The cycle paths from the Dolomites to Lake Garda and on to Verona were amazing. The leader (Fabio) was fantastic; he was friendly, efficient, knowledgeable and above all patient. He took us to, or recommended, excellent places for lunch and supper each day. The extras in addition to the cycling were great fun, e.g. the cable car ride in Bolzano and the wine tasting in Soave.
The bikes were sturdy and well maintained. There were only two up-hills of note during the trip. If you are reasonably fit you will get up them easily, otherwise be prepared to get off and push for a short distance.
The accommodation was very good with en-suite rooms in all hotels and great breakfasts, including lots of healthy options. On the last night we stayed at a place outside of Venice but very close to the Mestre train station (it took 15 minutes to reach the Grand Canal). We were able to go back to Venice on the Sunday morning, after the organised holiday finished, but before our flight.
We had an excellent holiday, enjoyed with like-minded people who were good fun to be with. Well done to Explore for offering and organising such an interesting and action-filled week.
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Hut
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Venice, Mestre, Merano, Bolzano
Venice, Mestre, Merano, Bolzano, Lake Caldaro, Lake Garda, Verona
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
We had a wonderful time on this cycling trip in Sardinia!
It was a great route with lots to places to stop along the way. So much good food, and all the accommodation was wonderful. Some of the roads were a bit busy for my liking, not sure if I would be comfortable taking children on those roads but for adults it was fine. A very enjoyable week- a highlight of our month in Italy!
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Sardinia, Pula, Sant'Antioco, Sa
Sardinia, Pula, Sant'Antioco, Sant Anna Arresi, Chia
An amazing trip, seeing so many different sides of Italy, the main tourist centres, but the rural villages. Fantastically organised and supported when things went wrong (personal injury). Highly recommend this trip for adventurers.
Bicycle toursExplorer
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Rome, Turin, Piedmont & Valle d’
Rome, Turin, Piedmont & Valle d’Aosta, Aosta Valley, Aosta, Berceto, Aulla, Massa, Lucca, San Miniato Alto, San Gimignano, Siena, San Quirico d'Orcia, Radicofani, Bolsena, Saint Bernardo Pass, Viterbo, Sutri, Formello, Verres, Viverone, Vercelli, Vigevano, Pavia, Piacenza, Parma
Explore Tuscan gems on a specially crafted cycle trip for all ages. There are no steep Tuscan hills on this beautifully designed self guided cycle taking in some of Tuscany's most famous towns. Pedal effortlessly along the meandering Arno river cycle paths that take you from one classic Tuscan city to the next. From the leaning tower of Pisa to the elegant Piazza Anfiteatro in Lucca and the famous Duomo of Florence, there are no shortage of sites to engage the whole family. Delve further into the countryside to visit lesser known corners such as Calci, where a famous Natural History Museum is housed and Vinci, where Leonardo da Vinci was born. Cycle through a quintessential Tuscan landscape, taste the many local specialties and stay in three comfortable family run hotels generally with swimming pools and gardens, perfect for relaxing after the cycling day is over.
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Villa
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Tuscany, Pisa, Empoli, San Giuli
Tuscany, Pisa, Empoli, San Giuliano Terme, Lucca, Vinci, Florence
Your journey takes you along a mix of inland and coastal routes, starting amidst the Baroque splendour of Ragusa and Modica and ending in stunning Siracusa on the east coast. You'll cycle through lush valleys filled with olive trees, almond groves, vineyards and citrus orchards and patchwork puzzles of dry-stone-wall farms, as you cycle between UNESCO World Heritage Sites rebuilt in the typical late Baroque style after the famous 1693 earthquake.
You'll take in plenty of Inspector Montalbano country - a treat for fans of the fictional detective series - including Scicli with its atmospheric streets and hilltop mausoleum as well as the charming fishing villages of Punta Secca and Sampieri. Following the scenic Mediterranean Route cycleway you'll head towards the sea, taking in sublime coastline, punctuated by golden sandy beaches and picturesque fishing villages such as Portopalo di Capo Passero and pretty Marzamemi with its Arab history. After passing through Nero D'Avola wine country your holiday finishes in beautiful Siracusa, an ancient Greek city whose 'historical heart' is the island of Ortigia, accessed by a bridge from the mainland. Ortigia's grand squares, narrow medieval streets and romantic palaces and castles are a delight to behold.
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Villa, Resort
Age Range
13-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Syracuse, Sicily, Modica, Marina
Syracuse, Sicily, Modica, Marina Di Modica, Portopalo Di Capo Passero, Noto
We were bike fitted with very comfortable bikes which we enjoyed riding. The GPS was excellent although we did misplace ourselves now and then. The rides went through very beautiful Tuscan country and lovely villages. My favourite was Lucca. Thanks for providing great equipment we enjoyed this week of our holiday in Italy.
The Via Francigena is well signed and has a lot of different scenery, wheat and hazelnut farms, forests old towns etc and great different accommodation each night.
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Rome, Siena, San Quirico d'Orcia
Rome, Siena, San Quirico d'Orcia, Radicofani, Bolsena, Viterbo, Sutri, Formello
It's no surprise that Lake Garda is northern Italy's most popular destination. Full of beauty and history, lush green hills frame the clear waters as each point around the lake has its own unique character and charm. We have chosen the southern tip of the lake as our base, perched on the edge of the Mincio River. Our routes take you through diverse landscapes and towns around Lake Garda and along the river, on both the Lombardy and Veneto sides of the water. Cycle through vineyards, medieval towns, and along the famous Sirmione peninsula with its ancient castle. There's plenty to see along the way as you can visit UNESCO Heritage sites, Roman ruins, and of course, relax lakeside. There are also opportunities to sample the local wines in Bardolino and Valpolicella, regarded as some of the country's finest reds.
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
12-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Lake Garda, Bardolino, Borghetto
Lake Garda, Bardolino, Borghetto, Lombardy & the Lakes, Sirmione, Mantua
This is not just a cycling holiday it is an immersion into local Tuscan life, from wine and oil sampling to hot thermal spa baths and the chance to taste local wines and olive oils. Sample the Vino Nobile of Monepulciano, rich Pecorino cheese in Pienza or take a bath in Roman Bagno Vignoni.
This trip was bloody amazing woohoo!!!
We hired one normal bike and one ebike. Both bikes were adequate. Our bikes didn’t have water bottle holders which would have been nice and the phone holders don’t allow you to swipe the phone map app easily. Bring your own phone holder if possible because you do need to refer to the mapping app quite frequently. We get lost easily and we survived so I think most people could operate the map app. The hotel accomodation was mixed which we liked. Sometimes an old place, sometimes luxury, sometimes modern. Our luggage was taken from place to place without a hitch. The trail was tiring for my wife but the ebike made it doable and the majority of the trail is on dedicated cycle paths with spectacular scenery. A wonderful experience for two Australians in their 60’s.