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our third with A'qto.....where to next?
Being on an A’qto tour with Damian and Nancy is like going on holiday with your best friends, family and their friends.
With Damian and Nancy as hosts, everything is taken care of… stunning accommodation, incredible local food and wine experiences.
At the end of the Piedmont tour you are left with a sense of achievement having pushed yourself on Damian’s challenging rides (always fully supported. Thankyou so much again Sergio and Silvia) through captivating countryside on quiet country roads, and your cup refilled with a whole new circle of like minded friends, who you have bonded with each evening over aperitivo in diverse settings, could be the piazza, could be the courtyard of an old but beautifully restored convent before moving onto dinner often with a stunning view or backdrop and always showcasing local produce, dishes and cooking techniques.
Nancy’s generosity of time, offered friendship, explanation and guidance through a range of activities unique to the region are a joy for the non riding partners.
Piedmont and Tour de France tour is our third with A’qto…..where to next?
Kate and Brad S
an amazing riding experience coupled with culinary delights
I’ve been fortunate enough to do many cycling tours in Europe and could not recommend Aqto more highly.
On the first day when we got picked up from the station I soon worked out I was the newbie, not only had most of the group done several tours with Damian & Nancy, but they seemed to know everyone and I thought here we go I’m the odd man out.
Well, nothing could have been further from the truth. Within hours I was embraced by not only Damian & Nancy, but the whole group.
The daily ride program was challenging but very well thought out and fully supported by two local Italian guides. And the riding, wow this is just next level.
And at the end of each day we dined at the most amazing restaurants with wines tailored specifically to match the food.
So if you are looking for an amazing riding experience coupled with a culinary delight to match, great riding partners and the experience that Damian & Nancy offer, book your Aqto Cycling Tour today, or should I say experience of a lifetime.
Matt Muir
The experience exceeded our every wish.
David and myself were fortunate to be doing our third A’qto trip this year. The experience exceeded our every wish. The accommodation was exquisite in the most beautiful towns. We were treated to delicious food and wine every night – yes, every night. David’s legs may have been tired after some riding days but his heart was very full.
The non-riding programme was delightful – despite having to juggle to accommodate the weather. The non -riding experience was made so much better by the kind, enthusiastic and most hospitable business owners.
There were so many highlights on this trip but perhaps for us, the experience of seeing the Tour de France and all the festivities that go with it was truly magical. The company of like minded individuals who share our love of food, wine, cycling and having a terrific time just made it that much more special.
Everything was seamless and nothing was too much effort for Nancy and Damian. Grazie mille.
David and Jenny M
Unforgettable Cycling Adventure
I recently had the pleasure of embarking on my second cycling tour with A’qto Cycling, a truly unforgettable experience in the Piedmont region. Riding in Piedmont is fun yet challenging, and sometimes very challenging, with spectacular views of a diverse landscape from the seemingly endless vineyard-lined rolling hills of the Barolo region to the spectacular mountains of the Alps in NW Italy.
The routes created by Damian get you off the beaten path and create an exhilarating cycling experience that would be difficult to get on your own. This trip also includes the La Fausto Coppi Gran Fondo, a challenging ride over Colle Fauniera with breathtaking scenery which now rates as one of the best cycling experiences I’ve ever had.
This should be on your bucket list. Special this year was the opportunity to see two stages of the Tour de France and I can’t find words to express how fun that was. In true A’qto Cycling form the accommodations, food, and drink are first class. Nancy and Damian excel at creating a once in a lifetime experience that immerses you in the local culture and fare. We stay at fabulous boutique hotels and eat at excellent restaurants that we would not otherwise find making the trip that much more memorable.
We’re already signed up for our third tour with A’qto cycling and can’t wait for that experience. If you’re looking for a memorable experience with great cycling, food, drink, and people, you can’t go wrong with A’qto Cycling.
Robert P
a quintessential Italian experience.
Touring with A’qto was a quintessential Italian experience. From a bike rider’s perspective, the rides were well thought out and the routes were spectacular taking in the wonderful Piedmont scenery. Off the bike, Nancy and Damian included activities that immersed us in the local culture, cuisine and wine of the Piedmont region. It’s an all round package I highly recommend.
Michael F
another fantastic A’qto tour
Having just completed another fantastic A’qto tour, I would recommend it if your partner rides and you don’t. The daily activities were varied, interesting and highlighted the region’s local culture and environment. Nancy and Damian are excellent hosts who know how to give their guests the optimal Italian holiday experience on and off a bike.
Mary F
OUR SECOND TOUR WITH DAMIAN AND NANCY
Highlights were the rolling hills of Piedmont, the seriously good food and fabulous wine (our favourites- Arneis and Barolo)
This tour was beautifully planned with rides during the week giving us a taste of some steep gradients and building up our stamina for the finale –the Fausto Coppi Gran Fondo –a fantastic and fun event with 3000 or so other riders. It was inspiring to see so many women riding the Gran Fondo—the training before we left and riding in Italy for the week leading up to the event all came together nd meant I kept up with the men—no problem!
Clare (and Jim)
HIGHLY RECOMMEND FOR RIDERS AND NON RIDERS
We highly recommend A’qto in general, and the Piedmont experience in particular, to riders and non-riders.
As a rider, I enjoyed the well planned week, allowing us to explore the full variety of the region while progressively building fitness for the Gran Fondo. Carol, as a non-rider, enjoyed her personalised program that never felt like an afterthought. My only complaint is still being jealous of her cheese making visit! And for both of us, having visited other parts of Italy, Le Langhe was a new gourmet experience we’d recommend to any dedicated foodie.
David D and Carol B
THERE IS NO WAY WE COULD HAVE DONE THIS ON OUR OWN
One of the things that stands out is that I was riding, hoping Lydia would be having a good enough time, while she was having a great time, feeling sorry for me missing out on the things she was doing. I think that speaks volumes for the programme that Nancy put together, and the way that both riders and non-riders were well catered for. There is no way we could have done this on our own.
Shaun E & Lydia
A THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE WEEK OF CYCLING, TOURING & EATING
Thanks for a thoroughly enjoyable week of cycling, touring, and eating. You guys did a brilliant job scouting out great places to stay, eat and riding routes that achieved everything anyone could dream of.
David M
A FEW SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE CLIENTS
- Train. You may think you’re in good shape, but there is no climb in Australia that will let you do 2000m of climbing like Colle Fauniera will. So train.
- Insure. You are spending a fair bit of cash on a great (GREAT) trip, so as soon as you’ve paid, make sure you’re insured in case you have to cancel.
- Get there early, especially if you’re taking your own bike. My bike went missing on the return journey. If that happened on the outwards trip, my trip would have been compromised.
Shaun E
THANKYOU FOR A LIFE AFFIRMING EXPERIENCE
What an amazing time I had in Italy. As a non-riding partner I really didn’t know how my holiday was going to turn out. Even though you made contact with me a few weeks before the trip, it was impossible to really know. As it happened, my expectations were well and truly exceeded.
The accommodation was wonderful and the activities you arranged were just fantastic. I would never organise these things for myself and they just opened me up to different experiences.
The truffle hunt was the most memorable, the cooking class was just complete fun, the chocolate tasting was lovely, made even better with the young chocolatier telling us his life’s journey and the beautiful guide we had through Monforte and Alba was a delight. Our walk through the vineyards was also fun. Finding fruit trees along the way and encountering local workers happy for a chat was great.
Coming together with the riders every evening meant that we could share our stories. I think they were just a little jealous of us.
Nancy, you really made my non-riding experience a joy. People connect so much with you, your own Italian heritage and your wonderful personality.
Thanks again for a life-affirming experience.
Lydia JP