Val d'Aosta 2017

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW: This tour in the Valle d’Aosta region of northwest Italy, features Swiss-style villages, snow-capped mountain views, French influenced castles and Italian food and wine. Arrival day is Thursday, June 1, 2017 at Turin-Casella International airport (TRN) and departure from Turin airport is Monday, June 12, 2017.  Tour participants will be picked up at the airport at a time to be determined, with bus transfer to Courmayeur on June 1. We’ll spend the day sightseeing in Courmayeur on June 2 followed by our first Group Dinner.  On June 3 we ride to Arvier where we stay for 2 nights with a loop ride on June 4.  We ride to Aosta with 2 optional loop rides on June 5-7, ride to Saint Vincent with a loop ride on June 8-9, and ride to Pont-Saint-Martin with a loop ride on June 10-11. Departure day with a morning bus ride to Turin Caselle airport will be June 12. This will be the third time this tour is offered by leaders Tom and Julie.

The Val d'Aosta tour is set in the Italian Alps that border France and Switzerland. We will take a bus to and from the Turin airport. The tour starts in the northern city of Courmayeur and works south through the valley to Pont-Saint-Martin with multi-night stays at every stop. Courmayeur, which borders France, is a skier’s paradise with views of Mont Blanc and Petit Saint Bernard. After our arrival day there is time to set up your bike and go for a test spin or ride the gondola up the mountain pass. A lay-over day in Courmayeur has a loop ride or optional sight-seeing activities. En route to Arvier we cycle a mountain pass to Cogne or the more ambitious Petit-Saint-Bernard pass. In the tiny village of Arvier we dine at a family-run trattoria where recipes are a closely held secret. Our lay-over day in Arvier features the "epic" Val-de-Rhemes. The scenery changes with almost every hair-pin turn. From Arvier we travel on village roads to Aosta, known as the "Rome of the North". Here we spend three nights with optional rides or a rest day. It’s an easy walk to see all of the ancient Roman relics and still have time for a soak in the hotel jacuzzi. On our arrival nite we dine at a trendy trattoria where pasta and risotto are a must-eat. Loop rides for Aosta include the Saint Bernard pass, Glacier and/or Place Moulin. All have views of the Swiss Alps. On our ride to Saint-Vincent there is a spectacular loop up the Saint-Barthelemy pass that winds through tiny villages. There is an optional lay-over day ride up the Matterhorn pass. If you’re in need of some R& R you can indulge yourself with a massage at the famous town spa or according to the sign, enjoy treatments for your liver, stomach and intestines. For our group dinner in Saint-Vincent we dine at a local pizzeria for the house-named pasta. The dinner-on-your own options are plentiful. On our ride to Pont-Saint-Martin we have a mountain loop to Brusson and an optional stop en route to visit the extensive Forte du Bard Museum of the Valle d’Aosta just a few kilometers before Pont-Saint-Martin. We have group dinners here where we will taste the chef's risotto with apples and Fontina cheese as well as the tagliatelle with venison. There is an optional loop ride on our lay-over day for one last view of the snow-capped peaks laced with a necklace of clouds before we pack the bikes and bid arrivederci alle Valle d'Aosta.

RIDE RATING: The trip is rated a 4B with an average of 36 miles/day and 3,800 feet of climbing. Lay-over day rides are out and back so short or long options are personal choice. The two toughest rides are both 38 miles, with 4,400 ft climbing, going to St Bernard pass and the foot of the Matterhorn. There is an optional extension with more climbing on the ride up the St. Bernard Pass. There are unavoidable tunnels on many routes. Most are 100-300 meters long and well lit. Those longer than 400 meters have by-pass lanes.

WEATHER: Weather is usually cool to cold Am & PM turning warm mid-day: average highs will be 67F, average lows will be 47F. June has an average of 5 days with rain but when it rains it will feel cold so plan to bring full rain gear.

LODGING & MEALS: Lodging will be in 3 and 4 star hotels with the exception of a 5 star hotel in Aosta. All breakfasts and 6 group dinners are included in the cost of the tour.

LOGISTICS: Fly in and out of Turin-Caselle International airport (TRN).  Arrival day is Thursday, June 1, 2017 at Turin-Caselle International airport. We meet at 1:00 PM with a chartered bus to depart from the airport for Courmayeur.  On June 1 we have an informal meeting at 6:00 PM in the hotel lobby.  On June 2 we have our first formal meeting and group dinner. At the end of the tour on Monday, June 12, 2017, we depart from Pont-St-Martin at 8:30 AM for a 10:00 AM drop-off at the Turin-Caselle International airport.

Bike boxes will be transferred from first hotel to last hotel.  If you’re interested in renting a bike for this tour, contact the Ride Leader. 

COST & ADMINISTRATION: Included in price are 11 nights lodging, all breakfasts, 6 group dinners, maps, cue sheets, luggage van & driver, and bus transport to and from airport. Estimated cost is $ 1,350 based on an exchange rate of $1.125 = Euro 1.00. The initial deposit of $500 is due within 2 weeks of being accepted onto this tour. The final payment  of  $ 850  and Single Supplement of $ 140 due on January 15, 2017.

SOLOS & SINGLES POLICY: We encourage single riders to sign up who are willing to share a room. We will assist with finding a room mate. Space for 2 solo riders with an estimate of $ 155 for the single supplement.

CANCELLATION POLICY: The BAC ride registration fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled.  Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped.  The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations.  If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time.  If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed.  Note that most hotels on the tour require a final count for the reservation 30 days in advance.) If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the single supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour.  BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY: Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support, including changing their own flat tires.  Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles.  All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour.  We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader.  While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and cleanup.  Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour.  Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

SIGN-UP: To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the Release of Liability (ROL) and pay the non-refundable BAC fee by credit card. You should send your initial tour deposit of $500 in a check made out to Tom Leever (not BAC).  When your deposit is received your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.