MORAL COMPASS: Great Places to Go Where the Going Does Good

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Freewheel Holidays Offers Self-Guided City-to-City Cycling Trips to Best Appreciate Europe’s Culture, Capitals and Cuisine

November 29, 2018 MoralCompass

Vienna is one of the best cities in the world for biking, with dedicated lanes that take you to the historic city’s main attractions. Among the city-to-city itineraries offered by Freewheel Holidays is an 8-day Prague to Vienna self-guided trip © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

MANCHESTER, UK – City breaks are in and so is self-guided bike touring. An international specialist in self-paced bicycle vacations, Freewheel Holidays, offers up ideas for the best cities for cycling – and saving on shoe leather at the same time. Their self-guided cycling tours include pre-arranged accommodations with breakfasts, luggage transfers, bike rentals (E-Bike upgrades available), travel guide, maps and route book, 24-hour hotline assistance, a welcome briefing and more.

In Italy, Pisa to Siena Cycling Trip explores the Italian Renaissance for seven days in Tuscany from Pisa and its iconic tilted tower, along a stretch of the Via Francigena (the medieval pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome), through Lucca (a beautiful and ancient city known for its olive oil) and San Miniato and south on Cassian Way (the Roman route that once linked Florence and Rome) to Siena, the city famous for its Palio (a horse race commemorating historic neighbourhood rivalry that’s held annually in July and August that runs through the town square). This trip is available May through September. The per person rate is from £639. See: www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/cycling-holidays/all-cycling-holidays/cycling-holidays-cities/pisa-to-siena.

From the Czech Republic to Austria, Prague to Vienna Cycling Holiday over eight days follows the Greenways Bike Route outside Prague to Český Krumlov with a 13th century castle. Riding through South Bohemia is the spa town of Třeboň where since the 12th century assorted monarchs created from a large wetland a complex of now-20 ponds that attract a variety of birdlife. The forested area close to the Austrian border has been called Czech Canada. Here is 13th century Telč with the finest preserved Renaissance (Italian influenced) square in the Czech Republic, followed by a fairytale castle perched on a cliff in Vranov and later vestiges of the not-so-ancient Cold War fence with Vienna on the other side. This trip is available May through September. The per person rate is from £949. See: www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/cycling-holidays/all-cycling-holidays/cycling-holidays-cities/prague-to-vienna.

Three countries, the Netherlands, Belgium and France, display their cultural and natural assets along with two capitals on the 12-day Amsterdam to Paris City Cycling Holiday. Along cycle paths and quiet roads, guests explore the ancient towns of Gouda, Antwerp and Ghent (center of the famous classic professional cycle race Ronde van Vlaanderen). Centuries ago this was a one-time trade route between Europe’s interior and the coast. This is also Charlemagne territory and part of the Holy Roman Empire. Layered along with plenty of Medieval influences are Belgium’s beer and chocolates that whet appetites for the vineyards and French cheeses that follow while pedaling through natural preserves, World War I sites and ancient abbeys enroute to breakfast in Paris. This trip is available June into September. The per person rate is from £1,199. See: https://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/cycling-holidays/all-cycling-holidays/cycling-holidays-cities/amsterdam-to-paris.

For more information on all the urban cycling programs offered by Freewheel Holidays see: https://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/cycling-holidays/all-cycling-holidays/cycling-holidays-cities.

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 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- to 11-night itineraries to 18 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 and Italy. The company also offers family-focused, bike & barge, coastal, wine lover and solo traveler holidays plus the option of adding E-Bikes.

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Grasshopper Adventures Introduces Tour Exploring Thailand by Bike from Bangkok to Phuket

November 28, 2018 MoralCompass

(Bangkok, Thailand) — Grasshopper Adventures is introducing a 10-day tour cycling the Gulf of Thailand, Khao Sok National Park, and the Andaman Coast. Five days are spent riding along the Gulf of Thailand on deserted blacktop and concrete roads through sleepy villages and coconut groves, followed by three days of riding through Khao Sok National Park to the Andaman Coast and down to Phuket.

“This is a cycling holiday in the true sense of the term,” said Grasshopper Adventures President Adam Platt-Hepworth. “We’ll enjoy the satisfaction of riding the majority of the distance from Hua Hin down to Phuket, whilst taking in places that most visitors to Thailand don’t get to see.”

On the gulf side of Thailand, guests will ride on mostly flat terrain and quiet backroads, with the exception of two short highway sections. In the hinterland, there are some more sustained hills, but these are rarely longer than 2 km and nothing that could be described as steep. Guests will share the road with some traffic through Khao Sok National Park due to the absence of backroads and from Khao Lak to Phuket.

Tour Highlights Include:

Visiting the sleepy beach town of Pranburi
Biking through Sam Roi Yod National Park and hiking to Phraya Nakhon Cave
Overnighting at a family-owned lodge on the beach in Chumphon
Cycling through rubber plantations and past limestone cliffs
Soaking in hot springs and indulging in delicious Thai cuisine
Riding over the bridge to Phuket Island and overnighting on the beach

The trip totals 574 km by bike and starts at $2,350 USD. Multiple departure dates are available throughout the year. For more information, visit here or call 844-874-3720.

Grasshopper Adventures is a cycling and active travel specialist, headquartered in Bangkok. They host more than 25,000 travelers of all ages and abilities, on tours ranging from one day to two weeks in Japan, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, China, Uzbekistan, Taiwan, Bhutan & Myanmar. https://www.grasshopperadventures.com

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L’Étape du Tour Gives Amateurs a Chance to Ride a Stage of the Tour de France

October 31, 2017 MoralCompass

*Sports Tours International is taking reservations now for amateur cyclists who want to participate in L’Étape du Tour 2018, an opportunity to tackle a mountain stage of the 2018 Tour de France.*

MANCHESTER, UK– Sports Tours International, the UK-based provider of vacations built around nail-biting, world-class cycling and running competitions, is taking reservations now for amateur cyclists who want to participate in L’Étape du Tour 2018, an opportunity to tackle a mountain stage of the 2018 Tour de France.

L’Étape du Tour 2018 is scheduled for Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Annecy, France. The finish is at Le Grand-Bornand, a resort in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. This finish was used in the 2009 Tour de France on Stage 17 when Alberto Contador famously went against team orders and left Lance Armstrong on both the Col du Romme and the Col de la Colombière.

Riders experience highs and lows while traversing a distance of 169km and climbing to heights of up to 4,000km, just like the pros when the 2018 Tour de France begins on July 7 and runs through July 29. For example, the Col de la Colombière will be the final climb for Stage 10 (Annecy to Le Grand Bornand, 159km) on July 17.

Riders and their guests will enjoy a festival of cycling over the weekend in Annecy. Lake Annecy is a focal point of Annecy, an alpine town known for canals and cobbled streets. Annecy is well known for the heritage of its buildings and natural landscape. It is situated beside one of the purest lakes in Europe, at the foot of the Alpine massifs of the Aravis and the Bauges, but close to Switzerland and Italy.

Sports Tours International’s L’Étape du Tour 2018 four-day/three-night tour package includes guaranteed entry when booked through Sports Tours International. With direct-to-the-public entries nearly sold out, Sports Tours will become one of only a handful of operators who can guarantee entry to the event. Also included in the package are accommodations at a range of hotels, roundtrip airport transfers from Geneva, overland bike transfer, bike rental and storage, complimentary coach accommodations for traveling companions to witness the excitement, three breakfasts, and, depending on the hotel, three dinners, staff support along the race course and more. Per person, double occupancy rates begin at £519 and go up to £699 for four-star accommodations. Self-drive packages are also available. While guaranteed, an additional cost is the actual entry fee to L’Étape du Tour 2018.

For non-riders, a free coach from Annecy to the finish in Le Grand Bornand is offered with return to Annecy later in the day.

For more information see https://www.sportstoursinternational.co.uk/events/etape-du-tour/.
Sports Tours International (https://www.sportstoursinternational.com) suggests booking Tour de France event-viewing packages early to guarantee being in the heart of the action. For more information on available packages and to book visit: https://www.sportstoursinternational.co.uk/event-categories/tour-de-france/.

For more information on competitions worldwide visit online: www.sportstoursinternational.com, email: [email protected], or call: (+44) 161 703 8161.

Sports Tours International is one of Europe’s leading specialists in sports travel. Since the company’s launch in 1973, it has hosted thousands of participants and spectators at major sporting events worldwide. With the tagline, Fanatical about Sport, the company’s initial roots came from a devotion to running when founder Vince Regan began taking runners to the NYC Marathon. Since the early 2000s, the company has embraced international cycling events and triathlon competitions, sports training camps and corporate hospitality. Clients often can participate in events with the pros and are encouraged to “unleash your inner hero” or when it’s not possible to compete, there’s the ability to be active spectators along the routes and “watch your heroes.”

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Follow the Sun on Freewheel Holidays’ Winter Bicycle Vacations In 4 Sun-Splashed Coastal Europe Destinations

September 2, 2017 MoralCompass

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 the Canary 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).

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.

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Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Takes Cyclists on Sojourn on Great Allegheny Passage

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Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s 2017 Sojourn To Cycle the Great Allegheny Passage

June 7, 2017 MoralCompass

*Biking the Great Allegheny Passage rail-trail, Confluence to Adelaide, PA on Rails-to-Trails’ Sojourn © 2017 Karen Rubin/ goingplacesfarandnear.com*

by Karen Rubin, Travel Features Syndicate, goingplacesfarandnear.com

There’s still availability to join the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s 2017 Pennsylvania Sojourn, June 18-23, a six-day cycling trip exploring two dedicated trails—the legendary Great Allegheny Passage and beautiful Montour Trail – a total of some 150 miles of biking.

The organization’s main fund-raiser of the year, you get to experience Pennsylvania’s famous scenic wilderness, charming towns, beautiful tunnels, iconic sites and can’t-miss destinations.

The fully supported rail-trail adventure vacation, operated by Wilderness Voyageurs, offers great food (breakfast and dinner), hot showers, flexible scheduling (you ride at your own pace), fun evening activities, optional trips and experiences—and the added benefit of supporting America’s trails.

The trip is June 18-23, and costs $720/adult, $620/child. You have the option of bringing your own tent, renting tent service through Comfy Campers (extremely handy), or booking nearby bed-and-breakfast accommodations.

The tour highlights include optional climbs to the highest mountain in the state, Mt. Davis and the Eastern Continental Divide, the Mason-Dixon Line and Big Savage Tunnel.

The third-day is a layover with an opportunity to choose an excursion – visiting Fallingwater (a home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright); visiting Kentuck Knob (also designed by Frank Lloyd Wright) or taking a rafting trip, either Lower Yough Class 3 rafting trip or Middle Yough Class 1-2 rafting trip

Get more information and the day-by-day itinerary https://www.railstotrails.org/experience-trails/sojourns/2017-ride/

The annual RTC Sojourn is not just a great way to experience these trails, but also are powerful “trail-building tools” that highlight the significant impact of long-distance trail routes on America’s communities. Participants explore communities and attractions along the way (from the picturesque to the historic), take advantage of open trails and draw attention to gaps in would-be trail systems that, if completed, could result in substantial benefits (economic, health, social, environmental and much more) for their local regions.

For example, the Pennsylvania Sojourn will call attention to a major project, the Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition. A collaboration of more than 100 organizations, and led by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, the National Park Service and RTC, the project would link 1,400 miles of multiuse trails, stretching across 48 counties in four states – Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and New York. It would stimulate the regional economy through outdoor tourism and small business investment, and create social equity and new health connections for underserved communities across the project footprint.

The sojourns serve to unite a selection of trails for a short period of time, serving as “dry runs” designed to benchmark—through real-world examples and user surveys how trail-system improvements could increase local bikeability and walkability.

Over the past 15 years, Sojourns have helped influence the creation and/or growth of multiple regional trail alliances through demonstrating the significant boost to local economies generated by the sojourn participants in just a few days – a small reflection over what can be achieved when programs are established.

RTC compiles economic impact data on the combined spending on food, supplies, rentals, equipment and other sojourn-related services, which is shared with local hosts to inspire future trail building and enhancements.

The 2014 sojourn’s positive economic impact to the region was $211,000.

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy helps communities meet their own challenges toward trail development, with expertise and assistance obtaining funding and design; and advocates with lawmakers at local, state and federal levels for policies and funding programs that make trail development and walking/biking infrastructure possible. The organizations promotes trails – awarding Trail of the Year, for example – forges partnerships, and is the nation’s foremost nonprofit advocate for rail-trails, working to create and protect the legal structures that make them possible.

The sojourns are designed for all ages and skill levels—from the young to the young-at-heart, aficionados to first-timers, families to freewheelers!

To book the 2017 Sojourn, https://wilderness-voyageurs.com/bike-tours/rails-to-trails-conservancy-sojourn.

Learn more about Rails-to-Trails Conservancy at www.railstotrails.org.

See:

Rails-to-Trails’ Great Allegheny Passage Bike Tour Side Trip into Dunbar Brings Surprise Encounter with TrumpWorld

Pennsylvania’s Industrial Past Highlights Day 3 on Rails-to-Trails Sojourn on Great Allegheny Passage

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Imagine Cycling in the Footsteps of Julius Caesar: Ride & Seek Unveils 33-Day, 2,929K London-to-Rome Bike Tour

October 5, 2016 MoralCompass

*Ride & Seek has unveiled a cycling tour of historical proportions: tracing the footsteps of Julius Caesar on a 33-day, 2,929 km journey from London to Rome.*

(Sydney, Australia) — Ride & Seek has unveiled a cycling tour of historical proportions: tracing the footsteps of Julius Caesar on a 33-day, 2,929 km journey from London to Rome. Split into two stages, the “Caesar Expedition” traverses England, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Italy on a historical, gastronomic and cultural excursion. Crossing waterways, vine-clad hills and mountain passes, this is the only tour of its kind being offered today. The two-stage Caesar Expedition is slated for June 3, 2017 to July 5, 2017 and starts at $14,276 USD for the full tour or $7,405 USD for a 17-day stage.

“Caesar is considered by many historians to be the foremost figure in Western civilization,” said Ride & Seek Co-Founder Dylan Reynolds. “Our journey with him begins at the farthest northern point he reached as the first Roman invader of Britain, and ends in Rome, the city he eventually ruled as dictator and was assassinated in 10 years later.”

Starting in London, riders head to the white cliffs of Dover before traversing the channel into France by boat. The cycling route through France includes the Champagne region and into the gastronomic heartland of Burgundy. From there, guests ride alongside Lake Geneva in Switzerland and over to Italy.

“The culinary delights on this epic tour include delicious truite ardennaise, boeuf bourguignon and coq au vin to name just a few,” said Ride & Seek Co-Founder Sam Wood. “It’s fascinating that these regions now famous for fine wine and food were once the bloody battlefields of Caesar’s epic Gallic Wars.”

The route through Italy heads towards the picturesque northern lakes of Como and Maggiore before moving up towards the stunning limestone peaks of the Dolomites. From that point on, riders experience a bit of respite descending down to Venice and along the Adriatic coast. After crossing the mythical Rubicon, once marking the boundary between Roman controlled Italy and Cisalpine Gaul, the route heads inland through the more rugged regions of Abruzzo and Molise, before heading due east to Rome.

“We’ll enjoy some relief from the hills as we follow the Adriatic Coast before heading inland to the Via Amelia and crossing the Rubicon as Caesar did uttering those fateful words, ‘The die is cast’, as he descended on Rome ,” said Wood.

For more information, visit www.rideandseek.com/epic/caesar.

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Ciclismo Classico Introduces New Week-Long Cycling, Hiking Tour of Nova Scotia

August 10, 2016 MoralCompass

(Arlington, MA) – Ciclismo Classico has unveiled a new week-long cycling and hiking tour of Nova Scotia. Guests will enjoy scenic rides and hikes amid pristine beaches, marshland, quaint villages, and beautiful vineyards.

Highlights include absorbing the region’s history at UNESCO World Heritage Sites; cycling a variety of picturesque paved roads and trails; wildlife viewing opportunities; exceptional local cuisine and fresh seafood; and four-star accommodations. This intermediate cycling tour averages 29 miles per day. Prices start at $2,795 and the departure date is set for September 19-25, 2016.

“Quiet coastal roads, delicious local food, colorful fishing villages and fertile farmland combine to make Nova Scotia a hidden gem for cyclists,” said Ciclismo Classico Founder Lauren Hefferon. “There’s no bonding experience like hitting the pavement or a well-maintained trail and digging into scallops, fresh lobster and other fresh seafood at the end of the day.”

For more information, visit http://ciclismoclassico.com/trips/nova-scotia-bike-tour/.

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BikeTours Launches ‘Gold Star Tour Collection’: 16 ‘stellar experiences, exceptional values’

April 27, 2016 MoralCompass

*Biking on the Danube Bike Trail, one of 16 “stellar experiences at exceptional value” in BikeTour.com’s Gold Star Tour Collection © 2016 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com*

CHATTANOOGA, TN– BikeTours.com has announced its new “Gold Star Tour Collection” to highlight its top picks for bicycle tours around the world that stand out for their exceptional experiences and value.

The Collection features 16 cycling vacations across the globe, from popular bike tour destinations in Europe like Croatia and Spain to offthebeaten path locales such as Burma/Myanmar. Tours were carefully selected from more than 450 tours the company offers in 70 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania and the Americas.

“These tours are our gold standard the best of the best,” said Jim Johnson, president and founder of BikeTours.com. “These trips have been carefully selected after years of partnership with local operators for their superior quality of service, unique experiences afforded to the traveler, and exceptional value.”

Picks for Every Level of Bike Traveler

The collection is divided into categories for three types of travelers: leisurely, novice, and experienced.

For example, tours for novices include the perennial European favorite, the “Danube Bike Path (Service Plus),” which features easy cycling on a dedicated bike path and lots of client services like a GPS console and cell phone rental. “Cotswolds and Stonehenge” was selected for well-designed, off-the-beaten-path routes, as well as its exceptional client service and iconic itinerary.

For leisure cyclists, “Cycling and Cooking in Tuscany” made the list thanks to its unique focus on Tuscan culinary arts (including multiple cooking classes and tastings and range of dining experiences), high quality rental bikes, and outstanding traveler feedback. “Wine and Bike in Hungary’s Balaton Uplands” was chosen for its wonderful and friendly local guides who offer an inside experience into Hungary.

Picks for more experienced cyclists include “Tastes and Trails of Scotland,” a mountain bike tour that takes riders to some of the most remote corners of the west coast in Scotland and “Chile’s Lake and Volcano District,” which features food, culture, and great service in South America.

See the complete Gold Star Tour Collection https://www.biketours.com/gold-star-collection

BikeTours.com represents more than 100 local tour companies worldwide. A team of tour advisers helps travelers choose, plan, book, and go on the tour of their dreams. Learn more at www.biketours.com, 877.462.2423.

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