Types of cycling holidays in Europe

Don’t think cycling holidays are just for fitness fanatics where ‘finding the burn’ is an actual thing and being part of a small group pits you against competitive Lycra-wearing athletes whose calves look like they’ve been inflated with a foot pump. Choosing a small group tour will place you amongst like-minded individuals with similar fitness levels, likes and dislikes. Self guided tours provide the cross bar between independence and guided cycling holidays and ensure you won’t get lost and won’t have to worry about carrying heavy bags or stressing about where to sleep. Off road or on; cultural or gastronomic; long distances at altitude or Sunday morning pedals to the bakers; be honest and choose the type of cycle tour that suits you both on and off the gel seat.

Classic road routes include Prague to Budapest, Bolzano to Venice and through the Cilento National Park on the Amalfi Coast, with tarmac and asphalt creating a comfortable cycling surface over a variety of gradients. Support vehicles mean you can dip out of steep climbs if you prefer although a reasonable level of fitness is required to ensure you get the most out of the experience. Another great area for road touring is Portugal’s Alentejo and Algarve regions which feature a great asphalt road system as well as some sublime scenes over cork and coast.