Staff Picks Bike Tour Reviews page 2
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★★★★★ Gail
Beautiful Slovenia
Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
This was an excellent tour to see the diversity of Slovenia's landscape! I highly recommend the e-bikes as it was hillier than expected (and e-bikes are just fun!) Everything went smoothly, especially the weather this late in the season (we went in mid October). Highly recommend!
- Countries included in this tour?
- Slovenia
-
★★★★★ Amy Reller
Epic trip!
Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
We did a self-guided tour (two couples) and it could not have been better! From the first night trip orientation in our Ljubljana hotel to our final stopping point in Piran, we couldn't stop talking about how smoothly everything went. The hotels were well familiar with the electric bike routine, our luggage was always waiting for us upon arrival in the lobby, the routes took us through beautiful Slovenian countryside and stopped at points of interest and historical sites that were worth the side trip. Our detailed route map (provided by local bike tour group Helia) was experienced enough to mention ideal locations to stop for lunch along the way which proved helpful when traveling through small villages with limited spots to stop to eat. We lucked out on the early October weather and had no rain which was a bonus. Having breakfast in our hotel before departing each morning made it easy to pack up and get back on the road. Would highly recommend this trip!
- Countries included in this tour?
- Slovenia
-
★★★★★ Pieter Van Niekerk
Quiet, beautiful and well organized.
Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
Excellent cycling roads with beautiful scenery. Well-spaced stops. Excellent GPS app. Good hotels. Good bikes and helpful upfront orientation.
- Countries included in this tour?
- Slovenia
-
★★★★★ Michael Schwartz
Great Exposure to a Slovenia not seen by tourists
Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
The bike tour of the Gems of Slovenia afforded us a glimpse into the hidden life of the country, at least the part we saw. The hotels were comfortable, especially the M Hotel in Ljubljana. Breakfast at the M Hotel and the Hotel Piran were great; the others middling to OK. The luggage delivery to each hotel was excellent. The routes from Ljubljana to Piran were good, although our navigation system failed us after the second day. The company faxed us paper directions but they were in black and white and were repeat documents of what we had already.
A few suggestions for change:
1. Provision of a cell phone holder (the plastic bag with velcro strips did not work)
2. A better GPS app
3. Two, not one, but two panniers
4. A way to ensure the charger for the E-bike does not fall out or be removed (someone removed my charger whether accidentally or intentionally I don't know)
5. A way to do laundry, either in town or at the hotel with turn around time to keep the momentum of the trip goingI would also consider making a town in Slovenia a central location with day trips to the surrounding environments.
Good job!
Michael
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 4 - 11
- How many tours have you completed?
- Two including this one
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Slovenia
-
★★★★★ Carrie Sciammas
Slovenia is wonderful
Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
We had a fantastic bike trip in Slovenia. The country is beautiful as are the people we met along the way. The food was delicious and there were so many things to see along the route. We enjoyed seeing nature, castles, caves ( so many caves!), water powered saw mills, quaint villages, vineyards, Lipanzer horses, rivers, the sea, etc etc.
The app was a bit tricky at times and we encountered some road construction nearly every day but that is all part of the adventure!
I'd love to see more of Slovenia from my bike!
- What was the date of your tour?
- October 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?
- Slovenia
-
★★★★★ Suzanne Kellett
Great ride through beautiful scenery
Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
A great ride for everyone even those who may not be regular cyclists. The schedule is not too taxing for e bike riders who only cycle occasionally. The route takes you through some really beautiful scenery albeit a bit hilly at times and the hotels were all in great locations.
- What was the date of your tour?
- June 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- Five
- 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?
- Slovenia
-
★★★★★ Heinrich Tillmanns
Amazing country by bike
Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
We booked this tour to celebrate two of our daughters graduations from university. We were a group of 6 and everything went super smooth. Amazing e-bikes, scenery, amazing people and would book again!
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- First tour
- 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?
- Slovenia
-
★★★★★ Chris Mauriello
Amazing trip!
Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
I've been a number of European bike tours and this one was excellent. The mapped route is a nice change and variety of scenery.
Flat and through the vegetable filed when you leave Ljubljana then mild hills with vineyards and farms with a great ride down to the coast to Muggia with lots of olive tress and ending up in Piran, a very cool place on the Adriatic.- What was the date of your tour?
- October 2024
- 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?
- Slovenia
-
★★★★★ Julie Krey
Enjoyable ride through Slovenia
Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
Very much enjoyed our bike ride. Flawless support and organization by the local partner as well as the GPS map enabled us to enjoy the ride without the hassles. Beautiful countryside and very friendly people and excellent accommodations. Only slight improvement would be a bridge detour and new road out of Muggia that were not on our GPS that would have been helpful.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 2025
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- 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?
- Slovenia
-
★★★★★ John E.
Awesome experience
Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
Well organised bike trip in stunning scenery. Overnight stays were fantastic and great fun. Our cycling companions made for a memorable trip.
- Countries included in this tour?
- Slovenia
-
★★★★★ David A.
A great experience
Emerald Tour of Slovenia’s Gems
This was an unguided town-to-town bike trip, 6 days, from Ljubljana to Piran. I rented a (non-electric) bike.
The bike (Trek FX2 gravel bike) was good, and fit me well. The rear derailleur was a bit out of alignment. They give you a spare tube and some tools, which I didn't need.
The nav was pretty easy. You get a nav app (Guibo) that has some glitches but works OK. There are little arrow stickers along the way that confirm the directions, but don't replace the app
The route was about 50% roads with fast cars and no shoulder, 30% paved village roads with few cars, 10% bike paths, and 10% gravel farm roads. This was more cars than I would have liked, but the tour has to work with what's there.
The hotels were all excellent - generally the best available place in each town.
The towns, and the associated attractions (castles, caves etc.) were great.
The rides were moderate - 20-30 miles each day, some elevation gains. Day 2 gained 2000' and was a little hard. They generally took ~3 hours including breaks. Take your time, otherwise you might arrive too early to check in.
In summary: a very well-planned and well-organized tour. I had a great time, and would definitely consider doing another tour with this company. Also, I thought the price was quite reasonable.
- What was the date of your tour?
- July 2025
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Countries included in this tour?
- Slovenia
-
★★★★★ Roxanne Hughes
Fabulous vacation experience
Wine & Cuisine in Girona's Emporda Plain
We had a great time cycling around the Catalonia region of Spain. Bike tours was great at helping us get set up and ensuring that our luggage arrived at our next location on time.
- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
-
★★★★★ Lisa Price
Gorgeous vistas!
Cycling Spain's Ebro River
I've been on several bike tours; this was by far my favorite. The routes were well-planned with views that took you from the origin of the Ebro through the mountains through gorges, along rich valleys & fields, ending in the celebrated Rioja Valley- with charming historical towns all along the way. Detailed GPS instructions made the routes easy to follow, allowing you to go at your own pace and stop to take advantage of the many interesting sights. My first time on an e-road bike and I'm a convert- the equipment was excellent. The local team was very helpful and supportive, making sure everything ran smoothly. I hope to do this tour again!
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2023
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- 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
-
★★★★★ Paul
Outstanding
Cycling Spain's Ebro River
It was a great time. Had a few hills, but all were manageable with the electric bike. The company that ran the tour was excellent.
- What was the date of your tour?
- August 2025
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was my 5th
- 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?
- Spain
-
★★★★★ Laura
Wonderful adventure!
Cycling Spain's Ebro River
This was a fun and easy bike tour. The accommodations were varied, fun and great! The tour company was helpful and knowledgeable. The introduction before we left was very through.
The scenery and sites were interesting and beautiful.- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2025
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
-
★★★★★ Ronnie
A Wonderful Self Guided Bike Trip
Cycling Spain's Ebro River
This trip was excellent in few respects.
The organization, communication with the company and follow up by Inshaaf during the few weeks leading to the trip were efficient and timely.
The routes were spectacular and both the written guides provided to us by IberoCycle and the RideWithGPS courses made the navigation easy and the stops easy to find.
The inns were not luxurious but were nice, clean and functional. Breakfasts and dinners were great.
This trip exceeded our expectations.
We were wowed by the views of the countryside and beauty of many of the villages we cycled through.- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
-
★★★★★ Tom Ahlberg
Marvellous route
Cycling Spain's Ebro River
A great tour, very scenic, great hospitality.
We were at wonderful places, we'd never found ourselves. It felt safe all the eay with few cars - only exception was the short route to Laguardia. Only twice we had to pull the bikes (not e-) uphill.
The personel was exceptional helpful and engaged. The variety in hotels, places. dinners etc. was very fine.- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
-
★★★★★ Paul Weaver
Exceeded expectations
Wine & Cuisine in Girona's Emporda Plain
Bike tours, Catalonia was an exemplary tour operator for us. The entire entire office staff welcomed us and rallied around getting our bikes ready to start out on the tour. Our tour guide and sag wagon drivers were fantastic help, and great company throughout. Girona and the whole Costa Brava tour route Was most enjoyable. The beach resort center were very highly developed, and not the sort of bucolic experience we seek , but we’re nonetheless not unpleasant. We were not overly impressed by the restaurant cuisine, in particular found the Michelin star restaurant to be more pretentious than interesting. We would skip that to Ed in a more representative local restaurant another time.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- 14+
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
-
★★★★★ Boris Kustin
Great as always.
Wine & Cuisine in Girona's Emporda Plain
Staff was very helpful. The places we've stayed were very luxurious. Planty of time to stop and enjoy sites along the way.
- Countries included in this tour?
- Spain
-
★★★★★ Damon Di Florio
Absolutely Awesome
Paris, Bruges and Amsterdam: Premium Bike and Boat
Our first boat and bike trip and it did not disappoint! Perfect for couples or a small group of friends, this was a luxury trip, outstanding food and accommodation and wonderful guides. This boat has 16 cabins (32 passengers max), they will split the group into 2 for an easier bike touring experience. Nothing was difficult, pace was around 17 km/ph, a little slow if you are a regular cyclist, but if your partner isn't, then it's perfect.



























