Bike And Boat Tour Reviews

  • Venice to Mantua
    (5/5) James Ruzevick 3 days ago

    Very well organized bike and boat trip

    · · Venice to Mantua by Bike and Boat (and reverse)

    I was impressed with all facets of the trip. The boat, guides, food and bikes were all first rate.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Italy
  • Holland’s Super Tulip Tour
    (5/5) Marie Jane Goudie 4 days ago

    Most memorable way to sight see

    · · Holland’s Super Tulip Tour

    The barge was exceptional with a welcoming crew and fabulous 5 star meals. Our guide tailored our bike tours to our requests and needs. Adri went over and above what was expected of a bike leader. We had much stronger winds than I had expected so for 2 days riding our bicycles was challenging (we did not have e-bikes), but it was well worth the effort as the sights we saw were so beautiful and I felt that we travelled to places that most tourists never get a chance to see or experience. Our coffee and lunch stops were often at interesting places. We stopped at churches, markets, cheese & clog store, windmills and sometimes just to take in the scenic views. There was always something new to see and discover in each place we stopped. I think one of the most interested things we saw were 2 volunteers in a small town running a channel lock. We watched them hoist the bridge and then shut the gates of the lock and the water level lowered to meet the upcoming canal. The couple in the boat chatted with them as they waited for the water to come to equilibrium and then the doors were opened and off they went. The volunteers collect 3 euros for every vessel that comes through the lock and then at the end of the year that money is used for a big party for the volunteers of the town. Of course the greatest day was the Keukenhof Gardens which was the most breathtaking gardens I have ever seen. Even more beautiful than the acres of tulips we had ridden past on the days prior.

    What was the date of your tour?
    April 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    0
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Holland
    •  (photo by Marie Jane Goudie)
    •  (photo by Marie Jane Goudie)
    •  (photo by Marie Jane Goudie)
    •  (photo by Marie Jane Goudie)
    •  (photo by Marie Jane Goudie)
    •  (photo by Marie Jane Goudie)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Tulip Tour
    (5/5) Marvin Babcock 6 days ago

    Fantastic way to see Holland and the Tulips

    · · Tulip Tour on the MS Magnifique II, III, & IV

    An excellent way to experience Amsterdam and the countryside of Holland. The barge was luxurious with a chef that created amazing meals. The crew was completely committed to ensuring we had everything we wanted. The bicycles were ready to go every morning, and the crew took them from us at the end of the day. Completely hassle free. The routes were well planned out with a long and short option each day.

    What was the date of your tour?
    April 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    This is our third Biketours.com
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Holland
    •  (photo by Marvin Babcock)
    •  (photo by Marvin Babcock)
    •  (photo by Marvin Babcock)
    •  (photo by Marvin Babcock)
    •  (photo by Marvin Babcock)
    •  (photo by Marvin Babcock)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Make the most of Mount Vernon
    (5/5) Rick R. 1 month ago

    very cool ride

    · · Alexandria Mount Vernon Bike & Boat Tour

    I have biked all over the US / world. This ride is a bucket list. if you can bounce out from DC / DCA and ride the path along the Potomac and back all the way. There are some great spots to eat in Alexandria as well.

  • Enjoy a sunset cycle in the City of Light
    (5/5) Dee Knight 5 months ago

    Extremely Fun, Knowledgeable Host/Lead

    · · Paris Evening Bike & Boat Tour

    This was an excellent start to my trip, and I suggest it as a beginning to any trip here. Our tour guide was knowledgeable, fun, and kind! Just a joy to be around and learn from. We got to see the major landmarks and hear of such rich history. The Louvre, Eiffel, Notre Dame, Seine, just packed with so much awe! 10/10 recommend! Also, I'm a bigger girl, don't really exercise much aside from swimming, and I was able to keep up with the group, just slowed a bit on the last leg because I thought we were done at the boat trip, but it is very doable for I think almost ANY level of fitness. Walked the bike up two hilled areas and was still able to keep up with the whole group at the time.

    What was the date of your tour?
    November 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    0 before this one.
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat easier
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    • Louvre fun (photo by Dee Knight)
    • Riding bikes around the Louvre was fun. (photo by Dee Knight)
    • Notre Dame was incredibly beautiful at dusk (photo by Dee Knight)
    • Paris' Architecture from the Seine (photo by Dee Knight)
    • Eiffel Tower from the Seine (also biked past it during the day) (photo by Dee Knight)
    • BikeTours.com staff reply from bozena_kusovac November 17, 2023

      Hi Dee, thank you for your glowing review! We're thrilled to hear you had an excellent start to your trip and enjoyed the tour with our knowledgeable and kind guide. It's wonderful to know you found the experience awe-inspiring and doable for all fitness levels. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to hosting you again!

    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • South Dalmatia
    (5/5) M 6 months ago

    Great guides!

    · · South Dalmatia Bike/E-bike and Boat, Magellan

    Charming small towns, amazing antiquities, gorgeous coastlines! The e-bikes made the climbs easy and there was was only one very rainy day and one very windy day. Otherwise we got lucky with the weather in late October. Mario and Kristopher were knowledgeable, engaging, funny and personable. Throughout Croatia we were treated well. Split and Trogir had good restaurants and nice places to stay before and after our time on the boat. The food on the boat was plentiful, fine. Beds were comfy and private bathrooms worked well for us. The ship’s captain could have taken more direct action when several guests got caught in a current while swimming but our guides prevailed in assisting them. One regret, we were not able to visit Vis due to stormy weather.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Croatia
    •  (photo by M)
    •  (photo by M)
    • BikeTours.com staff reply from bozena_kusovac October 31, 2023

      Thank you for the review - it sounds like you had an incredible trip! We greatly appreciate your valuable feedback and look forward to the opportunity to assist you again in the near future.

  • Bruges to Paris
    (2/5) Margaret Farran 6 months ago

    Not Really What We Expected

    · · Bruges to Paris by Bike and Boat (and reverse)

    We are seasoned bicyclists and have taken many bike tours. This tour was disappointing on a few fronts. The course of the tour had to change due to construction on the canal. This would have been fine except the guide, Harm, frequently did not seem to know where he was going. There were a couple of visits to places of interest (mining museum and a short stop at a WWI cemetery) but most times it felt like we were putting in time so as to not arrive hours before the boat arrived at its destination for the night. Our guide never led strolls around a town or provided much history. One evening when I asked if he could show us a pub to have a drink before dinner he said it was not his responsibility. We asked if we could bike on our own (as we have done on many other boat/bike tours in Europe) and were turned down. I pressed on quoting the description for the tour which read: "provide us with maps and all the information you'll need" to do a different distance. At that point Harm back tracked and said he'd provide this info. He never did. I've been biking for over 20 years on tours around the world and I have never had a guide so unhelpful and disengaged.
    The food was adequate. Nice dinners but breakfast and lunch were lacking. We needed more sustenance for biking in October. Most tours provide a snack after a day of biking but we could not rely on one each day on this tour. The group bought our own snacks when we could but it was all rather odd. As if this tour had never hosted bikers before.
    There was no wi-fi although the description said there would be. We at least had a data package, other people did not. What really gave us all pause was the captain's comments (1) it was too difficult to install wi-fi (I've never found that to be true on a boat) and (2) we really did not need it as we should not be on our phones during a tour. Rather presumptuous I thought. Don't advertise you have wi-fi when you don't.
    We had some rain which was to be expected in October. One day it was just too wet to bike. We all stayed on the boat - no wi-fi, cabins too small to lounge in them, and while there was a large library of DVDs the captain announced the monitor did not work, therefore no video watching.
    It felt like the boat was tired and the tour and crew either winding down for the season or going out of business.

    What was the date of your tour?
    October 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    20+
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat easier
    Do you recommend this tour?
    No
    Countries included in this tour?
    Belgium, France
    • BikeTours.com staff reply from bozena_kusovac October 24, 2023

      Hello Margaret! We're so sorry to hear about your disappointing experience. We deeply regret that it did not meet your expectations, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience you encountered. We truly value your feedback and are committed to improving our services. Your input is crucial in helping us refine our services. Your comments about the tour route, lack of historical information, and guide foremost, are duly noted. We will address these concerns diligently and work on providing a better experience in the future. Thank you very much for bringing this to our attention. We value your 20 years of biking experience and hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a more engaging and rewarding tour in the future.

    • 2/5 Value
    • 2/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 3/5 Hotels or boat
    • 3/5 Scenery
    • 1/5 Route selection
    • 1/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • National Parks of Dalmatia
    (4/5) Jan Mowat 6 months ago

    Great people on board!

    · · National Parks of Dalmatia by Bike/E-bike and Boat

    Our itinerary was derailed by a storm the first day, so we missed a couple anticipated parks and the sights they would have offered. Couldn’t be helped. 🤷‍♀️ We rode on busy roads more often than we should have for a sight-seeing tour. Being on high alert for traffic and travelling on roads with non-existent shoulders was unexpected and tense. However… we had so much fun!!! The group was great fun, the stops along the way were interesting and the weather cooperated. The food was simply amazing and the staff friendly and helpful. Dora and Pero were knowledgeable and eager to help in any way possible. Our room was below deck and it was great. The beds were comfortable with lots of room to store our stuff. And quiet too! It was a great way to see parts of a very beautiful country.

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    One
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Croatia
    • 4/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
  • Venice to Mantua
    (5/5) Nancy 6 months ago

    Our perfect idea of travel

    · · Venice to Mantua by Bike and Boat (and reverse)

    From the moment we arrived onboard the Vita Pugna, we felt welcomed by the competent and friendly staff, the outstanding tour guide Hugo, and the rest of our new found friends.
    This is our #1 way to travel...scenic, outdoors, experiencing small charming towns and villages, having expert tours on all types of topics from cheese making to carnival ride museum, art and history museums, clock towers, easy relaxing cycling along pathways and feeling like every day counts! Knowing that the entire week is well organized and flawless, adds to the enjoyment of travel in a new country.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Italy
  • Holland Bike & Boat Northern Tour
    (5/5) Marie DeBell 6 months ago

    Holland by bike was a delight!

    · · Holland by Bike and Boat, Northern Tour

    The perfect way to see northern Holland! The boat was small enough to socialize but big enough to have all the amenities for comfort.
    Our guides were Dutch and really knowledgeable about the routes , the history and the sights. The boat staff were friendly and helpful. Solid bikes. Next time I’ll choose Anne-bike because the wind is equal to hills!

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 2023
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Holland
    • Bikes on dikes (photo by Marie DeBell)
    • Delicious meals! (photo by Marie DeBell)
    • Just the right size boat (photo by Marie DeBell)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Danube Bike and Boat
    (5/5) William Wilson 6 months ago

    Adventure

    · · Danube Bike and Boat: Passau-Budapest-Passau – MS SE-Manon

    Overall, it was a great experience. Unfortunately, there was one large group of passengers that took over the lounge and dining room each night. Their behavior was loud and obnoxious. It would have been nice if someone if someone in authority could have spoken to them about the disruptions they created for others.
    Our waiter, Emrah, was amazing. He was most attentive.
    I was disappointed with the cost of the drink package. It was more expensive than I expected.
    The entire crew worked very hard to ensure we all had a wonderful experience.

    What was the date of your tour?
    10/1-10/8
    How many tours have you completed?
    One
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Holland Bike & Boat Northern Tour
    (5/5) Marie DeBell 6 months ago

    The landscape is stunning! And the trip loads of fun

    · · Holland by Bike and Boat, Northern Tour

    We thoroughly enjoyed our trip with bike tours. The boat was small enough to get to know our fellow passengers and big enough to have lots of amenities. The bikes were sturdy and trustworthy. Lots of distance options and great support from our trip guides. Good food and comfortable beds. What more could we ask for? Perhaps less head winds but it is Holland!

    Countries included in this tour?
    Holland
  • (5/5) Marie DeBell 6 months ago

    The landscape is stunning! And the trip loads of fun

    · · Holland by Bike and Boat, Northern Tour

    We thoroughly enjoyed our trip with bike tours. The boat was small enough to get to know our fellow passengers and big enough to have lots of amenities. The bikes were sturdy and trustworthy. Lots of distance options and great support from our trip guides. Good food and comfortable beds. What more could we ask for? Perhaps less head winds but it is Holland!

    Countries included in this tour?
    Holland
    • Snacks during the evening presentation (photo by Marie DeBell)
  • National Parks of Dalmatia
    (4/5) Dwaine Souveny 6 months ago

    Croatia is certainly not the best or safest place to bike in Europe.

    · · National Parks of Dalmatia by Bike/E-bike and Boat

    Dora was a wonderful guide. She was well informed & interesting. The local guides were good. The boat was comfortable & the captain was skilled. The meals were good and the service was very good.
    However, the main reason we took this trip was for the ebiking & the ebiking did not feel safe. The bikes were basic e-bikes that generally worked ok. The trip itinerary changed due to the weather which of course you cannot control so we missed out on some areas we were hoping to see. We visited only 1 national park. The one swim we did off the boat was fun. The Konoba visit was fun.
    There were several incidents and injuries on the first day on an unplanned bike ride. The conditions were very windy & the guides did not know the route. One of the guides had never done this tour before. Instructions were not clear on the first bike ride about people at corners directing other bikers. We were shocked to be riding on busy roads with no shoulders and speeding highway traffic. We were anticipating rural roads (which we had only one day) & good bike trails. The rides were scenic but left people feeling vulnerable. I would recommend a boat trip in this region but would not recommend cycling in Croatia to anyone.
    We paid for an above deck cabin & spent many nights looking at other boats parked next to us & listening to their noise which was not what we expected.

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    This was our first one
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Do you recommend this tour?
    No
    Countries included in this tour?
    Croatia
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 3/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 3/5 Local tour company services
    • 3/5 Route selection
    • 4/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Explore the highlights of Istria on this e-bike and boat tour!
    (4/5) Bob VG 6 months ago

    Wonderful trip!

    · · The Istrian Peninsula by Electric Bike

    Explored the Istrian Peninsula by day while relaxing on the wonderful Andela Lora at night. Pro tip: Don't book a lesser boat! Staff was very attentive. Guide Yana was a delight with her bubbly enthusiasm. Appreciated many costal ports as well as old historic inland villages. Would have appreciated the opportunity to for upgraded bikes and more food variety. The booking process was smooth and we would defiantly go with BikeTours.com again!

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    one
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Croatia
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Northern Bavaria: Bike and Boat the Main River
    (5/5) Dorothy Keyworth 6 months ago

    Wonderful crew and guide

    · · Northern Bavaria: Bike and Boat the Main River

    The guided rides along the Main River kept my interest as we passed through the small villages between Nuremberg and Wurzburg. There was even an Old Town Beer Festival and parade in Nuremberg at the start of the tour. Staying on board the Merlijn made the trip so easy--the captain and crew kept everyone happy. And Tomas, our guide knew the best bakeries to stop at for morning snacks each day. The route was mostly on protected cycle paths along the river. And the weather was breezy and sunny all week. A perfect biking week.

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    7
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat easier
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Germany
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Danube Four Countries
    (5/5) Thayne Lyman 6 months ago

    What an awesome trip!

    · · Danube Delights: Biking through Four Countries

    This was our first bike and barge tour and it didn't disappoint! We found that we prefer it to regular river cruising. The tour was very well organized, the bikes were always ready and in great condition. The balance of cycling vs site seeing was perfect for us. We loved it so much that we plan to return next year!

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 24, 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    1 including this tour
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection