The team were terrific to deal with in the lead up to the trip. They were extremely responsive and knowledgeable and we're able to answer all our questions. This was our first e-bike trip and all our concerns were alleviated by the team. When we arrive in Sardinia, the representative who met us walked us through the bikes, how to get the best out of them and maximise our enjoyment of the tour. Each day was terrific with great views (and yes there were some hills to climb but the e-bikes make this a lot easier). The accommodation was great, the food particularly enjoyable. I would highly recommend them and their self guided tours. We'll be back for another trip for sure.
Bicycle toursBeach
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Sardinia, Cabras, Pula, Arborea
Sardinia, Cabras, Pula, Arborea, Arbus, Nebida, Calasetta, Sant Anna Arresi
This was the first time that this trip had been run using E-bikes, so everyone was keen to see how the trip would unfold. We were introduced to our bikes on the first evening, and because of a change of hotel we had the opportunity to cycle into Monopoli, and return in the dark after an amazing first meal. When I checked the itinerary I could see that the first two rides were going to be the most challenging in terms of ascent and distance, but I quickly realised that E-bikes are a great leveller. There are four levels of assistance, with turbo being the most powerful. The motor rewards effort, the faster you peddle, the more assistance it gives you, up to its maximum speed - these bikes are not chipped like the delivery cycles that whizz around around our streets bringing takeaways to the masses. Each person in the group decided how much effort to put in, getting up the many hills, but hats off to the one person in the group who rode the whole way on an ordinary bike . . . . and he was not at the back. Respect!! With uphills come downhills, and there were plenty of those. Long sweeping downhills that went on and on. Great fun. We were well fed and watered on this trip, both at lunchtime and in the evenings, and for the most part the weather behaved itself.
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Hut, Resort, Villa
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Sorrento, Monopoli, Matera, Cast
Sorrento, Monopoli, Matera, Castelmezzano, Monte Sant'Angelo, Paestum, Salerno
The trip was a well planned and executed family orientated holiday. I feel that two "On Board" guides was unnecessary - the shore guides were excellent and added good value.
Dora our guide leader was amazing. Very calm and very organised.
The boat, Sans Sova, was very comfortable. The crew were very friendly and the meals delicious.
An exquisite cycling holiday which fulfilled all the usual Explore essentials: plenty of variety both in cycling and other activities, beautiful accommodation throughout, rustic village hosts, great food/restaurant selections by the guide Paul, stunning scenery at every turn and plenty of ‘off the beaten track’. Paul has over 2 decades of experience in cycle guiding in Turkey, and it showed in his cycle guiding and knowledge of the language, culture and flora and fauna-I particularly enjoyed his linguistic insights and the visit to the local village mosque. Others in the group who were architecturally inclined enjoyed his love of history too. The bikes couldn’t have been better for the terrain and were very comfortable with plenty of gears. I tend to find Explore holiday bikes are usually not great quality, so this was a pleasant surprise. Turkey has far exceeded our expectations and this has been one of my best ever holidays. If you’re not afraid of a bit of hot weather and undulating terrain and want to get a glimpse into local Turkish life, then I highly recommend you book onto this trip! Thanks again Paul for the fantastic memories you’ve helped us make.
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Home-stay
Age Range
16-79 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Kas, Dalyan, Köyceğiz, Fethiye
Kas, Dalyan, Köyceğiz, Fethiye, Saklikent Gorge, Sütleğen, Patara Beach
This was my fifth Explore holiday - the fourth cycling tour I’ve done - and they’ve all been so good I’ve had no hesitation in booking with you again. I think the stand-out feature of each tour has been the guides we’ve had on each trip - they’ve all been excellent without exception and have dedicated every waking moment of each tour to making sure each has run perfectly and participants are happy. Our guide in Puglia - Massimo - was great. He was always cheerful, encouraging, kept us well informed of plans and was very knowledgeable about the region. He also took excellent photos and videos of our trip which he was happy to share. Great memories of an excellent holiday!
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Wonderful trip. It was amazing to be able to travel from one hill town to another, each one so different from the others.
Highlights of our trip included an art exhibit in Perugia on how medieval artists perceived nature - absolutely beautiful and we had the place to ourselves, quite a contrast to the crowds at the Uffizi; staying in a 14th century pilgrim guest house in Assisi; walking out to the aqueduct bridge in Spoleto; hearing all the bells in Narni suddenly start ringing when the new Pope was elected and running outside along with everyone else to find out what had happened; and, my husband would say, the wild boar stew he ate that evening at a restaurant in the square.
Logistics were well organized and the routes well planned. It was a challenging route, however, with many steep climbs. We were glad we reserved e-bikes. There were also a number of places with poorly maintained roads, quite a bit of springtime road construction, and some areas where the route took roads with heavy traffic. Italian drivers were quite considerate, though.
We had a great time and were sad to go home. We could have stayed in each town longer, and will hopefully return to Italy soon.
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Rome, Florence, Trasimeno Lake
Rome, Florence, Trasimeno Lake, Perugia, Assisi, Clitunno, Narni
Retrace the steps of the Roman, Ottoman and Habsburg Empires on this cycling adventure along the mighty Danube River. Over eight days, you’ll ride through small villages, lowland forests and lush farmland as you cycle from Vienna to Budapest, passing through Slovakia. Discover the Baroque style at the Schonbrunn Palace or get lost in the cobbled laneways of Komarom – a spa city with one foot in Hungary and the other in Slovakia. Visit the architectural jewel of the Danube River – the Esztergom Basilica – and pass by the white-hued Bratislava Castle. Celebrate a day in the saddle with a luxurious soak in one of Budapest's steaming baths, then maybe spend the night at the iconic ruin bars. If you’re seeking an active adventure – cycling is the best way to experience the cosmopolitan cities along the Danube.
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Guest House
Age Range
14-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Budapest, Vienna, Bratislava, Gy
Budapest, Vienna, Bratislava, Gyor, Komarom, Esztergom
As Central Europe's third largest lake, cycling around the lake is special in that you visit all three countries in a week. Hosting a huge 270km lakeside cycling path, it's a beautifully flat journey from one country to the next, where you'll take in the sights and scents of cherry orchards, wildflower fields and daisy-strewn meadows.
Cross the mighty Rhine Delta that straddles the border between Austria and Switzerland and encounter wonderful wildlife, including kingfishers hidden in the reeds. Take a refreshing dip in the turquoise waters during stop-offs, visit half-timbered frescoed towns for lunch (kretzer (perch) and zander (pike-perch) are Konstanz specialities), and then admire the myriad of Baroque churches and Gothic cathedrals.
Brimming with historical and cultural highlights, jump off your bike to visit fairytale Meersburg boasting twin castles, steep streets and vine-covered hillsides. Get a true taste of Germany when cycling through the Bavarian vineyards - local Muller-Thurgau wines come from Riesling and Silvaner grapes for which Lake Constance is famous. For chocolate-lovers, mediaeval Stein am Rhein boasts an array of lovely chocolate shops, and you can visit the 11th century monastery while you're there.
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Bregenz, Arbon, Stein Am Rhein
Bregenz, Arbon, Stein Am Rhein, Konstanz, Friedrichshafen