10 days in Valle d'Aosta and Piedmont | Tours of Italy

Route

You start in Valle d'Aosta, staying near Courmayeur or Cogne, at the foot of Mont Blanc and Gran Paradiso National Park. Then you drive to Turin for two nights of culture and museums. Finally, you stay in the Langhe, between Barolo, Barbaresco and Alba.

Pace

Three nights in the mountains, two nights in Turin, four nights among the vineyards. You combine walks and panoramic views with city visits and wine tastings.

Highlights

You take the cable car to Mont Blanc and hike in the Gran Paradiso National Park. In Turin, you visit Piazza San Carlo, the Museo Egizio and La Venaria Reale. In the Langhe, you taste Barolo and Barbaresco, walk through Alba and drive past castles and abbeys such as the Sacra di San Michele.

Accommodation

A hotel with mountain views in Valle d'Aosta, a centrally located accommodation in Turin and a relais among the vineyards in the Langhe. Small-scale, well located and close to nature and producers.

Profile

For those who want to combine mountain landscapes with wine and culture. For travellers who, after a walk, like to sit down for a glass of Nebbiolo and a plate of local cuisine.

Day 1: Departure to Entrèves / Cogne (Valle d'Aosta)

Your first stop is in Valle d'Aosta, where you will be treated to a magnificent view of Mont Blanc.

Days 2 and 3: Mont Blanc and Aosta

You will enjoy two days of rushing rivers, mountain hikes, green valleys and the Gran Paradiso Nature Park. In Courmayeur, take the cable car up Mont Blanc (4,810 m), which offers stunning panoramic views. You will also visit Aosta, the picturesque regional capital with its charming shops and delicatessens.

Days 4 and 5: Turin (Piedmont)

You continue to the elegant former capital of Italy, with its beautiful Piazza San Carlo, shopping opportunities and magnificent museums such as the impressive film museum, the car museum and the Egyptian Museum, which has one of the largest collections in the world. An absolute must-see is La Venaria Reale, the former royal palace.

Day 6: Turin - Benevello

Before you leave for the beautiful Langhe, you can visit La Sacra di San Michele in Avigliana. This impressively situated 11th-century Benedictine abbey was the model for the abbey in Umberto Eco's “The Name of the Rose”.

Day 7: Savigliano and Saluzzo

North of Savigliano lies the Castello di Racconigi, former country residence of the royal Savoy family, with its beautiful interior and park. Afterwards, you can continue to Saluzzo, an elegant town with a medieval centre. To the north lies the Abbazia di Staffarda, one of the most beautiful abbeys in Italy.

Day 8: Barolo, Asti and Barbaresco

Are you looking for the ultimate wine? In Barolo, you can also taste wine from smaller producers thanks to our hotels' connections. Via the town of Alba, famous for its white truffles, to Asti, you can visit this charming town where all kinds of delicacies are for sale. Barbaresco is a lovely village with a great name...

Day 9: Mondovì and Cuneo

Via the panoramic Mondovì with its beautiful piazza, you will travel to Cuneo, once the capital of silk, now a charming town with beautiful arcades.

Day 10: Return home

Do you have a few days of holiday left? Then you could stay in a Caractère hotel on Lake Maggiore or on the Ligurian Riviera.

Frequently asked questions about Panoramas of Valle d'Aosta and Piedmont

When is the best time to take this tour of Valle d'Aosta and Piedmont?

May, June, September and October are ideal. In Valle d'Aosta, hiking trails and the cable car to Mont Blanc are easily accessible without winter snow. In the Langhe, these months are perfect for wine tastings in Barolo and Barbaresco. July and August are warmer and busier, especially in Turin.

Is a hire car necessary for this tour?

Yes, a hire car is highly recommended. The combination of mountain villages, Turin and wine regions such as the Langhe is difficult to reach by public transport. With your own car, you can also reach smaller producers in Barolo and panoramic villages such as Mondovì and Saluzzo.

What makes this trip different from a standard Piedmont wine tour?

You start in the Alps, near Mont Blanc and the Gran Paradiso National Park, and combine this with culture in Turin and wine in the Langhe. Mountains, royal palaces and Nebbiolo in one coherent tour.