International Biking Tours
We handle the details…
You’re met at the airport, so no hassle in finding the first hotel. When you’re on the move, on the bike, a sag wagon transports luggage from place to place and provides emergency backup if needed. Small, family-run hotels are the usual accommodation, in towns or villages where the regional cuisine dominates the menu and local wines or beers are easily at hand.
On the bike…
IBT never hands you a map and says “see you later!” All bike tours are led by guides who know the country, know the language, and can fix your flat in a jiffy. You bike as a group, with the guide in the lead and an appointed “sweep” bringing up the rear. IBT’s unique Corner System ensures no one gets lost.
IBT provides the bicycles…
We use hybrid 7 to 21 speed bikes depending on the terrain to be covered. Handlebars are upright – we’re not setting speed records here – and each bike has a rack over the rear tire for the rider’s personal items. For those folks who may not be in the greatest of shape, regardless of age, e-bikes are available on all tours at a supplemental cost that can make bicycling much easier. Tours are rated as Easy (level terrain), Moderate (both level terrain and rolling hills), Challenging (mostly rolling hills). A usual day is 25 to 38 miles, traversed at moderate speeds with frequent stops so that slower bikers (including indefatigable photographers) may catch up. Every biker also receives an IBT t-shirt, enhanced with the name of the tour and the IBT logo.
Every day is different…
Local sights (we provide the entrance fees) can range from chateaux to windmills to historic locations, depending on the particular country we’re exploring. A non-biking day might include a lecture about the area or simply the opportunity to explore the delightful town in which we’ve spent the night. Biking days are pleasantly interrupted by stops for sightseeing. We start in the fresh air of the morning, take a lunch break en route to the next destination, or perhaps pick up supplies to picnic. A morning coffee stop and afternoon ice cream stop happen most days. All breakfasts and dinners are included.
IBT’s hallmarks are safety and maximum value…
with the best prices in the business. Participants of all ages and expertise have taken part since its founding in 1976, some of them again and again. In addition to tours planned that any cyclist can enjoy, we offer advanced itineraries to challenge experienced riders and are pleased to individualize special trips for groups of families and friends.