure transfers (available on request, inquire for supplement)
- Room upgrades and extra nights at selected hotels (inquire for prices and details)
- Single Accommodation (available on request, inquire for supplement)
Highlights
- Superb walking in truly undiscovered, yet highly sophisticated Italy
- Imposing Savoy castles, tiny frescoed chapels, sun-drenched hamlets
- Atmospheric wine villages and boundless vineyards
- Luxury hotels; 4 out of 8 nights, with panoramic swimming pools
- Excellent cuisine, prized white truffles, hazelnuts and chocolate!
- World-famous wines including the ‘King of Wines’, Barolo
- Day 1 Day 1 Arrive at Benevello
- Day 2 Day 2 Benevello to Grinzane Cavour 10km/6.5mi/4hr
- Day 3 Day 3 At Grinzane Cavour
- Day 4 Day 4 Grinzane Cavour to Castiglione Falletto 12km/7.5mi/4hr
- Day 5 Day 5 At Castiglione Falletto
- Day 6 Day 6 Castiglione Falletto to Monforte d'Alba 8km/5mi/2hr or 11km/7mi/4hr
- Day 7 Day 7 At Monforte d'Alba
- Day 8 Day 8 Monforte d'Alba to Benevello 13km/8mi/5hr
- Day 9 Day 9 Leave Benevello

All breakfasts and gastronomic evening meals.
Italian food is one of the country’s most revered exports and Piedmont is a region that won’t disappoint gastronomes! The cuisine is a fusion of the best of Italian and French food. However, the region’s rural nature means that dishes are predominantly simple but use exceptional quality and flavoursome ingredients.
Piedmont’s wine is famous throughout the world, and justifiably so. The most famous are the wines of the Langhe, which produces Barolo, Barbaresco, Dolcetto, Barbera as well as whites such as Asti and Moscato.
Activity level: Leisurely/Moderate
This is a self-guided tour, as such there will be no group or tour leader and you are free to complete the walks at your own pace. Please bear in mind that although this is a self-guided holiday, the atmosphere in the hotels tends to be quite social and they will sometimes place walkers together at breakfast and dinner. We have suggested that 8yrs is the minimum age for this trip, but as it is self-guided and you will be leading your own family we will ultimately leave this decision up to you.
Your route starts and ends in Benevello, nestling in the hazelnut-clad Alta Langa hills, from where you follow the limpid Tanaro River before climbing through a string of hamlets to Grinzane Cavour where you’ll enjoy gorgeous balcony views from the hotel terrace! It’s then on to Castiglione Falletto, dominated by its distinctive C11 castle. As you approach beautiful Monforte d’Alba, whose ochre-coloured houses seem to cling enchantingly to the hillside, you visit Barolo, home of the revered eponymous wine. Distances are reasonably short, leaving plenty of time to try the many regional specialties en route. This rich and fertile land produces some of Italy’s finest food and wine, from robust Barolo and sweet Moscato to aromatic white truffles (exclusive to Alba), crunchy hazelnuts and tangy cheeses.
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Palazzo-Boeri-Montforte-d-Alba
Package Confirmed Dates | Trip Status Trip Status | Price (PP) Excluding Flights | Price (PP) Including Flights | |
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May 1, 2021
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Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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May 3, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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May 5, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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May 7, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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May 9, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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May 11, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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May 13, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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May 15, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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May 17, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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May 19, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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May 21, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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May 23, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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May 25, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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May 27, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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May 29, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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May 31, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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June 2, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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June 4, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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June 6, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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June 8, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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June 10, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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June 12, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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June 14, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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June 16, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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June 18, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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June 20, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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June 22, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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June 24, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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June 26, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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June 28, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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June 30, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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July 2, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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July 4, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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July 6, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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July 8, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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July 10, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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July 12, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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July 14, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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July 16, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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July 18, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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July 20, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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July 22, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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July 24, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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July 26, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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July 28, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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July 30, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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August 1, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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August 3, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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August 5, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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August 7, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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August 9, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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August 11, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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August 13, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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August 15, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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August 17, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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August 19, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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August 21, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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August 23, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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August 25, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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August 27, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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August 29, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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August 31, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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September 2, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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September 4, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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September 6, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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September 8, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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September 10, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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September 12, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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September 14, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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September 16, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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September 18, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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September 20, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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September 22, 2021
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Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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September 24, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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September 26, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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September 28, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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September 30, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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October 2, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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October 4, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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October 6, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
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October 8, 2021
|
Available |
$3,179.00 |
N/A |
Ms Jones
An excellent walking experience with fabulous food and wine offerings. We came home thoroughly relaxed from this week’s break.
Mrs Dolan
Having travelled with Headwater before, we knew what to expect, but this holiday didn't dissapoint. The hotels and restaurants were of a very high standard. We were lucky with the weather which really helped. It was dry and sunny most of the time but not too hot for walking. We on,y got lost once - this was on out first day and probably due to a farmer seeking to discourage use of paths across his land. The instructions for that day may need a quick review. There wasn't really a map to cover everywhere we walked, but we managed with the sketch maps provided and maps covering various parts of the area we walked in. We walked an average of about 7 miles a day and found places for a light lunch which is all we would want after the spreads provided for breakfast. A lovel holiday
Mr Mallett
The general standard of the walks, route notes and accommodation made this a very enjoyable holiday. We also used the supplementary guidance notes for things to do and these also proved helpful. The local reps kept us informed as necessary and ensured all arrangements were in order.
Mrs Hammond
An absolutely great walking holiday in truely beautiful part of Italy. Food and wine were fab except for the Michelin restaurant on our first night. The food was strange. We went there because the Michelin restaurant in our hotel was close on Monday nights. A shame as we ate in their bistro on our last night and it was very good. Our reps were excellent and friendly and not intrusive as this was a self guided walking holiday. There were some glitches with a couple of the walks but this was because a farmer had closed and lick a gate and another time the instructions weren’t clear at a confusing junction. However we got to our destinations easily despite some very steep incline to coast into the villages. It would have been helpful when booking to tell us what else there was to do on our days off as this was very limiting by the time we got there. Moving every two days was ok but we felt that at least one move was unnecessary as the walks were all quite close together. Over all an excellent holiday and we would use Headwater/ Exodus again
Mrs Black
We had an excellent walking holiday in Piedmont. The accommodation was very good. It was a gastronomic holiday. We would describe half of the meals as gastronomic but others were disappointing. The food in Villa d'Amelia, Benevello was wonderful. We were disappointed, however, with the food in Hotel le Torri, Castiglione Falletto although the local restaurant we ate at, 'L'argaj', was excellent. The local restaurants in Montforte d'Alba were 'rustic' rather than 'gastronomic'. The countryside is beautiful. We really enjoyed the walks even in the high temperatures. Had it rained some of the chalk footpaths would have been very difficult. The walking instructions were very good - there were only a couple of occasions were local farmers had altered the paths or field layout but we managed to work it out. The Headwater reps were fantastic. Although we didn't need to call on them (probably due to the excellent quality of the Headwater set up), we were very confident that they were looking after us ie moving our luggage and checking we were safe and happy. We would certainly consider travelling with Headwater again.