9 Cycling Tours to Book Now
Top two-wheel journeys for taking in stunning, unfettered vistas, from Oregon wine country to the Italian Dolomites.

Traveling by bicycle—whether it be on a group tour or private guided trip—has its benefits: It tends to be easier on joints than jogging, lets riders cover greater distances than walking, and allows for a more intimate, up-close experience than seeing sites riding in cars or trains. It can even offset vacation weight gain. But can this environmentally friendly mode of transport ever live up to its more glamorous counterparts, such as chauffeured journeys or sailing trips? Maybe. Here are nine of the most spectacular tours from adventure and biking companies where, enthusiastic cyclists can get all the advantages of taking a trip on two-wheels, without losing any luxury.

Trek Travel, Mallorca, Spain
The Spanish island of Mallorca has become known as a go-to cycling destination due to its mountainous peaks and stunning valleys; riders can take full advantage of this terrain with Madison, Wisconsin-based Trek Travel’s seven-day Mallorca Ride Camp (occurring multiple times from October through December). Highlights of the itinerary include a ride along the ancient coastal Moorish villages Of Deià and Valldemossa, as well as a beautiful descent into the village of Sa Calobra. At night, cyclists can take refuge in their scenic home base of the Monnaber Nou Eco Hotel & Spa located in a restored manor house that sits on 370 acres of pristine Mallorcan countryside. Available October – December; $1,700 per person; 866-464-8735; trektravel.com.

Dolomite Mountains, Northern Italy
Experience three cultures—Italian, German, and Ladin—in just one visit to the Dolomites with local adventure company Dolomite Mountain’s Gourmet, Wine, and Bike in the Südtirol tour. While cycling for six days through this unique region of northern Italy (a recently added UNESCO World Heritage Site), take in views of both the Alps and Dolomite mountains on either side. Riders will make stops in Bruneck, San Candido, Brixen and Bolzano—towns that have been touched by a myriad of European cultures—and stay in a variety of boutique hotels (this private, customized trip can be expanded and allows travelers to pick from local luxury properties like Hotel Goldener Adler and Hotel Laurin). A stop at the local wineries in the area is the perfect anecdote to a long day’s ride. Available from June through October. From $2,650 per person. 866-247-4860; dolomitemountains.com.

Blackberry Farm, Walland, Tennessee
Combine the luxury of a stay at Blackberry Farm—the rustic 4,200-acre resort at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains—with a competitive ride for charity that partners amateurs with pros. The third annual Blackberry Farm Pro-Am Classic, which will take place September 17 – 20, 2017, features three days of riding. The winning team (formed prior to arriving), the most admired cyclist, and the MVP will each be awarded $10,000 in prize money to benefit their charities of choice. But even the losers won't feel like their efforts were wasted: The event features unparalleled dinners and wine pairings from the renowned resort and guest chefs and sommeliers, as well as time well-spent pedaling alongside the pros in the picturesque Tennessee countryside. Available September 17 – 20; $900 per person for event entry; rooms start at $895; 1471 W. Millers Cove Rd.; 865-984-8166; blackberryfarm.com.

Butterfield & Robinson, Quebec, Canada
The vibrant city of Montreal is the starting point for esteemed Canadian operator Butterfield & Robinson’s Experience Quebec Biking tour. After traversing the famous Lachine Canal bike path and exploring the Old Port district, travelers cycle east into verdant farmland, along the Saint Lawrence River, into some of the most charming villages the area has to offer, where they break for cheese and wine tastings along the way. The trip includes a picturesque ferry ride to Quebec City and concludes with dinner at acclaimed restaurant Panache. Available September 10-15; from $4,995 per person; 866-551-9090; butterfield.com.

The Carter Company, Scotland, United Kingdom
With 3,000 feet of climbing on each of the four main cycling days of The Carter Company’s Scotland Grand Tour, riders are able to traverse the epic landscape while still getting to experience some of Scotland's top properties, like legendary golfing destination The Old Course Hotel St. Andrews. See the countryside on carbon fiber road bikes complete with GPS units, and then take your pick of a variety of add-on activities: golf on world-famous courses, whisky tasting at local distilleries, visits to historic castles, or perhaps even a flight in a sea plane over the Trossachs' glens. Or go the extra mile and book a "cycling butler," to be on hand during pit stops for any fanciful demand. Available August – October; from $3,190 per person; 44-12/9663-1671; the-carter-company.com.

Backroads, Douro Valley, Portugal
Cycling tours don't have to be all about, well, cycling. For those looking to combine their love of biking with boating, Backroads offers Portugal’s Duoro Valley River Cruise Bike Tour, starting in Madrid and ending in Portugal. Travelers will ride through the Spanish highlands before descending into the Douro Valley, where the luxurious AmaVide riverboat awaits, complete with sweeping balconies and multiple massage rooms. Cyclists begin their eight-day journey by taking part in several lengthy rides to destinations like a fortified hilltop village of Pinhao or a private port tasting at a winery on the Douro. The ship meets up with the group in different ports along the way, sweeping them to the next cycling starting point. Available July 4 – 11; August 1 – 8. From $6,498 per person; 800-462-2848; backroads.com.

Viceroy Snowmass, Snowmass, Colorado
Visitors to the winter hotspot and popular summer destination can now take part in this year-old cycling program, created in conjunction with former pro rider, Will Frischkorn (Tour de France competitor for Garmin), who joins rides based on availability. The three-day weekend option includes a 25-mile ride down a valley to Sustainable Settings farm where the Viceroy's executive chef, Will Nolan, prepares a true farm-to-table dinner. The next day, guests cycle through scenic Maroon Bells, followed by the old ghost town of Castle Creek, where a tented lunch is served, before returning to the property for massages. Available June – fall; from $3,700 per person for three days; 130 Wood Rd.; 970-923-8000; viceroysnowmass.com.

DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co., Burgundy, France
Expert oenophiles and amateurs alike will want to participate in DuVine's Burgundy Bike Tour, where riders break up routes over rolling hills with stops at one vineyard after another, experiencing the birthplaces of some of the finest pinot noirs and chardonnays in the world. Riders enjoy tastings in Pommard, Chassagne-Montrachet, Savigny-lès-Beaune, and Gevrey-Chambertin, dine at several local and Michelin-starred restaurants, (Le Bénaton, in the heart of Beaune) and stay in a variety of gorgeous French chateaus along the way. For those who are looking for something a little more bespoke, DuVine offers custom private tours, where clients can have any service they can imagine at their fingertips, from transfers via private helicopter to drives in vintage sports cars. Available June 11 – 16; July 16 – 21; July 3 – August 4; August 13 – 18; September 10 – 15; October 22 – 27; from $4,995 per person; 888-396-5383; duvine.com.

Gray & Co., Willamette Valley, Oregon
Take a ride back in time without sacrificing any modern-day comforts with Gray & Co.'s custom cycling tour through Oregon's Willamette Valley. While gliding past gorgeous landscapes of panoramic flats and pine forests that make this area of the United States so special, visit charming small towns like McMinnville and Yamhill, and pop into quaint cafes and bakeries along the way. For those who enjoy fresh air but are also looking for more than the great outdoors, the Willamette Valley is a real treat for wine lovers: Lying at the same latitude as Burgundy, 45 degrees north, and featuring similar weather, the valley is also known for its pinot noirs and features over 500 vineyards, as well as orchards to explore. Summer through fall. From $1,500 per person per day. 416-998-4082; grayandco.ca.
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