Winter. It has its charms, but most don’t outshine the months we spend scraping ice from our cars and bundling up until we look like the kid from A Christmas Story.
But then the seasons change, and we forget all about the parkas and the level three snow emergencies. The flowers bloom and the sun shines, and we start to think of any way to spend time outside.
For that, BikeTours.com has three words for you: spring bike tours.
Check out the nine favorite spring tours we think will help you get out and enjoy the warm weather.
A relaxing spring bike tour of Southern Spain is the perfect companion to the region’s rich culture and history. Tour the beauty of the area: Seville! Cadiz! but make sure to fully experience the traditions: the tapas! the flamenco! the bullfights! the fiestas!
With its sprawling view of the sea, and a route through vineyards, old villages, and beautiful landscapes, the Peljesac Peninsula just begs to be enjoyed in the spring. Add to that the chance to sample some of the region’s tastiest red wines and this tour is the perfect escape through the Mediterranean.
What better way to soak up the sunshine than on the beautiful beaches of the Adriatic? And if that’s not enough time in the sun, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to catch some rays on the bathing locations at Cavallino, Caorle, Jesolo, and Grado. Couple that with the countless Italian Piazzas, medieval towns, ancient Roman architecture, and the Julian Alps, and you have a spring bike tour that is as much for your mind as it is for your soul.
Take a step back in time on this Grecian trip. You’ll start by touring the spot of the Greek Independence War of 1821. You’ll make your way to Tripoli, traveling through one of the highest villages on the Peninsula, Alonistaina, and then back down to the historical settlement of Piana. Much of the region offers modern comforts while still preserving the history of the area, all without the overcrowding of lots of tourists. You’ll see magnificent mountain ranges and the famous blue waters of Greece on this 7-night tour.
This trip takes you to the most eastern threshold of the European Union, as you’ll travel through 7,000 years of history. It’s the perfect tour to experience the stunning landscapes of Bulgaria and Romania, with rolling farmlands, fields of sunflowers, and the cliffs of the Black Sea. You’ll tour the Alevi Muslim spring and cave, ancient monasteries, and the Shabla Lighthouse. Make sure to save belly room for the traditional Balkan cuisine, complete with lush fruits and vegetables and wine.
The name of the tour says it all: this trip is full of indulgence and delight, with abundant opportunity for feasting on delicious wine, truffles, chocolates, and regional favorites. The perfect trifecta of food, architecture, and culture, the trip will start at “Little Paris” (Turin), and stroll through the orchards and vineyards to Saluzzo. The addition of the e-bikes will help you get the full experience of a bike tour, while saving your legs on the middle portion of the trip, which has some hills.
Springtime provides the optimal opportunity to get outside, explore the beautiful countryside… and drink some wine. You’ll visit the Montalcino wine town, along with Chianti country, where you can enjoy the region’s robust flavors all while doing your best Hannibal Lecter impression (or not!). Encounter vespers by one of the Italian monks at the Sant’Antimo Monastery and explore the piazzas of Greve before riding through the “town-in-a-castle,” Monteriggioni.
This encompassing trip of the center of Italy will lead you through traditional vineyards and olive groves, lush greenery and blue lakes, and medieval villages full of history and treasure. You’ll have a chance to see the Basilica of St. Francis, Roman baths and temples, and the north shores of Lake Trasimeno. You’ll also get to explore Todi, which was once dubbed the “most livable town in the world.” Good luck wanting to leave!
Travel the Way of St. James, a spiritual pilgrimage originally taken by Queen Isabel of Portugal in 1325. Of course, this trip will be a little less steep and long, and will include a few more modern accommodations. Start the journey in Porto, where you pick up your official pilgrim passport, to be stamped along the trip. The journey brings you up close to medieval villages, UNESCO site Santiago de Compostela, and the port and green wines of the region.
Top tours, Balkans, Greece, Holland, Italy, Spain, Danube