Highlights of Hannibal

Highlights of Hannibal is Bike Odyssey's condensed take on their original, 33-day Hannibal Odyssey, first ridden by founder Sam Wood in 2009 while filming a BBC documentary tracing Hannibal's march from Spain to Rome. Rather than changing hotels daily, this format bases riders in five carefully chosen locations for three nights each, riding out and back from a single luxury hotel in each region.

The five bases are Girona in Catalonia (a genuine cycling mecca, home to pro teams and the Rocacorba climb), a 16th-century chateau below Mont Ventoux in Provence, a mountain retreat in La Grave in the Alps (with access to climbs including Col du Galibier and Alpe d'Huez), a five-star retreat among the Barolo vineyards of Piedmont, and a former 13th-century convent in Pienza, Tuscany.

Each location offers three days of riding with multiple route options daily, from easier loops to serious climbing, making the tour accessible to a wide range of abilities, and private luxury vans shuttle the group between regions with a lunch stop en route. Accommodation averages four-star across the trip. Guided throughout by a permanent, highly experienced team, the tour blends serious cycling with fine regional food and wine, and non-riding partners are well catered for with hiking, wine tasting and cooking classes.

Highlights:

• Ride from cycling mecca Girona, past pro teams training and up the climb of Rocacorba
• Stay at a 16th-century chateau below Mont Ventoux and ride the Gorges de la Nesque and Luberon
• Tackle iconic Alpine climbs from a mountain retreat in La Grave, including Col du Galibier and Alpe d'Huez
• Cycle the vineyard ridgelines of Piedmont's Barolo region from a five-star wine-country retreat
• Explore Tuscany's Val d'Orcia and medieval hill towns from a former convent in Pienza
• Daily multiple route options, from easy to challenging, plus a flexible 3-5 banana grading

Surface and terrain:
Mixed terrain across five distinct regions, from rolling Catalan coast and Provençal countryside to serious Alpine mountain climbs and vineyard hills in Piedmont and Tuscany. Daily route options allow easier or harder distances; support is always available for a lift or break.

Suitable for:
A wide range of abilities thanks to daily route options and flexible 3-5 banana grading; suits both serious climbers chasing Alpine cols and less experienced riders (including e-bike users) wanting shorter, easier days. Non-riding partners are also catered for.