Exploring Piedmont and Cinque Terre

Upon arrival at Milan International Airport, meet your English-speaking assistant and transfer by bus to Le Langhe wine region. Accommodation will be at Hotel Albergo dell Agenzia located a few kilometers from Alba and Bra villages, between the Langhe and Roero hills, a UNESCO world heritage site. The rest of the day will be at your leisure to enjoy the heated outdoor swimming pool, or the new room dedicated to massages that offer you a gratifying sensory experience. The property also offers a hydromassage tub with a view over the park, a sauna, and a plain brick Turkish bath that allows guests to relax their mind and body. Also at your disposal is a functional gym, fully equipped with Technogym equipment. Enjoy a welcome dinner tonight at the hotel restaurant, a slow food presidium, serving dishes with natural ingredients and excellent wines. 

Meals: Dinner 

Overnight: Hotel Albergo dell Agenzia in Pollenzo

Enjoy a buffet breakfast at the hotel this morning before meeting your English-speaking assistant, then discover the beautiful territory of the Piedmont Region, one of the best wine regions of the world. Your first stop will be the small hamlet of Barbaresco—the village that gave its name to this wine-growing region. The Nebbiolo grape variety has grown here since ancient times. According to one version, the Gauls were the first to cultivate it, and they produced wine called 'Barbaritium'. Another version suggests the name of Barbaresco, which comes from the 'barbarians', because of their occupation of these lands after the fall of the Roman Empire. After a guided tour and wine tasting of Marchesi di Gresy Wine Estate, you will arrive in the village of Barolo. Barolo is the most famous wine of the Piedmont region, it grows in the hills of the Langhe, which have 166 vineyards in 1700 hectares. Barolo wine is also called 'the wine of kings and the king of wines.” According to legend, the Marquise Juliette Colbert brought the French secret to Barolo by using large chestnut barrels during wine aging. She presented a couple of barrels of her wine to the King of Italy, Carlo Alberto, and he, after tasting it, was so amazed that he decided to produce Barolo wine himself. Lunch will be at the Foresteria with wine tastings and a guided visit of the old wine cellars of Marchesi di Barolo Wine Estate. After lunch, you will visit the charming village of Barolo and its old Castle, then return to your hotel after the tour. Dinner will be on your own, and overnight will be spent in Pollenzo.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Overnight: Hotel Albergo dell Agenzia in Pollenzo

Have an early buffet breakfast at the hotel, then at 8:30 AM meet your English-speaking assistant. Get ready for a day in the countryside where you will experience the best truffle hunting in the Langhe and Monferrato area. Meet with a hunter and his faithful and friendly dog. He will tell you about the various kinds of truffles, about the training techniques for dogs, and of course, he will show you the art of truffle hunting in the countryside. For this visit, appropriate clothing and shoes are required. Found truffles will be considered property of the hunter and his dog, but you will have the option to buy them at a discounted price. After 90 minutes of hunting, an early lunch will follow in a private location to taste truffles and wine. You will return to your hotel after the visit for a free afternoon. Dinner will be on your own.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch 

Overnight: Hotel Albergo dell Agenzia in Pollenzo

Breakfast will be at the Resort, with the rest of the morning at leisure to enjoy the facilities of the Hotel or for individual explorations. In the afternoon, you will transfer to the village of Alba, the capital of Le Langhe region. The village is the charm of the city, with its towers, palaces and unspoiled medieval streets that are the main attraction in Alba. There are also several monuments of particular interest that you will come across as you explore, including the 11th-century cathedral. Lovers of fine cuisine associate Alba with truffles and the product is very present in both the town and surrounding region. In October, Alba holds the traditional 'Truffle Fair of Alba' where you can find dishes made with truffles which pair with noodles, ravioli, raw meat, and fried eggs. The local cheese is the characteristic 'Robiola of Alba,” which is delicate and tasty. Other dishes to be sure to taste are the so-called 'bagna calda,” a sauce of anchovies, garlic, olive oil, and butter, accompanied by in-season raw vegetables. Also, the “polenta” with venison and snails, cooked in various ways. After the visit to Alba, transfer to the village of Cherasco for a delicious dinner at a local Trattoria Pane & Vino to taste local recipes. Overnight will be spent in Pollenzo.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Overnight: Hotel Albergo dell Agenzia in Pollenzo

 

Breakfast and check out. Privately transfer on a bus with a local assistant to Santa Margherita Ligure, a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, that has all the appeal of Portofino without the crowds and prices. Its palm-lined harbor fringes the waterfront while the pastel-painted houses crawl up the hill behind. Lush green forests and olive groves cover the terrain, while sailboats and fishing craft bob in the colorful marina. Check-in at Hotel Regina Elena, centrally located in Santa Margherita Ligure. Lunch will be on your own in Santa Margherita Ligure. In the afternoon with your assistant, you will reach Portofino village. Take a walk west along the shore; the walk is easy and takes about 75 minutes since it is only 3 miles. There is only one section of about 50 feet where there is no room for a sidewalk and you must pay close attention, then you will be back to your casual stroll, just over halfway to Paraggi, a perfect cove with services and beach, where the song “Love in Portofino” was written. The sidewalk then crosses the road and continues as a paved path in a pretty forest with gentle ups and downs. The views of the ocean, the rocky shore, and a few villas are artfully framed by pines and oaks before arriving in Portofino! The return to Santa Margherita will be with a private van. Dinner will be at the Hotel Restaurant. (If you prefer a private transfer from S.M. Ligure to Portofino, we can book a taxi for the transfer to be paid on the spot). Overnight will be spent in Santa Margherita Ligure. 

About the Hotel Regina Elena: Best Western Hotel Regina Elena offers a big and equipped private beach in Santa Margherita Ligure (sunbeds and sun umbrella to be paid on the spot), next to the Protected Marine Area of Portofino. Relax, enjoy nature, and several amenities to make the stay unforgettable. The top floor of the hotel offers a spectacular swimming pool with panoramic views of the Tigullio Gulf and the nearby hinterland. There is an exclusive roof garden where you can spend unforgettable moments of relaxation in the hot tub, solarium area with sun loungers, or in the swimming pool. A fitness room is also available throughout your stay.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner 

Overnight: Hotel Regina Elena

Breakfast will be at the Hotel. This morning you will meet your local assistant and bus for an unforgettable full-day excursion to Le Cinque Terre. The entire day will be devoted to the discovery of one of the most enchanting landscapes in the world. Five (Cinque) villages — Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso—hanging between sea and land, a place where you can immerse yourselves in paradise, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. With your hike guide, start from Monterosso and head south on a combination of low (classical) and high (optional) trails with breathtaking views. Enjoy the views, pass through panoramic vineyards, and savor local delicacies for lunch. We will explore the five villages, have lunch in a local fish restaurant (or picnic if you prefer), learn local secrets about growing olives and vines, and of course, experience the sea-land connection unique to this area. Nature, culture, gourmet wine and cuisine—all pleasures in one! Non-slippery hiking shoes are a must. Hiking sticks could be useful. Trails often involve stone Steps and can be very steep and narrow. Not suitable if you suffer from vertigo. You will return to your accommodations in Santa Margherita Ligure after the tour. Dinner will be on your own.

Meals: Breakfast 

Overnight: Hotel Regina Elena

Start your day with a wellness activity and breakfast at the hotel. The day is yours at leisure to enjoy the beach and the sun, or to rent a bike at the hotel for a tour of the area.

A farewell dinner in a typical Restaurant in Santa Margherita Ligure will follow.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Overnight: Hotel Regina Elena

Enjoy a buffet breakfast at the hotel before checking out. Privately transfer by bus with a local assistant to Milan International Airport.

Meals: Breakfast 

Overnight: Porta Hotel Antigua