Euro-Bike and Walking Tours

General
More on Bicycle Tours More on Walking Tours
Daily Mileage
Meals
Accommodations
Bike Rental
Luggage
Levels of Difficulty
Luxury Levels of Tours
Included in Every Tour
Walking With a Local Guide
What You Can Expect
Levels of Difficulty
Meals
Accomodations
Luggage Transport & Van Support
Included in Every Tour

What You Can Expect...
Expect to have a great vacation! No one knows the ins and outs of creating wonderful vacations like we do. That's why so many travelers return to Europe with us year after year. We travel in small groups to wondrous places, providing 24-hour service, exceptional routes, gourmet meals, and first class accommodations... the perfect ingredients for the vacation of a lifetime!

Selecting a Tour
For most people, selecting the right tour when there are so many enticing possibilities can seem overwhelming. Here is some advice: first read the tour descriptions, and select a few that really stand out. Check the length of these tours and the departure dates. Which fit your schedule? And finally, look at the "Level of Difficulty" rating to see if it's near your range. Chances are you're better than you think, so don't let a challenge intimidate you. Besides, you're sure to have a good time even if you walk up a hill or take a lift in the van.

Meeting the Tour
Each tour begins and ends in a city with frequent train or airport connections, allowing you to meet the tour with ease. If you choose to arrive in the starting city early, we can make hotel arrangements for you and meet you at the hotel on the day the tour starts. Many guests do this to get over jet lag before the trip. At the tour.s end, your guide will transport you to the airport or train station in the ending city. We can also make hotel arrangements for you to stay in the ending city after the tour finishes.

(Return to Top of Page)


Daily Routes and Routines
Our bike and walking tours avoid the congested tourist areas in favor of Europe's more secluded regions, sheltering legendary historic sights, splendid scenery, and natural wonders. We meticulously research each route to be sure we take you on the best back roads and footpaths, using the same routes the locals use. These are routes you'll want to savor, so we offer comfortable mileage that allows you to travel at a leisurely pace. However if, you prefer to move faster and feel your pulse quicken with more challenging terrain, you may opt to take the additional side trips we offer.
Each day at breakfast, your guide will provide you with clearly written route descriptions as well as detailed maps, and information about the sights along the way. The guides will also be on the route, on foot, on bicycle, and in the support van. In addition to transporting your luggage, they are available to offer assistance, or give you a lift in the van to our next hotel. They also carry water, snacks, tools, a first aid kit, and a cell phone. If you should need assistance and a guide is not present, you can phone them at anytime.

(Return to Top of Page)


Local Cuisine and Special Requests
Each route has its own treasures, and sampling mouth-watering regional dishes is among the many pleasures we plan for you. However, if you follow a special diet, you are not alone. Many of our guests follow vegetarian, or other special diets. Just let us know what your dietary considerations are when you sign up, and we'll do our best to accommodate you.

Accommodations
Like our routes, our fine European hotels are of the highest quality. We stay at three-, four-, and five- star hotels, and on each tour you will find a range of accommodations, from grand châteaux to elegant small hotels, and charming country inns. Each room comes with a private bathroom, and often the hotels offer additional facilities for swimming, sauna, cocktails, etc. Many of the hotels we visit have been looking after our guests for years, and their warm welcoming staffs always make our visits memorable.

A Word About Our Personable European Guides
Ask anyone who has traveled with us. Our native born, English-speaking European tour guides make all the difference. They are the best in the business, selected for their enthusiasm, intelligence, and attention to detail. They have an insider's knowledge of each region, and most have been leading our tours for over ten years. We know you will enjoy traveling with them!

(Return to Top of Page)


Special Groups
Bring the Whole Crew for a Trip Everyone will Enjoy.
Whether you're planning a family vacation, or a reunion with old friends, we can help! We've got trips that will keep everybody happy, with just the right mix of activities and sightseeing. We make it easy for you to plan a trip with your group's special needs in mind. Join one of our popular small group tours, or bring a crew of eight or more, and we'll whip up a private/custom tour just for you.

Our world-class biking and walking itineraries can be enhanced to meet your specifications and time constraints. Our trip advisors can help you find routes that will appeal to all your travelers, and select additional activities like canoeing, ballooning, private wine tastings, guided sightseeing tours you name it and we'll make it happen.

Families can rest assured that safety is our primary concern. We have several easy going trips that stay on bike paths, with lots to see and do. Places like Germany, Holland, and Denmark are ideal. Plus, we have all sizes of bikes in our fleet, so whether you're 6'5" or six years old, we've got a bike for you, including tandems and trailer bikes for children five and up.

(Return to Top of Page)


Leave the Details to Us
Planning a group vacation doesn't have to be a chore. Let us do it. Call or e-mail our DeKalb office to get the ball rolling, and we'll bend over backwards to help you and everyone in your group make it the trip of a lifetime.

Family Tours
There's nothing better than having fun with your family on a carefree active vacation. With Euro-Bike & Walking Tours families find the perfect trip for all to enjoy.

Children, parents and even grandparents will find plenty of great adventures along our exclusive tours. Our scenic routes have been expertly planned to provide family-friendly activities to intrigue and amuse riders of all ages.

Stop at a working old-fashioned village on our Dutch Touch bicycle tour in Holland, visit the fairy-tale castle that inspired "Sleeping Beauty" in the Loire Valley bicycle tour in France or indulge on the scenic river bike paths along the peaceful Mosel valley bicycle tour in Germany. Every day offers surprising new experiences with each turn of the wheel.

This isn't just a bike ride, but a series of fun things to do, see and share with the most important people in your life. Every year we welcome more families who realize the joy of sharing time experiencing a different culture, investigating intriguing places and perhaps even learning a bit of a new language. Families are welcome on all our tours, but we have developed several vacations with young people and their parents in mind. These tours are: Loire Valley bicycle tour in France, Mosel Valley bicycle tour in Germany , Dutch Touch Bike Tour in Holland and Danish Isles bike trip in Denmark. The easy routes make the cycling enjoyable for our youngest to most senior guest. Those seeking a greater challenge can choose our optional routes with added mileage any day of the tour.

For the littlest travelers, usually ages 6 to 8, we will provide a free trailer bike to attach to an adult bike so the young one can easily pedal behind. We also have kid-sized bikes available. A 10% discount applies to all children age 16 and younger. The tour price includes 3-, 4- and 5-star hotels, four or five multi-course dinners with drinks, breakfast each day, route maps with directions, van support and 24-hour service from of our fun-loving, expert, multi-lingual guides.

For families who don't need the added luxury of 4- or 5-star hotels and prefer fewer group dinners, we offer Budget and Comfort Tours on many departures. These provide a savings of up to 30 percent. Stay in charming 3-star hotels and enjoy two multi-course group dinners on our Econo-Tours. Everything else is the same. We invite you to call with your questions. We're happy to help! Also, if you have a large family, we can arrange a private tour tailor-made just for you.

(Return to Top of Page)


Terms & Conditions

Tour Registration To book space on any tour, a deposit of $400 per person (payable by check, VISA, or MasterCard) is required at the time of booking. Tour reservations can be made by phone at (800)321-6060, by mail, or via this Web site.

Eligibility
Guests must be 18 years of age or older, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. Tour members must be in good physical and mental health. Physical disabilities requiring special attention, treatment, or limiting activities must be disclosed to Euro-Bike & Walking Tours when a reservation is made. The right is reserved to refuse any persons whose condition may be a hazard to themselves or others.

Responsibility
The responsibility of Euro-Bike & Walking Tours and the tour operator and/or their agents is limited. They act only as agents for the tour member in regard to travel, whether on foot, by bicycle, ferry, motorcoach, private car, railroad, aircraft, or any other conveyance, and assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident or irregularity occasioned either on or off the bicycle, or by reason of defect in any vehicle or through the acts or defaults of any company or person engaged in conveying the tour members or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour or from any causes beyond their control. The tour organizers reserve the right to alter the itinerary in the event such changes are advisable for any reason whatsoever. The tour organizers reserve the right to decline to accept or to retain at any time any person on a tour, or to cancel any tour.

Cancellations
Cancellations will not be accepted without written notification. The administrative fee for cancellations is as follows: 60+ days before tour departs, the cancellation fee is $200. 45-59 days before tour departs, the cancellation fee is $400. 22-44 days before tour departs, the cancellation fee is 50% of total invoice. 21 days or less before tour starts, the cancellation fee is 100% of total invoice. No refunds are made for unused portions of the tour once it has begun.

Insurance
Travelers’ insurance is highly recommended. It is available at nominal cost through Euro-Bike & Walking Tours.
Cancellations will not be accepted without written notification. The administrative fee for cancellations is as follows: 60-plus days before the tour departs, the cancellation fee is $200. 45-59 days before the tour departs, the cancellation fee is $400. 22-44 days before tour departs, the cancellation fee is 50 percent of total invoice. 21 days or less before the tour departs, the cancellation fee is 100 percent of total invoice.

(Return to Top of Page)

More on Bicycle Tours

Few things can compare to the sheer pleasure of touring Europe's spectacular countryside by bicycle. Along the coast or in the hills, through thick woodlands or beside crystalline lakes, Europe is a place of incomparable beauty and charm.

Our exclusive itineraries combine just the right mix of cycling, sightseeing, and relaxation, so you can have an active vacation without feeling like you've been through boot camp. We encourage you to travel at a leisurely pace - you have all day to cycle 25 - 35 miles, and we take care of the rest, with luxury accommodations, gourmet meals, 24-hour service, experienced guides, van support, and luggage transfer. We hope you will join us on one of these hand-crafted tours, and enjoy Europe as the Europeans do.

Daily Mileage
We cycle an average of 25 - 35 miles each day, so you can take your time visiting important sights, shopping at outdoor markets, taking photographs, relaxing over lunch, and just enjoying the ride. You'll be free to choose your own riding companions and travel at your own pace... we'll sweep the route with the van to make sure everybody is doing fine. For those who want more cycling, and perhaps more challenging terrain, each of our routes offers added side trips. We also offer shortcuts for those who want less mileage or easier terrain. In addition, the support van can offer a lift as it sweeps the route, or on request.

(Return to Top of Page)

Meals
Europe has delicious gourmet cuisine, and we want you to taste it all. We also want you to have the utmost freedom and flexibility in deciding where you'd like to eat, what time, and with whom. To strike that balance we include all breakfasts and several group dinners in the tour price.
Bike tours of nine days or longer will include five group dinners. Bike tours that are less than nine days will include four group dinners. On nights where a group dinner is not planned, there are plenty of dining choices, and your guide will be happy to help recommend a restaurant, make reservations, or give you a lift to the restaurant of your choice.

Accommodations
We stay in 3-, 4-, and 5-star hotels, distinguished for their European charm, luxurious comfort, facilities, and location. Each room comes with a private bath. Tour prices are based on double occupancy, although single rooms are available with a single supplement. Solo guests who are willing to room with another EB&WT traveler of the same gender, will not be charged a single supplement.

Bike Rental
There's no need to bring your bike to Europe. We have first-rate Cannondale H700 hybrid bicycles for rent, at $20 per day. These bikes come fully loaded with 27 speeds, a suspension seat post, hydraulic brakes, and easy to reach Shimano click-shifters. Each has a bike computer, water bottle, handlebar bag with shoulder strap and map case, a lock, a rearview mirror, and a rear pannier. We carry the full range of bike sizes, as well as tandem bicycles and attachable tag-along bikes for children. For hygiene reasons, Euro-Bike Tours does not supply helmets. Participants are advised to bring their own helmets. More Information on Euro-Bike Tours Rental Bike

Luggage All luggage is transported for you. Your bags will be waiting in your room when you arrive at our inviting inn at the end of each day.

(Return to Top of Page)


Introducing Luxury Levels of Tours
Same great trips! Same great service! New lower prices!
Save up to 40% on selected departures.
Great for families, groups, independent travelers.
Looking to save money? We're offering deep discounts on selected departures of our most popular tours.

If you're willing to stay in 3-star hotels, and venture out for more dinners on your own, you can save up to 40% off the standard tour price by choosing a budget-tour.

Budget- and Comfort-Tours allow you to see more of Europe by stretching your travel dollar. You'll still enjoy fully supported cycling and walking vacations, and you won't have to give up a lot to receive huge savings!

What separates our Budget- and Comfort-Tours from our Luxury priced tours?

Budget-Tours come with two group dinners (as compared to 4-5 group dinners in Luxury-Tours), and stays in great 2 and 3-star hotels that are slightly less luxurious than our deluxe 4 and 5-star hotels.

Comfort-Tours come with three group dinners (as compared to 4-5 group dinners in Luxury-Tours), and stays in great 3-star hotels that are slightly less luxurious than our deluxe 4-star and 5-star hotels.

Otherwise, the tours are the same. Budget- and Comfort-Tours follow the same premium routes as our Luxury-tours, and they are fully supported, with day-long roadside van support and 24-hour guide services, just as with all our tours. Meals that are included in the Budget- and Comfort-Tours showcase gourmet regional specialties just as we do on all our trips. Breakfast is included daily on all tours as well.

(Note: Not all trips will offer an Budget- and/or Comfort-Tours. Only selected departures of selected tours are offered as Budget- and/or Comfort-Tours.)

Comfort level Budget Tour Comfort Tour Luxury Tour
Price Level 40 %
savings
25 %
savings

Dinners
(with wine)
two dinners three dinners four or
five dinners
Hotels* 2- and
3-star hotels
3-star hotels 4- and
5-star hotels
Exclusive fully researched routes same same same
All-day van suppor same same same
24-hour guide services same same same
Luggage transport same same same
Group travel/transport during tour same same same
All breakfasts same same same

* All hotels will be pleasant high quality European style hotels with a private bath in each room.

(Return to Top of Page)


Levels of Difficulty

Level Description
Easy These routes average 25-35 miles per day. The terrain is mostly flat, and should pose no problem for anyone who has maintained a minimum level of fitness. You do not need to be a cyclist to enjoy these trips.
Moderately Easy Average distances are 25-35 miles per day. The terrain is mostly flat and occasionally gently rolling with a few longer climbs to worthwhile destinations. These routes should pose no problem for anyone who is moderately active and enjoys an occasional challenge.
Moderate These routes average 25-40 miles per day. The terrain is slightly more challenging than the previous level with some added vistas for the scenery enthusiast. These routes should pose no problem for anyone who exercises on a regular basis.
Challenging Average distances are 30-45 miles per day. The terrain is generally hilly with occasional longer climbs. These tours are suited for more experienced cyclists or people with a higher level of fitness.

Included in Every Tour
  • Fully-supported bike routes
  • averaging 25 to 35 miles per day
  • Detailed maps and route descriptions
  • Roadside assistance
  • Deluxe accommodations*
  • All breakfasts and a number of dinners*, including wine
  • Experienced, multilingual guide
  • and bike mechanic on call 24-hours
  • Pick-up and drop-off on tour start and end days
  • Luggage transfers
  • Travel by car, bus, boat, or rail, during the tour
  • Group size: 20 or less
  • All taxes and gratuities for baggage, porterage, and hotel service
  • Optional bike rental, 27 speed deluxe touring bikes loaded with extras

*Click Here to See Specifics on Comfort- and Budget-Tours.

(Return to Top of Page)

More on Walking Tours

A perfect tonic to dispel modern day stresses is to find a beautiful place and go walking. It invites you to relax, delight in nature's aromas, and truly appreciate each remarkable view and experience along your path. From grand majestic vistas to a simple spider weaving its web, walking puts you in harmony with the world and yourself.

Our itineraries are crafted to give you the most out of each day, with a combination of stunning scenery, fun and laughter, convivial towns, and interesting sites along the way.

Walking With a Local Guide
There's nothing like having a local person show you around, and on our walking tours, that's just what we do. Our group leaders are experienced native guides and seasoned walkers, versed in the lore of each wonderful region. Their interesting perspective adds immeasurably to your appreciation of the countryside... its flora and fauna... its history and legends... and the ways of the local people. The knowledge they share can make each turn more exciting, and each new vista richly rewarding.

What You Can Expect
Each day we walk a variety of terrains and distances, depending on the level of tour. Whether Easy, Moderate or Engergetic, each tour has a Walk Leader and Walk Manager to assist you every step along the way. Each walker can choose to walk in the morning and afternoon, or take any time off to relax at your hotel, or accept a lift in the van. Travel on local footpaths and hiking trails. Stop along the way to visit interesting sights, explore out-of-the-way villages, or relax beside a shimmering lake. We walk on glaciers, under waterfalls, through forests, and in high alpine meadows. Wherever the landscape is most beautiful, that is where we'll take you.

(Return to Top of Page)

Levels of Difficulty
On all of our tours walkers can opt to walk in the morning and/or the afternoon. Each destination offers interesting non-walking activities for anyone who wishes to spend the time enjoying other pursuits.

Level Description
Easy Walk 3 to 4 miles each morning and afternoon for a total of up to 8 miles and four to five hours each day. Easy tours have several hills with easy incline and good footing.
Moderate Walk 4 to 5 miles each morning and afternoon for a total of up to 10 miles and five to six hours each day. Tours in this level have moderate hills each day with a variety of surfaces. There are no long difficult descents.
Energetic Walk 5 to 7 miles each morning and afternoon for a total of up to 14 miles and six to seven hours. Energetic tours have a higher frequency of hills or steps each day, with generally longer ascents and descents.

(Return to Top of Page)


Meals
All breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are included in the tour. Our menus showcase fresh local cuisine, and wine is included with dinner. We welcome vegetarians on all of our tours and we can accommodate most dietary restrictions upon request.

Accommodations
Each night we stay in charming European hotels, inns, or B&Bs selected by our staff for their ambience and congenial employees. All of our hotels are well-appointed, with private bathrooms. Our prices are based on double occupancy. Private rooms are available to solo travelers with the payment of a single supplement fee. For solo travelers wishing to share a room, we will try to find you a roommate.

(Return to Top of Page)


Luggage Transport & Van Support
Each day while you're out walking, our driver will transport your luggage to the next hotel, leaving you to carry only the essentials. The van is always at the ready to transport weary walkers, offer assistance, or refill water bottles.

Included in Every Tour:
  • Scenic guided walks
  • Deluxe accommodations
  • All breakfasts, lunches, and dinners
  • Frequent on-trail snacks and refreshments
  • 24-hour Walk Leader and Walk Manager
  • Admission to museums, historic sites, wine-tastings and more as specified
  • Group travel by bus, boat, rail, or cable car during the tour
  • Pick up and drop off at specified transfer points on tour start and end days
  • Luggage transfers
  • Hotel gratuities
  • Group size: 15 or less