Experience Plus! Bicycle Tours

The Dordogne River valley in Western France is one of the country's longest and most scenic. For 500 km, the Dordogne cuts through layers of limestone plateau and meanders from the woody hills of the Massif Central through the heartland of prehistoric human settlements in Europe. Our bike tour of the Dordogne takes you on some of the nicest cycling routes in Europe, with breathtaking views of medieval castles topping the hills at every bend in the river. This is one of our all-time favorite bicycle tours.

The latest entry in the ExperiencePlus! expedition style cycling trip. This ride takes you across Sweden, Denmark and Norway, pedaling east to west through Sweden, down the Danish coast into Copenhagen and then west with a ferry to the Norwegian town of Stavanger and up to Bergen, capital of the fjord region.

Starting your cycling in Germany's wealthiest city, Hamburg, whose slogan is "gateway to the world" is sure to delight! You'll meander along the Elbe River to important trading towns of the Hanseatic League which from 1400-1800 dominated the trade routes and economies of the Baltic countries. Pedal through rural countryside to reach Lüneburg, while we finish up the tour at the Prussian kings' summer resort (Potsdam). The grand finalé is the transfer into Berlin.

Here, ancient Greek and Italian culture mingle in hillside vineyards, olive groves, and whitewashed villages nestled against the blue of the Mediterranean. Join us as we pedal through a landscape filled with unique conical shaped dwellings known as trulli, explore a fabulous limestone grotto, and visit three UNESCO World Heritage sites in Castel del Monte, Matera, and Alberobello. Along the way, we enjoy meals prepared with Italian, Greek, and Middle Eastern influences and discover the warmth and hospitality of Southern Italy's friendliest people

The South of France or Langue d'Oc region as it is known has always been a border region - between Spain and France, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, and, in ancient times, between Rome and northern Gaul. Today it is classic Mediterranean France with vast expanses of vineyards, vestiges of Roman history in Nimes and Narbonne, and a mix of languages that include classic French, traditional Occitan and Catalan. Join us to bicycle and explore this little traveled region on roads not much wider than bike paths.

Bicycle through the heart of Tuscany on a tour that begins in Cortona made famous by Frances Mayes in her book, "Under the Tuscan Sun." From Cortona you pedal to the beautiful Val d'Orcia recognized by UNESCO as a "World Heritage Landscape" for its unique blend of human and natural environments. Over the course of eight days you'll visit Pienza, Montepulciano, Montalcino, and Siena. Prepare to explore the picture postcard landscape of Tuscany, one of the most beautiful regions in Italy.

The Etruscans gave Tuscany its name and after the classical age the epicenter of Tuscany moved to the valley of the Arno River to the north of Siena, and this area of (southern) Tuscany was largely forgotten--until today. Modern Italians have re-discovered this scenic area for its landscapes, villages and historical sites and we're happy to offer you an opportunity to discover it, too. Cycle through important Tuscan towns including Volterra and San Gimignano, visit smaller gems like Massa Marittima and Castiglione della Pescaia, and enjoy spa hotels such as the one near the important Etruscan site of Populonia.

This bicycle tour of southeast Sicily explores the heart of ancient Magna Grecia. Beginning in Siracusa or Syracuse in English, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 3,000 years of Mediterranean history you'll discover the interior towns in the Valle di Noto. Most of which were destroyed in a massive earthquake that killed 60,000 people in 1693. Under Spanish dominion at the time architects called on two centuries of Urban planning experience and rebuilt eight towns here in the late Baroque style. You'll visit four of them, Ragusa, Scicli, Modica and Valle di Noto. All four are listed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites and each one is spectacularly beautiful.

An epic ride over the Alps all along the eastern side of Italy until the very heel of Italy's 'boot' will let you discover a staggering 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Vicenza, Venice, Ferrara, Ravenna, Urbino, Matera, Alberobello and Castel del Monte. Pedal imposing Alpine passes from Innsbruck, Austria down the Adige Bikeway through Trento and then on to Vicenza. From here we pedal across the northern plains to Venice before heading south along Italy's crystalline Adriatic coast. Explore the hills and beaches of the Marches and Abruzzi and pedal the "spur" of Italy - the limestone peninsula of the Gargano, before heading across the Puglia plateau through trulli country to Matera, the best known secret of Lucania, and on to Lecce, queen of Italy's baroque cities. Our ride ends in Santa Maria di Leuca at FINIS TERRAE, or the end of the world, where the Adriatic joins the Ionian Sea at the very tip of Italy's heel.

Romance, art, history, and great food come together on our most popular trip for beginning cyclists. From the canals of Venice, the cycle-friendly streets of Ferrara and the early Christian mosaics of Ravenna to the Renaissance architecture of Florence, this tour features seven days of pedaling through the heart of Italian culture and cuisine. Along the way you'll visit the Malpezzi-Price family farm for a picnic lunch and walk through the vineyards, discover colorful ceramics in Faenza, and enjoy gourmet meals in Emilia-Romagna - Italy's foremost pasta region.