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So, what are Self-Guided Tours and Private Travel, and how do they compare to other forms of travel?
Private, Independent, Custom Departures – The Pure Adventures model of Self-Guided is meant to be hassle-free, inclusive, and about half the price of most guided vacations. Our self-guided tours are flexible, affordable, go at your own pace, and provide a local contact as a “backstop” for emergency support during your tour.
More on why self-guided tours are the smart choice: Our self-guided biking, hiking, and multisport tours are truly the best of both worlds! You travel on your terms, with all the help and support you need, so you can focus on what matters most.
Private, Independent, Custom Departures – The Pure Adventures model of Self Guided is meant to be hassle-free, inclusive, and still about half the price of most guided vacations. Being a private departure, you can go solo or as few as 2 people. Keep your travel to your private party! This goes for Guided Trips Too! See how we do Private Guided Travel
Flexible – While most of our travelers opt for one of our pre-planned, self-guided itineraries, we can make small modifications to our tours, such as adding “rest days” during your tour or extra nights at the start or finish. We typically offer a variety of hotels to fit your budget. Unlike guided trips with set departure dates, and where there is the possibility of the operator canceling a tour due to low participation, your tour can only be canceled by you guessed it, you!
Affordable – The all-important question for many people is ‘how much is this going to cost?’ Prices will vary based on your level of accommodations and the duration of the trip. In general, self-guided travel with Pure Adventures averages approximately $1,500 per person for a 7-night trip. Compare this to the approximate cost of a guided Pure Adventures trip of $2200-$2900, while the competition is well over $4,000 or more. Of course, you can travel for a lot less if you make all your own arrangements.
Supported – On your first morning, you will be met by a local Pure Adventures representative, who will get your trip off to a great start by ensuring you are comfortable with the routes and your trip materials. Included in your trip materials are up-to-date recommendations for dining, cultural attractions, and other on-tour highlights. We arrange all of your luggage transfers so that you don’t have to worry about a thing. And, should any urgent issues arise, you have telephone access to a local Pure Adventures person through our local self-guided support hotline.
Off the beaten path – Many of our tours are created with a specific theme in mind; for example, riding along routes of great historical significance. All of our routes are thoroughly researched and ridden annually by our staff to ensure you will have the best possible experience. We also plan our routes so you will have plenty of time to savor small towns and villages along the way and enjoy interacting with the locals. All routes are designed by local experts!
Navigation – The ability to self-navigate is imperative to a self-guided tour! Depending upon the tour, cyclists are given a variety of ways to navigate their routes, including GPX files, maps, and cue sheets. GPS device rental is available on some tours. In the case of a GPS tool going offline, all cyclists must be capable and comfortable using maps and other navigational materials to self-navigate. If that sounds like you, then a self-guided tour is for you!
Family-friendly – Children are welcome at many of our hotels but kids under the age of 10 may require special equipment (such as trailers or child tandems.) If so, we recommend parents have some prior experience at home with trailers or tandems. Keep in mind, some of the routes and tour activities may not be very interesting for children. We recommend discussing the proposed routes with us to determine whether the route is suitable for kids.
At a Glance: Advantages vs. Disadvantages Self Guided Bike Tours and Hiking Tours
The following table may help you determine if a self-guided tour is the right option for you and your companions and shows you where Pure Adventures is giving you more.
| Guided Tours | Self-Guided Tours* | DIY Tours (on your own) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Departure Dates Open *Pure Adventures goes on almost any date you request. Other companies may limit days/dates. |
N |
Y |
Y |
| Full-time guide *Pure Adventures can add support to almost any trip. |
Y |
N |
N |
| Guide/Local Contact Support *Pure Adventures includes ‘personalized’ orientations at the start of your trip. |
Y |
Y |
N |
| Personalized Groups *Pure Adventures – every group is private, your way! |
N |
Y |
N |
| Professionally Planned Routes *Pure Adventures can customize with local experts to match your group’s riding needs. |
Y |
Y |
N (individual work) |
| Luggage Transfers *Pure Adventures always includes this; it is not extra. |
Y |
Y |
N |
| Meals Included *Pure Adventures self-guided tours give you the opportunity to explore regional cuisine on your own for lunches & most dinners; breakfast daily is always included. |
Y (varies) |
Y (varies) |
N |
| Transfers Included *Pure Adventures considers logistics and includes or arrange transfers to help you keep it simple. |
Y (varies) |
Y (varies) |
N |
| Any group size allowed *Pure Adventures will work with any size group. |
N/Y |
Y |
– |
| Guaranteed departure *Pure Adventures never cancels a private tour for lack of participation or min numbers. |
N (varies) |
Y |
Y |
| Emergency Help *Pure Adventures local support speaks English and is there to help with any need. |
Y |
Y |
N |
| Local Intel *Pure Adventures trips include a tour booklet, either paper or digital, with recommendations of places to stop, things to see, favorite eateries, etc. We collaborate with locals and our personal experience to build this for you! |
Y (varies) |
Y (varies) |
N |
| Typical prices: $-$$$$ *Pure Adventures is not the cheapest but we include more so you get more and also have great value. |
$$-$$$$ | $-$$$ | $-$$ |
Helpful Blogs: How to Choose The Perfect Cycling Tour | Where Can I Travel This Fall | What is Private Guided Travel |
Still have questions? Call us toll-free at 1-970-230-5896 and we will be happy to help you plan the perfect vacation.