Bike Season Begins: Is a Group Tour for You?

Maybe you bought a Peloton and are suddenly in the best shape of your life. Or you were lucky enough to score a new ride in a booming bike market and are eager to explore. Whatever your motivation, if you’re dreaming of pushing yourself to pedal farther, a group tour is one good way to get moving. But is it right for you? Read on to find out and learn about a wide variety of bike tours across the United States and worldwide.

Prices and availability are subject to change.

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With the proper equipment and know-how, plenty of long-distance-biking novices set out on their own. You can research your route and build confidence, via resources like the Adventure Cycling Association. But if going it alone sounds too daunting, there are experts ready to make the road smoother for you.

The biggest advantage to booking a guided tour is that you don’t have to sweat the details, like where you’ll ride, what you’ll eat, where you’ll sleep, or how to transport your stuff. “It’s very easy traveling,” says Gina Mikan, who took a group tour with her family in Italy. “Everything is planned and mapped out. They bus your luggage to the hotel.” And if you get a flat?  You don’t have to be handy enough to fix it. (Of course, specific tours offer varying levels of support, so it’s always best to read the fine print.) 

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And one of the best things about signing on with a bike tour company is that they usually provide the bike, so you’re not limited to riding in places where it seems feasible to BYOB (bring your own bike). Premiere bike tour companies in the U.S. often offer trips overseas. And the bikes are really nice.   

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“The more you get out on your bike before your trip, the more you will enjoy it,” says Dan Austin, owner of Montana-based Austin Adventures. Ask your bike tour company how best to prepare for your particular tour, or seek out expert advice about schedules to follow in advance of shorter or longer rides.

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If you have a particular destination in mind, an online cycling community, a respected bike shop, or the local visitors bureaus could help you find group tour companies that serve the area. Or, if you’re keeping your options open, browsing a comprehensive list might be a fun way to start dreaming and planning.

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Alternatively, you could start with some of the long-standing names in the business, such as Butterfield & Robinson, Backroads, Trek Travel, Austin Adventures, VBT Bicycling Vacations, or USA Bike Tours, and see what tours they offer that fit your criteria. There are awe-inspiring tours for every experience level, schedule, and budget. Here are a few to add to your bucket list. 

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If you want a super chill experience, a one-day guided ride might be a good fit.  A leisurely 12-mile group tour through Napa Valley, with stops at two wineries along the way is about as low-key as you can get. After winding through pleasant country backroads, you’ll enjoy a lovely picnic lunch at one of the wineries.

Tour Company: USA Bike Tours

Cost: $169 (per person)

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This five-day Summit County, Colorado tour is designed for active travelers aged 50+. This is a hub-style trip, where each night is spent at the same idyllic lakeside lodge, and the days are filled with two-wheel excursions that take you by mountain ranges and through glorious Aspen groves.

Tour Company: Senior Cycling

Cost: $1,050 (per person)

Another great choice for seniors is this 8-day tour that takes you across the state of Missouri on America’s longest “rails-to-trails” path. The tour is run by Road Scholar, formerly Elderhostel, a not-for-profit that offers educational travel experiences for folks who have been out of the classroom for years. There’s even a recommended, pre-ride reading list.

Tour Company: Road Scholar

Cost: $1,499 (per person, starting price)

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Road Scholar also offers an amazing, educational multi-sport experience in Maine’s wonderous Acadia National Park, perfect for retirees who love a good vacation but prefer to keep their bodies and brains active. Hiking and kayaking — as well as learning, of course — are all on the agenda. 

Tour Company: Road Scholar

Cost: $1,299 (per person, starting price)

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A visit to Mount Rushmore, hiking, and a beginner’s rock climbing lesson are part of the package on this unforgettable trip. It’s a family-friendly adventure that also includes splashing around in a local swimming hole and checking out the enchanting Wind Cave National park.

Tour Company: Austin Adventures

Cost: $2,798 (per adult)

Spend five days mountain biking 145 miles along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and you’ll leave with a unique appreciation for one of the country’s most treasured national parks. All nights are spent camping, and you’ll have to bring along your own gear (tent, sleeping back, etc.) or rent gear from the tour company for an extra cost. 

Tour Company: USA Bike Tours

Cost: $1,406 (per person)

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If you like riding in a crowd, an organized and exceptionally large group ride might be a festive introduction to long-distance cycling. Annual events include the Five Boro Bike Tour in New York, which attracts more than 32,000 cyclists for a 40-mile ride on roadways closed to cars, and the daytime and nighttime tours around Montreal for the city’s Go Bike Montreal Festival.  (Both city’s events were canceled in 2020, due to the pandemic, and are pending potential rescheduling for 2021.)

Cost: Five Boro Bike Tour, $112-$350; Go Bike Montreal Festival tours, $24-$55 CAD

“European destinations are typically super bike-friendly,” says Austin. His personal favorite bike tour, by far, follows an enchanting route through Germany’s Mosel Valley over six days. You’ll feel like you’re pedaling through a fairytale, as you feast your eyes on gorgeous gardens and majestic castles. And the first-class accommodations will make you feel like royalty.  

Tour Company: Austin Adventures
Cost: $2,698 (per person)

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This challenging 6-day trip takes you through a quintessentially picturesque part of Italy. Gliding over the rolling hills of Tuscany is serene and surreal. Food, wine, shopping, and history are other big draws. And tacking on a stay in Florence before or after the bike tour is a must. 

Tour Company: Austin Adventures

Cost: $3,298 (per person)

Exploring Denmark on two wheels makes for a splendid, relatively leisurely week-long adventure. Salty fresh air, charming towns, and some of the world’s happiest and friendliest people await you. The price of the tour reflects the luxury accommodations.

Tour Company: Austin Adventures

Cost: $3,598 (per person)

This is a family-friendly, 7-day tour. Sure the natural beauty and historic architecture are great, as are the flowers and windmills, but the true highlight of the tour just might be the well-deserved stop at a Dutch pancake establishment with hundreds of pancakes on the menu.   

Tour Company: Austin Adventures

Cost: $2,898 (per adult)

There’s a waitlist for the fall 2021 version of this tour already, with good reason. The 15-day, advanced-level tour takes riders along the Pacific Coast, from San Francisco to the Mexican border. Magnificent views and incredible memories are guaranteed. 

Tour Company: Adventure Cycling Association

Cost: $1,699

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This 970-mile tour from Portland to Bozeman is sure to be a challenge and a thrill. The 13-day trek through the breathtaking American West includes six rides of more than 90 miles.  With a total climb of over 50,000 feet, you’ll sleep well when your head hits the pillow each night at another nice hotel. 

Tour Company: Trek Travel
Cost: $6,899 (per person)

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Bike Montana’s Glacier National Park by day. Enjoy camping (in its most glamourous form) at night. This 4-day excursion is perfect for the outdoorsy traveler who likes to stay active but be pampered.     

Tour Company: Trek Travel

Cost: $2,999 (per person, starting price)

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Suitable for beginner-level cyclists (with e-bikes available), this 10-day tour begins in Cape Town. Riders travel 7-31 miles per day. The trip includes a visit to an ostrich farm and a penguin colony as well as cultural experiences, like a home-cooked meal at a local’s house.    

Tour Company: VBT Bicycling Vacations

Cost: $5,645 (per person, including airfare)

You don’t have to be a cycling rock star to explore a gorgeous stretch of the western South American coastline by bike. This 7-day trip is suitable for beginners, or anyone interested in an active vacation, with 1-4 hours of pedaling each day.     

Tour Company: VBT Bicycling Vacations

Cost: $4,595 (per person, including airfare)

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Riders on the Great American Road Trip tour, travel 3,604 miles from California to Georgia. Fifty days of pedaling (62-75 miles per day) are offset by 11 rest days. Some nights are at hotels, others camping. The tour is “in the tradition of ‘Travels with Charlie’ and ‘On the Road,’ with a dash of ‘Electric Kool-Aid [Acid] Test’ and ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,’” the organizers say.

Tour Company: USA Bike Tours

Cost: $14,050

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For a less expensive cross-country option, this Seattle-to-Boston ride is a no-frills choice. Every night is spent camping. Riders can opt to sign up for just certain segments of the trip as well.  (Booking now for summer 2022.)

Tour Company: Cycle America

Cost: $7,415

Is a cross-country bike tour too tame for you? Maybe a cross-continent trip is more your speed? The North American Epic begins in the Canadian Arctic Tundra, where there’s a chance to spot caribou or grizzlies! It ends 166 days later in sunny Panama. You can also choose to sign on for one or more smaller segments of the journey. (Booking now for 2022.)

Tour Company: USA Bike Tours

Cost: $27,050