Hill towns, vineyards & castles of Piemonte
Hike among the vineyards, medieval castles, and hilltop towns of Piemonte’s Langhe region.
Visit a hazelnut farm and taste their outstanding hazelnut desserts, taste award winning wines and savor the region’s extraordinary cuisine. Enjoy endless panoramas!
This extraordinary itinerary will take you on an unusual exploration of the Langhe, a pristine region nestled in the southern corner of Piemonte (aka Piedmont). Still quite undiscovered by mass tourism, this is a magical land of vast horizons and breathtaking panoramas, where ancient castles and hilltop towns stand guard over gentle slopes of vineyards that generously yield award-winning wines; a land that speaks to you through its gentleness and silence—just like the Piemontese, a very reserved but proud people who will speak to you through their soul, if you are willing to listen. Here you can still appreciate the true Italian flavor, the incredible wines and exceptional food, the heartfelt traditions and culture, yet not be overwhelmed by tourism.
Explorations on foot allow you to absorb the atmosphere and colors of the captivating landscape, while visits to medieval castles, fortresses, and enchanting villages immerse you in a rich culture and complex history. You’ll taste celebrated—Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera, to name a few—in boutique cantinas and renowned wine cellars, and savor the regional gastronomy at family-run restaurants or osterias.
Our trip concludes with a visit to Torino, home to the 2006 winter Olympics. Cradle of the Risorgimento, the first capital of Italy, and famous for the Fiat manufacturing, Torino today is an elegant and beautiful baroque city too often overlooked. The city enjoys a celebrated cafè life and, among other attractions, it houses some outstanding museums, including the Egyptian Museum and the Museum of Cinema, housed in the Mole Antonelliana.
Accommodations throughout the trip are at quality B&B hotels, while lunches (when not picnics) and dinners are at restaurants recognized by the SlowFood movement for their exquisite traditional Piemontese cuisine and their commitment to sustainable farming and agriculture.
TRIP PRICE
Euros 2550 per person (4-5 participants)
Euros 2350 per person (6-8 participants)
Euros 2250 per person (9-12 participants)
Euros 400 Single supplement *
* Rates quoted are per person, in Euros, and based on sharing double accommodations. Participants wishing to have a single accommodation will need to pay the single supplement.
Galena Women’s Weekend Getaway
In late August Studio E and some friends spent a glorious weekend in Galena, Illinois for some outdoor fun.
We rented a spacious townhome with all the amenities in beautiful Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa. The gals and I took advantage of the resort’s gorgeous scenic views and hilly terrain to get in some weekend warrior action before winter sets in. We hiked and biked for most of the day on Saturday and later laid by the pool to catch up on some reading and to load up on vitamin D. Before the day was over, we made sure to take advantage of their full service spa to reward our well-worked out bodies. On Sunday we did another morning hike and meditation and also got in a run before heading to the lake for paddle boating. Finally, before leaving Galena, we headed into town and explored the quaint art shops and Galena’s farmers’ market. It was such a fun, relaxing, active, soul searching getaway.
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