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Experience an enchanting atmosphere as you cycle through idyllic Italy
Discover a new side of Italy - quiet, sometimes almost mystical! On this gorgeous bike tour, you will see cities like Assisi, Perugia, Spoleto, or Narni, which have incredible art treasures and carry visitors back into the Middle Ages. The aesthetic appearance of the cities has hardly changed, and their surrounding landscapes are harmonious and inviting.
On generally isolated roads, this tour takes you through the valleys of the Apennines, over the softly curved hills of Lake Trasimeno, and through the solitude of small Umbrian villages. Raging rivers, fascinating gorges, and flocks of placid sheep roaming the countryside shape this part of Italy, and traveling by bike is one of the best ways to explore this area! You can smell the sweet aromas, rest in a tavern, and prepare yourself for the next stages. We cannot guarantee it, but the probability is high that Italy will welcome you with fabulous, sunny weather.
At the end of your trip, the 'Eternal City' of Rome will appear on the horizon. There, you can put your bicycle aside and enjoy the liveliness of the city and its people whilst enjoying a cup of cappuccino or glass of red wine. If you want to leave the stress of a hectic world entirely behind you, then you will love this trip and the memories it allows you to treasure.
Highlights
- Florence, 'Birthplace of the Renaissance'
- Rome, 'The Eternal City'
- Perugia's San Lorenzo Cathedral and Palazzo dei Priori
- Trasimeno Lake
- Assisi, home of St. Francis
- Hill-top villages of Montefalco, Trevi, and Campello
Learn More
Learn more about our self-guided tours or see more bike tours in Italy.
Interested in adding to your itinerary? Take a look at our cycling day tours in Florence and Rome. -
CC-BY-SA-4.0 - Perugia, Umbria, Italy. CC:Kristianpost' data-type='image'>CC-BY-SA-2.0 - Lake Trasimeno, Umbria, Italy. Pom'@Flickr' data-type='image'>CC-BY-SA-4.0 - Unique Italian liquors! CC:A78NX' data-type='image'>CC-BY-ND-2.0 - San Clemente Church in Rome, Italy. Guillen Perez@Flickr' data-type='image'>CC-BY-ND-2.0 - Gelato in Assisi, Umbria, Italy. Allan Harris@Flickr' data-type='image'>CC0 - Assisi, Umbria, Italy. CC:Gunnar Bach Pedersen' data-type='image'>CC-BY-SA-4.0 - The famous Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy. CC:Peter K Burian' data-type='image'>CC-BY-SA-2.0 - Assisi, Umbria, Perugia, Italy. ElisaDC@Flickr' data-type='image'>CC-BY-SA-4.0 - Assisi, Umbria, Italy. CC:Sidvics' data-type='image'>CC-BY-SA-2.0 - Assisi has amazing architecture! Andreas Manessinger@Flickr' data-type='image'>
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Daily program
Day 1: Florence
Arrive in fabulous Florence to receive a personal tour information briefing and receive your rental bike. We recommend you make the most of this beautiful city, 'The Birthplace of the Renaissance', by visiting Florence's phenomenal city center.Overnight in Florence.
Day 2: Florence – Passignano sul Trasimeno (37 miles/60 km + train)
In the morning, you'll take the train to Arezzo. There, you can visit the divine churches and palaces of this city of antiquities and gold. With your bike, you'll cycle on beautiful trails through the vast plains of the Val di Chiana, constantly accompanied by the hill and mountain silhouettes of southern Tuscany.You'll pass Cortona and arrive at Lake Trasimeno, the battlefield of Hannibal against the Romans, which offers incredible views.
Overnight in Passignano.
Day 3: Passignano sul Trasimeno – Perugia (22 miles/35 km)
You'll cycle along the lake to Torricella. From there, you'll continue through open fields, rolling hills, and idyllic meadows to Perugia. Stroll along one of the loveliest shopping streets in Italy to the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, the Palazzo dei Priori, or the Arco Etrusco - the Umbrian capital will fascinate you!Overnight in Perugia.
Day 4: Perugia – Assisi (19 miles/30 km)
Having crossed the river Tiber, it's only a few kilometers by bike to the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi. However, before you cycle up to the mystical city, you will take a trip to one of the most beautiful sanctuaries of Umbria - S. M. degli Angeli! In Assisi, you can immerse yourself in the colorful world of Giotto's medieval frescoes.Overnight in Assisi.
Day 5: Assisi – Spoleto (34 miles/55 km)
Your way leads you along the foot of the mighty Mount Subasio to the still entirely preserved medieval town of Spello. Afterwards, you will continue through the Valle Umbra to Spoleto. Cities such as Montefalco, Trevi, and Campello can be seen on the surrounding hills. From the more than 80 m high aqueduct, you can enjoy a vertiginous view of the Tessino Canyon, Mount Luco, and the Rocca Albornoz (papal fortress).Overnight in Spoleto.
Day 6: Spoleto – Narni (28 miles/45 km)
Between mountains, accompanied by the beautiful countryside, you will cycle to Terni and further to Narni. Want to treat yourself? Terni is known for its excellent pastries and for having the most creative cuisine of the region! Narni and its medieval streets will take you back to ancient times.Overnight in Narni.
Day 7: Narni – Rome (37 miles/60 km + train)
In the middle of the green heart of Umbria, you'll pass huge mountains until you reach Calvi, the last major town in this region. You can still enjoy the quiet and solitude of the Sabine mountains before you take the train to immerse yourself in the vibrant city of Rome.Overnight in Rome.
Day 8: Rome
Individual departure or extension. Don't want the adventure to end? Consider taking a cycling day tour in Rome to explore this unmissable city.Surface and terrain
You will cycle on a slightly hilly route during the whole tour, with longer, flat sections in between. You will find yourself almost exclusively on asphalt tracks and quiet side streets, although you may face some bad road conditions. Only very short sections are on busier roads (when entering or leaving cities).
Hotels
These are sample hotels and may vary based on availability.
Hotel C Florence
www.c-hotels.itHotel La Vela, Passignano
www.hotellavela.itHotel La Rosetta, Perugia
www.hotelarosetta.itHotel De Priori, Assisi
www.hoteldeipriori.itCharleston, Spoleto
www.hotelcharleston.itHotel Dei Priori, Narni
www.loggiadeipriori.itHotel President, Rome
www.hotelpresident.comLocal hotel taxes are not included in the tour price. These taxes typically range from €1-5 per person/night and must be paid at hotel reception upon checkout.
Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.
How to get there
Tour start
Nearest airport: Florence or Pisa, Italy
Nearest train station: Florence, ItalyTour end
Nearest airport and train station: Rome, ItalyIndividual return from Rome to Florence by train, approximately €15-50.
Tips on getting to and from your tour.
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Dates
Saturdays: Mar 30 -Jun 29; Aug 24 - Oct 12, 2024.
Season 1: Mar 30, 2024 - Apr 12, 2024, Sep 28, 2024 - Oct 12, 2024
Season 2: Apr 13, 2024 - May 10, 2024, Sep 7, 2024 - Sep 27, 2024
Season 3: May 11, 2024 - Jun 29, 2024, Aug 24, 2024 - Sep 6, 2024
Prices
Tour package
Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Per person, double occupancy €1249 €1299 €1379 Single use room (1 person/1 room) €1688 €1738 €1818 Bike Rentals
Standard touring bike, 21-speed unisex frame €99 Standard touring bike, 21-speed men's frame €99 Standard touring bike, 27-speed, upgrade €169 Electrically-assisted bike € 259 Extra Nights, Florence
Per person, double occupancy €125 Single room (1 person/1 room) €224 Extra Nights, Rome
Per person, double occupancy €99 Single room (1 person/1 room) €178 Discounts
Child, ages 0-5 sharing a room with 2 full paying adults (on base tour price) 100% Child, ages 6-11 sharing a room with 2 full paying adults (on base tour price) 50% Child, ages 12-14 sharing a room with 2 full paying adults (on base tour price) 25% Person, ages 15 and older sharing a room with 2 full paying adults (on base tour price) 10% Included services
- 7 nights accommodation
- Breakfast
- Welcome briefing (German, English)
- Luggage transfer from the hotel to hotel
- Detailed travel material (1 set per room; route and overview maps, route description, places of interest, signposting along the route, and important telephone numbers)
- 7-day Service Hotline available in case of problems or questions
- Train journey from Florence to Arezzo, including bike
- Train journey from Poggio Mirteto to Rome (without bike, bike delivery in Poggio Mirteto)
- App for navigation and GPS data
Local hotel taxes are not included in the tour price. These taxes typically range from €1-5 per person/night and must be paid at hotel reception upon checkout.
Bike rentals
The bikes available for rent on this tour are:
- Standard touring bike, 21/24-speed, unisex
- Standard touring bike, 21-speed, men's frames, crossbar (upon request only)
- Standard touring bike, 27-speed, upgrade
- Electrically assisted bike, Pedelec, unisex*
*More about electrically-assisted bikes >
Equipment included with the bike rentals:
- Saddle bag (water repellent), rear
- Handlebar bag (water repellent), with clear cover on top for map viewing
- Tools
- Pump
- Repair kit (with extra bicycle tube)
- Combination lock
Bike Protection:
Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE.
Pedals:
The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and the necessary equipment to change the pedals.Helmets:
Helmets are not included with the bike rentals. We recommend, for safety and hygiene reasons, that you bring your own helmet.Specifications on standard touring bikes
- Modern, high-resistant aluminum frame
- V-brakes
- Aluminium-rims
- Reliable tires, which ensure high duration
- Shimano Alivio derailleur on 21-speed
- Selle Royal Saddles
*Posture for 21-speed standard bikes will be upright for comfort
Upgraded components on 27-speed standard bikes
- Hydraulic Magura HS 11 brakes
- Shimano Deore XT derailleur on 27-speed
- High-quality Suntour suspension fork
*Posture for 27-speed upgraded standard bikes will be upright and forward
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Route Map
Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.
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Reviews
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★★★★★ Mark Abzug 3 months ago
meh
great cycling, but eurotours was terrible. no orientation, routed us on some busy roads, no customer service at all. I've done 5 of these, and this group was the worst support outfit by far
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BikeTours.com staff reply from Biketours Tour Advisor October 18, 2023
Hi Mark,
We appreciate that you took time to leave us your feedback! We're disappointed to hear you were not satisfied with the local assistance. It is not uncommon that some bike tours do not offer a welcome reception, however we do always provide an emergency contact number - locally as well as a Biketours emergency line which is answered 24/7. We apologize if you felt unsafe during some of your rides. While we always strive to provide the most safe & quiet routes, it is sometimes inevitable that we have to link paths on a busier stretch. We hope, despite some of inconveniences, you were able to bring home good memories from your trip. If you'd like to consider another one, we'd be happy to help point you in the direction of tours that offer a welcome reception at the start of the tour, as well as tours exclusively on designated bicycle paths. -
BikeTours.com staff reply from Biketours Tour Advisor October 18, 2023
Hi Mark,
We appreciate that you took time to leave us your feedback! We're disappointed to hear you were not satisfied with the local assistance. It is not uncommon that some bike tours do not offer a welcome reception, however we do always provide an emergency contact number - locally as well as a Biketours emergency line which is answered 24/7. We apologize if you felt unsafe during some of your rides. While we always strive to provide the most safe & quiet routes, it is sometimes inevitable that we have to link paths on a busier stretch. We hope, despite some of inconveniences, you were able to bring home good memories from your trip. If you'd like to consider another one, we'd be happy to help point you in the direction of tours that offer a welcome reception at the start of the tour, as well as tours exclusively on designated bicycle paths.
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★★★★★ Michael Kelly November 8, 2022
All roads lead to Rome
This tour was spectacular. This trip checks all the boxes — it has the art, beauty and walkability of Florence; the majestic history of Rome; tied together by the bike ride that got us away from the crowds in both cities and into the countryside and small towns, traveling at a perfect pace to appreciate this beautiful region of Italy. The luggage transfer was seamless. The hotels were very comfortable and (except in Rome) all were small and conveniently located near each town’s important sites and central piazza.
You asked for feedback.
One layover day would have been great, probably in Assisi where we found there’s too much to see in just one afternoon/evening. I don’t know how you would make it work, but you asked for suggestions.
The intro session on Day 1 was a serious weak point in the tour. The evening talk was cancelled and the bike distribution on the morning of Day 2 was handled by a nice employee who only spoke Italian. It could have been a disaster with no instruction about the route or the unfamiliar ebikes, but the group worked it out.
The hotel in Rome was comfortable but it was the only one not located in a convenient part of town and it’s focus on large groups traveling by tour bus was a jarring contrast to everything else about the tour.
Some of the hills were longer and harder than expected, and traffic on a few short stretches was difficult. But our lasting memories will be the vineyards and olive groves, the quiet side streets and bike paths, the breathtaking hill towns, and the flexibility to stop at a cafe for pastries, cappuccinos or afternoon beers.- What was the date of your tour?
- October 1, 2022
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was our second
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Paul Clark October 16, 2022
Cycling a Disappointment but Good travel Itinerary
My partner had a biking accident and, after completing the first day’s 60 km ride nonetheless, we decided to take the train and just enjoy this lovely part of Italy. There was just too much traffic and too few shoulders on the roads for us to feel safe and relax. The hotels were comfortable and clean and typically in the historic centre of these charming little towns. There were many sites to see and the daily hiking up and down the local hills while site seeing provided more than adequate exercise. Overall, a wonderful experience-despite the biking misadventure-which we will remember forever.
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★★★★★ rubbernecker October 23, 2019
- What was the date of your tour?
- 10/5 to 10/11
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1st
- 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
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★★★★★ 0341MM June 12, 2019
Pretty Scenery and Wonderful People
This is my third European bicycle trip but the first one in which I did not follow a river. The navigation was more difficult than I imagined.
I would strongly recommend three things: 1. Study your maps and instructions so you know what landmarks to expect on each day's ride. 2. Download the EuroBike app and be sure to load the gps coordinates into BEFORE your trip. (You may need a computer to do it.) You can find a helpful pdf document on how to do it via an internet search. 3. Watch for the cycling directional stickers at intersections. You hardly notice them when you first start the trip but rarely miss them once you get a hang of things. These stickers are very helpful and will keep you from making wrong turns.
Once I integrated these three things into my daily ride navigation was easy and I could just the beautiful Italian countryside and the wonderful villages.- What was the date of your tour?
- May 18 - 24
- How many tours have you completed?
- 3
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ bobe September 20, 2018
Chilling in Italy
Awesome time riding through the Tuscan and Umbrian countryside from Florence to Rome. Was all we expected and more with the added knowledge of having the 'Eurobike' crew on hand if we needed them (not that we did). Well organised, great equipment and excellent signage to ensure we didn't end up in France. Can't wait to do it all again farther down South.
Rob, Elano, Maggie and Dave x- What was the date of your tour?
- 25/08/2018
- 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
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★★★★★ carlosferreira January 9, 2018
- What was the date of your tour?
- october 2017
- 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
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★★★★★ Steven October 13, 2017
Fun trip
Great way to see Medeval towns not jammed with tourists. Nice hotels, excellent local cuisine and sights. I wish the roads were better maintained with less car traffic and the bikes were lighter.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 22-29
- How many tours have you completed?
- 1
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ David C September 22, 2017
Well supported trip
This is the best way to see a country. We experienced the pace of life in the countryside and found wonderful stops along the way. We used our own sense of time and always found our room and luggage waiting for us with no complications. The distances and destinations were well thought out and offered lots of variety for us. Breakfast was served every morning and it was a great way to fuel up and meet with other riders before the day begins. The trip was just as advertised. We rode along quiet country roads and lanes and we didn't get lost-the guide book and signage were very helpful and easy to spot.
- What was the date of your tour?
- Sept 9-16, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- this was the first
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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BikeTours.com staff reply from Jim Johnson, Founder and president September 23, 2017
David, thank you for your review and ratings. We're glad you had a great tour, and we couldn't agree more that "This is the best way to see a country!
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★★★★★ Clint September 8, 2017
A great trip through the countryside of older towns starting and stopping at two great cities
Great trip through wonderful old hilltop towns I wouldn't normally have put on my list. So happy to do this tour and visit these towns. The riding was great with an excellent variety in landscapes. The route was marked the whole way and included turn by turn directions that were easy to follow.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 8/26/2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 8
- 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
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BikeTours.com staff reply from Jim Johnson, Founder and president September 9, 2017
Clint, I'm glad you had a great time! It's so much fun exploring off-the-beaten path destinations! And the Tuscan and Umbrian regions are indeed magnificent!
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★★★★★ Patrick June 15, 2017
Beautiful and challenging
A great way to experience Tuscany and Unbria regions of Italy. At first we thought the bikes were somewhat heavy and cumbersome, but after a week we realized they were the right bikes for the road conditions. the road routes were carefully selected to get away from as much traffic as possible. The secondary roads were often not in the best condition, so we appreciated the stability of the bikes. Be prepared for hills. Intermediate rating was definitely on the upper side of intermediate, so prepare for the trip. Eurobike route stickers were very useful. We wish the bikes had water bottle cages.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 27 - June 3 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 12
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ pizza June 5, 2017
Italy tour
We have done two other Eurobike tours and this was very similar. The roads in Italy are a bit less tended than in other parts of Europe and we were often on traffic roads but the scenery and the route was lovely! The weather was fantastic. I would suggest that you be sure to book your sightseeing in Florence and Rome ahead of time because they are both very busy and exciting cities. There were also some long difficult hills but well worth the climbs.
- What was the date of your tour?
- May 20-27, 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Jeri April 12, 2017
Lovely spring countryside
We did the self-guided version of this tour, and loved cycling through the Umbrian countryside. The routes were well-planned to avoid traffic. Bikes were adequate. Baggage transfer and all such arrangements were handled very well. Trip notes/gps were mostly good with a few glitches, but we were the first riders of the new season, so I would imagine the divergences will soon be cleared up, and we never lost our way. The tour company also uses a system of small trail markers that were very good. What we did not enjoy: the overnights. Towns were generally pretty dead other than touristy things--and not a lot of that. Little along the route days as far as nice places to stop (parks, cafes, or the like) either. Hotels were okay, but nothing special.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 1-8 April 2017
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists
- Do you recommend this tour?
- No
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BikeTours.com staff reply from Jim Johnson April 13, 2017
Thanks so much for your feedback. We're sorry you didn't enjoy the towns along the route. I think you're absolutely correct that touring so early in the season played a role in your experience, as the towns, cafes and other settings are quite lively later in the season. We'll note that for advising future clients. I've done the tour and loved it, but it was early September and quite lively.
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★★★★★ Timr October 18, 2016
Fascinating Rides Through Medieval Towns and Beautiful Countryside
Every day the itinerary took us to multiple medieval cities with storybook characteristics and fascinating histories. Accommodations were very good. Navigation (self guided) was reasonably easy, with thousands of stickers on signposts to help confirm the written instructions. Bikes provided were good, sturdy touring bikes without problems. All went smoothly for a wonderful tour.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- 6
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Dottie September 26, 2016
First bike trip and it was wonderful
We took this tour about 6 years ago and it was wonderful then. Can't say anything bad about the trip. We went in May and there was a heat wave, it reached 37C the day we arrived in Perugia.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 2010
- How many tours have you completed?
- 6
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Kiwisabroad September 23, 2016
Bike trip recommended
The scenery was great - how could rural Italy be otherwise! The maps and instructions - and especially the 'E' stickers posted along the route, were excellent. The bikes were fine - no suspension but certainly good seats.
We only saw our contact person briefly at the beginning and end of the ride and didn't feel especially well supported although I'm sure if we had had a major problem, someone would have stepped up. (I'm comparing with a Czech Bike Tours 5 day trip we did last summer.)
We sought a gradient map of the route before booking it and only got a fairly hard to read and un-useful GPX one. Again, last year in the Czech Rep we found good gradient maps for each day on the website. It's quite nice to know when there's a big hill coming up! That said, the maps which were provided in the briefing the night before we set out had arrows in 2 colours showing steep uphill and steep downhill.
We are 4 relatively fit 60-year-olds. The biking was tough at times but we certainly managed it. We WOULD recommend it. (As an indication, with a coffee mid-morning and a picnic lunch and photos taken along the way, we were on the road from about 8.30am-4pm, perhaps a little less.)
The hotels were great, more charming than they looked on the website, although not always easy to find! (There are no more E stickers to follow). And - as we'd expected - accommodation was invariably in a town on a good sized hill! Hotel staff were great.
- What was the date of your tour?
- September 2016
- How many tours have you completed?
- 5
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- As expected
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers, Families with teens
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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★★★★★ Peterxyz September 17, 2016
Great trip
Some steep hills, always a down to balance it. Very well marked trail. Had a great time, just managed to avoid rain at end of two days.
- What was the date of your tour?
- 3-9 September
- How many tours have you completed?
- 4
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Somewhat harder
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- Solo travelers
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
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