ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours, a family-owned and operated business founded in 1972 and a trailblazer in guided cycling tours, is delighted to announce the addition of self-guided tours to its product roster, featuring six new itineraries that explore the very best of Italy’s culture, landscapes, and food.
From the shores of Lake Garda and the peaks and valleys of the famed Dolomites to the Apennine Mountains, Tuscany’s golden landscapes, and the green heart of Umbria, these new budget-friendly, self-guided tours offer flexibility and independence, and offer the perfect combination of DIY travel with the convenience of having all the route planning mapped out and ready to go.
“We are very excited to introduce our new self-guided tours in Italy, offering our customers the freedom to explore this stunning country at their own pace and at a price point that is extremely compelling,” says Maria Elena Price, co-owner, ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours. “These tours combine the flexibility of independent travel with the support and expertise that ExperiencePlus! is known for. With carefully curated routes, hand-picked accommodations, comprehensive digital guidebooks, seamless daily luggage transfers from start to finish, and options for culinary and cultural activities, cyclists can immerse themselves in the beauty and culture of Italy while enjoying the peace-of-mind that comes with our more than 50 years of experience in creating exceptional cycling adventures.”
With deep family and business connections throughout Italy, including local staff who assist ExperiencePlus! in tailoring each trip to the interests of each guest, and who can connect guests with on-the-ground support as required, these new self-guided tours are a great gateway into the world of cycling holidays. Add to that, these self-guided tours are very budget-friendly, coming in at about half the price of a guided tour.
“You need to have strong partnerships and understanding of a place to successfully operate self-guided tours,” continues Price. “It’s one of the reasons we are offering self-guided tours in Italy first. We have spent decades building local connections here and have successfully applied that knowledge and expertise in the development of these new itineraries.”
Here’s a look at the six new self-guided tours:
Southern Tuscany – Cycling Cortona to Siena: This self-guided tour covers a stunning part of Tuscany, including the beautiful Val d’Orcia, recognized by UNESCO as a “World Heritage Landscape” for its unique blend of human and natural environments. With three two-night stays over the course of the eight-day tour, the itinerary allows guests to take a day off, if desired, and explore each destination a little deeper.
Highlights include:
- The stunning towns of Cortona, Montepulciano, and Pienza
- Tuscany’s famed landscapes
- Siena and its historic city centre
- Option to take part in a wine tasting in Montalcino and/or in a cooking class organized by Le Cesarine
Bicycle Romagna – Heartland of Italy’s Homemade Pasta: This seven-day self-guided tour starts in Ravenna – once the capital of the Western Roman Empire – and travels through the Romagna region all the way to Bologna, the culinary capital of Italy. Easy, flat rides, plus a few serious hill rides, make for an amazing cycling adventure through the heartland of homemade pasta.
Highlights include:
- The medieval town of Brisighella with its pastel-hued houses and rolling vineyards
- The planned Renaissance town of Terra del Sole built by the Medici family in 1564
- Two nights in Faenza, one of Italy’s most famous ceramics towns
- Option to take part in a cooking class organized by Le Cesarine
Double the fun by linking this tour with the Taste of Italy tour (this tour begins where Bicycle Romagna ends).
Taste of Italy, Cycling Emilia-Romagna Culinary: Explore Italy’s premier pasta and foodie region on this eight-day self-guided adventure. Cycle through picturesque medieval towns, elegant cities, and World Heritage UNESCO sites, all with scenic landscapes reminiscent of nearby Tuscany but without the crowds.
Highlights include:
- Behind-the-scenes visits to a local parmesan cheese producer or historic balsamic vinegar mill
- Opportunity to stop and explore the 15th-century Torrechiara Castle, located close to Langhirano
- Discover the cities of Bologna, the region’s lively and historic capital, and Modena, known for its balsamic vinegar and opera heritage
- Option to take part in a cooking class organized by Le Cesarine
Cycling the Majestic Dolomites! Cortina to Bolzano: On this flexible, eight-day itinerary, guests get to choose their own adventure in the stunning Dolomites – be it along the gentle paths that criss-cross the rolling valley floors or by embarking on some epic mountain climbs. Featuring majestic landscapes and scenery, Italian and Austrian-German cuisine, and a unique and incredibly preserved history and way of life, this region provides all the elements of a great bicycle tour.
Highlights include:
- Chance for in-depth exploration of the eastern corner of the Italian Alps
- Experience South Tyrolean culture
- Explore Cortina d’Ampezzo, a mountain destination/ski resort renowned for its beauty and home of the 1956 Winter Games
- Discover the Brenner Pass, a popular and historic Alpine crossing that forms that border between Italy and Austria
Italy’s Alpine Valleys – Sud Tyrol, Lake Garda and Verona: Starting in Silandro, close to the Austrian border and deep in the heart of the Sud Tyrol, this eight-day self-guided itinerary is home to some of the country’s best bike paths and backroads. Exploring verdant valleys, small villages, and vibrant historic cities, it is a great tour for couples, friends, or multi-generational travel (families of mixed cycling abilities – even for kids) as it provides options for all – epic mountain climbs and passes with options easily reachable from the main route.
Highlights include:
- Stunning alpine scenery and the cultural riches of Sud Tyrol’s Val Venesto
- The vineyards and fruit orchards of the Caldaro wine region
- A boat ride on Lake Garda
- Option to take part in a cooking class organized by Le Cesarine
Umbria – Cycling the Green Heart of Italy: On this eight-day exploration of Umbria, the heart of Roman Italy, guests will discover stunning scenery, historic monasteries and castles, and amazing medieval villages unchanged since the Middle Ages. Starting in Perugia, the region’s ancient capital, the route makes its way through hilltop towns such as Spello, Spoleto, and Todi, before finally wrapping up in Orvieto.
Highlights include:
- Discover the ruins on an ancient Roman pagan temple in Spello
- Explore the town of Deruta, known since the Renaissance for its production of maiolica (painted tin-glazed earthenware)
- The Civita di Bagnoregio – known as Italy’s “jewel on the hill”, this historic village is accessed via a pedestrian bridge and is home to the 7th century Romanesque San Donato Church
- Option to take part in a guided visit of Assisi and Orvieto, as well as olive oil tasting in Bevagna
