A new cycling tour being offered by Tourissimo and Ride & Seek as part of their PLUS Tours series highlights two UNESCO sites – Alberobello and Matera
(Turin, Italy) –
Situated between the blue waters of the Adriatic Sea and the forests and
mountains of Basilicata, Puglia offers a landscape of beguiling views,
ancient olive groves, and UNESCO sites. This new cycling tour being offered by
Tourissimo and Ride & Seek as part of their PLUS Tours series
highlights two of these UNESCO sites – Alberobello and Matera. The former
is known for its trulli, whitewashed stone huts with conical roofs, whilst the
latter for its cave dwellings built into the calcareous rock. Guests will cycle
the road-less-traveled with average daily rides of 40 km, and spend evenings
dining on gourmet cuisine and fine wines.
“From the Adriatic Sea to the stones of Matera, this Puglia tour explores
the most beautiful riding destinations in Southern Italy,” said Ride &
Seek Founder Dylan Reynolds. “We will cycle rolling landscapes carpeted
with olive groves, vineyards, whitewashed hill towns, fishing villages, and
thousands of trulli.”
The trip starts in Savelletri with fig trees, blooming cacti, and herb gardens
offering delightful fragrances. Guests will ride through one of the gems of
Puglia: the Valle D’Itria. Its wooded slopes, vineyards, and endless olive
groves are punctuated by the coned roofs of trulli.
“While many regions of Italy boast of having the best food in the world,
Puglia could claim this title due its simple preparations that allow the true
flavors of the food to stand out,” said Beppe Salerno, Co-Founder of
Tourissimo. “But the charm of Puglia is rooted in the people themselves.
Their hospitality is renowned throughout Italy.”
Tour Highlights:
Touring Matera where the 2016 remake of Ben-Hur was filmed
Discovering the white-washed town of Ostuni and the
beaches near the fishing village of Savelletri
Visiting two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Alberobello
& Matera
Riding among the orchards and trulli of Valle d’Itria
Attending a demonstration by a master cheese maker
Exploring the Greek Ruins of Egnazia
Lodging in the award-winning Sextantio Hotel
The trip is scheduled
for October 10-17, 2019 and starts at $4,195.
Freewheel Holidays is meeting the surge in demand for electric bikes on its self-guided European bicycle vacations.
MANCHESTER, UK– Nobody gets left behind on self-guided bicycle vacations in Europe when E-Bikes (electric bicycles) are added to the mix.
Freewheel Holidays (https://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/), a trailblazer in two-wheel, self-guided European vacations, reports that requests for E-Bike rentals are on the rise. So far in 2018, sign-ups for E-Bike options represent over 12 percent of all cycling holiday bookings being made. They outpace requests for regular bicycles in some countries such as Holland. When itineraries call for cycling 50km a day, E-Bikes are a security blanket for some clients.
This growth is reported worldwide. According to Cycling Industry News, the global electric bike market is projected to increase 60+ percent by 2025, on course to generate a value of $8.5 billion.
What’s driving this expansion?
“Our active travelers often defy the common definition of ‘senior travelers,’” said Steven Rittey, Freewheel Holidays spokesperson. “They’re fitter than ever with surprising energy and stamina. But there seems to be a growing segment that appreciates the fall-back position of an electric bike. Some clients, regardless of age, simply prefer the no-strain comfort of riding E-Bikes. The stigma about them as an easy option or ‘cheating’ is fading. E-Bikes actually encourage travelers above the age of 50 to continue cycling later into life.”
E-Bikes come with a supplemental fee, but the enjoyment outweighs the extra cost, he explained. Using a power-assisted bike helps smooth out inclines or longer days in the saddle. Each E-Bikes features an LCD display, removable batteries for easy charging and assistance up to 25 km/h with a range of around 120 km for each full charge depending on usage.
“These are lightweight aluminum frame bikes with a lithium ion battery-operated motor that when engaged, boosts a rider’s natural human power, enabling him/her to pedal with less effort farther and faster. When the route gets steep and a rider is ready for extra power, they just hit a button and select an assist level and continue pedaling. At day’s end batteries are removed and charged for tomorrow’s ride,” explains Rittey
Following is a sampling of Freewheel Holidays’ self-guided bicycle vacations offering E-Bikes options. Tour rates include accommodation, breakfasts, sometimes other meals, bike rental with option to upgrade to E-Bikes for an extra charge, itinerary-related fees, luggage transfers, detailed route notes and cycling maps, emergency phone service and more.
Bike & Barge: Venice to Mantova is an eight-day cycle (up to 50km daily) available from now through Oct. 13 that embraces Venice before journeying on a barge hotel on the Po-Bračdolo waterway, along an avian sanctuary in the wetland formed by the Po delta. Guests hop on bicycles to imbibe centuries of life in waterfront villages. A guided tour of Mantova, a vibrant Renaissance town, concludes the tour. A per person double rate is from £909.For details see http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/venice-to-mantova-7-nights-boat-amp-bike-vita-pugna
Berlin to Copenhangen over 12 days engages cyclists in both cities and for up to 80km daily on bicycles on canal paths through Germany’s lake district to the Baltic Sea between Germany and Denmark. They explore national parks and villages enroute to the half-timbered houses and fairy book gables of Rostock, known for international regattas. Guests ferry from here to the white cliffs of Insel Møn (Isle of Man) and on to Copenhagen. A per person double rate June 4-Aug. 27 is from £1,269. For details see http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/berlin-to-copenhagen-cycling-holiday
Canal Du Midi – France is a seven-day cycle of up to 45km daily on a shaded (thanks to 60,000 trees) route from Toulouse to the Mediterranean. Vineyards, culinary surprises, cathedrals, palaces and Roman ruins offer detours aplenty. The seven-day itinerary begins in Sète, called the “Venice des Languedoc” where the canal flows to the sea. Next up are a wine-growing region near a flight of locks and Carcassonne, one of Europe’s best-preserved fortress towns and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Available through Sept. 22, the per person double rate is from £799. For details see http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/canal-du-midi-cycling-holidays
Venice to Florence offers departures through Sept. 29. Over eight days guests follow the rivers Adige and Po, cycling up to 65km daily by fields of melons, sunflowers and vines. On the Delta del Po flamingos nest just steps away from cycle paths. In Cornacchio on the Adriatic ornate palazzi and churches testify to the once-thriving salt industry. Near Faenza (think collectible ceramics), a train jaunt through the Appenines leads to Florence. The per person double rate is from£799 per person.For details see http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/siena-chianti-region-and-florence-7-nights
Majorca Coast to Coastis available over eight days through Oct. 31. This itinerary is also suggested as a bicycle vacation for families because accommodations all include swimming pools. The tour starts on the south of the island, with routes of up to 41 km daily along the Mediterranean Sea and inland on flat country roads where bicycles have priority. A flamingo-inhabited lagoon, historic villages and the cobblestoned medieval town of Pollenca augment the pleasures of nightly hosts displaying island charm. The per person double rate is from £919. For details see http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/majorca-coast-to-coast-cycling-holiday
To check trip availability, make reservations, or to find out more about Freewheel Holidays’ leisure cycling tours call +44 (0) 161 703 5823, email [email protected] or visit www.freewheelholidays.com.
Freewheel Holidays, a division of Sports Tours International, specializes in self-guided, expertly supported European cycling holidays that strike the perfect balance between leisure pedaling and immersive sightseeing. The company offers easy to moderate cycling programs designed with special appeal to European and North American travelers. Guests cycle on their own, with enroute assistance and distinctive accommodations expertly chosen and secured by the company. A portfolio of nearly 50 established European holidays offers riders of all levels a freedom of choice. The company features a range of 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9-night itineraries to 12 European countries including the UK, Austria, France, Holland, Czech Republic, Italy, Malta, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Sweden and Portugal. The majority of tours are self-guided with the exception of a few fully-guided vacation packages in Croatia, France, Italy and Prague to Vienna. The company also offers family-focused, coastal, wine lover and solo traveler holidays plus the option of adding E-Bikes.
SRide & Seek is offering a new cycling tour across Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily.
(Sydney, Australia) — Ride & Seek is offering a new cycling tour across Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily. Split into three weeklong stages, the “3 Islands Tour” is a journey through the history, food, architecture, and traditions of these Mediterranean jewels. Guests ride from north to south, beginning in Corsica, home of Napoleon. Its mountainous north contrasts beautifully with the idyllic beaches and fishing villages. Next, riders head to Sardinia, an island of towering cliffs, beach coves, and history. The final stage is spent biking Sicily where rolling farmland, volcanoes, and a stunning coastline is sprinkled with classical sites in exceptional settings. The 21-day, 1,550 km tour is slated for April 28-May 19, 2018 and starts at $10,440 USD. Weeklong stages start at $3,820 USD.
“The exceptional diversity of these islands is represented through the numerous civilizations and cultures that have left their mark, amazing gastronomic variations, strikingly rugged interior landscapes, stunning coastlines of white beaches and emerald waters, and locals with an incredibly strong sense of place,” said Ride & Seek President Dylan Reynolds.
The average daily riding distance will be around 80km, and extra loop rides will be available for those wanting more hills and ride time. Meals are a centerpiece of the “3 Island Tour,” with an emphasis on local cuisine and wine. Lodging consists of 3 and 4 star boutique hotels.
Other Highlights:
· Ride through UNESCO listed Calanques de Piana.
· Cycle down Corsica’s Costa Verde – one the most stunning coastal roads in the world.
· Visit Tharros – a sacred site for the Phoenicians in Sardinia.
· Explore UNESCO listed Valle di Templi in Agrigento.
· Discover the city of Syracuse – home to Archimedes and a rich Greek heritage.
Freewheel Holidays offers a family-friendly biking trip to Costa Brava, Spain in winter.
MANCHESTER, UK– As the long days of summer fade into fall, and avid cyclists can follow the sun south to warmer climates. Freewheel Holidays, a UK specialist in cycling vacations, arranges week-long bespoke, self-guided bicycle vacations in Sardinia (Italy), on the Costa Brava (Spain), in the Algarve (Portugal) and on Lanzarote (Canary Islands).
These four sun-splashed destinations have in common beckoning cultures and cuisines, wave-fringed coastlines with sandy beaches and dependable reputations for showering warmth on vacationers escaping winter’s doldrums.
Following are snapshots of Freewheel Holidays’ 2017-2018 portfolio of Winter Sun cycling vacations. Accommodating parties with as few as two adults, in some instances these vacations can be tweaked to accommodate families who enjoy traveling at their own pace on two wheels.
Sardinia Family Cycle Tour is an 8 day/7 night vacation in Sardinia bicycling over terrain graded “easy” and over distances that can be tailored to meet family needs. Daily rides range from 20km to 36km. The itinerary is also flexible with choices on one day, for example, to ride to a beach famous for its turquoise waters or to board a ferry to a village where locals fish for red tuna and where surrounding lagoons are populated by flocks of pink flamingo. On some days vineyards and olive groves vie for attention with ancient ruins, Roman roads, vestiges of the Phoenicians and always beaches. The per person double rate is from £549; rates for children ages 3 to 12 are available. Included are seven nights accommodation with breakfast, bike rental, luggage transfers, welcome meeting, detailed route notes and maps and 24-hour emergency/service telephone access. This tour is offered year-round (http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/sardinia-cycling-holiday).
Discover Costa Brava for Families is a 7 day/6 night vacation in Spain’s Catalonia, a distinct, autonomous region in northern Spain known for the beach resorts of Costa Brava and for the Pyrenees Mountains. This flexible trip can also be from two to five days, giving ample time to explore this fascinating area and add on a beach or city break. On two wheels guests discover the unspoiled hamlet of Can Muni, a beautiful coastline, pine forests and the fascinating medieval, Greek and Roman architecture of the region. Must-sees are the world famous Dalí museum in the town of Figueres and the Museum of Empordà which showcases the archaeological finds of the region, including the Hall of Asclepius. Guests can also mix in horseback riding. Ambitious riders can ride up to 56km on a day; but shorter routes halving the daily distances are also outlined. The mostly flat terrain is rated as “easy.” The per person double rate is from £539; rates for children under 13 years of age are available. Included are 6 nights accommodation with breakfast, a welcome meeting, bike rental, GPS with everyday tracks and map, detailed route notes and local information and 24-hour emergency/service telephone access. (Offered year-round, for details see http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/costa-brava-family-cycling-holiday.)
Guests on the 8 day/7 night Algarve Coast to Coast bicycle vacation enjoy “easy” to “moderate” cycling on the Ecovia do litoral, a dedicated cycle route in Portugal that links Vila Real de Santo António on the Spanish border with Cabo de São Vicente (Sagres) in the west. This route that requires cycling up to 40km on some days combines trails in nature preserves with stunning coastal views and beach access. There are also linked stretches on traffic-calm or car-free routes. Fishing villages that date to Roman times, Moorish architecture and cafes heralding coffee and wine breaks blend into the horizon that’s the sea. The per person double rates begin at £779. Included are 7 nights accommodation with breakfast, return transfers from Faro Airport, bike rental, luggage transfers, detailed route notes and cycling maps and 24-hour emergency/service telephone access. Departures may be scheduled any day of the year (http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/algarve-coast-to-coast-7-nights).
Lanzarote in theCanary Islands may not seem an obvious choice for a cycling holiday, but here’s one island in the Canaries that offers easy access, year-round sunshine, minimal rainfall, some of the most dramatic and fascinating landscapes (think volcanoes) in Europe. Restrained development has preserved the best characteristics of this often-overlooked paradise. Fine beaches and quality hotel and rural villa accommodations are laced into this 8 day/7 night vacation on two wheels. The terrain is classed “moderate” with some daily rides covering up to 58km. Routes can be modified for families. A native son, César Manrique, who fought in the Spanish Civil War, left his mark artistically and in architecture on Lanzarote. Guests have an opportunity to view some of his work. They take in a volcanic cave and another volcanic landscape along a beach, cycle and walk under innumerable palm trees in towns with Moorish names, and they tour the wine-producing area of La Geria. A waterpark and go kart attraction add to the family fun. The per person double rate is from $809. Rates for children are available. Included are 7 nights accommodation with breakfast, bike hire, luggage transfers, detailed route notes & cycling maps and 24hr hotline assistance service. (For details on this year-round, self-guided adventure see http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/lanzarote-7-nights-self-guided).
To check trip availability, make reservations, or to find out more about Freewheel Holidays’ leisure cycling tours call +44 (0) 161 703 5823, email [email protected] or visit www.freewheelholidays.com.
A division of Sports Tours International, Freewheel Holidays (http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/) specializes in self-guided, expertly supported European cycling holidays that strike the perfect balance between leisure pedaling and immersive sightseeing. The company offers easy to moderate cycling programs designed with special appeal to European and North American travelers. Guests cycle on their own, with enroute assistance and distinctive accommodations expertly chosen and secured by the company. A portfolio of over 40 established European holidays offers riders of all levels a freedom of choice. The company features a range of 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 night itineraries to 12 European countries including the UK, Austria, France, Holland, Czech Republic, Italy, Malta, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Sweden and Portugal. The majority of tours are self-guided with the exception of a few fully-guided vacation packages in Croatia, France, Italy and Prague to Vienna. The company also offers family-focused, coastal, wine lover and solo traveler holidays.
Freewheel Holidays is offering a variety of self-guided bicycle tours through Italy.
MANCHESTER, UK – Inquisitive travelers eager to see the real Italy at the speed of a bicycle can choose among four bespoke, self-guided tours that dip variously in and out of the Dolomites, Lake Garda, Venice, Tuscany and the Chianti region. These seven-day/eight-night itineraries are available through early autumn from Freewheel Holidays, a UK specialist cycling vacation provider offering a 2017 portfolio of more than 40 European holidays on two wheels.
“We are really passionate about Italy as a cycling holiday destination and have selected cycling holidays that really showcase the varied nature of the country,” says Steven Rittey, Freewheel Holidays’ spokesperson. “There’s still time to book a trip this season and to help decide where to go, here are four of our favorite tours.”
Dolomites & Lake Garda begins in Resia (accessed by train from Bolzano) near the Austrian border where Italy’s South Tyrol region combines Italian and Austrian influences. Here at 5,000 feet, a dedicated cycle track winds down through Val Venosta and a collection of small villages as mountains on either side rise up to over 13,000 feet. Merano, a town that pampers people in its spas, is followed by Bolzano, the regional capital. Lake Garda beckons through the Adige valley past apple orchards and vineyards, promising a boat trip from Riva del Garda down the lake to Peschiera, a walled town with a traffic-free center. The Arena di Verona Opera Festival can be the piece de resistance in the city of Romeo and Juliet where this summer’s offerings include, among others, three Verdi favorites: Rigoletto, Nabucco and Aida. Per person double rates are from £669. http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/dolomites-and-lake-garda
Venice Lands – Self Guided is a classic tour between the Alps and the Adriatic that is centered on the jewel of Venice. Cycle tracks and minor roads are generally flat on this tour that begins and ends in Vicenza with its own Teatro Olimpico and an array of historic buildings and cobblestone streets. The next stops are Marostica, famous for its castle and chessboard in the main square, and Bassano del Grappa with a covered wooden bridge and grappa. Another Italian city shares a canal culture with Venice. This is Treviso that follows a downhill run through Prosecco vineyards. This walled city also sports a castle and may be the birthplace of radicchio and tiramisù. The cycle continues into Venice and later along two rivers which carried Venice’s trade centuries ago. The Bacchiglione River leads to Costozza, a small town at the foot of the Berici hills. The cycle path passes in front of La Rotonda, the architect Palladio’s most famous creation. Per person double rates are from £519. http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/venice-lands-8-days-7-nights-self-guided
Tuscany – Pisa to Florence 7 nights embraces the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, enroute exploring an intimate landscape beloved by anyone who has ever visited Tuscany. Travel is on cycle-friendly tracks and minor roads, with two rest days to explore Lucca, a city ringed by Renaissance walls and the birthplace of Puccini. Enroute to Montecatini Terme, known for its spa waters, is a village, Collodi, known as the place where Pinocchio sprang from his creator’s hands. There’s never enough time to imbibe all of the ancient villas and landscapes, but two days in this region affords a fair amount of time for unscheduled pedals led by curiosity. The per person double rate is from £659. http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/tuscany-pisa-to-florence-7-nights
Siena, Chianti Region and Florence brings into the spotlight the history of Palio di Siena, a race held twice annually in Siena with riders representing 10 of the city’s 17 wards and political feuds never to be forgotten. This adventure begins and ends here. The history of the dynamics, again political, between this one-time highly important municipality and Florence begin to sink in, along with ample quantities of Chianti ripe for the sampling. Along with viniculture comes high culture (think Florence), thanks to Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci and, of course, assorted Medicis. Siena was also an important stop along the ancient (11th century) pilgrim’s way (from Canterbury to Rome), the via Francigena. The per person double rate is from £659. http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/siena-chianti-region-and-florence-7-nights
Freewheel Holidays’ (www.freewheelholidays.com) self-guided tours include, among others, inn and/or bed and breakfast accommodations, bike rental, luggage transfers, route maps and notes, services of a tour host including welcome and information talk.
To check trip availability, make reservations, or to find out more about Freewheel Holidays’ leisure cycling tours call +44 (0) 161 703 5823, email [email protected]
or visit www.freewheelholidays.com.
A division of Sports Tours International, Freewheel Holidays specializes in self-guided, expertly supported European cycling holidays that strike the perfect balance between leisure pedaling and immersive sightseeing. The company offers easy cycling programs designed with special appeal to European and North American travelers.
Guests cycle on their own, with enroute assistance and distinctive accommodations expertly chosen and secured by the company. A portfolio of more than 40 European holidays offers choices for riders of all levels. The company features a range of 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 night itineraries to 12 European countries including the UK, Austria, France, Holland, Czech Republic, Italy, Malta, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Sweden and Portugal. The majority of tours are self-guided with the exception of a few fully-guided vacation packages in Croatia, France, Italy and Prague to Vienna. The company also offers family-focused, coastal, wine lover and solo traveler holidays.
Winter doesn’t have to mean hibernation or a break from travel or active vacations. In fact, it’s the perfect time to explore a balmy locale by bicycle, says BikeTours.com. This year, escape winter’s wrath in a warm and inviting cycling destination.
BikeTours.com, which offers more than 450 tours operated by local tour companies in 70 countries worldwide, suggests these seven hot active vacation destinations that offer great cycling, warm weather, unique culture, and charming villages and towns:
Algarve, Portugal
The popular and leisurely Algarve Coastal Route tour spends a week along Portugal’s coast, featuring charming old fishing towns and beautiful beaches. From $860 with daily departures available.
Catalonia, Spain
The 8-night Best of Catalonia Cycle Tour takes you along a converted railway from Ripoli in the Pyrenees to Sant Feliu de Guixols on the Mediterranean Sea. Stunning scenery, pine and cork forests, and bucolic farmlands dot the landscape. From $1,476 for self-guided (private guided tours also available). Daily departures available.
Rajasthan, India
The 10-night Land of the Maharajas tour carries travelers through the princely states of India—along dusty roads, beneath towering camels, and alongside women adorned in brilliant colors. From $2,580 with daily departures available.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
The 4-night Angkor Wat Experience tours the beautifully haunting and sprawling temple complex in Cambodia and is the perfect add-on tour to any trip in Southeast Asia. It’s also a fantastic main event, boasting one of the most remarkable and impressive sights in all of Asia. Sitting on more than 500 acres, it is truly best seen and experienced by bicycle. From $635 with weekly departures available.
San Jose, Costa Rica
The 9-night Costa Rica Multi-Sport Adventure takes travelers cycling, hiking, zip-lining, sea kayaking, stand-up paddle-boarding and more through its infamously beautiful landscapes. From $1,500 with weekly departures.
Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
The 6-night Yucatan Bike Adventure through the Yucatan Peninsula is the perfect antidote to winter, offering cycling, snorkeling and ziplining in beautiful weather, while staying at luxurious and upscale accommodations each evening. From $1,985. Departures in January, April and October-December, 2016.
South Island, New Zealand
Travelers experience the majesty of Aoraki and Mt. Cook and the sweeping tussocklands of the Mackenzie Basin during the five-day New Zealand Alps to Ocean tour out of Christchurch. The tour features cycling on quiet rural roads through gentle hillsides and flat easy riding on New Zealand’s South Island, the 12th largest island in the world. From $1,191 with departures January-April and October-December, 2016.
(Prices may vary due to currency fluctuations and are valid as of December 11, 2015.)
BikeTours.com represents local tour companies with more than 450 tours in 70 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania and the Americas. A team of tour advisors helps travelers choose, plan, book, and go on the tour of their dreams. Learn more at www.biketours.com.
