Shimanami Kaido Island-Hopping Bike Tour

The best time for cycling in Europe depends on where you're headed. Here's a quick breakdown by season:

• Spring (April–May) is ideal for Southern Europe — moderate temperatures, quiet roads, and the countryside in full bloom. Great for Portugal or Italy

• Early summer (June) is the sweet spot across most of Central Europe — Austria and Slovenia are all at their best, with long daylight hours and alpine passes fully open.

• Late summer to early autumn (August–September) suits places like Norway and Denmark — cooler temperatures, plenty of daylight, and far fewer tourists than peak season.

• Winter is generally off-season for most European cycling destinations. The exception is warmer regions like the Canary Islands and southern Spain — all rideable year-round.

Still a hard choice? See our tour choosing guide that will answer any questions or doubts you still might have.

Our tours can be adapted to any bike type — whether road, gravel, or mountain bike. We are in constant communication with you to find the optimal conditions for your cycling holidays in Europe.

The most versatile option is a gravel bike, even if you are coming on a road cycling holiday. It does not really affect your road performance while allowing you to take some scenic backroads that can be in a slightly worse state than the main ones. A gravel bike is usually more comfortable as well.

Europe is a very diverse continent and there is something for every cyclist. Whichever bike you choose, we will find the perfect route for you.

We offer four types of cycling holidays, each suited to a different kind of rider — and it's worth noting that most of our tours are compatible with more than one bike type, so you're rarely locked into a single option.

• Road cycling — best for avid cyclists with the endurance to handle multiple long days in a row. Expect high daily distances, paved roads, and a pace that rewards fitness.

• Gravel cycling — suitable for anyone comfortable spending multiple days in the saddle with some moderate climbing. Terrain is mostly tarmac and gravel, stages are manageable, and the pace is flexible. Our most popular format.

• E-bike holidays — ideal for those who want to cover the same scenic routes with less physical strain. Electric assistance makes longer distances and hillier terrain accessible to a much wider range of riders.

• Mountain biking — suited to riders comfortable on technical terrain. Our MTB holidays tackle rougher trails, steeper descents, and more demanding surfaces. Adjustable to your skill level, but not recommended for complete beginners.

Absolutely — and in fact, most of our tours are designed with solo travellers in mind.

Our self-guided tours mean you cycle at your own pace, on your own schedule, without being tied to a group. You're independent on the road, but fully supported behind the scenes — we handle your accommodation, luggage transfers, and route planning, and our team is reachable throughout your trip.

If you're travelling alone, just let us know when booking. We'll advise you on the single supplement and flag which tours are most popular with solo travellers.

If you want to, sure! We are well aware that some people love to stay in groups while others prefer some more alone time on their trip. We wanted to give you the opportunity to do things your way — it is your holiday, after all!

As long as you respect the group timings and locations designated by your guide, please feel free to customise your itinerary by scheduling a free meeting with our specialists and we will see what we can do at the chosen destination!

On a self-guided cycling tour, you're in charge of your own pace and schedule — no group to keep up with, no fixed departure times, no guide leading the way.

Before your trip, we take care of everything behind the scenes. We plan your route, book all your accommodation, arrange daily luggage transfers, and load your GPS with turn-by-turn navigation. You receive a detailed digital guidebook covering each stage, what to expect on the road, and recommendations along the way.

On the day, you simply check out, drop your bags at reception, and ride. Your luggage arrives at the next hotel before you do.

Throughout the trip, our team is reachable if anything comes up — a question, a change of plan, or something unexpected. You're independent, but never on your own.

If you'd like to know more about how it all fits together, visit our self-guided tours manual.

On our guided tours, you will have professional local guides. Our guides will make sure that you will have expert guidance combined with great fun and a memorable experience.

Some of our Slovenian tours are also also available as group guided tours.

Every day starts with breakfast at your hotel. From there, the day is yours.

Your luggage is collected from reception and transported to your next hotel — so you set off with just a daypack. Your GPS route and daily notes are ready in the app.

Most stages take between 4–7 hours of cycling depending on the tour, with plenty of stops along the way.

You decide the pace, when to take breaks, and whether to linger somewhere that catches your eye.

By the time you arrive at your next hotel, your bags are already waiting. The evening is entirely free.