The Grande Traversata delle Langhe (GTL) is a route that doesn’t touch the most famous villages, those we cannot help but remember when reading a wine label – Barolo, Barbaresco and Dogliani. Instead, it passes through rather lesser-known places in the Alta Langa, which have the power to amaze you with their beauty and cultural identity.

The GTL has 17 stages with as many variants. In this Collection, I’ve decided to group together, where possible, two or more short routes so you have the opportunity to complete this journey in a week.

Along the route, vineyards and wines take a back seat to tasty cheeses, fine hazelnuts and a host of traditional dishes rooted in an ancient past. The vegetation around you makes for a wild landscape at times: you hardly feel you are in the Langhe! Silence and peace are everywhere and there are breathtaking views of the western Alpine arc.

Each stage ends at a small village, where there’s usually a limited number of accommodation options. Booking in advance is essential. Alternatively, you can sleep in a tent, but the bivvying rules apply: pitch your shelter within the hour before sunset at the earliest and take it down around sunrise. For more information on hospitality, you can check out the official website of the Ente Turismo Langhe Monferrato Roero: visitlmr.it/en.

The best time to walk this route is from late spring to autumn. In summer, it’s very hot, so it’s best to walk in the cooler hours of the day if you choose this season. The ideal clothing is the same as for a mountain trek, with a few warmer garments for the evening when temperatures drop sharply. It’s wise to always have a good supply of water and food in your rucksack as you pass through very rural areas.

You can reach Castino, the starting point of the GTL, by bus from Alba (line 162 of the Gelosobus towards Cortemilia). You can get to Alba by train from Turin or by Flixbus from major cities in northern Italy. To return to Alba from San Benedetto Belbo, you’ll need to organise a private transfer or, alternatively, reach Bossolasco by car and from there take the bus to the capital of the Langhe (Grandabus line 120).

All you have left to do is lace up your shoes and hit the road, happy walking!