Staff Picks Bike Tour Reviews page 11
- Albania
- Argentina
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- Brazil
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- Cambodia
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- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- England
- Estonia
- France
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- Holland
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- Ireland
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- Jamaica
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- Luxembourg
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- Mexico
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- Morocco
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- ★★★★★ Love2ride
Great way to see Greece!
Greece: The Peloponnese Peninsula
Overall, we were highly satisfied with our experience on this self guided bike trip. The scenery was great, starting in the (relatively cooler) mountain town of Vytina, cycling down into Tripoli. We enjoyed the day trip to the Kapsia Caves. The ride from Tripoli to Astros was scenic, with a very noticeable flora change as we dropped over the pass and started to head down to the (much warmer) seaside. The dip in the Aegean to cool off after the day's ride was exultant. The ride along the coast to Nafplio was beautiful, and we enjoyed the ancient sights along the way (Agros). Nafplio is a charming town, absolutely worth staging out of for the final few days.
Pluses: Hotel and staff in Vytina, Tripoli, Nafplio. The ancient sights to visit got better and better with each day (Argos, Mycenea, Epidaurus). The charming towns, intimate small lanes and shops, late night restaurants out in the squares or along pedestrian streets in Paralion Astros, Vytina, Nafplio were a delight. Dips to cool off in the Aegean a joy.
We found the Greeks, those with the local tour company, the shuttle pick up and drop off, the Hotels and well, just about everywhere along the way, to be friendly and eager to engage and to help. Also, the relative cost of goods, meals, etc. were quite affordable.
Specific to the bike tour company...friendly and prompt pick up at the airport, and the GPS units provided (50 EURO refunded deposit) had each days routes preloaded and worked out quite well (given the routing had a lot of zigs and zags at times, I don't think we'd have been able to follow the route with a paper map/sticker process common to other bike company rides). Baggage transfers went without a hitch. Very accommodating for our request to switch bike types at the start of the ride.As for 'room for improvement'...there were a few items. Relative to the info we were sent, this tour was a bit thin on details on where and when to expect to see some of the sights...just that 'we'd bike by them' (and we did, but at the 10 mile point, 15 mile point or ? - the GPS path did not indicate that type of info). One minor irritation, was our third day leg (Tripoli to Astros). We found the ancient site and museum at Tegea per the route description, only to find it was closed on that particular day we were routed to bike thru it. Also, the GPS, as stated it was overall very useful (only steered us off in a minor way once, and we were able to figure out where to go well enough). But the unit would tell us we'd be at the destination...and we'd look around and not see our hotels. We'd spend time walking around, circling about to find it (and the small hotel in Paralion Astros had the hotel name in subtle letters on a glass door...we walked right by it). Similar experience in Nafplio, I had to plug in the name of the hotel in my own smartphone to have it navigate us down side street alleyways to the hotel entrance. So a bit better directions on how to find our hotel upon arrival would have saved us some time out of the sun (already tired after a hot day cycling). And finally along those lines, there was a switch in our hotel in Nafplio versus our stated first night destination (we'd not been told this). That killed time trying to sort that out. Again, more a nuisance level...folks at both hotels quickly helped us figure out the slip up. SHOW MORE
As for any general observations about the tour. Unlike some other countries we've ridden thru, there really are no bike trails. However, much of this route is on back roads, where traffic was sparse. In the more congested (streets are narrow) towns, they were pretty small, and so we'd be thru them pretty quick and back on rural side roads. We had no issues with Greek drivers, even got a few friendly honks and waves (other cyclists were few and far between). We did note a lot of stray dogs, but fortunately the only times we encountered any aggressive barking, those dogs were behind fences. We switched to the tours hybrid bikes (I had originally booked road bikes, not knowing the details of the roads and routes), and we were glad we did. There were sections of (flat) gravel roads, particularly on the second bike day, more easily handled with wider tires and upright stance vs narrow tires and drop bars of a road bike. My partner appreciated their better climbing gears, not that the hilly sections weren't beyond our expectations, but in July, the combination of hills and heat (unfortunately, we hit it during a bit of a heatwave) made for slower paced riding. Regarding temperatures, full disclosure, towards the end of the tour, it was forecast to be well over 100 degrees F....we elected to hire a car and guide versus riding (no regrets, it actually hit 105 F that day). We knew this was going to be a hot time of year for this tour (my partner is a public school teacher, though, which limits our major vacation times). If we were not otherwise constrained, this tour in May or in September would be ideal.
SHOW LESS
To summarize, our glitches were minor, and we thoroughly enjoyed this tour and we're glad we did it.- What was the date of your tour?
- First week of July, 2019
- 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?
- Greece
- ★★★★★ ned75
excellent trip very worth doing
Innsbruck to Salzburg: Through the Alps Along River Cycle Trails
the landscape was great, the bike tracks were equally good. Cannot fault the hotels either.
just one little problem the suitcases arrived late only on one day and it was the rainy day and we looked at sitting around in wet bike gear for three hours. the good thing was that the hotel in Lofer the Hotel St; Hubertus gave us a dressing gown and cakes (at no charge) until the bags arrived. what a nice gesture- What was the date of your tour?
- 16/June 23/June
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4th
- 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?
- Austria
- ★★★★★ robbo1
Fantastic scenery
Innsbruck to Salzburg: Through the Alps Along River Cycle Trails
An amazing trip with awesome scenery and excellent accommodation. Saw the Krimml Falls at their best and alpine vistas were totally amazing
- What was the date of your tour?
- 11 June 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- 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?
- Austria
- ★★★★★ Merle
Just right
National Parks of Dalmatia by Bike/E-bike and Boat
In the past we have done some European bike trips on our own, this was our first experience with a guided group tour. We were concerned about the level of difficultly (was it a 2? or perhaps a 3 or 4?). We are older (78 and 87), not veteran bikers but fairly active. We chose to rent e-bikes which was perfect for us....no problem at all going up hills, staying with the others and maneuvering through the occasional traffic as we left a town.
Thanks to the expertise of the excellent guides we all stayed safe, blended together well in spite of our different levels of cycling abilities, various nationalities and ages.
We had a wonderful trip, more "social" than our personal trips, but lively, informative, stimulating and enriching in all ways.
With e-bikes it was definitely a level 2, though for those on regular bikes I imagine it would be a level 3 or 3+.
It was luxurious to be on such a high quality boat, very comfortable, good food and an excellent staff.- What was the date of your tour?
- May 11 - 18, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- none, only solo trips
- 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?
- Croatia
- ★★★★★ Pedalann
A Beautiful and Educational Tour in Greece
Greece: The Peloponnese Peninsula
This tour gave us a chance to see the natural beauty in Greece from mountains to seashore, the agricultural richness of some of its orchards from olives to oranges and the amazing cultural history during our visits to sites such as Mycenae and Epidavros. The preprogrammed GPS made each day's navigation easy and allowed us to concentrate on the sightseeing along the way. Since our tour was selfguided, we could cycle at our own rate and stop frequently to take photos and read information posters that interested us.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 4-11, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- More than 20
- 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?
- Greece
- ★★★★★ JamieinLA
Ride, eat and cook through Tuscany
Cycling and Cooking in Tuscany
The ride through Tuscany was breathtaking. Guiliana, Marco and their family planned a wonderful week. Even with the rain (we only ride 3 of the 5 days), they made the trip memorable. And our cooking experience was wonderful. I’m glad I booked an ebike. The hills are steep.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 24, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- 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?
- Italy
- ★★★★★ GobaGirl
An absolutely fabulous cycling experience.
Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
Cycling from Ljubljana to Piran, from the Julian Alps, through the Karst region, past vineyards and little villages, by caves and castles and eventually down a stunning descent and along the Adriatic Sea was a stunning experience. We cycled along back roads, cycle paths, through kilometer long tunnels, along gravel trails and even made a short jaunt through a flooded marsh! We have cycled in France and Germany and the Czech Republic and this beats them all. The tour company did a fine job - wayfinding materials were a bit intimidating at first but the Route was marked with stickers placed on sign posts and the written directions were (usually) accurate. Accommodations were good (Mantova not so much but Hisa Posebne Sorte blew us away). Stop and see the sights - the castles the caves the museums and the Lipizzaner farm. We had a breakdown one day but the company has mechanics at the ready with a voucher system - we were back in the road in no time. MY ADVICE: rent the Ebike. There were 14 people doing the same ride as us and 9 used ebikes. Three of the days have LOTS of feet of climb. I have done many, many weeklong bike rides and thought these climbs were challenging (I used the regular bike). Unless you are a pretty experienced cyclist, rent the ebike and enjoy the ride. This is a MUST vacation for everyone.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 1, 2019 - June 8, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- 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
- ★★★★★ ManOnThreeWheels
Excellent Tour and Very Good Service
Best of Holland North: Dutch Villages, Landscapes & the Keukenhof
Bike Tours personnel provided prompt and courteous service from the start to the conclusion of the tour selection and booking.
Recommend
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 19 to 23
- How many tours have you completed?
- Many
- 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?
- No
- Countries included in this tour?
- Holland
- ★★★★★ Fletch
Fabulous scenery!
Tauern Bike Path (Salzburg-Salzburg)
We chose this tour because it stayed in the vicinity of the alps but was in the river valleys. The scenery did not disappoint. It was glorious when we had clear skies. We had some rain and snow when up on the mountains but even then the villages and farmland were wonderful. We spent extra days in Salzburg before the tour and spent an extra day in Zell am See in the middle of the tour. We were so glad we had those extra days because there was so much to see and do. We went up to the ice cave, up to the Krimml waterfall, and up to Kitzsteinhorn and had snow in all three places. It was like a winter wonderland. For the five of us from Florida, it was great.
The hotels were all good and provided great breakfasts. The luggage transfer went off without a hitch. Our bags were always at the hotels when we got there.
After a few days self supported from Passau to Salzburg we decided to upgrade to ebikes for this tour to make the climbs more manageable and to make it more likely that we would take side trips to see additional things along the way. We are really glad that the tour company was able to accommodate this last minute request. They were very helpful.
We found that the signs for the Tauern radweg changed part way through the ride. This is something to watch out for. We made a couple wrong turns but learned to keep our eyes peeled for signs.
It was a wonderful trip!
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 10, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- Several
- 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?
- Austria
- ★★★★★ Jan53
Biking through North Holland
Best of Holland North: Dutch Villages, Landscapes & the Keukenhof
This trip exceeded my expectations! Since most people own and ride bikes, the bike paths in cities and rural areas are extremely well marked and maintained. That, along with the flat topography, made this self-guided trip a really enjoyable experience! The training we received when the bikes were delivered to our hotel was thorough and all of our questions were answered. Since we had both a Garmin and printed maps, we managed to find our way most of the time. It was slightly difficult finding the correct route when we started out in the mornings, but people on the street were more than happy to point us in the right direction. The distance covered each day was reasonable and the only difficulty came from the wind. One day we seemed to be riding into the wind no matter which direction we turned!
The cities chosen for this tour were interesting and beautiful. The hotels were excellent, each with helpful staff present. There was always a convenient location for locking our bikes up at night either inside or near the hotel in a safe area. The breakfasts were amazing!!
Loved everything about this trip!!
- What was the date of your tour?
- 4/18/19
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- 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?
- Holland
- ★★★★★ JJ1970
Great Tour
Cycling Spain's Ebro River
Excellent tour. Great bikes and great support. Amazing views and historical towns.
- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 10+
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
- ★★★★★ arfarb
Exceeded expectations
Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
Some of the best cycling I have ever done. The food and people are just as amazing. Great options for nature and culture lovers.
- What was the date of your tour?
- March 20, 2019
- How many tours have you completed?
- 2
- 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
- ★★★★★ Julane
Scenic Adventures!
Tauern Bike Path (Salzburg-Salzburg)
This tour was one of our all-time favorites for its scenic beauty, unique adventures (salt mine, falconry demonstration, ice cave), charming hotels and quaint small towns. We spent two extra nights in Salzburg before the start of the tour to take advantage of all that the city offered as well as to test our bikes on two separate loop rides. At the end of this tour we did another week-long tour (Salzburg to Vienna, Lakes Option) to see a different but equally beautiful region of Austria.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 21-27, 2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- 30+
- 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
- ★★★★★ TJS53
Loved Slovenia
Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
We toured June 21st – 27th in wonderful Slovenia. The tour combined urban and rural riding on a mix of bike paths, bike lanes, country roads, natural surface forest tracks and a little busy urban riding. We enjoyed challenging climbs and at least one white knuckle descent, under mostly deep blue skies in very comfortable temperatures. Two mornings we delayed our departures until rain ceased, but we always had plenty of time to make the next hotel before nightfall. On the first three days we dealt with hills and pedaled through rolling hills with views of the Julian Alps on the horizon. We stopped to tour castles, churches, and caves. We rode with old friends and met some new ones along the way as well. The accommodations were always adequate and often very nice. In all this was a really fine tour.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 21, 2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Slovenia
- ★★★★★ Manuel and Maria
Great way to explore hidden gems of Greece!!!
Greece: The Peloponnese Peninsula
We love feeling like locals, eating like locals, seeing the country the way locals do. Mostly away from touristy places. This was exactly what this tour was about. Combining Greek history, mythology, archaeology, authentic Greek food in authentic tavernas, experiencing warm Greek hospitality, revelling in the natural beauty of the mountains and the warmth of the sea. What more can I say? It was an incredible trip made possible by the Arcas team, local to Greece, coordinated thru bike tours.com. Thank you so much!!!
- What was the date of your tour?
- Oct 13 to 20th, 2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- Several
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much harder
- 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?
- Greece
- ★★★★★ Carlosita
A most memorable trip
Cycling Spain's Ebro River
This tour following the Ebro River was very well organized. Each day was different. The directions were excellent, the roads were good surfaces, the innkeepers very nice, and the mix of history, nature, and wine country a good combination.
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 7, 2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- three
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
- ★★★★★ Carlosm
A very special experience
National Parks of Dalmatia by Bike/E-bike and Boat
This was one of the last tours offered for 2018 and Bike Tours acted quickly to get us signed up, and responded immediately to several questions we had. As for the tour company, we could not have been more pleased--the guides were excellent, the boat staff worked hard and were always helpful. And, the beauty of the coastline is exceptional.
- What was the date of your tour?
- Oct 13 to 20, 2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- none before 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?
- Croatia
- ★★★★★ senorbogus
Rolling through beautiful Alentejo
Castles and Wines of Portugal
Our self-guided tour was a wonderful experience. We were very happy with all of the rich, multi-sensory stimulation we experienced every day on the trip. Lots of variety and interest, especially for us who are very interested in history and local culture. Highlights were getting to visit up close and in a very informal and uncrowded manner the many historic sites - castles, prehistoric graves and boulder installations, village crafts workshops, medieval churches and cathedrals as well as the pleasant agricultural countryside. We particularly liked it that we experienced zero crowds of other tourists. By the way, the castle that you show in your photo was where we had lunch one day. We were the only persons there. It was our hottest and longest day, so we really needed the rest, refreshment and tranquility. Special highlights were the beautiful, historic inns where we stayed - converted palaces and convents several hundreds of years old. It almost made us feel like royalty, and for a modest price, too.
- What was the date of your tour?
- Oct. 6-13, 2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- 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?
- Portugal
- ★★★★★ happyPedals
Interesting, varied, a great trip
Greece: The Peloponnese Peninsula
You will see different landscapes, from the more mountainous interior to the coast. There are chances to see many historical sites. The GPS is a must for the trip, you will get lost if you don't have it. I strongly recommend bringing your own small pump which can handle both Presta and Schraeder. The pumps we were given were a bit dodgy, and handled only Presta although we had some Schraeder valves on our tires and just one spare tube (Presta). We came across some aggressive stray dogs but weren't attacked. I carried a stick on my bike just in case. As a woman I would have been a bit anxious doing this ride alone, I was happy to have a partner with me. The hotels were mostly family-run or small and felt friendly and welcoming. There were many great restaurants in the destination towns. Staying 3 nights in the final town with 2 loop trips was great - the hotel was good and you didn't have to keep packing and unpacking. You *must* carry the hotel list with you - the GPS will not lead you directly to the hotels and the hotel names are not part of the map binder. You will see some beautiful scenery and also some abandoned and derelict buildings and piles of garbage. Some days you ride on somewhat busy roads with very narrow shoulders, but we found that drivers were courteous. If you are going to use the Metro in Athens, do some research about the level of organized pick-pocketing there and take precautions. This was a rewarding trip for someone who loves biking and history and exploring.
- What was the date of your tour?
- Oct 2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Greece
- ★★★★★ Tim and Lisa
Wonderful trip
Greece: The Peloponnese Peninsula
The route was fantastic, with gorgeous scenery, some amazing long downhill stretches, and major archaeological sites. Roads usually had little to no traffic and uphills were never overwhelming (I didn't ever wear the reflective vest I brought or have to walk). All of the accommodations, staff, and breakfasts were very nice and sometimes great. We enjoyed all of the suggested stops and towns we stayed in. It would have been impossible to come up with a comparable route on our own. The Trek bikes were in good shape. The only problem we had was that one day we encountered burrs or thorns which caused repeated punctures (apparently a seasonal hazard).
- What was the date of your tour?
- 9/8/2018
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- 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?
- Greece
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