20 Jun 2022
Tags: Cycling Holidays, self guided holidays, fitness holidays, European Holidays
This year's Tour de France will kick off in Copenhagen on 1st July before moving to France's north coast to wind down the country's west, taking in parts of Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland along the way. The 21-stage race will cover 3,328 kilometres travelling through the Alps and the Pyrenees mountains - including a summit finish on Alpe d'Huez - before ending with a traditional Parisian finish on 24th July down the Champs Elysees.
You don't have to be a Tour de France athlete or a road bike specialist to embark on a cycling holiday, and with new cyclists cropping up aplenty over the last couple of years, leading self-guided walking and cycling specialist Macs Adventure has seen an increase in demand for cycling holidays for all abilities. Commenting, Fiona Marshall, Head of Product Development at Macs Adventure, said, “There's a robust demand for self-guided cycling holidays this year, and we've noticed a change in destinations being booked with many travellers choosing to explore the highlights of sunny destinations in areas such as Sicily and Puglia in Southern Italy and Portugal rather than the more classic cycle path tours.”
From a stylish cycle in Puglia to the challenging C2C cycle route, there are plenty of options with Macs Adventure.
Best for Beginners:
Explore the heel of Italy by bike on a 'Puglia in Style' cycling holiday. From the Adriatic waters of Monopoli, cycle to the UNESCO-protected town of Alberobello, with stylish accommodation throughout, including 2 nights in a traditional Trulli house. Pedal through olive and almond groves to the medieval castle of Conversano, along the rugged Adriatic coastline to the hilltop city of Ostuni and across sleepy rural landscapes peppered with iconic Trulli. Explore Alberobellos' maze of streets and dine on locally produced creamy burrata cheese, washed down with chilled Bianco wine.
Macs Adventure (www.macsadventure.com, 0141 530 5452) offers this 6-day/5 night Cycle Puglia in style itinerary from £1,015 per person, including accommodation in 4 and 5-star hotels and one night in a Trulli house on a bed and breakfast basis, daily baggage transfers, comprehensive route notes, mapping by app, information pack, and 24/7 support if needed. Bike hire options (including e-bike hire) are available for an additional cost. Flights are not included.
For a relaxed cycling holiday, particularly if it's a first cycling holiday, the Loire River Cycle Path is primarily flat and easy to navigate.
This Macs Adventure itinerary offers cycling along the Loire River Cycle Path from Orléans to Chinon, with each night spent in a different village or town. With fairy-tale castles and royal towns along the route, there's time to admire these sights alongside one of Europe's finest stretches of river. From historic Orléans, pedal along the riverside path to the towns of Blois, Amboise, Tours and Chinon. Take in the manicured gardens of Chateau Villandry and explore the ornate Chateau of Azay-le-Rideau. Graded easy, with predominantly flat dedicated cycleways, this itinerary is the perfect cycling holiday for beginners.
Macs Adventure (www.macsadventure.com, 0141 530 5452) offers this 7-night Loire River Cycle Path itinerary from £940 per person, including boutique accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, daily baggage transfers, comprehensive route notes, mapping by app, information pack, and 24/7 support if needed. Bike hire options are available for an additional cost. Flights are not included.
For extra luxury, there's also a five-night luxury Loire cycling itinerary with accommodation in 4 and 5-star luxury chateau hotels selected for their gourmet dining, manicured gardens and the opportunity for some poolside relaxation away from the saddle from £1,540 per person.
An ideal combination of sunshine, great food, and a network of quiet backroads to discover on two wheels makes Mallorca the perfect destination for a cycling break. The island is a haven for cyclists with a web of traffic-free routes with opportunities to cycle through blossom-filled orchards alongside Mediterranean coastlines dotted with characterful fishing villages, hidden coves, and sandy beaches. And after all the superb cycling, there's no excuse not to indulge in Mallorca's fantastic natural larder of fresh seafood and its tasty cakes and pastries.
Macs Adventure (www.macsadventure.com, 0141 530 5452) offers this 8-day/7 night Backroads of Mallorca itinerary from £905 per person, including 7 nights in 3 and 4-star hotels on a half board basis, baggage transfers, a city tour of Palma, Red Bolt tram from Soller to Palma, transfer from Inka to Serra de Son Torella, route notes, full detailed maps and 24/7 assistance if needed. Flights and bike hire (e-bike also an option) are not included.
Best for Regular Cyclists:
For an active holiday mixing food, wine, sunshine and iconic roads, Tuscany is the perfect destination for those who cycle regularly. It is well known for its steep hills offering a challenging trip for those with a good fitness level.
Experience the very best of classic Tuscany on a self-guided Chianti & Siena cycle tour, discovering beautiful Medieval and Renaissance villages, passing through pretty vineyards, luscious green farmland and cypress tree-lined country roads with plenty of time for fabulous food and local Chianti, Brunello and Nobile wines. Highlights along the route include San Gimigiano, Siena, Bagno Vignoni, Montichiello and Montepulciano as well as towns on the route of the ancient Via Francigena pilgrimage. Undoubtedly, the end of the day will see a very welcome plate of authentic, fresh pasta garnished with local pecorino cheese and a glass or two of local wine.
Macs Adventure (www.macsadventure.com, 0141 530 5452) offers this 8 day/7 night Cycling Tuscany: Chianti & Siena itinerary from £1,045 per person including 7 nights in hand-picked properties on a bed and breakfast basis, 2 dinners, baggage transfers, transfers on day 8, welcome briefing and bike hire fittings, information pack and route notes with maps and 24/7 assistance if needed. Flights, travel to Poggibonsi and from Chiusi and bike hire are not included.
Florence to Montepulciano Tour of Tuscany
Alternatively, for those cyclists who prefer road biking, this Tour of Tuscany cycling from Florence to Montepulciano offers the perfect challenge. Tuscany is well known for its rolling roads and is a firm favourite with the pros. Each ride includes hill climbs between 5-8km with gradients of up to 12%. At the end of each ride, soak up 'La Dolce Vita' in the buzz of a local piazza with hearty regional dishes and a large glass of Chianti or Montepulciano.
Macs Adventure (www.macsadventure.com, 0141 530 5452) offers this 8 day/7 night Tour of Tuscany: Florence to Montepulciano from £1,140 per person, including 7 nights in B&B's, guesthouses and 3-star hotels on a bed and breakfast basis, baggage transfers, information pack and route notes with detailed maps and 24/7 assistance if needed. Flights, travel to Siena and from Montepulciano and road bike hire are not included.
Best for a Challenge:
For those looking for more of a challenging route, embark on the Sea to Sea or 'C2C' across England. Enjoy three days of cycling, from the Irish Sea to the North Sea, beginning in Whitehaven and heading west, finishing in Tynemouth. Tradition dictates that participants dip their rear wheel into the Irish Sea at the beginning of this epic journey and their front wheel in the North Sea at the end. The route pedals along country lanes and cycle paths with the rugged mountains of the Lake District National Park and heather-covered moors of the North Pennines as a backdrop. This tour is a challenging route with daily ascents and is the perfect option for cyclists with excellent physical fitness who are used to cycling between 30-50 miles a day on rolling terrain.
Macs Adventure (www.macsadventure.com, 0141 530 5452) offers this 4 day/3 night Sea to Sea Cycle Route from £650 per person, including 3 nights in B&B's, guesthouses and small hotels, transfer from Newcastle to Whitehaven and from Tynemouth back to Newcastle, baggage transfer, information pack, details route notes with maps and 24/7 support if needed. Travel to and from Newcastle and bike hire is not included.
For further media information, please contact Sarah Bolam – at 07714 337756 or Nicole Walsh – at 07771 5540247 at media@macsadventure.com.
Notes to editors
The leading self-guided walking and cycling holiday specialist, Macs Adventure, offers over 600 exciting self-guided trips to 40 countries worldwide. Itineraries are tried and tested and allow travellers the freedom to go their way, at their own pace, with accommodation in carefully selected properties, ranging from friendly b&bs to local hotels. The Macs experience comes with the security of knowing that all the booking logistics have been handled, the route has been mapped out safely in advance, and a free and easy-to-use Macs Adventure app full of GPS routes that can be downloaded and followed offline. Each morning, luggage is transported to the following accommodation, ensuring guests are free to enjoy the day's adventure.
Founded in 2003 by owner Neil Lapping, who is still at the company's helm, an adventurous spirit lies at the heart of the Macs ethos. Carefully planned itineraries are crafted by a team of passionate travel enthusiasts who love sharing the secrets that make unforgettable travel moments and deliver outstanding active holidays. The team are driven by a shared goal of leaving people inspired and connected to the people and the world around them.
