The Culinary Delights of Emilia-Romagna (Cycling), Italy

8 days
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Additional images not provided by operator
Video not provided by operator
4.8/5 Excellent
11 reviews  
100%
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Group Tour
On this popular tour, you’ll bicycle through Italy’s premier pasta region. Every meal will include extraordinary local dishes made according to long-time traditions. Every unique ride takes us behind the scenes with local foods—including makers of Parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar—and allows us to sample local wines. This active foodie tour will also intro...
From$3,995
See departure dates

Member Savings

Save up to $700!

Sign in to see which companies give additional
savings to Travelstride Members (it’s free)

Unlock Savings

Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Watch as cheese-makers create the world-famous Parmigiano-Reggiano
    • Cycle leisurely over hills and through woodlands, stopping on country roads to enjoy the views
    • Savor dry-cured meats such as Prosciutto di Parma and Mortadella di Bologna
    • Spend the night at an agriturismo, a country-house hotel on a working farm
    • Learn how local grapes are transformed into sweet, rich balsamic vinegar
    • Take a guided tour of Bologna’s iconic towers, churches, and thousand-year-old porticos
    • Get a lesson in making artisanal gelato at the Gelato University

What's this trip about?

    On this popular tour, you’ll bicycle through Italy’s premier pasta region. Every meal will include extraordinary local dishes made according to long-time traditions. Every unique ride takes us behind the scenes with local foods—including makers of Parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar—and allows us to sample local wines. This active foodie tour will also introduce you to the history, art, culture, ancient castles, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Emilia-Romagna, which lies between the River Po to its north and the Apennine Mountains to its south. Our bicycle tour weaves along the Po River and through small villages to Parma, which abounds with Parma ham, Parmesan cheese, and homemade pasta. Our route continues into the hills of Modena, home of world-famous balsamic vinegar, and on to Bologna, a city that gave the world ragú Bolognese and Mortadella Bologna (which carries the Indicazione Geografica Protetta label).

Compare to similar trips

Details

Itinerary focusActive and Outdoor Sports
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transport
Start CityCremona
End CityKaplankoy

Travel Themes

  • Culinary & Wine
  • Cycling & Biking

Destinations

Activities

  • Culture
  • Cycling
  • History

Trip includes

    • All accommodations as listed based on double occupancy
    • Most meals
    • Transfers and transportation from the meeting location to the drop off location
    • Admissions fees to itinerary sites and museums
    • Services of leader/guide throughout the tour
    • Hotel taxes and service charges
    • Handling of one reasonable size suitcase and one carry-on per person
    • Gratuities except as listed below.

View Similar Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Welcome to Cremona Exploring Cremona, famous for Stradivari violins and delicious Italian nougat.

Accommodation: Cremona at Locanda Torriani or Dellearti Design Hotel..

Overnight in Sabbioneta at Albergo Giulia Gonzaga (or similar)

Activity & Distance: Cycling, about 35 miles Our culinary cycling adventure begins in Cremona, birthplace of the wor...

Day 2: Cycle to Sabbioneta Pedaling along the Po River, guided tour of a Renaissance town.

Today we cycle on quaint bike paths along the Po River to the town of Sabbioneta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sabbioneta was named the “Little Athens of the Gonzaga” after the local ruling family for its importance as an artistic center during the Renaissance. Insid...

Day 2: (C )

Accommodation: Sabbioneta at Albergo Giulia Gonzaga (or similar)

Later, there’s time to explore or relax at the hotel before you choose a restaurant for dinner on your own. This region is known for antipasti cold cuts such as prosciutto crudo, culatello, and co...

Day 3: Pedal to Parma. Riding quiet country roads past the Colorno royal palace to Parma, home of Parmesan cheese and Parma ham.

Accommodation: Parma at Hotel Button (or similar)

Today, we head south to Parma, one of Italy’s undisputed culinary capitals.We’ll cycle along pleasant  country roads, catching glimpses of local farm life. Our journey takes us to the ducal palace of Colorno, ow...

Day 4: Loop Ride to Torrechiara Riding through the Parma hills to a castle and a picnic of local specialties.

Accommodation: Parma at Hotel Button (or similar)

Activity & Distance: Cycling approximately 30 miles

Get ready for another day of bicycling past ancient castles and through beautiful scenery. Today’s ride will loop to the breathtaking Torrechiara ca...

Day 5: Ride to Reggio nell’Emilia Prosciutto di Parma making, stay in an agriturismo.

Accommodation: Activity and Distance: Cycling 38.5 miles

Another day full of events today, we’ll stop at a salumificio to see how they make Prosciutto di Parma before heading to Reggio Emilia at about lunch time. Afterwards, we’ll continue along back roads and ...

Day 6: Pedal to Modena Parmesan cheese making visit & balsamic vinegar visit in historical vinegar cellar, World Heritage Site of historic Modena

Accommodation: Overnight in Modena at Hotel Canalgrande (or similar)

We have an early start this morning to observe the artistry of a working Parmesan cheese maker on our way out of Parma. A guided tour by the proud Consorzio will explain the intricacies of thi...

Day 7: Bike t o Bologna Learn the art of gelato making; tour Bologna, Italy’s culinary capital.

Accommodation: Overnight in Bologna at Hotel Touring (or similar)

We leave Modena with its Duomo and the Ghirlandaia tower along a rail to trail bikepath that will lead us to the fortress town of Bazzano, a great spot for a morning snack before enjoying great v...

Day 8: Bolognese Cooking/Tour End Cooking school and lunch.

special homemade pasta cooking demonstration and lunch planned. We’ll learn how to roll the  asta and how to cut tagliatelle, tagliolini, and pappardelle from the dough.Then we’ll see how the famous tortellini Bolognesi are stuffed and shaped, and the cooks will share...

Day 8: (c )

Accommodation: Overnight in Sirince at Gullu konaklari or Nisanyan Houses

Our guide will explain the vast history of this ancient city—from the ancients to Christianity. We’ll walk down the Marble Road and past many highlights, including the Library of Celsus, ...

Day 9: Market Day in Tire – Kaplankov Visits to artisans, Tire farmer’s market, lunch at Kaplankoy village.

Today we explore Tire, a center for artisans who still practice traditional ways of hand-manufacturing. We’ll watch felt-makers, saddle-makers and many others at work and can inspect their goods in shops and at the Tuesday market. The largest farmers market in Turkey’...

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Design custom trip

Dates & Availability

Price From $3,995
Price per day$499
Last Updated: 1/5/2025

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Whole Journeys.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Travelstride Gift Card
One card, thousands of extraordinary trips
Gifts Card

Whole Journeys Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
Excellent
9
Great
2
Average
0
Disappointing
0
Terrible
0
Write a Review

Other Whole Journeys Reviews

G

Gina

Nov 2018

Provided byWhole Journeys

Made this trip memorable

My dream vacation had always been to go to Italy for a couple of weeks with my wife. I am Italian and yet even at my age I had never been. This past October we final...

D

Deb

Jul 2018

Provided byWhole Journeys

5 star experience!

Kathy Dragon and her Whole Journey team provided a most excellent hiking tour in Portugal for a large group of women in May 2018. As a member of that group I experie...

G

Gini

Jun 2018

Provided byWhole Journeys

An amazing trip

I went with Kathy to Portugal in the spring of 2018. She is an amazing trip leader and a wonderful person just to hang out with. She managed the varied needs of 14 w...

Write a Review

Travelers also viewed

Tour Operator

About Travelstride

Find your perfect trip

An epic selection of pre-planned trips on every continent, for every style. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies.

Save time

Use simple search and comparison tools to easily find the best trip. Don't sweat the logistics — travel providers plan for you.

Save money

Book directly with the operator. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals.

Travel confidently

Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly.

Logistics

What's excluded

    • Air or train fares (unless part of the tour itinerary)
    • Gratuities for additional baggage assistance or alcoholic beverages
    • Personal travel insurance
    • Gratuities to driver, leader/guide, or boat-crew/trekking – crew members
    • Cost of obtaining passports
    • Visas (unless listed in confirmation packet as included)
    • Immunizations
    • Arrival/departure airport or country taxes
    • Meals not included in itinerary
    • Items of personal nature; emergency evacuation.

Accommodation

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
[object Object]
Trip ID
wholej-theculwho

Become a member

(it's free)
  • Save up to $700 per person
  • Access members-only specials
  • Personalize trip recommendations
Sign up and save
Top Tour Companies on Travelstride:
All 1,600+ companies >
Sign in to reveal savings up to $700 per person!