Does this sound like you or your recent internet search? When the summer heat and crowds are winding down and the days slipping into soft light, you might just find the ideal time of year to do a self guided bike tour! Or perhaps you have room in your schedule for one more adventure, but you have no idea what areas are still decent and even doable this time of year. Fall travel still needs to be booked early, May-June is the time to lock it up! Not to worry; we’re here to help!

Seasons vary dramatically across Europe and within regions and countries (especially lately,) so this is where our 30 years of Europe self-guided bike tours expertise comes in handy. We are admittedly picky travelers  – we don’t like crowds and we don’t like the heat – so Fall travel is a personal favorite of ours! We’ve made it simple with our short and to-the-point list of Fall self-guided bike tours.

We’ve broken it down to our Top 5 Favorite Self-Guided Bike Tours in Europe:

1. Puglia – kick it way down south in the boot
This 9-day, self-guided Italy bike tour takes you down into the famous bootheel, to idyllic Puglia. With temperatures comfortable from spring through November, this tour takes you through some of the most beautiful, unique parts of Italy while also getting a feel for the Adriatic. Highlight stops include the UNESCO Sassi of Matera, Conversano, the UNESCO Trulli of Alberobello, and Otranto! Need a shorter break? Check out our Short Puglia Self-Guided Bike Tour!
View our Best of Puglia Self-Guided Bike Tour

2. Sardinia – famous for its pristine beaches & crystal-clear water
So where is it? Sardinia is west of Italy, north of Tunisia, and south of the French island of Corsica. Bookable through November, this 7-day, self-guided Sardinia Italy bike tour sends you through charming villages along the coast and the unique Genoese-style minor Islands of San Pietro and Sant’Antioco. After cycling and exploration, indulge your hunger with the fine typical cuisine and wines of Sulcis Peninsula, which you can only find here.
View our Sardinia Self-Guided Bike Tour

3. Spain – eat, drink, pedal, repeat
Spain is a personal favorite destination of ours, with a history steeped in every step and incredible food and wine around every bend. From Catalonia, Barcelona, and Costa Brava along the coast to the mountainous white villages region of Andalusia, our tours are of different lengths, so you can choose what works best for your schedule. Don’t forget about the UNESCO sites: the“Alhambra” in Granada and “Mezquita” in Cordova – truly architectural wonders! Weather holds through October and November, depending on the region. Learn more about why we love self-guided Spain bike tours in the Fall!
View our Spain Self-Guided Bike Tours

4. Provence – Instafamous for lavender, but what else?
Cycle the South of France, known for its fresh produce, fine wines, and ancient sights! This 8-day, self-guided bike tour in Provence starts and finishes in Isle Sur La Sorgue. Highlights include the picture-perfect medieval “perched villages” of Gordes and Roussillon, Luberon’s lovely Lourmarin. Then there is the mighty, mighty Mont Ventoux – one of the world’s most challenging and notorious climbs. Our self-guided Provence bike tour offers moderate and challenging ride options each day, perfect for couples & small groups of different abilities. Expect decent weather until late October/early November.
View our Provence Self-Guided Cycling Tour

5. Algarve – it’s always sunny in Portugal!
The Algarve region is the southernmost part of Portugal and is widely regarded as the sunniest place in Europe on any given day! It’s no wonder that this is on our list of fall favorites – this Algarve bike tour offers pleasant cycling weather for most of the year! On this 8-day, self-guided Portugal bike tour, we make you feel like a local, taking you to the best places to ride, eat, and drink along the coast. Book early and book soon – this region is still buzzing during the fall months.
View our Sunny Algarve Self-Guided Bike Tour

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Slovenia has been gaining a lot of attention in the press lately, and with good reason. In recent years, Slovenia has hosted hundreds of journalists to discover all that they have to offer, with millions of euros dedicated to growing and supporting a sustainable tourism program. In addition to jaw-dropping landscapes, Slovenia’s highlights include a world-class wine and food culture and numerous boutique hotels that are internationally green certified — designations earned as sustainable destinations and responsible-travel stewards. So, not only is Slovenia a country with literally everything you could hope to see and experience on a self-guided bike tour and vacation, but it’s also leading the way with its environmentally-rooted tourism efforts. Now that’s something to feel good about!

But here’s why we love Slovenia…

In just one vacation, you can travel from Dolomites-like high-alpine landscapes in the Julian Alpes, to the “Tuscany of Slovenia,” with vineyards and delicious wines, finishing at the sparkling Adriatic Sea. Can you imagine? It’s literally all of the best landscapes in one trip! Well, our Self-Guided Bike Tour in Slovenia does just that, ticking all of the boxes for your Slovenia dream trip!
Click here to learn more, or keep reading!

Slovenia Self-Guided Bike Tour
Alpes to Wine Country to the Sea – 8 Days

Slovenia Self-Guided Bike Tour: Experience Slovenia in a way like no other – cycle from the Julian Alpes to Slovenia’s Tuscany to the Mediterranean Sea, visiting lakes and cycling alongside gently-flowing rivers. Slovenia is one of Europe’s most exquisite hidden treasures. Thanks to its sustainable tourism, perfectly-preserved landmarks, Michelin-starred restaurants, and world-class wine, Slovenia is emerging as one of the top bucket-list holiday destinations, per recent features in Nat Geo, Forbes, Lonely Planet, and Condé Nast. Anyone who wants a taste of Europe’s natural beauty only needs to visit Slovenia to see how it exceeds all expectations. Known to be the third most forested area in Europe, it is a mixture of heavily forested landscapes juxtaposed with rolling, cultured hills, which creates a country of lush greenery. Among the greenery, the adventuring cyclist will also enjoy staying in Ljubljana, seeing castles, vineyards, lakes, and rivers, that would rival any “top” European destination. One of our most highly-rated destinations, this self-guided bike tour through Slovenia was rated the best trip winner by Active Times in 2014. From the Slovenian Alpes to the shores of the Adriatic, you won’t want to miss this handcrafted self-guided Slovenia bike tour – only with Pure Adventures!
Click here for the full Slovenia Self-Guided Bike Tour itinerary.

Have more time?

• We recommend adding extra days in any or all of the stops along the route: Bled, Bohinj, Brda, and Piran, especially!
• Istria extension options exist; please inquire!

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1. The weather
The internal cities in Spain can get quite warm over the summer months – it’s not uncommon for Madrid to top 100F! Girona and the Catalonia region are their warmest in August at 87F. But come September, October, and even November, the temperatures drop to a comfortable 65-76F, perfect for a day of riding. Sunny days are common, with the occasional rain shower. The fall rains are pleasant, and nothing a lightweight rain jacket and booties can’t manage.

2. Fewer crowds
With the summer holidays over, Spain’s beaches are a retreat for cyclists who visit in September and October, as the majority of travelers who head to the coast to soak up the sun have gone home. As well, bustling cities are a little quieter, and lineups for museums and other attractions are a little shorter – but Spain’s distinctive culture continues to thrive. Fall is a great time to visit Spain if you’re looking for a peaceful, laid-back cycling holiday.

3. Travel Discounts
For many destinations, the shoulder season (low season) brings great cost savings on travel and Spain is no exception. Now is the time to start monitoring for flight deals, signing up for your preferred airline’s e-newsletter, or following them on social media for the latest price discounts on airfare.

The Best Self-Guided Bike Tours in Spain for Fall:

1. Catalonia Culinary Bike Tour  
This 8-day bicycle tour of Spain, near Girona, covers the Emporda interior and coastline. You cycle through the area of the Empordanet, also known as the Catalan Tuscany, for its beautiful countryside and incredible medieval villages. The experiences just get better as you stay in top-quality lodging with included gastronomic dining experiences on several nights! Along the bike route, you have the opportunity to visit wine cellars, olive oil mills, and enjoy fresh seafood from the coast! Need a short break? We also have a short version of this Spain bike tour!

2. Barcelona to Girona Road Bike Tour
This 7-day bike tour is for roadies who like to climb! Experience the backcountry of Catalonia on some of the Costa Brava’s quiet secondary roads that take you from Barcelona to Girona. While the distances in km are not substantial, there is always climbing, and we offer loop rides so you don’t have to change hotels every day. The trip finishes in that well-known roadie bike town of Girona. Not to mention, the nice hotels that await you and some delicious dining options!  Read a review of this tour by Sydney Morning Traveller Herald writer Susan Bredow here. 

3. Cycling from Granada to Cordoba
This 8-day foodie-lover bike tour gives you the opportunity to connect the cities of Granada and Cordova with their many UNESCO: the“Alhambra” in Granada and “Mezquita” in Cordova. Enjoy the villages, castles, churches, and towns that stretch before you just waiting to be discovered, many of which are home to some of the world’s finest olive oils. You will find them the perfect place to relax and recover lost energy with the best food and wines this region has to offer!

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To help you form your own opinion, here are the facts about e-bikes! Are they friend or foe?

It’s Easy to Plug In:

If you can find an outlet, you can charge your bike. Unlike electric cars, which require dedicated charging stations, most e-bikes plug in anywhere. Some even have removable batteries, which make it even more convenient to charge. (Elby says to plan around four hours to get their e-bikes fully charged.)

You Can DIY:

It’s possible to turn any pedal bike into a pedal-assist bike with devices like the Copenhagen wheel, or retrofit kits from BionX, E-Rad, and LEED USA.

Free to Roam the Road:

According to California state law, any pedal-driven e-bike with a max speed of 20 mph can use any of the state’s bike lanes, bike paths, bike trails or off-street bikeways. (E-bikes are still pretty new, so in many areas, the CA law is the accepted standard in absence of local regulations.)

Yes, There Are Age Limits:

According to Portland State University’s TREC Transportation Insight for Vibrant communities, as of December 2015, at least 40 US states and Canadian provinces had a minimum operator age for e-bikes, typically 14 or 16 years of age. In Alberta, 12 year olds can operate an e-bike, but in Quebec, you must be 18.

Thinking you’re liking the idea of an e-bike? Check out the selection here

Reference: bicycling.com

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Well, at least that’s how we see it for our customers. This is the time of year when we offer 2017 pricing for our 2018 tours! You’ve got until the end of October to grab hold of some serious savings.

Not sure which tour is for you? Here are a few suggestions.

Portugal – Algarve Sunny Coast Cycling Tour

Tour Type: Self Guided Hybrid Cyling Level 3
Difficulty: 3 out of 5
Distance: 49km/day
Duration: 6 Nights / 7 Days
Availability: January to June and September to December
Cost: Starting at $1415 USD

The southern region of Portugal, called the Algarve, is a perfect place for a cycling tour getaway offering an incredible program along one of the most beautiful coastlines of Portugal. You will discover some small fishing villages and some abandoned fortresses which remind us of the time when this coast was ravaged by pirates! Passing by the Southwestern most point in Europe, Cape São Vincente and end in the beautiful and typical town of Lagos; you ride some of the best seascapes in Europe. With Alentejo, this region is 300 million years old and it is one of the most preserved landscapes in all of Europe; in the Algarve we avoid most of the high traffic areas and beaches further east and south. The tour area boasts a diversity of rare botanical species, with very interesting flora and a variety of maritime birds that nest here and complete this beautiful and unique scenery. After a few cycling days you will reach Cape Sao Vicente, which is the south-westernmost point in continental Europe and a migration area for thousands of birds.

Ok, so you’re not sure about Portugal. Maybe our “4 ways to tame Portugal’s Wild Coast” will get you excited!

Italy – Pisa to Florence Bike Tour

Tour Type: Self Guided Hybrid or E-bike Cycling
Difficulty: 3 out of 5
Distance: 30 km/day
Duration: 6 Nights / 7 Days
Availability: March 1 – October 31
Cost: Starting at $1347

Leonardo da Vinci might have said it himself “cycle to my home town and check out all my discoveries”. This flexible tour does just that, as you choose your challenge each day. Pedal through the quintessential Tuscan landscape of vineyards and olive groves to Pisa, with its world renowned Leaning Tower, then to the charming town of Lucca, where you will ride up on the impressive walls of the city. Continue on country lanes to Vinci, Leonardo’s birth place, and visit two museums to gain insight into the life and mind of this genius. Finally, visit Florence “cradle of the Renaissance”. This is a wonderful discovery of Northern Tuscany to places none of our other tours visit.

Not sure about the whole Pisa-florence thing? Our “Pisa to Florence Bike Tour: 20 Years In The Making” blog may just change your mind!

Spain, spain & More Spain!

We have just too many favourite tours in Spain to pick just one. From our Catalonia Gastronomic Cycling Tour, Spain – Rioja Wine Cycling Tour, to A Taste of Catalonia Cycling Tour, we’ve got something for everything cyclist no matter the skill level. However, there are some prerequisites before embarking on any of our Spain tours – in no particular order: 1) LOVE great wine 2) Enjoy mouth watering Spanish cuisine. 3) Want to take in some breath taking scenery. If you can meet at least one of those – we’d be happy to have you! In the mean time download our “Top Cycling Routes Of Spain” guide to get the inside look at what we’ve learned in our 20+ years of touring the area.

Still on the fence about vacay in Spain? These “5 Foods to Try in Spain” will set you straight!

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Whether you’re in it for the Instagram photo op or to see this architectural marvel firsthand for its historical significance, we’re willing to bet you don’t know all there is to know about this leaning wonder. Here are 4 Little Known Facts About The Leaning Tower Of Pisa!

The Tower Leans Because Of Poor Planning

While some architectural flubs are the product of bad luck, the Leaning Tower of Pisa’s signature tilt could have been avoided with better planning. A weak foundation and the soft ground of Pisa—composed of sand, clay, and deposits from surrounding Tuscan rivers were too unstable to support the building even in the early stages of its construction. The builders noticed this error early in the two-century construction project—after the addition of a second story to the tower, the ground began to give, prompting that infamous slant.

It Took Two Centuries To Build

Construction on the tower broke ground in August 1173. By 1178, workers had made it to the third story, which was already tilting slightly to the north. Military conflicts with other Italian states would soon halt progress, which would not resume until 1272. This time, construction only remained underway for 12 years before another war again stopped the work. A final wave of construction picked up again in the early 14th century, concluding with the installation of a bell chamber in 1372.

The Leaning Tower Of Pisa Isn’t The only Leaning Tower In Pisa

A number of other structures in Pisa suffer foundational issues thanks to the river city’s soft grounds. Among these are San Nicola, a 12th century church located about half a mile south of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and San Michele degli Scalzi, an 11th century church about two miles east of the pair. While San Nicola, whose base is rooted beneath the earth, leans only mildly, San Michele degli Scalzi boasts a substantial 5-degree tilt.

Galileo May have Dropped A Cannon Ball From The Top

Among Renaissance physicist Galileo Galilei’s most famous achievements was the discovery that gravity’s effect on an object is the same regardless of its mass. This epiphany is said to have hit Galileo atop the Leaning Tower of Pisa, from where he allegedly dropped a cannonball and a musket ball in 1589. The scientist’s biography, penned by disciple Vincenzo Viviani, remains the sole official assertion that such an experiment took place.

Reference: mentalfloss.com

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However, travelling through the city on your bike doesn’t come without risks – just like driving, there are precautions you need to take. Here are our 7 Ways to Stay Safe when City Cycling!

1) Treat The Bike Lane As A Regular Lane

Often times cyclists treat the bike lane like a fortress of solitude. A false sense of security happens when you assume motorists will keep to their part of the road. Be vigilant! It’s not uncommon for cars to merge into the bike lane, turn in front of you at an intersection and open their doors into the bike lane.

2) Ditch The Headphones

It goes without saying (but we’ll say it anyway), that ear buds and headphones can distract from the busy world around you while cycling. Leave them at home or pack them away until you reach your destination.

3) Be Careful Around Larger Vehicles

Larger vehicles simply have a harder time seeing what’s around them. Reduced visibility due to blind spots put cyclists at risk. It’s your job to stay alert.

4) Assume Car Doors Will Open

Running into an open car door is definitely one way to ruin your commute, and it happens far too often. The only ways to avoid this is to keep your distance and watch for activity in the car. Keep your eyes forward, and stay alert!

5) Don’t Be An Amber Gambler

No need to explain here. Obey the rules of the road, don’t rush, and you’ll stay clear of injury or worse.

6) Don’t Get Cozy With the Curb

Riding too close to the curb gives you little room for error, near potholes, and has you riding through dirt and debris that could collect in your tires. Give yourself some room to breath and make it a smoother ride!

7) Plan Your Route

Google maps offers some pretty decent bike paths to take, opposed to hitting busier city streets. Regardless, you’ll most likely run into some traffic, but knowing quite routes make for a better ride!

Credit:Bike Radar

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