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Regional & Specialized Tour Operators Europe & Worldwide ....... United States & Canada ...... Asia, Australia, New Zealand ...... Chart of All CompaniesSo why would you choose a regional or specialized company instead of one of the large U.S.-based operators? Number one reason: price. Without the cost of expensive advertising and fancy brochures, these tours are much less expensive. But you have to be flexible: many of these companies only put on a handful of trips, or they only provide self-guided trips, Personally, I split up my bike travel between both types of tour companies. We don't recommend going this route unless you are a seasoned rider and seasoned traveler, but if you fit that profile and have flexibility, it is a great way to go. Here are the Pros and Cons: Pros
Cons
Country Codes afr)ica, arg)entina, asi)a, aus)tria, bel)gium, can)ada, cze)ch cro)atia, eng)land, fra)nce, ger)many, grc)eece, hol)land, hun)gary, ind)ia, ire)land, ita)ly, mor)acco, nep)al, nze)new zealand, por)tugal, rus)sia, sco)tland, slo)venia, soa) south america, spa)in, swi)ss, tur)key, usa)united states, vie)tnam A2Z Adventures - Owned and operated by Portuguese riders with extensive experience, is the “go to” place for bike touring in Portugal. Many riders are finding this country to be at the top of their list, with its reasonable prices, uncrowded roads, gorgeous scenery and great food. All their guides are local, with extensive knowledge of Portuguese culture and history, and the tours focus on unique places with few tourists. Choose from a variety of tours with different levels of accommodations, prices and difficulty. They also offer the following tours, Road: Sicily, the Pyrenees (Spain and France), Mountain Biking: Patagonia, Himalayas, Turkey. Rider Reviews Adventure Center - A US-based company that provides reasonably-priced biking trips both on and off road in locales throughout the world (over 50 different cycling trips in 25 countries!) Just a sampling of rides: Western Europe (Italy, France, Ireland), Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia), Asia & Pacific Rim (China, Vietnam, New Zealand, Mongolia and Nepal), The Americas (Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua) and Africa. Ave Bicycle Tours - Here is another Czech-based bike tour operator, leading trips in one of our favorite value-oriented biking regions. This group provides either self-guided or fully-guided itineraries through many of the best biking areas in the Czech Republic: the Prague-Viena Greenways, the Moravian wine and bike trails, and the Bohemian UNESCO Heritage tour, plus many others. Their prices are extremeley reasonable, and they provide several niceties that you typically get with more expensive groups, such as pickup from the airport or any Prague hotel the first day of the tour, wine with dinner, etc. You can pay extra for certain things only if you want them (pre-programmed GPS, bike rental, transport from Prague airport to hotel, etc). They also have one-day trips from Prague, ideal for the European traveler that just wants to get a taste of adventure travel in the Czech Republic. Best Tuscan Tours is a very flexible tour company based in Florence. They can arrange high-end tours where you will stay at the most exclusive villas and eat at Michelin-starred restaurants, or reasonably priced custom tours, either guided or self-guided. You can choose from multiple or single day tours. They have a lot of experience providing trip guidance in the area, and were selected as one of the Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth by National Geographic! Bravo Bike Tours is Spain's longest running bike tour company, and they are definitely experts in all-things Spain. This group provides very reasonably priced self-guided tours with a lot of hands-on service, such as van support, bilingual guides (English, French & Spanish), adapted cycle tours to the cyclist´s capability as well as to the needs of families. Trips include Andalucia, Rioja Wine Region, Galicia, Camino de Santiago, Madrid region, Segovia, Valencia, Switzerland and many more destinies in Europe. Favorites are:the Pilgrimage Tour and City Tours in Madrid and surrounding cities, and all the wine-oriented tours. Creative Catalonia provides both self-guided, and guided cycling and walking tours through Catalonia, the beautiful coastal region north of Barcelona, also known as the Costa Brava. Owned and operated by an Australian couple with expert knowledge of the area, the tours are reasonably priced and there are many options regarding difficulty and trip length. They provide cycle touring, road riding, mountain bike and walking tours. Cycle Breaks is a Suffolk-based company which offers bike tours in this unique corner of the UK as well as other quiet and peaceful biking areas of Europe. This value-oriented tour company provides self-guided tours with acommodations in a variety of 2, 3 and 4 star hotels. There are a vast array of choices of travel, including 1-3, 4-6 or 7 or more nights. In addition to luggage transport, flexible routes and top-quality hybrid bikes, breakdown advice or assistance is provided should you need it. They've been offering Suffolk and Norfolk tours since the 90's and in the past 10 years have added France (Provence, Loire), Italy (Venice/Veneto) and Austria (Danube). From their website: Cycle through the beautiful countryside captured by Constable and Gainsborough and see the miles of unspoilt coastline. Pink washed cottages, medieval churches and oak-beamed pubs. Crumbling cliffs, gorse clad heaths and salt marshes brimming with birdlife. Cycling Classics - As they say: "Tours in France for cycling enthusiasts seeking to ride the routes of legends". They provide trips in the Alps, Pyrenees, Mont Ventoux and one that follows the French Grand Tour (during the Tour de France or at a different time after the crowds are gone). In late fall they do Girona Spain (very challenging!). These gnarly rides are a Men's Journal Best Trip Pick. Cycling through the Centuries - A Portuguese company founded by an American woman, now being run by her Brazilian-born daughter .... You've got to love it!. They provide a great variety of small, personalised guided trips through Portugal, Spain and France. There is also a self-guided option through www.cycling-rentals.com. CTTC gets high grades from us for the following: 1. they provide transportation to and from the starting point of each tour, 2. wine at dinners is included in the price, 3. a percentage of profits is used for helping to create more cycle routes or restoration on historic monuments where they tour. Their prices are very reasonable, but they stay in 4 & 5 star accommodations similar to those that the large US-based companies use. In addition, they have a dedicated environmental policy ... something we woud like to see from more companies. Discover Tuscany is a small owner-operated firm based in Livorno, the sea gateway to Tuscany. They arrange very reasonably priced custom tours, either guided or self-guided. You can choose from multiple or single day tours in Tuscany for parties up to 5, providing premium mountain or road bikes. Trips can be pure riding, or you can have the owner, Leonardo, design a tour based on your interests (art, history food & wine, etc.) This service is a great way to get a "custom fit" tour for a small group, and is also very convenient for cruise ship passengers looking for an adventurous getaway while onshore. This is one of the few Tuscany-based companies that focuses on the beautiful seaside of the region, and they ride in some areas not offered by other companies. Rider Reviews Dreamtrips - We have firsthand experience with this operator that specializes in Piedmonte and recommend them highly. We have tried many companies that provide self-guided tours, and Dreamtrips is our favorite. Why? 1) There is a lot of personal service during the tour. You will interact with the staff throughout your trip and be transferred to excursions such as cooking classes, farmhouses, cellars, truffle hunts, etc. 2) Lorenzo, the owner is a consummate professional and as a native of the area, he knows the Piedmonte region inside and out. 3) The bikes are perfect for riding the hills of Piedmonte. With other companies we have often received substandard bikes and even worse, bikes that were in dire need of a tune-up (especially at the end of the season). In addition to all this, Dreamtrips will be happy to work with you on customizing the trip for your needs. Rider
Reviews Giant Tours specializes in tours of the Basque country and the Pyrenees, one of our favorite areas in the world to ride. Giant Tours' trips are aimed to any cyclist. They provide luxury trips in the Basque Country, focusing on the great wine and food of the region, and trips along the Pyrenees, through the legendary climbs of the Tour de France. You will be joined by world champion riders on some of the trips. I Bike Tuscany. Tuscany is arguably the most popular bike touring region in Europe, and this company, founded by a Florentine ex-bike-racer, is expert in all thingsTuscan. The personalized service from I Bike Tuscany is a great example of the why we love to travel using locally-owned companies. They are very flexible, and willing to customize a trip for your special needs. Providing self-guided and fully supported trips, and rides from one day to one week. As of 2009 they also provide tours to Cinque Terre, Lake Maggiore, Sicily and the Dolomites. Rider Reviews IronDonkey Tours There are two unique and interesting features which makes IronDonkey stand out in the bike tour industry. First of all, they have the most extensive list of trips in the UK that we've seen: Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland (as well as Italy and Spain). The main idea is to find regions in these countries that make for excellent bicycle touring (great scenery, low-traffic roads, good accommodations, varied sites of interest, etc.). Secondly, they are incredibly flexible in adjusting trips to all levels of ability (through optional distance and climbing add-ons). By building a variety of routes in each region, they are able to custom fit the tour for each guest, not force the guest to fit to the tour. They provide guided and self-guided tours, and even divide the self-guided trips into three levels: those with medium level of support, low levels (called an independent tour), or custom group tours based on your preferences. As they say, they offer tours to the whole cycling spectrum – from newcomers right up to seasoned club riders – with route options for all abilities. Mercurio Tours provides very reasonably-priced guided-tours in Germany and Austria, traveling along rivers such the Danube, the Rhine and the Moselle. These regions provide excellent cycle paths (we are fans of any tour that has minimal traffic!) and numerous possibilities to soak up local culture and traditions. Each group is limited to about 12 cyclists, and is accompanied by two experienced and bilingual guides. Accommodations are mostly family run hotels or guesthouses, and meals are included. The prices are truly amazing ... as low as $1000 for a 7-day guided tour. Daily mileage tends to be quite low (20-25 miles) as the tour also focuses on the cultural aspects of each region. PortugalBike In operation since 1995, Portugal Bike is one of the only Portugese owned and operated cycling companies. As they say, "we know our country better than anybody else and we want to expose people to places and curiosities about Portugal that only a Portuguese knows! .... you have the opportunity to visit our historical, cultural and landscape heritage in our Natural Parks, enjoy the sun and the beaches, and at the end of the day you can recover your strength with an exquisite dinner." We like that they have road bike tours, hybrid tours (30% off-road) and mountain bike (over 70% off-road). Accomodations are mostly 4 star, and restaurants are carefully selected to show the best of the region. Provence Cyling Holidays uses a model becoming more and more popular because it saves money and removes a lot of logistics. You "base camp" at a beautiful 17th century farmhouse and take day trips throughout the region, returning to the four bedroom B&B every night. As they say: "no packing and unpacking bags, less stress, more relaxation". We are very experienced with this region, and can attest that there are at least a week's worth of great routes in all directions. There are a wide range of routes ... these guys are very flexible and will help you find the right fit. You can ride just a couple hours a day, or all day. You can climb Mont Ventoux, one of the famous climbs of the Tour de France. This region is home to many of the greatest wines of the Rhone and Luberon, and there is a plethora of great touring (Avignon, Isle Sur la Sorgue ... the Venice of Provence, and one of our favorite towns in Europe: Gordes). Bikes are hybrids and they provide GPS for all routes. Pure Adventures. One of the largest and most established self-guided trip providers in Europe (both biking and hiking). Over 30 different tours to choose from, including Belgium, Croatia, Czech, England, France, Holland, Italy, and Spain. They pride themselves in providing personalized service, which you sometimes don't find with self-guided providers. This includes, customization of trips, emergency service, and expert local support. Awarded as one of the Best Adventure Companies by National Geographic in 2007. As of 2008 all tours are carbon neutral. Strong riders should check out Ride Strong Bike Tours, European trips are designed for endurance cyclists and triathaletes. Great hands-on service but don't expect a Sag van with this group! Tours include major climbs such as the Alps, Dolomites, French Pyrenees and Himalayas. There is also their very popular "Chasing the Tour de France" where in the morning they ride portions of the mountain stages before the pros, and later in the day watch the race. The owner, Julie Gildred, leads most tours, or pairs up with Dave Scott, 6-time Ironman World Champ for triathlon camp in Provence. Custom bicycling vacations can also be designed for your private group of cycling friends. The Russian Cycle Touring Club (RCTC) is a non-profit social organization which provides an array of tours and services for cyclists interested in riding Russia. With a mission to promote cycling in Russia throughout the world, they can help you whether your interest is road cycling, family cycling, or extreme cycling. Several fully supported trips are proveded each year, and self-guided tours are also available. From April through October, RCTC provides weekend bike rides along scenic roads in the countryside near Moscow. RCTC can also help you with: custom tours, information on routes, interpreters, visa support and finding cycling partners. In addition, you can go on an exchange visits where you stay at homes of RCTC members and join in on bicycle tours. As they say on their website, this is probably the most interesting and the least expensive way to travel. RCTC is a full member of the European Cyclists Federation since 2004.
Rider
Reviews Based in Portugal, Terracotta Journeys is owned by a couple hailing from both San Francisco and Lisbon, offering tours specializing in off-the beaten-track corners of Spain, Portugal and France. The majority of tours are guided, staying in historic luxury hotels, with the owners of the company leading the tours. There is also a less-expensive self-guided option in several locales. From their website: "We see ourselves not merely as providers of great tours and services, but as active promoters of mutual understanding between different cultures as well as environmentally friendly and healthy ways to travel. TradNatura Sport is one of the longest-running bike tour operators in Hungary. This family run company is owned and run by two enthusiasts of Hungarian tradition, nature and sport: Marietta Tihanyi and Peter Beck from Budapest. Examples of some of their most popular tours: "Castles and Spas around West Hungary", "Best Selection of the Danube", "Tokaj wines, the River& Lake Tisza". Daily mileage tends to be quite low (20-25 miles) as the tour also focuses on the cultural aspects of each region. New routes are being added every year, and they are happy to design tailor-made bicycle tours as well as other types of Hungarian-based holidays. Tour d’Afrique Now for something completely different. These guys provide 5,000+ mile tours in four very exotic locations. However, you can also join in for a week or two along the way, providing a great adventure ride without having to invest months of your life. The trips are: Tour d’Africa, (3 months, 10 countries), Silk Route (3 months, entire continent of Asia), South America (4 months, 8 countries) and Orient Express (6 weeks, Paris to Istanbul). We invite you to go their site and read the amazing blog posts from their riders. At about $100 a day, the price is right. As they say: Don't be surprised to find yourself staying at the odd hostel, bush camp, hospital, guesthouse, or whatever else we come across! Hotels on the rest days are generally in the three to four star range. Topbicyle combined with sister company Greenways Travel, specializes in Central Europe cycling tours, featuring the countries of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Austria and Germany. The provide both guided and self-guided tours, (and even tandem tours) in this increasingly popular region. This company was founded in 1990 by a pair of enthusiastc Czechs who compined biking and their love for Czech culture. We've experienced their self-guided tour first-hand, and found it to have superior service, the best of the 10+ self-guided operators we've tested. Central Europe is great for cycling as there are many bike trails throughout (you will seldom share roads with cars), beautiful castles and chateaux, and the history is fascinating. Great value, too. Rider Reviews Alaska Bicycle Tours - Specializes in guided bicycle tours of Alaska and remote areas of Northwestern Canada. Five guided tours to choose from, and an array of one-day tours. They also provide self-guided tours for the adventurous rider willing to go it alone in grizzly bear country! Contact them for information about custom bicycle treks through SW China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Senegal, Tanzania, and Malawi. Now, that’s what we call adventure! Carolina Tailwinds offers bicycle vacation tours in beautiful locations throughout North Carolina, Virginia & Maryland. With trips from 2 to 6 days, several can be combined to create a longer bike vacation in the region. Accommodations are historical inns and B & B’s. Great value … a week with Carolina Tailwinds is about 1/3 of the price of most Tuscany tours! You’ve got to love a company that mentions lemon soufflé pancakes and shrimp and mushrooms cappellini with sherry sauce on their FAQ page! Rider Reviews LifeCycle Adventures is the premier operator of custom bike tours in Northern California, home to Napa, Sonoma, and the Columbia and Willamette river valleys. They specialize in working with couples and small groups to create custom bike tours, anywhere from 3 to 8 days. You can choose short distances with few hills, or a rugged schedule with lots of climbs. In addition, there are many lodging options among an array of price ranges. If desired, they will add on excursions such as Boats & Balloons, Culinary Cruising and Custom Training Camp. A nice feauture is that they will retrieve all wine bought along the way, and transport it in their air-conditioned van. Having done many a self-guided trip in the wine country, we really appreciate this feature! Senior Cycling offers fully supported tours designed our specifically for active seniors (riders 50 and older). Rides are from 2- to 10-days and cover many regions of the United States, including Florida, Virginia, Maryland and the Erie Canal, as well as day trips in the Washington DC region. "We're not concerned with how far and how fast," says Super-Senior Pat Blackmon, company founder, "We've done that. Now we're concerned with enjoying ourselves." Beginner level trips are about 20-25 miles a day, while advanced trips are longer, and average 40 miles a day. Prices are very reasonable and the accommodations are a blend of inns and B&B's. Undiscovered Country Tours is the California road bike tour specialist, delivering quality road bike tours exclusively in California. No other company offers as many California bicycle touring itineraries and rides. Each trip focusses on the natural beauty (and uncrowded areas) of each region. Nice combination of trip durations from weekend getaways (3-4 days) to full weeklong tours. Tours include: Lake Tahoe, Santa Barbara, Napa, Monterey Coast, Central Coast, and many more. Womantours The only all-women bike tour company in America, specializing in inn-to-inn road bike tours for women only. They provide trips covering a spectrum of abilities, interests and locales. Just a sampling: Argentina, Alaska, Death Valley, and many more in the Northeast, National Parks and along both coasts. Ready to do a cross-country ride across the US? You can choose between a southern passage (58 days) or north-to-south from Minnesota to New Orleans. Rider
Reviews Pan Pacific: Asia, Australia, New Zealand Active New Zealand is a New Zealand based company that provides cycling, multi-sport and hiking trips throughout what many people tell us is the best cycling on the planet. As they say: "We may not be one of the huge cycling companies that come down to set up shop here, but we know New Zealand intimately, and our many years operating trips here mean we know the best quiet country roads and we know how to set up the ultimate cycling trip." They provide great equipment and their prices are half of what the big guys charge. Also very flexible … if you can’t make one of their dates, they will work on scheduling something that WILL work for you.
Pedalers Pub & Grille - Specializing in bike tours of Asia (Thailand, Bali, Vietnam, China), Alaska and the New Zealand. Team members from Pedalers were instrumental in creating the first commercial cycling holidays in Japan and Thailand, and have been organizing and leading trips since the mid-1980s in Asia. These rides are designed for true cycling enthusiasts (read: challenging rides) and the prices are very reasonable, considering this is a luxury, full-service company. From the website: We never follow. We innovate, cycling the roads less traveled. Will design a custom tour for groups of 2 or more. |
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