Bike Tour Reviews  page 9

  • UNESCO Sites of Albania
    (5/5) Jim n Anne June 30, 2018

    Not To Be Missed

    · UNESCO Sites of Albania

    Albania is a wonderful cycling destination, and the tour company did an excellent job with the route, rental bikes, support, accommodations. The hotels/inns were amazing; comfortable, beautiful, excellent locations. The bikes were well suited to the terrain and conditions. It's impossible to overstate the beauty of the country, and a bicycle is the best way to appreciate the magnificent scenery. The roads are in good condition, but the inclines can be steep; it is necessary to train for this trip. But don't put off a visit to Albania; it's a complex, exotic country with easy-going, proud citizens who are eager for visitors.

    What was the date of your tour?
    June 2018
    How many tours have you completed?
    Several dozen
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Albania
    • 5/5 Value
    • 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
  • Cycling the West Balkan Triangle
    (5/5) Jim n Anne June 30, 2018

    Breathtaking Scenery

    · Cycling the West Balkan Triangle

    The views on this trip are amazing! True, there are a few climbs, but the views and the downhills more than make up for them. Our guide Mario was attentive, capable, enjoyable, responsive. We enjoyed the fresh, seasonal, healthy meals, and the accommodations were first rate! The rental bikes were comfortable and well suited to the road conditions. It was fascinating to experience the different countries and cultures in such a compact space; so different from the U.S. The only improvement I would recommend would be for printed maps or cue sheets to follow, even though we had a guide. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone with an interest in beautiful scenery, complex history and cultures, and a fun bike tour!

    What was the date of your tour?
    May 2018
    How many tours have you completed?
    Several dozen
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 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
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Northern German Odyssey: Bike, Barge and Cruise
    (5/5) Anne Jesse August 3, 2024

    Fascinating Tour in Northern Germany

    · · Northern German Odyssey: Bike, Barge and Cruise

    This was a fascinating overview of eastern Germany, with the addition of a couple days in Poland, where we learned so much about the GDR era. The Merlijn is a beautiful ship, and the crew catered to all of our needs. The guide was an upbeat, knowledgeable Dutch woman who kept us laughing. The bicycles were perfect for the job. And the meals were heavenly!

    Countries included in this tour?
    Germany, Poland
    • Beautiful bike trails through the woods. (photo by Anne Jesse)
    • Introductions at the start of the tour. (photo by Anne Jesse)
    • Touring the grounds of an old church. (photo by Anne Jesse)
    • Straddling the border between Germany and Poland. (photo by Anne Jesse)
    • Another five-start meal onboard the Merlijn. (photo by Anne Jesse)
    • Polish beer in Szczecin. (photo by Anne Jesse)
  • Mosel and Saar
    (5/5) Anne Jesse 4 months ago

    Top Notch Tour of the Mosel Valley

    · · Mosel & Saar by Bike & Boat

    This was the most wonderful way to experience the Mosel River area. Our cabins on the Princesse Royal were quite comfortable and spacious, including the private bathroom. The boat was beautiful and accommodating, and the meals were perfect for bicyclists. We appreciated the option to cycle on our own, but could join either group if we chose. The guides were energetic, helpful and entertaining. And the rest of the staff were very accommodating and friendly. And we were so impressed with our fellow travelers on the boat. Apparently they have hit the sweet spot with marketing and attract the most interesting types of cyclists.

    What was the date of your tour?
    August 2025
    How many tours have you completed?
    I have been bike touring for over 30 years and have bike toured in 58 countries.
    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?
    Germany
    • 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 Route selection
    • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Alsace Wine Country
    (5/5) Anne Jesse 4 months ago

    Wonderful Tour to Little-Known Area

    · Alsace Wine Country

    This is a wonderfully varied tour to an area that most Americans don't visit. The first two days are flat, along shaded canals and country roads. The next two days are hillier, through vineyards and historic towns. The final day has one last beautiful view over the Rhine River valley before descending to another flat day of riding along shady canals. The accommodations are wonderful and mostly in the center of town. The luggage service was reliable each day. The breakfasts were always well stocked. The bikes were well suited to the terrain with plenty of gears and strong tires.

    What was the date of your tour?
    August 2025
    How many tours have you completed?
    I have been bike touring for over 30 years and have bike toured in 58 countries.
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    France
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 5/5 Tour documents
    • 5/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Algarve Coastal Route
    (5/5) Shiftin July 15, 2017

    Beautiful Algarve!

    · Algarve Coastal Route

    Cycling in Portugal was an amazing adventure! The scenery was exceptional, the routes were mostly flat, some hills at the end of the week, food along the coast (grilled fresh fish, fruit and vegetables) was all part of a very special week. Fred, part owner in Algarve Bike Holidays, could not have been more friendly and supportive. We were provided with a Garmin that had the routes already downloaded. We were a little challenged with this when construction blocked our route. Regardless, we always made it to our end location which included large resort hotels as well as quaint bed and breakfast inns. We went in July which turned out to be exceptionally hot so be sure to carry lots of water and start your trek early in the morning.

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 2017
    How many tours have you completed?
    10-15
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Portugal
    • We loved our shirts! A gift along with water bottles! (photo by Shiftin)
    • Beautiful town of Faro! (photo by Shiftin)
    • 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
  • Lake Constance Bike Path
    (5/5) Lovetotravel July 28, 2019

    Lovely Tour

    · Lake Constance Bicycle Path (Upscale Lodging)

    We arrived in Bavaria in the midst of a heatwave, which made the trip a little more challenging, but overall, was still enjoyable. Scenery was beautiful - while the tour is not always hugging the lake, the meadows, valleys and villages were quite lovely. There are some pretty steep hills on this trip, so if you're looking for a flat ride throughout, this is not it. The tour also went around some key towns (eg instead of riding thru Lindau, it took us thru an industrial area behind the town) - so room for improvement there. The hotels were quite lovely and I'm glad we chose the upscale lodging. Two had a/c which was welcomed after a day of riding in 35C+ heat. Again, the trails were beautiful, and had it not been so hot, we would have appreciated it even more. The bikes were in good shape and rode smoothly throughout (although my husband's gears started slipping midway). The villages and towns that we rode through and also stayed in were very charming and gave you a taste of Bavaria. In terms of navigation - this is a pro and a con - get the Kamoot app! If we had just used the physical maps, it would have been a challenge as there are many twists and turns that are easy to miss. The app got us there easily (and you can download prior so you don't have to use data). The only thing it doesn't help with is getting to your hotel - so that's where google came in. Also, the guide that has all scenery tips, history and dining/shopping tips is only in German - so you have to wing it on your own. The start of the tour was a little confusing - no one to greet you and no one communicated that our trip guide was actually at the hotel. We cabbed it to the Velotours office...twice! First to enquire about the trip itself and second to actually get the bikes. They need better communication to help get folks on their way. With all that said, we would do this again in a heartbeat (and in cooler weather!).

    What was the date of your tour?
    July 2019
    How many tours have you completed?
    4
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Do you recommend this tour?
    No
    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany, Switzerland
    • 5/5 Value
    • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 1/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 5/5 Route selection
  • Algarve Coastal Route
    (5/5) Mark Stow November 26, 2022

    Good biking, excellent service

    · Algarve Coastal Route

    This was our seventh cycling trip and our third self guided one. Based on our experience we would rate the cycle tour company quite highly. We were provided with good bikes which were appropriate for the terrain and the appropriate maintenance equipment which came in handy as we did have a flat tire on day 5. The gps provided came loaded with the day by day routes and was invaluable in finding the out of the way paths that we occasionally found ourselves on. The hotels were very nice with most having balconies and ocean views and all provided an excellent breakfast to start the day. The van pick up and drop offs were on time and we enjoyed the local knowledge that Angus shared along the way. The scenery was spectacular from the salt marshes and dunes in the East to the cliffs and ocean vistas in the West.

    What was the date of your tour?
    November 2022
    How many tours have you completed?
    7
    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?
    Portugal
    • 5/5 Value
    • 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
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • (5/5) Terry Higgins April 12, 2024

    First class all the way!

    · Algarve Coastal Route

    Loved everything about this trip. We did a self guided which was a bit challenging at times but just added to our memories. We were fortunate to have good weather and our accommodations never disappointed us. All of the transportations set up for us were on time. Would highly recommend it to friends.

    What was the date of your tour?
    April 2024
    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?
    Portugal
    •  (photo by Terry Higgins)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 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
  • Venice to Trieste & Istria
    (5/5) Thomas Carr September 24, 2023

    Wonderful Trip

    · Venice to Trieste and Istria

    We did this trip with two other couples who had never done a European bike tour before. We were so impressed with the efficiency of the staff, the accommodations and of course the beautiful route.

    What was the date of your tour?
    September 2023
    How many tours have you completed?
    6
    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?
    Croatia, Italy, Slovenia
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 5/5 Scenery
    • 4/5 Ease of navigation
    • 4/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Route selection
  • Danube Bike Path
    (5/5) Thomas Mitchell May 18, 2024

    Well planned. No problems at all.

    · Danube Bike Path 8 Nights (Upscale Lodging)

    The e-bikes are a game changer for older people. Ours were perfectly maintained. They might have been new. The upscale hotels were excellent; a couple of them were beyond excellent. The towns we visited were charming and friendly. We would have spent an extra day in most of them if we had the trip do over. We had perfect weather but we understand that is highly unusual in early May. Our bags were moved reliably.
    I recommend a phone holder if you want to use the excellent app for directions. When it's in the provided waterproof handlebar pack, glare makes it very difficult to see, and accessing it is a hassle.
    The directions don't guide you all the way to your hotel. We used Google Maps for the final directions.
    Overall it was a great trip for us.

    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany
  • Amsterdam to Bruges
    (5/5) nino September 26, 2016

    mystery ship

    · · Amsterdam – Bruges by Bike and Boat – Princesse Royal

    I saw how civilized people should live. great country great food great people!

    What was the date of your tour?
    first 2 weeks of september
    How many tours have you completed?
    0
    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?
    Belgium, Holland
    • 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)
  • Danube Bike Path
    (5/5) Thomas Murphy August 13, 2024

    Danube bike trip

    · Danube Bike Path 5-nights (Active)

    Everything was brilliant. Our bikes were excellent. The hotels were lovely in great locations close to the danube river. We had no trouble finding them. I would recommend the trip to anyone

    Countries included in this tour?
    Austria, Germany
  • Enchanting Cyclades and Saronic Islands
    (5/5) Susan Threlfo 3 months ago

    Perfect in every way

    · · Enchanting Cyclades and Saronic Islands

    Everything about this trip was 100%. The rides were spectacular. Our guides and all the staff on the boat were really great. The ship was so comfortable. Chrisya made sure everything and everyone’s needs were met. And my fellow passengers were all lovely people. 13 people and 7 different nationalities made it really fun and interesting.

    What was the date of your tour?
    August 2025
    How many tours have you completed?
    2
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    As expected
    Who is this tour suitable for?
    Solo travelers
    Do you recommend this tour?
    Yes
    Countries included in this tour?
    Greece
    • 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)
  • Northern German Odyssey: Bike, Barge and Cruise
    (5/5) Kramp Jon August 1, 2024

    The best boat of any bike and boat tour I have bookd via biketours.com

    · · Northern German Odyssey: Bike, Barge and Cruise

    Mainly a tour of the countryside of northeastern Germany. The boat was built about 100 years ago. It is evident that the boat has been totally remodeled. The cabins are very large with lots of open space. The bathroom was about the same size as on other boats. The food was well above average for bike tours I have taken in the past. The bikes used appeared to be new for the current season but were a bit on the heavy side. The bike route part of the trip contained more sections with pebble or uneven stone pavement surfaces than expected.

    What was the date of your tour?
    August 2024
    How many tours have you completed?
    5
    Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
    Somewhat harder
    Countries included in this tour?
    Germany, Poland
    • 4/5 Value
    • 5/5 Included meals
    • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
    • 5/5 Hotels or boat
    • 4/5 Scenery
    • 5/5 Ease of navigation
    • 3/5 Tour documents
    • 4/5 Local tour company services
    • 4/5 Guides (if applicable)
  • Discover the majesty of Munich
    (5/5) Lina C May 21, 2024

    Great experience!

    · Munich Highlights Bike Tour

    Patrick was a terrific guide showing us some of Munich’s most impressive sights. Highly recommend.

  • (5/5) Lina Clark May 24, 2024

    Great introduction to the many beautiful sites of Munich!

    · Munich Highlights Bike Tour

    Our guide, Patrick was great - attentive to our group and very knowledgeable! We learned a lot and enjoyed brief stops at many beautiful sites riding at a relaxed pace. Would highly recommend this tour!

  • Wine & Bike Hungary’s Balaton Uplands
    (5/5) NancyR June 11, 2016

    Fantastic trip with great biking and wine

    · Wine & Bike in Hungary’s Balaton Uplands

    This was a great way to explore Lake Balaton. Our guides were knowledgable, caring, and flexible. The biking was safe, the wine tours fun, the food and hotels beyond expectations. Learnt lots about the region and the history of Hungary.

    What was the date of your tour?
    May 25-June 1/16
    How many tours have you completed?
    1
    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?
    Hungary
    • 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)
  • Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
    (5/5) NancyLouWho October 13, 2019

    Nice way to experience Slovenia

    · Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems

    Two couples decided to do this trip together and I considered myself the weakest link - but thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it!

    Being a non-biker with a dodgy knee and several decades on me, I feared I was in over my head. I relied on BikeTours assertion that reasonable fitness and good attitude would carry me through, and they were right! (I started riding my bike for an hour or two a few times a week about two months before the trip, which was an excellent idea.)

    This was a level two trip, about 30 miles per day with some long hills included. I was able to ride it all, and readily agreed to every side trip included in the itinerary. Those added anywhere from 3-7 miles to the day’s riding - and also added some special experience to the trip. (Postojna Cave and the nearby castle were my favorites.)

    Bikes were in excellent condition, comfortable and well-maintained, and the overnight accommodations everywhere were very nice. I especially liked the guest house in Kodreti, Hiša Posebne Sorte, where the meal was entirely locally sourced. The combination of maps, turn-by-turn instructions, odometer, and strategically placed stickers along the route made way-finding pretty straight forward. We only went off once, but realized it after about a mIle, and quickly got back on track.

    Seeing this country by bicycle allowed us to get a real feel for the variations of city vs village, and hilly regions with an Austrian flair vs Mediterranean coast with an Italian vibe.

    The couple we traveled with had done a few other trips with Bike Tours and say the quality has been consistent in each. I look forward to traveling with Bike Tours again!

    What was the date of your tour?
    Sept. 28- Oct. 5, 2019
    How many tours have you completed?
    This was my first
    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?
    Slovenia
    • Stopping in a Slovenian village (photo by NancyLouWho)
    • 5/5 Value
    • 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
  • Treasures of the Donegal Coast
    (5/5) Nancy Tiernan August 31, 2022

    Beautiful, friendly country

    · Treasures of the Donegal Coast

    Ireland is a lush and gorgeous country, and Donegal especially so. This trip is well planned to maximize the scenic and minimize time on busy roads. Our local coordinator, Seamus, was responsive to our needs along the way, quickly showing up to make what would be a critical bike adjustment for the day’s ride.
    Our self-guided group of four senior citizens - very FIT senior citizens! - had 3 hybrid bikes and one e-bike. Although the distances were shorter per day than we did on the Slovenia bike trip three years ago, there were lots more hills in Donegal. I was VERY glad to have the e-bike, and my mighty mates envied me…

    What was the date of your tour?
    August 22-29
    How many tours have you completed?
    2
    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?
    Ireland
    • 5/5 Value
    • 5/5 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 Guides (if applicable)