A Sightseeing Cycle: Europe's Best Cycling Holidays
November 6, 2014
Those who like to experience active holidays may be interested in our cycling tours throughout Germany, Switzerland and Italy. These offer a great way to see the sights whilst you are travelling and allow you to enjoy places that you would have missed had you been using any other form of transport. We offer multi-centre tours, like this eight-day trip along the Elbe Cycle Path, as well as single destination tours, like this one which just focusses on Dresden.
Either way, there are certain things that you need to know about taking a cycling holiday. Here are some top tips when exploring Europe via pedal-power.
We have a great range of tours available that cater to different levels of cycling experience. They are labelled as easy, moderate and challenging on the website so you can choose one which suits you. The Dresden trip (mentioned above) is perfect for beginners, or those who don't want to be cycling large distances every day, as it only covers a total of 78 miles over the six days. Alternatively, the eight-day trek from Hamburg to Dresden is marked as challenging because it involves 395 miles of riding.
If you are looking to take a European cycling tour then the chances are that you have your own bike. However, you need to weigh up the time, effort and costs involved in taking it overseas versus that of hiring a bike locally. Most airlines require you to dismantle certain parts of your bike and let down the tyres, before packaging it in a recognised bicycle bag. Then you've got to think about the extra luggage costs and the fact that you'll have to carry it around before and after the flight. We can rent bicycles to you locally at a small daily cost and they will be delivered to your first hotel and then picked up from your last. This will also include a bike lock, map-holder and a small, waterproof pannier. Many people find this an easier option.
The only thing you have to worry about is physically transporting yourself from place to place via the power of your pedals. Details such as how your luggage will be transported, your accommodation every night and which exciting activities you'll take part in along the way will be taken care of by us. These are all included in the price you will pay and will make your cycling holiday all the more enjoyable.
Aside from your sense of adventure, everything else is optional. Depending on what time of the year you are travelling, it may be a bit cold, so some extra layers, gloves, a waterproof and a hat might be a good idea. You might also like to bring a small, lightweight rucksack as, although your luggage will be transferred to each hotel for you, there will be certain things that you will want with you on the bike (money, drink, etc.). Lastly, anything that is going to make cycling more comfortable for you is always a bonus. This could include things like cycling shorts, a padded seat cover and a well-fitted helmet.
Because you are free to take the tour at your own pace, with just the goal of getting to the next hotel within the day, there shouldn't be many problems along the way. However, some things cannot be predicted and therefore you will be given the number for a 24-hour hotline. If anything happens, simply give it a call and someone will be able to help you out.
If you would like to know more about our European cycle tours, or you would like to book your trip, contact a member of our team today. You can call the number at the top of the page or simply fill in an online enquiry form.
