Bike Tour Reviews  page 57

  • UNESCO Sites of Albania
    (5/5) Anne and Bob July 18, 2016

    Albania: best unheard of destination in Europe!

    · UNESCO Sites of Albania

    If we had any concerns about choosing an unusual destination in Europe for our first international cycling tour, it was quickly put out of our heads as soon as we landed in Tirana. All arrangements were taken care of by our local tour company, Cycle Albania. A very friendly Albanian man picked us up promptly at the airport and took us to our hotel. We met our group and guide (Junid) for the next 2 weeks and set off on the adventure of a lifetime. A van transferred us to our starting point and we began to see a country that has a long difficult history of oppression, but is fully alive and growing into the 21st century. From carts pulled by donkeys, goatherds in the middle of the road, young boys shouting out greetings to us, fields of crops, vegetables, flowers, magnificent mountain views, wonderful seacoast panoramas, and visits to UNESCO world heritage sites, we are totally convinced that bicycle tourism is the way to go Some members of our group chose to ride e-bikes and that was helpful in maneuvering the many hills/mountains of our routes, but still giving the complete bicycle experience.
    Junid was the best guide ever.....his knowledge of his country and ability to translate for us gave us a complete Albanian experience. He was ever eager to accommodate us in all ways. We stayed in hotels which were top of the line to the best that was available...always clean and adequate. All our meals were in restaurants along our route and more than adequate. We ate so much, we were never hungry!! Junid chose dishes that were Albanian and locally grown and prepared. Always lots of fresh vegetables.
    After 8 days of cycling and 3 days of kayaking and relaxing on the Albanian Riviera, we returned home completely satisfied with our experience and will now be looking for ways to find another adventure off the beaten path.

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 1 - 13, 2016
    How many tours have you completed?
    Only 1 international
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers, Families with teens
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Albania
    • Excited to begin our cycle tour of Albania! (photo by Anne and Bob)
    • Very typical of Albanian countryside. (photo by Anne and Bob)
    • Ate more seafood in 3 days, than we have in a lifetime! (photo by Anne and Bob)
    • Chugging up a hill was more than rewarded with spectacular views! (photo by Anne and Bob)
    • Good looking roadblock! (photo by Anne and Bob)
    • 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)
  • Tuscany and Umbria
    (5/5) Colleen 5 months ago

    Spring in Umbria and Tuscany

    · Tuscany and Umbria: Cycling in the Heart of Italy

    The bike route was great, small country roads through towns and villages. We met friendly people at every stop we made. Drivers were courteous to cyclists.

    What was the date of your tour?
    May 2025
    How many tours have you completed?
    2
    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
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Wild Atlantic Way Cycling
    (5/5) Christine D. 2 months ago

    Exceeded all expectations!

    · Wild Atlantic Way Cycling

    A bucket-list trip to Ireland was a college graduation gift for our daughter. We told her she could choose how we would spend our time. She chose a bike tour (I will be very, very honest, it was not how I would have chosen to spend the trip). We signed up for e-bikes. Despite my initial thoughts about a 7-day bike tour, that bike tour was the best part of our trip!!! Hands down, the BEST part of the trip! We had never ridden e-bikes, but the staff support and education were excellent. The transfers were smooth. The B&Bs were wonderful with wonderful hosts. The bikes and gear were well-maintained and of good quality. We used the app for navigation, which was easy to use and so helpful as our phones did not work off WiFi. The rides and suggested rides were perfectly paced to allow us freedom to explore, stop for lunch, get to our next town early, or to take a day a little more slowly. Experiencing Ireland by e-bike is really the ideal way. You move at a slow enough pace to drink in the amazing scenery, or stop and take it all in. The feel of the crisp, clean air on your face, the smell of the flowers and plants--it just intensifies the experience of exploring such a beautiful place. HIGHLY recommend! Worth every penny!

    What was the date of your tour?
    August 2025
    How many tours have you completed?
    this was our first
    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?
    Ireland
    • 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
  • Swiss Lakes by Ebike
    (5/5) Christine Downing July 12, 2023

    Wonderful trip full of amazing cycling

    · Swiss Lakes by E-bike: Lake Geneva to Lake Lucerne

    We had a wonderful time! I rode an e-bike and my husband got the touring bike and that was perfect for us (as was the self-guided tour)! The tour company worked with us on changing our rest day location (to Lauterbrunnen, highly recommend) and everything was seemless. The hotels were very nice, although some of the places you stay are a little more ‘resorty’ then we would have preferred (although spending one afternoon in several saunas at a spa was perfect after some hard rides and a very hard hike—on our rest day). The provided guide and route and GPS is very easy to follow (it’s basically just an established bike route with signs). We appreciated the warnings about busy areas and climbs (although we ended up never taking any of the short cuts and we were fine)! I highly recommend the trip, if you want spent most of your days cycling with beautiful scenery (seriously amazing) with time each day to see a site or go for a bit of walk!

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 2023
    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?
    Switzerland
    • Waterfall along the route (photo by Christine Downing)
    • Lucerne (photo by Christine Downing)
    • Vevey (photo by Christine Downing)
    • View from our hotel in Gruyères (photo by Christine Downing)
    • Chataeu Chillon, on Lake Geneva (we made a special trip morning of the first ride) (photo by Christine Downing)
    • From top of the Schilthorn, on our rest day (photo by Christine Downing)
    • 4/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 4/5 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
  • Portugal's Atlantic Coast
    (5/5) Christie Cody 4 weeks ago

    Great Tour

    · Portugal's Atlantic Coast

    This was a great tour, with a mix of countryside, fishing villages, and majestic views! Our group chose to spend an extra day in Sintra and Cascais and might have added another in retrospect. With the longer daily mileage, and extra day would have provided a little more time to explore. Be prepared for hills, many of them quite steep! But the views are worth it.

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 2025
    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
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Dolomites to Venice
    (5/5) Joaquim Ferreira Silva 2 months ago

    Dolomites- Veneza

    · Dolomites to Venice Along the Old Dolomites Railway Track

    Vera good
    Excellent organization
    Hotels Very good
    Two Things to bring to your attention:
    I paid for a mountain bike, but the bike I received is a regular bike.
    Furthermore, the bike saddle provided must be designed for men

    Countries included in this tour?
    Italy
  • Bolzano to Verona
    (5/5) Chuck87 May 29, 2019

    Spectacular!

    · Bolzano to Verona: Orchards, Mountains & Timeless Culture

    My girlfriend and I did the self-guided tour. This was our first bike tour, and we both had an amazing time. The first 3 days were primarily on cycle paths while the last 2 days were mostly on country rides. Do be mindful that the last 2 days are slightly hillier while also having to navigate some traffic. Biking in to and out of Verona was slightly difficult due to the car traffic.

    The experience with the contracted tour company was very efficient and organized. Our luggage were always in the next hotel by the time we arrived. The bikes were sturdy. The directions were accurate (we downloaded the GPS tracks to our phone). The hotels were all very clean, private, and most importantly had very warm showers.

    Our favorite part of the tour was the city of Bolzano. It is unlike other cities in Italy, partly due to its German/Austrian influence. Take time to explore the city and also take the cable car up to Ritten and do some hiking prior to the start of the bike tour. The scenery is ridiculously beautiful.

    What was the date of your tour?
    May 16th-May 22nd 2019
    How many tours have you completed?
    1 including this one
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    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?
    Italy
    • 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
  • Witness Washington's majesty by moonlight
    (5/5) Carl D. 5 months ago

    Loved learning and riding with Joe!

    · Washington DC Monuments at Night Bike Tour

    Joe was an amazing fount of highly relevant knowledge on all the monuments we toured. Can’t believe how much we saw in one evening. It really gave me a great overview of DC and made me proud to be an American. Especially his stories about the Korean War and the significance of the memorial there with which I wa s unfamiliar; Also about Mia-Lyn the young Harvard design student who designed the Vietnam memorial! And just the information about what each memorial holds! 100 lives for each gold star at WWII memorial - so sad. Makes me so grateful for our country!! Fantastic. Couple this tour with the museum of the Bible and you really see what this country is all about!

    •  (photo by Carl D.)
    •  (photo by Carl D.)
  • Innsbruck to Lake Garda
    (5/5) Don c 1 month ago

    Retirement at its best

    · Innsbruck to Lake Garda Across the Southern Slopes of the Alps

    This was our second trip with biketours.com and did they deliver. We had a great trip. The Bikes were excellent and Hotels were very nice. Great job. The only issues we had was finding the starting points in town. It was very challenging go say the least. A suggestion if I can: A pin on Google maps of starting point would have helped immensely. That aside it was the trip of a life time. Great work bike tours.com. Our appreciation for all those involved with setting this tour up.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Italy
    • What a day to remember (photo by Don c)
  • Highlights of the Highlands
    (5/5) cdreby July 25, 2016

    Our first bike tour

    · Highlights of the Highlands: Donegal by E-bike

    It was harder than expected with many more steep hills than described but the B&B's at the end of each day were a welcome reward. We had wet weather for most of our tour however, the beauty and the variety of the landscape came through the clouds and damp weather. Seamus was very helpful and fixed any problem we had right away.

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 10-17 2016
    How many tours have you completed?
    0
    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?
    Ireland
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Mosel Bike Path
    (5/5) Joseph Wise October 10, 2023

    A bike trip to remember.

    · Mosel Bike Path: Dreamy Mosel Valley from Trier to Koblenz

    The bike trip was the highlight of our two week trip to Germany this year. We went from town to town with beautiful scenery along the way. We moved at our own pace and enjoyed stopping in towns along the way to our next destination. Our luggage was always at the next hotel, usually before we arrived. All hotels were beautiful. Having breakfast each morning was a great way to start each day. We were fortunate to have great weather, but the saddlebags did allow for bringing extra clothing or rain gear if needed. Equipment was in great shape as well. We used e-bikes which helped with hills when needed. If you want to see Germany through the eyes of small towns, at your own pace and without the hustle of large cities. This type a bike trip is recommended.

    What was the date of your tour?
    October 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    This was the first, but not the last.
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat easier
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens, Families with young kids
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Germany
    •  (photo by Joseph Wise)
    •  (photo by Joseph Wise)
    •  (photo by Joseph Wise)
    •  (photo by Joseph Wise)
    •  (photo by Joseph Wise)
    • 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
  • Baltic Capitals
    (5/5) Karen Gail Lewis September 20, 2023

    Baltic capitals

    · Baltic Capitals: Historic Cities of Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn

    Great trip. Learned so much about a part of the world that we Westerners know so little about. Guides were very knowledgeable. Best, of course, was the biking, especially along the Baltic (and even biking on the sand on one beach.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
  • (5/5) Karen Gail Lewis September 23, 2023

    Baltic capitals

    · Baltic Capitals: Historic Cities of Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn

    Biking through these three countries - all so very different -- was special. The views, the historical information, the Old Towns -- a great trip.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
  • Dolomites to Trieste
    (5/5) Linda Barone September 19, 2024

    Excellent trip but GPS needs some updating

    · Dolomites to Trieste via Lake Bled at the Foot of the Julian Alps

    This was a wonderful trip. The bikes were excellent, most of the scenery was stunning, the hotels were good for the most part. The one challenge we had was many of the directions have not been updated to reflect bike path construction and restaurant closures. The other issue was the distances we actually traveled did not match the distances on the downloaded GPS. One day we rode ~100 km, when the GPS said we would ride ~ 65 to 70 km.
    Still, we had an amazing, nicely challenging adventure and saw some of the most beautiful countryside that we wouldn’t have seen if we weren’t on bicycles. We would recommend this trip.

    What was the date of your tour?
    Sept 2024
    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?
    Italy, Slovenia, Austria
    • 4/5 Value
    • 4/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 3/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 3/5 Route selection
    • 3/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Greece: The Peloponnese Peninsula
    (5/5) Darrell8 November 14, 2019

    Beautiful Scenery

    · Greece: The Peloponnese Peninsula

    Excellent service that was provided by the local bike company, the gentleman was very friendly and gave us great information when asked. The bikes were excellent and all hotels were very nice with great breakfasts that was included in the rates. GPS were included so finding the right route was seamless.
    There were lot of great sites to see along the way and the scenery was amazing.

    What was the date of your tour?
    October 5,2019
    How many tours have you completed?
    1
    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?
    Greece
    • 4/5 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
  • Amsterdam and the Sea
    (5/5) dsr1691 August 8, 2017

    Great crew in North Holland on board Zwaan.

    · · Amsterdam & The Sea by Bike and Boat

    We had a great family vacation on board the Zwaan. The crew and our guide were marvellous and totally spoiled us. Dinner was a meal to look forward to with creative 3/4 course meals with a different country theme each night.
    Wind was a bit of a problem and some cycling days were shortened due to strong head winds. Instead the captain cheerfully moved us ahead to less exposed trails. It was recommended that we use the services of a guide which turned out to be very good advice.

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 29, 2017
    How many tours have you completed?
    2
    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?
    Holland
    • 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
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Bike Paths of the Dolomites
    (5/5) Dotty October 12, 2019

    Our favorite bike trip ever!

    · Bicycle Paths of the Dolomites (based in one hotel)

    This was a beautiful bike tour on bike paths of the Dolomites. So nice to not have to navigate on busy roads. Each day we either started or ended with a shuttle or train. Some of the paths were paved, others were gravel. Spectacular mountain scenery.

    What was the date of your tour?
    9/15/19 - 9/20/19
    How many tours have you completed?
    5
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
    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
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Umbria’s Green Valleys
    (5/5) Dotty October 12, 2019

    Beautiful bike trip through the Umbrian countryside

    · Umbria’s Green Valleys From the Pilgrimage Town of Assisi

    Beautiful tour through the countryside. Lots of old mountaintop towns to explore (Assisi, Montefalco), beautiful scenery, and lots of agriculture (olive trees, vineyards, vegetables, tobacco). Food prepared by Carla at Countryhouse Casco dell'Acqua was the best we had in Italy.

    What was the date of your tour?
    9/26/19 - 10/1/19
    How many tours have you completed?
    6
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    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?
    Italy
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 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
  • Lake Constance Classic
    (5/5) DWSt June 22, 2018

    Great way to experience the local culture

    · Lake Constance Classic (11-nights)

    We just finished the trip around Lake Constance and all in all, I can say that it was a wonderful experience. We felt like we much better understood the German and Swiss culture as a result of riding bikes. Most people we met spoke English "a little", some better than others. Their English was certainly better in most cases than my "a little" German.

    A couple of suggestions. First, pack light as I had packed too much, especially too many warm clothes. Secondly, download Google Maps for the whole area before you begin the trip. Location on Google Maps works on an iPhone even if you don't have a functional sim. At times you will get lost, but Google Maps saved us more than once.

    We enjoyed some hotels more than others, but there was always Wi-Fi and breakfast. The ride to St. Gallen through the mountains was the most difficult, but had great scenery. My wife appreciated her electric bike on that day.

    Documentation was pretty good. Since none of us read German very well, we missed using some of the supplied coupons and ended up paying twice. The explanation on the first day may have been missed because there was just too much to process.

    What was the date of your tour?
    06/2018
    How many tours have you completed?
    This is the first
    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?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 4/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 4/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 3/5 Ease of navigation
    • 2/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Loire a Velo
    (5/5) KneeJerk July 5, 2019
    · Loire a Velo: Orleans to the Atlantic

    We went Orleans to Tours (self-guided) and it was lovely. Almost (!) completely level (handful of short challenges), paved path/crushed stone, 95% away from traffic, often shaded. I'm almost 64, in decent but not heroic shape, and it was easy. People very friendly (but not as bilingual as Danube trip, for example); accommodations quite satisfactory. Got quite hot (late June 2019) but that was apparently unusual. Printed materials disappointing -- almost all brochures in French only, no restaurant/bistro suggestions, few recommendations of nearby sites. Maps OK but cue sheets not written by native English speaker; need to download app and follow that way.

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 2019
    How many tours have you completed?
    6
    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?
    France
    • 4/5 Value
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 2/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection