Road Bike Tours Reviews

  • Best of the Algarve
    (4/5) Timothy Libassi November 9, 2022

    Beautiful road biking through the Algarve countryside

    · Best of the Algarve by Road Bike

    Beautiful tour through the countryside of the Algarve. The routes provided kept you on quite almost car free roads for the most part and where it couldn’t you are still on well maintained secondary roads with a good shoulder to ride on. The weather was great, not too hot during the day and no rain while we were riding. The carbon fiber road bikes were high quality, well-tuned and setup for us on the first day. The hotels were good to great, we stayed an extra night in Sagres, which was not only a great way to break up the trip but also the nicest hotel on the tour. The Garmin provided worked fine, we had one glitch where it sent us to the wrong hotel, but since we had also downloaded the tours to our phone, we worked it out quickly. Communication was great with biketours.com and even better with the local tour company who kept track of my bag which the airline had lost and had it to me just in time for the first day of riding. Overall a fun trip, I would go back to Portugal in a heartbeat.

    What was the date of your tour?
    october 2022
    How many tours have you completed?
    1
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Portugal
    • 5/5 Value
    • 3/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • (4/5) Chris Downey October 6, 2023

    Tour of the Algarve

    · Best of the Algarve by Road Bike

    Great routes through the Algarve for road biking. The hotel were great except for the final hotel in Albufeira where we were given two single beds and each had a plastic mattress protector! A change I would recommend is incorporating Lagos in the bike tour and as an end destination to allow for spending an afternoon in that City to explore the coast after a morning of biking.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Portugal
  • (5/5) Karla Frank June 3, 2023

    Perfect Portugal Cycling

    · Best of the Algarve by Road Bike

    We can’t say enough about how wonderful this trip was! It was perfect in every way. Our holidays always include cycling so this was the perfect way for us to see the Algarve region of Portugal. Algarve Bike Tours was top notch in every way. They arranged everything for the trip including hotels, cycling routes, bike rentals, and luggage transfers. Everything went off without a hitch. The hotels were all different styles, and included a fantastic breakfast to fuel our ride for the day. The cycling routes were just the right amount of distance and climb to challenge us but not exhaust us. The bicycles were in good condition and met all our needs. We brought our own pedals, clips, shoes, saddles and helmets. Also, we never had one flat! Our luggage was always at the hotel when we arrived and the hotels were happy to accommodate us if we arrived a little before check in time.
    We can’t say enough about the Algarve region! The roads were nice, the people friendly, the scenery beautiful, the food and coffee plentiful and delicious! Motorists were very considerate of bicycles, even in the busier city areas.
    We have done many cycling holidays and this rates at the top, if not the top of all our trips!

    What was the date of your tour?
    May 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    This is our first with biketours.com. We have done over 20 bike holidays.
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Portugal
    •  (photo by Karla Frank)
    •  (photo by Karla Frank)
    •  (photo by Karla Frank)
    •  (photo by Karla Frank)
    •  (photo by Karla Frank)
    •  (photo by Karla Frank)
    • 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
  • Basque Country by Road Bike (Upscale Lodging)
    (5/5) Greg B. September 16, 2023

    OMG....Absolutely amazing!!

    · Basque Country by Road Bike (Upscale Lodging)

    This was my first bike tour and exceeded all expectations. I was with others who had been on dozens of bike tours and they said this was one of the best (if not, THE best) for multiple reasons. 1. Bike Tour Company (Bizi Cycle Tours) - company started just a few years ago by married couple. Virginia Berasategui is former pro triathlete and is the guide and husband (Ander) is responsible for business end/logistics/food. They are a fun couple who were raised in the area seem to know everyone. Based on ability, they can and will adapt routes. 2. Location - Beautiful location for riding...beaches, countryside views, mountains, and vineyards. This trip incorporates 4 days of road and 2 days of gravel cycling through vineyards. Tour de France (2023) took place here during first three stages and this tour includes many of the same roads. Roads are pristine since they were paved in advance of Tour. 3. This tour combines cycling AND gastronomy (and wine!)...and amazing experiences. Each full day experience was unexpected and seem to top the day prior. Bike tours typically emphasis either cycling or the food. This tour combines both in a big way. 4. Price: this tour is a great deal and was longer and included more that the large American tour companies. None of the 'big boys' offer this same type of experience/routes. Other: the terrain here can be challenging in Basque. Beginner or causal cyclists should go with electric bikes. If you like going on longer rides and/or like to push yourself, this tour is for you! My group wanted the full cycling (and eating) challenge, and we received it!

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 2023
    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?
    Spain
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 3/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 2/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Catalonia Road Bike Tour
    (5/5) Cindy 4 months ago

    Good variety; excellent hosts

    · Catalonia Road Bike Tour: Girona to the Sea

    This was our second trip with www.biketours.com. We were excited because the host company uses the same road bikes that we own. Daniel, working for a local operator, was great. He not only met us to give us our bikes, but he changed the pedals (we brought our own) and he watched you ride to make sure it fit. He was super communicative throughout the trip. Girona was great. It's busy but the motorists are actually courteous to cyclists--which was a treat compared to many places in the states. The first hotel is in a great location--however it can be noisy since it's a busy city. Watch out for glass walls & doors--they are everywhere down there. We highly recommend Eat Sleep Cycle as a place to grab food and or drinks after. We watched the tour there after. Many cyclists come there after their rides. Our favorite was the second stop--Costa Brava. It was gorgeous and such a relaxing hotel!! Definitely recommend doing the walk to the left of the hotel. The views are great. The ride along Costa Brava was a challenging one but the views made the work worth it. Monells was way more quiet with only a few restaurants. The hotel was fantastic. Excellent customer service and restaurant. Very relaxing. The ride was okay--not as exciting as the other days. We modified the second day here not to overlap Pals. We ate lunch both days in Corca--just 2.5 miles up from Monells at Raku. Great food. Takes awhile but it's outside with a canopy of trees. You get a three course meal with a glass of wine or coffee for 21 euro. We always did it after our ride so we could just relax after. Highly recommend. We did the climb back to Girona. NOT easy but beautiful, and rewarding--a great way to end the trip. We took the fast train back to Barcelona Sants. We had a day and a half before our flight and rather than tackle busy and loud Barcelona, we stayed in Castelldefels--it's along the sea and only 10 miles from the airport. A beach view hotel room cost the same as downtown Barcelona and it was super relaxing with lots of restaurants and a very long beach walk. We stayed at Hotel dONNA. I recommend it.
    A couple of travel tips:
    We landed in terminal 1. The train station is in terminal 2. You have to take an airport shuttle and then figure out the trains to take a regional one to Barcelona Sants and then jump on the fast train to Girona. I would recommend just taking a taxi from the airport to Barcelona Sants. The train stations in Barcelona are a bit nuts. If you can, I also recommend buying your train ticket ahead of time--the train station at Barcelona Sants was insane and not easy to navigate. It all ended up okay, but it was the most stressful part of our journey especially after being up all night.
    There's not an abundance of water everywhere. I recommend buying big bottles to fill up your water bottles and also carry one around because even most restaurants make you pay for water.
    My husband is a photographer and took a billion photos. Once he has them all processed, I hope I can come back on and add them!  SHOW MORE 

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 2025
    How many tours have you completed?
    2
    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?
    Spain
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 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) Jennifer Willans May 22, 2023

    Self guided Road cycle trip in Catalonia, Spain

    · Catalonia Road Bike Tour: Girona to the Sea

    The hotels were excellent. The trip was graded as moderate and this was appropriate. We were happy the operator provided options for making the days more difficult if we chose to. There was a very good variety in the routes and the scenery was excellent. The routes were very well planned and easy to follow on the device they provided. We felt safe on the roads (routes) provided. The tour operator was available over WhatsAPP and responded quickly.

    What was the date of your tour?
    May 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    5
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Spain
    • 5/5 Value
    • 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) Timr October 18, 2016

    Spectacular Scenery; Great Bikes and Accommodations

    · Catalonia Road Bike Tour: Girona to the Sea

    Creative Catalonia provided quality road bikes, great accommodations, and a good itinerary with a nice mix of countryside, spectacular seaside, and interesting medieval towns. We went in early October and the weather was perfect for riding. Mornings sometimes required long sleeves but that would quickly change to shirt sleeves. Just a bit cool for swimming in the sea. Roads were in great condition, and traffic was light. Because the area has a lot of bikers, drivers seem to be more aware and tend to give plenty of room. The routes provided could also be tailored to provide longer rides, if desired.

    What was the date of your tour?
    October 2016
    How many tours have you completed?
    6
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat easier
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Spain
    • 4/5 Value
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) BobF September 15, 2016

    Best trip ever

    · Catalonia Road Bike Tour: Girona to the Sea

    Creative Catalonia (Daniel & Lucy) did an excellent job. Got us started and checked in with us midway. Maps, bikes and hotels could not have been better. I highly recommend this tour

    What was the date of your tour?
    9/1/16 - 98/16
    How many tours have you completed?
    three
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Spain
    • on the way to Tossa del Mar (photo by BobF)
    • 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 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Best of the Algarve
    (5/5) Mark Eisenberg February 13, 2024

    Fabulous bike trip

    · Best of the Algarve by Road Bike

    This was our 4th self-guided European bike trip and was our favorite. We’ve never used e bikes before but we’re glad we did as there were lots of hills and 80 kilometer days. We were mostly on back roads with gorgeous vistas of hills, orange orchards, white villages and the sea. There was some traffic but we never felt unsafe. The hotels were nice and the food and wine was fabulous. My wife and I would highly recommend it.

    What was the date of your tour?
    February, 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    8
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Portugal
    •  (photo by Mark Eisenberg)
    •  (photo by Mark Eisenberg)
    •  (photo by Mark Eisenberg)
    •  (photo by Mark Eisenberg)
    •  (photo by Mark Eisenberg)
    •  (photo by Mark Eisenberg)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) Timothy Thornberry June 13, 2023

    Outstanding! Portugal is amazing!

    · Best of the Algarve by Road Bike

    Entire experience was great! 6 days of riding in Algarve! Routes were great! Hotels very nice! Portuguese people were gracious hosts! Wonderful experience! Can't wait to do it again! (Recommend a rest day in the middle. traveling and biking is hard on you!)

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    2
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Portugal
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 3/5 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)
  • (5/5) Peggy Lister June 3, 2023

    Algarve self guided bike tour

    · Best of the Algarve by Road Bike

    Great experience! The accommodations and the daily breakfasts were all top notch!

    Countries included in this tour?
    Portugal
  • Umbria Road Cycling
    (5/5) Jarusha October 20, 2016

    PERFECT 7 DAY TRIP THROUGH UMBRIA

    · Umbria Road Cycling: Loop Tour Through Lush and Scenic Landscapes

    BEST WAY TO EXPLORE A COUNTRY!
    SUCH a wonderful trip!
    My husband and just finished a 7 day road bike trip through Umbria and it was fantastic! BikeTours.com hooked us up with the most wonderful local bike tour company (Ecologico Tours) and we loved it! Everything from Paolo delivering and setting our bikes up for us, the the beautiful side roads we cycled on, to the gorgeous hotels every night - all fantastic! We were even well taken care of when we accidentally left our passports at a hotel and had to call Petra for help. I can't say enough good things about our trip with BikeTours.com and Ecologico Tours and will not only recommend them to friends but we are already planning another trip with them :)
    Thank you so much!

    Jarusha + Colin

    What was the date of your tour?
    Sept 29- Oct 6, 2016
    How many tours have you completed?
    this was my first
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Italy
    • On top of a beautiful climb in Umbria! (photo by Jarusha)
    • Relaxing after a day of riding! (photo by Jarusha)
    • One of many water refills in a little medieval village (photo by Jarusha)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 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
  • Best of the Algarve
    (5/5) Jamie PRORACKI January 7, 2023

    First bike trip experience

    · Best of the Algarve by Road Bike

    Great first trip of this type. Also first time to mainland Europe. This was a great way to experience the land and meet and interact with so many people. The food was amazing and most of the accommodations were top notch.

    What was the date of your tour?
    December 2022
    How many tours have you completed?
    1
    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?
    Portugal
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) Timr November 23, 2019

    Castles, Orange Groves and Sea

    · Best of the Algarve by Road Bike

    Delightful tour through this beautiful and fascinating part of Portugal. Bikes provided were quality, carbon frame road bikes. Accommodations were good to very good. Navigation was clear—the Garmin provided worked just fine. The countryside was lovely. Recommend especially in September to November when temperatures are better.

    What was the date of your tour?
    November 2019
    How many tours have you completed?
    11
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat easier
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Portugal
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 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) Tuck October 27, 2019

    Great trip!

    · Best of the Algarve by Road Bike

    Six of us did an unguided trip using the bike shop's GPS on our Garmin 520 and Iphone "Ride with GPS" app. We would have been miserably lost without it! The route took us thru the back roads of southern Portugal with beautiful orchards of oranges, pomegranates, lemons, vineyards as well as to the southern most tip of Europe and north along the Atlantic ocean coast. We stopped at little cafes for lunch and cappuccino's and stayed in lovely towns at 3 and 4 star hotels. It was simply a fantastic trip. The bike shop provided new carbon fiber road bikes, set us up with the proper adjustments, installed our pedals and left us with plenty of extra parts, tools and tubes to do any repairs. We had one flat tire. They were available anytime and only a phone call away. Addee and BikeTours.com were very helpful on getting us prepped on what to take and made the arrangements for us to be picked up and dropped off at the end of our tour. A few things to note:
    * This is a #3 out of 4 difficulty rated bike tour so come prepared and properly trained.
    * We went the 2nd week of Oct. with perfect weather, 72°F (22°C) for a high and down to 62°F (16°C) at the start of the day. One ½ hour of rain the entire 6 days but it would be very hot during the summer months.
    * There were a lot of hills and a total elevation gain of around 13,000' (over 4000 meters) so be prepared.
    * Download the GPS coordinates and routes to your Garmin or Iphone before leaving home as the internet connections are dicey at best.
    * There is 6 days in a row of riding with no breaks in between so the last day or two can be a bit tiring.
    * Do take a mirror for your helmet or to clamp onto your bike as well as a small bike bag (or day pack) to install on the bike for your cash, passport (needed to check into your hotel), energy bars, sun screen, etc... as there is only one under the saddle small bag that is filled with tools, extra tube, etc...
    * The bike shop provided us with a complimentary water bottle but take a 2nd bottle as the bikes had 2 bottle cages on them and you will be glad you have them.

    What was the date of your tour?
    Oct. 10-17, 2019
    How many tours have you completed?
    one
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Portugal
    • Photo 1 (photo by Tuck)
    • Photo 2 (photo by Tuck)
    • Photo 3 (photo by Tuck)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 3/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) Cara November 20, 2018

    Beautiful way to see this country!

    · Best of the Algarve by Road Bike

    We booked the self-guided tour, and loved it! Bikes, maps, GPS, panniers, and lots of tips were all provided! The routes were beautiful, the hotels were great, and I would go back to Portugal in a heartbeat!

    What was the date of your tour?
    10/8/18-10/15/18
    How many tours have you completed?
    this was the first
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat easier
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Portugal
    • 4/5 Value
    • 3/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) Algarve July 9, 2017

    Algarve Road Trip

    · Best of the Algarve by Road Bike

    Cycling through the Algarve was outstanding. What a perfect place to tour by bike. The people are kind and the scenery is outstanding. The challenge of riding made the trip better than I expected. Every day was different scenery and terrain. The accommodations were fabulous. I wish we had planned to stay longer. Thank you BikeTours.com for making this so memorable and easy to take the trip!

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 25 to July 2
    How many tours have you completed?
    2
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Portugal
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 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
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • (5/5) Marcus k October 3, 2015

    Fantastic trip through Algarve

    · Best of the Algarve by Road Bike

    We took the 10 day version in 2014. Absolutely loved it. Paul took great care of us. All equipment was excellent. Hotels were good. Best of all Paul was able to accommodate some changes along the way.

    How many tours have you completed?
    1
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Families with teens, Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Portugal
    • Photo 1 (photo by Marcus k)
    • Photo 2 (photo by Marcus k)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Umbria Road Cycling
    (5/5) Aging Cyclist October 27, 2019

    Great countryside, food and hotels

    · Umbria Road Cycling: Loop Tour Through Lush and Scenic Landscapes

    We had a tremendous trip. The hill towns and mountain views were superb, our rental bikes were of excellent quality, and the hotels and breakfasts were terrific.

    What was the date of your tour?
    October 2019
    How many tours have you completed?
    this is the first
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Italy
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection