From the Langhe vineyards to the Mont Blanc glaciers, departing from Turin and the Cuneo area
Campervan hire in Piedmont and the Aosta Valley takes you from the wine-growing hills of the Langhe to the highest peaks of the Alps: Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa and the Gran Paradiso massif, Italy's oldest national park. You collect your vehicle from our partners in Turin or in Genola, near Cuneo, with models ranging from two berths to family motorhomes with five seats.
From Turin, former capital of the House of Savoy, the motorway reaches the entrance to the Aosta Valley, the rice fields of Vercelli or the Barolo vineyards in under an hour. To the south, Genola opens up the Alpine valleys of the province of Cuneo and the road to the Italian Riviera. The region can be explored in one week or three, at whatever pace you choose.
Choose your departure city: the map shows where rental companies hand over their vehicles.
From Turin, the motorway follows the Dora Baltea up to the mouth of the valley, guarded by the fortress of Bard. Next come Fénis castle, the Roman remains of Aosta, then the detour to Cogne, gateway to Gran Paradiso, where ibex and chamois roam. Courmayeur, at the foot of Mont Blanc, marks the end of the road.
The side valleys, towards Cogne or Valtournenche, are reached by narrow, winding roads: a van or compact motorhome copes better there. In Courmayeur, the Skyway cable car climbs right up close to the glaciers.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the vineyard landscapes of southern Piedmont line up hilltop villages and rows of nebbiolo. From Bra, birthplace of the Slow Food movement, head to La Morra and Barolo, then Alba, capital of the white truffle, and Barbaresco, before heading north to Asti and the Monferrato hills.
The ridge roads are narrow and village car parks fill up quickly at weekends: park lower down and visit the wineries on weekdays. Alba's truffle fair livens up the autumn.
Starting from Genola, the loop heads to Saluzzo, a former marquisate capital with medieval lanes, then climbs the Po valley to Crissolo, facing the pyramid of Monviso where the river rises. It drops back down to Cuneo and its arcaded streets, explores the Stura valley, then ends in Mondovì and its upper town.
The last stretch of road to Pian del Re, at the foot of Monviso, is narrow and may be restricted in summer: find out before setting off with a large vehicle.
Head north-east from Turin through the rice fields of Vercelli, flooded in spring like a chequered sea, then on to the Sacro Monte of Varallo and little Lake Orta, with its island of San Giulio and peaceful shores. The loop reaches the Piedmontese shore of Lake Maggiore at Stresa, facing the Borromean Islands, before returning via Novara.
The islands are visited by boat from Stresa: leave the motorhome at a stopover area or campsite, as the quays and lanes of the lakeside villages are ill-suited to large vehicles.
The two most balanced months: Alpine passes are generally open, Gran Paradiso trails are passable and roads are less busy than in high summer. September adds the grape harvest in the Langhe and Monferrato, while June can still be stormy in the mountains, with plenty of rain.
High season, especially around 15 August, Ferragosto, when Italians head en masse to the mountains and lakes: full campsites and busy roads in the Aosta Valley. The heat can be oppressive on the Turin plain, while the Alpine valleys stay cool and thunderstorms often break out in the afternoon.
Seasons of contrast: May is the wettest month in the region, with up to 180 mm of rain, but the countryside is at its greenest. In October, the Langhe hills turn gold and red; November brings mist and the first snow on the peaks, as the high passes close.
Winter belongs to the ski resorts, from Courmayeur to Breuil-Cervinia and Sestriere, venue of the Turin 2006 Olympic Games. The high passes stay closed, only the tunnels lead to France and Switzerland, and fog often settles over the Po plain. Resort stopover areas welcome motorhomes: check that they remain open in winter.
Turin for the Aosta Valley, the northern lakes and the Langhe; Genola, a few kilometres from Cuneo, for the southern valleys and the Italian Riviera. Most routes in the region loop back to where they started.
Unlimited mileage is not standard: check it, along with the excess, the deposit, the kitchen and bedding kit and the cleaning fees, before settling on the daily rate.
Identify in advance the campsites near the most popular spots, such as Courmayeur, Cogne, Stresa or Orta, and book them for summer weekends; elsewhere, stopover areas are often enough without booking.
The Turin depots are in the south-western suburbs, far from Caselle airport: plan a taxi or transfer, and check the handover time and the documents required when signing the contract.
The centre of Turin, like most historic centres in the region, is a ZTL: cameras fine any unauthorised vehicle that passes the signs. Park on the outskirts and go in on foot or by tram. In winter, anti-pollution restrictions may also target older diesel vehicles on the plain: find out before driving into town.
The region's motorways, from Turin to Aosta, Milan or Savona, are almost all tolled, paid on exit according to a class based on the number of axles and the vehicle's height: a motorhome usually pays more than a car. Avoid the yellow lanes reserved for Telepass and ask the rental company whether the vehicle has a device.
Piedmont's mountain passes attract many cyclists, and plenty of travellers bring their bikes. In Italy, any load projecting at the rear, such as a loaded bike rack, must carry a square, reflective red-and-white striped sign: check that one is supplied with the vehicle before leaving the depot.
Valley roads, towards Breuil-Cervinia, Gressoney or the southern passes, string together hairpin bends and narrow sections. Use engine braking on descents, anticipate passing coaches and watch out for old tunnels, sometimes with height limits. With a large motorhome, check size restrictions before taking a minor road.
The depots are clustered around Turin: Anywhere Campers, McRent in the town of None, and Motorhomes Italy and Rent Easy in Borgaretto di Beinasco or Candiolo, south-west of the city. Blurent offers pick-up in Genola, near Cuneo. None of our rental companies has a depot in the Aosta Valley itself, which is reached by motorway from Turin.
The Mont Blanc tunnel links Courmayeur with Chamonix, the Fréjus tunnel links Bardonecchia with Modane, and the Great St Bernard tunnel leads to Valais. All are tolled. Before crossing the border, check that the rental company allows it and, for Switzerland, find out about the motorway vignette and the rules for heavy vehicles.
Two-berth models such as the Active Classic or Compact Plus suit couples and slip easily through hilltop villages. For families, a four-berth Carado T 447 or a five-berth Adria Matrix offers more space, but demands more care on hairpin bends and in narrow streets.
One week is enough for Turin and the Aosta Valley, or for the Langhe. In two weeks, you can combine the mountains, the vineyards and Lakes Orta and Maggiore. Three weeks leave time to add the southern valleys and a few days on the Italian Riviera, or to continue to the Lombard lakes.
Yes, Liguria is very close. From the Cuneo area, the Savona motorway runs down to the Riviera in just over an hour, and Genoa is only 111 km from Cuneo as the crow flies. The beaches of Finale Ligure or Alassio extend an Alpine tour; the Cinque Terre, further east, are best visited by train.
Good and quick communication, easy to book and easy to follow all the instructions.
Cooldrive was very attentive and very responsive in all situations. We received valuable assistance in the steps to be taken. I highly recommend it.
The person answered my questions before I confirmed the booking. The van matched my order well with extras. During my trip, I had a little issue that had nothing to do with Cooldrive. I appreciated that the person took the time to call me back. No bad surprises, only good ones. Highly recommended.
Rental motorhomes up to 3.5 tonnes can be driven with a category B licence. Holders of a licence issued outside the European Union may need an International Driving Permit or an official translation: check before you travel. Each offer specifies the driver's minimum age and the number of years the licence must have been held.
“Aree di sosta” are plentiful in the Langhe villages, by the lakes and in the Alpine valleys, often with water and waste disposal, free or paying. Campsites take over near the busiest sights. Overnight parking outside these areas depends on local by-laws: check the signs on site.
On much of the region's road network, winter equipment, either snow tyres or chains carried on board, is compulsory during the cold season, from autumn to spring according to local orders and signs. For a departure between November and April, check with the rental company that the vehicle is equipped, especially if you are heading up into the mountains.
Traffic drives on the right, and dipped headlights are compulsory day and night outside built-up areas. Speed limits are lower for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, and drink-driving is severely punished. A reflective vest and a warning triangle must be carried in the vehicle.
It depends on the rental company and the depot. Some accept a return in another Italian city, such as Milan or Genoa, with a one-way fee; returning abroad is rarer. Enter your preferred return city when searching: the offers displayed take it into account, fees included.
From winter onwards for a trip in July or August, when the smaller models go first. In spring and September, a few weeks are usually enough, except for Italian long weekends such as Easter, 25 April or 2 June. In winter, book early if you are aiming for the festive season in a ski resort.
Piedmont lives up to its name, “at the foot of the mountains”: hemmed in by the Alps on three sides, it descends from glaciers to rice fields, wine-growing hills and the Po plain. A motorhome lets you go from a mountain trail to a Barolo cellar in a single day, sleeping at the foot of Gran Paradiso and then on the shores of Lake Orta.
Turin deserves more than a stopover, with its Savoy palaces, its arcades and its Egyptian Museum, one of the richest in the world. In the Aosta Valley, where French is an official language alongside Italian, medieval castles follow one another along the Dora. To the south, the valleys of the province of Cuneo, with their Occitan culture, remain among the least visited in the Alps.
