Hannibal Tour Pyrenean and Alpine climbs from Biarritz to Alba

From charming boutiques to well-deserved comfort, our accommodations are carefully selected to reflect the unique character of each region. We favour places with a true sense of place over big chain hotels, ensuring your stay is as memorable as the ride itself. Depending on the stage, you’ll experience everything from luxurious retreats to functional stays, always selected with care to suit the journey. Below are a range of hotels we use on your tour.

Set within easy walking distance of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Medieval City and the Canal du Midi, this elegant retreat pairs comfort with quiet refinement. It offers a serene escape amid history, landscapes, and the rich flavours of the region.

Housed in a former 18th-century coaching inn in the heart of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, this storied retreat once welcomed Charles Gounod, who composed part of Mireille here in 1863. Facing the collegiate church, it blends historic character with thoughtfully updated interiors. A charming and intimate stay, it offers an authentic Provençal escape shaped by heritage and hospitality.

Steeped in Mont Ventoux’s legendary cycling heritage, this characterful retreat blends sporting history with understated elegance in a fascinating setting. Set in an 18th-century building in the hilltop village of Sault, it showcases a collection of bicycles once ridden by iconic racers, celebrating the spirit of cycling.

Castello Rosso Hotel, completed around 1625 by the Counts Crotti, rises from the remains of a historic fortress. Surrounded by the rolling hills of northern Italy, this former castle has been reimagined as an elegant countryside retreat, blending its noble heritage with contemporary comfort.

Hannibal offers a rolling feast of regional cuisine, beginning with the bold flavours of the Basque country and French Pyrenees, moving through the rustic classics of southern France, and ending with a final taste of Piedmont. Expect mountain cheeses, fine charcuterie, cassoulet, Provençal produce and elegant, seasonal dishes that reflect the landscapes we travel through.

Local wines are a constant companion along the way, from the southwest of France to the foothills of the Alps, while meals range from relaxed village lunches, our famous picnics, to memorable dinners in character-filled settings. On Hannibal, dining is more than refuelling; it is one of the defining pleasures of the journey.

Always in the running for the best meal of the tour this restaurant prides itself on using fresh produce from their market garden. Situated in the ‘most beautiful village’ of Olargues the backdrop (pictured) is only matched by the quality of the cuisine.

Set within the elegant surroundings of Logis Hôtel le Manoir d’Agnès, the restaurant offers a refined take on regional cuisine in a warm, intimate setting. Showcasing seasonal ingredients and local flavours, it delivers a thoughtful dining experience rooted in the culinary traditions of the Ariège

Chez Yuko is a charming family-run Japanese restaurant nestled in the heart of Provence, in the picturesque village of Saint-Didier. Blending authentic Japanese flavours with the relaxed rhythm of the Provençal countryside, it brings a novel balance between two culinary traditions.

Enjoy carefully prepared, balanced cuisine in a welcoming setting, where the chef and his team craft a varied daily menu inspired by regional specialities. Each dish is made with fresh, locally sourced produce, offering an authentic taste of the area.

Nestled in the heart of Alba, Enoclub offers a refined dining experience centered on regional cuisine and an exceptional wine list. Set within a warm, atmospheric cellar, it pairs thoughtful service with well-crafted dishes, making it a standout destination for both locals and visitors.

Our picnics are a highlight of the day with fresh local produce, plenty of variety, and the freedom to enjoy whatever takes your fancy. While the setting might be a local park, a quiet forest clearing, a hilltop viewpoint, or a scenic roadside stop, it’s always a chance to pause, relax, and refuel. Whether you linger over good food and conversation or grab a quick bite before jumping back on the bike, it’s the perfect mid-ride reset.

‘I will either find a way, or make one’ Hannibal

Hannibal Barca is one of the greatest military commanders of all time.

As a leader of the ancient superpower, Carthage, he waged a
lifelong war against the Romans and nearly destroyed them.
And yet, today we know very little about Hannibal or his people:
the Carthaginians. What we do remember is one of his amazing
feats: to fight the Romans on their own turf, Hannibal led an army
that included nearly forty elephants, over the frozen mountain tops of the Alps and into Italy.

That achievement, leading the largest land animal over one of the
biggest mountain chains, was just part of an incredible journey that took Hannibal and his force of sixty thousand men from southern Spain, through France, into Italy via the Alps and finally, over the sea and back to the now Tunisian city of Carthage. For Hannibal Barca this was a very personal conflict – a family affair. As a boy he’d sworn to his father Hamilcar that he would fight Rome to the death and his top generals were his two brothers, Hasdrubal and Mago. Their struggle was the main event during the biggest and bloodiest conflict of ancient times, the century long Punic Wars (264-146 BC). With Hannibal as commander, it really looked as if Carthage was going to win. European civilisation came so close to being something very different – Rome-free, and yet Rome totally dominates our imagination when we think about the ancient world. When Hannibal lived, things were very different.