Girolibero

Blending nature, culture and fine cuisine, this leisurely bike and barge tour along the River Po offers more than just a taster of Northern Italy. It explores celebrated cities of art, one of Europe's prime Nature Reserves, and a wealth of tucked-away rural hamlets, rewarding our daily rides with authentic regional dishes back on board. The tour starts in Mantua - in its heyday a major city state crowned by the Italian Renaissance - progresses to Ferrara and culminates in Venice. Along the way: Adria, once a key Roman port; the natural wonders of the Po Delta, famed for its birdlife; and colourful Chioggia, gateway to the Venetian lagoon. Finally: the glory of Venice herself.

This trip operates in reverse on alternate weeks.

The Loire Valley, also known as 'garden of France', is a charming land of vineyards, flowers and rolling green hills, which will enchant you with its more than two hundred castles and luxuriant natural landscapes. It will be like riding in a fairy tale, in a picturesque countryside dotted with romantic châteaux, providing regular interludes to the cycling. While you marvel at this medieval splendour, don't forget to try the region's sumptuous cuisine and famous wines, for a true royal holiday experience!

A wonderful bike tour starting from the Austrian border at Brennero Pass: you'll cycle downhill through ancient villages, forts and green meadows of South Tyrol. Riding along the Adige River you'll reach the Veneto region, with a stop at the palm-lined shores of lake Garda and then Verona, the town of Romeo & Juliet, with its impressive Roman arena. Further on you'll discover Vicenza, renowned for the classical Palladio architecture, and Padua, home to one of the oldest Italian (and European) universities. At the end of the trip the timeless fascination of Venice will invite you to an exploration by foot and by water along its canals and small 'calli'.

You'll pedal from one incredible view to the next, admiring Renaissance art and architecture and getting to know the lands of many great artists of the past, such as Leonardo da Vinci and the composer Giacomo Puccini. The towns of Pisa and Florence do not need any further presentation, but in this tour you'll discover also picturesque villages where you'll be tempted by the excellent Tuscan cuisine.

From the Austrian border through the Italian South Tyrol you will cycle along quiet routes, past peaceful villages and picturesque little castles and cloisters, until the scenic Garda lake, beloved by artists and poets.

Terrain: 95% tarmac, 5% unpaved

The route is mainly flat with only a few short climbs, on paved cycle paths or secondary roads.

Leisure cycling in mostly flat areas, with only a few short ups and downs. Little effort required, suitable for everyone. This tour is also suitable for children. The longest stage, from Bolzano to Trento, can be shortened by taking the train.

Apulia is a region in south-eastern Italy that includes the heel part of Italy's boot, suspended between the Ionian and Adriatic Sea. The region is characterised by endless olive groves, long fields of grain and vineyards. You start cycling in Matera, UNESCO world heritage site with its 'sassi' and European capital of culture 2019, and arrive in Lecce, also known as 'Florence of the South' because of its magnificent baroque architecture. This bike tour will lead you into a region of scenic beauty, which is, by today's standards, still unspoiled by the unattractive aspects of tourism and still retains testimony of its great and ancient culture.

Apulia is a region in south-eastern Italy that includes the heel part of Italy's boot, suspended between the Ionian and Adriatic Sea. The region is characterised by endless olive groves, long fields of grain and vineyards. You start and end the tour in Lecce, also known as 'Florence of the South' because of its magnificent baroque architecture. This bike tour will lead you into a region of scenic beauty, which is, by today's standards, still unspoiled by the unattractive aspects of tourism and still retains testimony of its great and ancient culture.

Terrain: 99% tarmac, 1% unpaved

Mostly in the lowlands, sometimes hilly. Traffic is almost non existent in Apulia except during the high holiday season. The route includes very beautiful stretches on the coast.

Some days the itinerary will be flat, others it will present some hills. Suitable for everyone in good physical condition and with some cycling experience.

The Loire Valley, also known as 'garden of France', is a charming land of vineyards, flowers and rolling green hills, which will enchant you and your family with its more than two hundred castles and luxuriant natural landscapes. It will be like riding in a fairy tale, in a picturesque countryside dotted with romantic châteaux, providing regular interludes to the cycling. While you marvel at this medieval splendour, don't forget to try the region's sumptuous cuisine and famous wines, for a true royal holiday experience!

The Loire Valley, also known as 'garden of France', is a charming land of vineyards, flowers and rolling green hills, which will enchant you with its more than two hundred castles and luxuriant natural landscapes. It will be like riding in a fairy tale, in a picturesque countryside dotted with romantic châteaux, providing regular interludes to the cycling. While you marvel at this medieval splendour, don't forget to try the region's sumptuous cuisine and famous wines, for a true royal holiday experience!

Terrain: 90% tarmac, 10% unpaved

On this tour you cycle through the wonderful Loire Valley. This cycle trip is not very demanding, though sometimes there are some hilly sections. The daily stages are not very long – always about 50 kms – mostly in the lowlands. The itinerary is mainly on cycle paths or paved roads with a low volume of traffic.

Leisure cycling in mostly flat areas, with only a few short ups and downs. Little effort required, suitable for everyone.

... discover Vicenza, architect Palladio's personal 'showcase' and part of the World Heritage List since 1994... taste a typical 'grappa' in Bassano, famous also for its covered wooden bridge... cycle through the Prosecco vineyards between Asolo and Treviso... explore the timeless fascination of Venice by foot and by water... take a walk in the charming Chioggia, affectionately known as 'Little Venice'... discover the city centre of Padua, home to one of the oldest Italian (and European) universities. This tour belongs to the European classics, curling between the Alps and the Adriatic sea.