Independent Tourist Cycling Vacations
Self-Guided and Supported Tours
After a lifetime of cycling throughout the world, Henry and Sandy started Independent Tourist over 17 years ago. The trials and triumphs of their many adventures, have been carefully selected to curate their personal favorites.
Their self-guided tours offer easy to moderate rides with reasonable distances while keeping relaxation and comfort in mind. Independent Tourist began as Henry and Sandy’s side business, but now has turned into the family business, and is expanding. The next generation of family owners and operators have recently acquired leadership of the company.
Beth Haynes and Betsy Silzer recently joined the team to provide a deeper insight into the adventure vacation industry, and their experience of employment, and as event directors with a few large cycling companies and organizations fits perfectly with the Independent Tourist experts. With our combined experience of cycling and marketing, we look forward to the future of Independent Tourist, as more people see cycling as a source of relaxation, and see us as their provider for those quality, worry-free vacations. We look forward to continue the same personable service, develop more destinations, and provide quiet, relaxing vacations.
Katy Trail End to End Tour
Tour Operator: Independent Tourist Cycling Vacations
USA
8 days (Bike: 6 days)
233 mi (~39mi per day)
Leisure
Cycle paths/trails
Self-Guided
Semi-Supported
Prices from
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Overview
Tour Operator Independent Tourist Cycling Vacations
Ride the full 225-mile length of America’s longest continuous rail to trail bike path
The Katy Trail End to End, our most popular bike tour running the full 225-mile length of America’s longest continuous rail to trail, formerly the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT) rail line. Follow sections of the Lewis and Clark expedition route as you enjoy a mix of beautiful high bluffs, wildlife, winery towns, the capitol city, historical railroad towns and B&B’s, beautiful restored train depots, viewing 120+ miles of the mighty Missouri River and much more, as you cycle eastbound over the week returning to St Charles. You’ll discover why the Katy Trail is in the Rail Trail Hall of Fame!
Katy Trail State Park High Bluffs Tour
Tour Operator: Independent Tourist Cycling Vacations
USA
6 days (Bike: 4 days)
147 mi (~37mi per day)
Leisure
Cycle paths/trails
Self-Guided
Semi-Supported
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Overview
Tour Operator Independent Tourist Cycling Vacations
A wonderful 5 day Missouri bike trails tour in Katy Trails State Park.
Start near the middle of the trail and enjoy bluffs, winery towns, small villages, the old rail tunnel at Rocheport, wildlife and two Missouri capital cities. Park in St. Charles and take our shuttle on Day 1 or arrive in Rocheport and shuttle back to your car at end of the tour.
Katy Trail State Park: The longest recreational rail to trail development.
Runs largely along the northern bank of the Missouri River, in the right-of-way of the former Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad.
Katy Trail Little Wineries Tour
Tour Operator: Independent Tourist Cycling Vacations
USA
3 days (Bike: 2 days)
64 mi (~32mi per day)
Leisure
Cycle paths/trails
Self-Guided
Semi-Supported
Prices from
Self-Guided
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Overview
Tour Operator Independent Tourist Cycling Vacations
Perfect for a mid-week or weekend getaway bike tour. Ride the Katy Trail between winery towns.
The longest recreational rail to trail development.
Runs largely along the northern bank of the Missouri River, in the right-of-way of the former Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad.
Katy Trail Ragtime Ride Tour
Tour Operator: Independent Tourist Cycling Vacations
USA
7 days (Bike: 5 days)
197 mi (~39mi per day)
Leisure
Cycle paths/trails
Self-Guided
Semi-Supported
Prices from
Self-Guided
US$ 1395
Overview
Tour Operator Independent Tourist Cycling Vacations
Explore where ragtime musician Scott Joplin lived on this Missouri bike trail.
Our #11 Ragtime tour is a cycling day shorter than the End-to-End but otherwise is the same experience. Start with a Day 1 shuttle from St. Charles to Sedalia. Enjoy bluffs, winery towns, small villages, the old rail tunnel at Rocheport, wildlife and two Missouri capital cities – the current in Jefferson City and the first capital at St. Charles.
Katy Trail Bike Trail: The longest recreational rail to trail development.
Runs largely along the northern bank of the Missouri River, in the right-of-way of the former Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad.
Katy Trail Winery Ride
Tour Operator: Independent Tourist Cycling Vacations
USA
5 days (Bike: 3 days)
119 mi (~40mi per day)
Leisure
Cycle paths/trails
Self-Guided
Semi-Supported
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Self-Guided
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Overview
Tour Operator Independent Tourist Cycling Vacations
A 4-day getaway bike tour riding the Katy Trail between winery towns.
Arrive in Rocheport on day one, cycle to Augusta and shuttle back to Rocheport on the last day. Alternately, you could park in Augusta and shuttle to Rocheport on day one, spend the first night, then cycle the tour to Augusta and back to your car. Katy Trail maps available.
The Katy Trail: The longest recreational rail to trail development.
Runs largely along the northern bank of the Missouri River, in the right-of-way of the former Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad.
PEI Confederation Trail Tour
Tour Operator: Independent Tourist Cycling Vacations
Canada
7 days (Bike: 5 days)
285 km (~57km per day)
Leisure
Quiet roads, On-road
Self-Guided
Semi-Supported
Prices from
Self-Guided
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Overview
Tour Operator Independent Tourist Cycling Vacations
Tignish to Elmira Prince Edward Island
This Prince Edward Island tour allows you to ride the length of Prince Edward Island on the Confederation Trail, Canada’s longest converted rail to trail path. Start your ride at the 0 km marker at Tignish, and end at the 273.4 km marker at Elmira. [Our distance is longer to account for evening hotel and B&B destinations off the trail.]
NOTE: This tour can be customized for most any request within reason and or what is available.
Fun Fact: Prince Edward Island has the highest concentration of lighthouses in North America, with an average of one lighthouse for every 34 square miles.
PEI East Pt. Lighthouse Tour
Tour Operator: Independent Tourist Cycling Vacations
Canada
7 days (Bike: 5 days)
270 km (~54km per day)
Leisure
Cycle paths/trails, Quiet roads
Self-Guided
Semi-Supported
Prices from
Self-Guided
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Overview
Tour Operator Independent Tourist Cycling Vacations
Charlottetown, East Point Light and Return
Ride from your Charlottetown lodging on the Confederation Trail with overnights at St. Peter's Bay, Souris (two nights), Montague and return to Charlottetown. This tour uses the Trail or options for more than half of the trip. Cyclists can make adjustments and select road options on most days.
Note: This tour uses the Confederation Trail for about 2/3 of the trip. Road alternatives are available on most days and for those interested can be selected each day as they go.
Mix of Rail-to-Trail and Quiet Roads
Fun Fact: Prince Edward Island has the highest concentration of lighthouses in North America, with an average of one lighthouse for every 34 square miles.
PEI North Shore Tour
Tour Operator: Independent Tourist Cycling Vacations
Canada
6 days (Bike: 4 days)
200 km (~50km per day)
Leisure
Quiet roads, On-road
Self-Guided
Semi-Supported
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Overview
Tour Operator Independent Tourist Cycling Vacations
Charlottetown to North Shore, Montague and Return
This is a 5 day Prince Edward Island tour on mostly quiet paved roads. There are some options to substitute the Confederation Trail in busy traffic areas. Ride from your B&B in Charlottetown to Stanhope on the north shore. After a night near the water, follow the shoreline through PEI National Park for additional nights in St. Peter’s Bay and Montague, then cycle back to Charlottetown on this Prince Edward Island biking tour.
Note: This tour is designed for cycling on roads. The Confederation Trail is an option from busy roads in some areas. This option can be selected by our cyclists as they go through their cycling day.
Fun Fact: Prince Edward Island has the highest concentration of lighthouses in North America, with an average of one lighthouse for every 34 square miles.
PEI Tip to Tip Tour
Tour Operator: Independent Tourist Cycling Vacations
Canada
8 days (Bike: 6 days)
337 km (~56km per day)
Leisure
Quiet roads, On-road
Self-Guided
Semi-Supported
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Overview
Tour Operator Independent Tourist Cycling Vacations
North Cape to East Point PEI
This is one of our most popular Prince Edward Island biking tours, running the full length of PEI.
Day 2 shuttle from your B&B in Charlottetown to North Cape/Tignish at the west end of the Island. Enjoy small villages of PEI as you ride the length of Canada’s smallest province during the week. Good views of the sea most days.
Day 7 shuttle is provided from East Point Lighthouse to Charlottetown for a last overnight on the tour.
Fun Fact: Prince Edward Island has the highest concentration of lighthouses in North America, with an average of one lighthouse for every 34 square miles.
Elroy Sparta Trail: 4-Trails Bike Tour
Tour Operator: Independent Tourist Cycling Vacations
USA
5 days (Bike: 4 days)
109 mi (~27mi per day)
Leisure
Cycle paths/trails
Self-Guided
Semi-Supported
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Overview
Tour Operator Independent Tourist Cycling Vacations
Marshland to Reedsburg, Wisconsin
Ride the entire 101 miles of the 4 Trails starting at Marshland in the west and finishing at Reedsburg in the east. Reedsburg has recently lost the option of B&B lodging. We conclude with the last nights stay in standard hotel (Super 8) or one of two options: 1: discount of $100 per couple for no overnight and an approx. 5:00pm shuttle back to Sparta at your car. (shuttle time adjustments are available) or 2: approx. 5:00 pm shuttle back to Sparta for an overnight at the previous Sparta hotel in this tour.
NOTE 1: This tour requires a morning shuttle (10:00 am) with arrival in Marshland before or by NOON to allow enough time to reach Onalaska at a reasonable hour on this Wisconsin bike tour.
NOTE 2: This tour can be customized for most any request within reason and or what is available