Bicycle tours make vacation healthy and fun

Today we have a guest post from Adam York at Sublime Public Relations, www.sublimepub.com

Biking is fun, green, and good for your health (an hour of moderate cycling burns about 600 calories). It’s also a great way to absorb a destination slowly and without barriers. Bike tours are becoming more and more popular worldwide and often organized around food, wine, and other themes. While avid cyclists frequently represent bike vacationers, regular travelers who are in decent shape can enjoy cycling tours, as well. 

Below are five cycling tours for all skill levels that offer amazing access to exotic locales by bike.

Riding in Sardinia beside beautiful scenery.

1. Mediterranean Island Hopping - Outdoor enthusiasts, photographers, and nature and water lovers will be dazzled by the dramatic beauty of Italian-influenced Sardinia and French-flavored Corsica as they tour these fascinating Mediterranean islands by bicycle. This coastal route showcases the best of northern Sardinia and western Corsica and their respective Italian and French cultures. http://www.ciclismoclassico.com/trips/bike-tour-mediterranean/      

 

History and beauty combined in a bike tour of Croatia.

2. Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula - Italy’s neighbor to the East, Croatia offers idyllic cycling through a medieval landscape of castles and vineyards, all with a beautiful view of the Adriatic Sea. The terrain on this peninsula’s coast is perfect for the cyclist who wants to combine slightly rolling and hilly terrain with images of Croatia’s history and unspoiled beauty. http://www.ciclismoclassico.com/trips/bike-tour-croatia-istrian-peninsula/     

Spectacular mountain scenery on Going to the Sun road in
Glacier National Park. Credit: The Cycling House

3. Glacier to Yellowstone Cycling - Riders will cross the Continental Divide over Going-to-the-Sun highway in Glacier National Park then parallel the Rocky Mountain Front all the way to Yellowstone National Park. The rewards are abundant with stunning views, glimpses of wildlife (grizzly bears and more), and a chance to pass through almost every type of terrain in the park, from large glacial lakes and cedar forests to windswept alpine tundra.   http://thecyclinghouse.com/trip/glacier-yellowstone/     

Cycling in France gets you out of the city and into small villages.
Credit: Hide & Seek

4. Provence by Bike - The bicycle outfitter Ride & Seek has introduced a tour in the Provence region highlighting some of the “most beautiful villages of France” as ordained by the group Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. Destinations include St.-Rémy-de-Provence, Ansouis, Les Alpilles and the ruins of Glanum. Time off the bikes will allow for wandering the streets of St.-Rémy, birthplace of Nostradamus and the site of the sanitarium where van Gogh painted his final work. http://www.rideandseek.com/local/provence     

Customize tours to your skill and interests when exploring
Mediterranean islands. Credit: Ciclisima Classico

5. Chile Wine Adventure - Explore the best of the Santiago valley region on this active wine and cuisine adventure. Enjoy biking through vineyards, trekking in the Andes, culinary tasting experiences and sightseeing on a week-long Chile tour. Visit well known museums and hidden gems as you soak in the beautiful landscapes and quaint villages which make this region unique and intriguing.  Rides can customize and increase the biking distances for more advanced cyclists. http://www.adventure-life.com/tours/chile-wine-adventure-3335

 Some photos provided by Adam York