Gravel Explorer style bike tours
Part Paved Roads. Part Gravel Roads. 100% Unforgettable Experience.
What to expect:
You’ll bicycle a mixture of road surfaces to experience natural beauty and local secrets unconfined by the limitations of paved roads. If you are a traveler who embraces adventure, loves a clean room, warm shower, and a delicious meal, but aren’t too concerned about 4-star hotels or smooth surfaces, and enjoy navigating with GPS track, Gravel Explorer tours are for you.
- Lodging: We aim for comfortable 2 and 3-star hotels and bed and breakfasts with character. Most importantly, we’ll make sure you have a good breakfast that will energize you for the day and a comfortable bed.
- Tour leaders: Our tour leaders start with an unlimited supply of energy, and mix in talent, resourcefulness, and knowledge of local history and geography. These expert interpreters will be there when you need them and have a sixth sense for knowing when to help, and when to let adventure happen naturally.
- Smaller Group Size: Gravel Explorer tours are limited to just 14 guests.
- Meals: Breakfast and the first and last dinner will be inculded with your tour. Lunch options will vary each day. If we are in urban areas we’ll recommend places to stop for lunch en route. If you are in a rural region we might suggest picnic supplies or a packed lunch from the hotel. Our tour leaders will always suggest their favorite local specialties!
- Tour Design: Gravel Explorer tours are meant to explore a region so you’ll most often be traveling from hotel to hotel every night.
- Bikes: Bike style and tire sizes on our Gravel Explorer tours are selected specifically to handle the type of terrain you will encounter.
- Terrain: Though you will not be riding technical singletrack you will encounter a wide variety of road and trail surfaces including sections of rough or rocky terrain that require good balance and handling skills.
- Navigation: Riders will be provided with a GPS (Garmin Edge, Edge 1000 or similar model) with the tracks preloaded. We will also provide GPS-tracks if you would like download them to your own device. Choose between navigating with the GPS, riding with your tour leader or a combination of the two!
- Van Support: Gravel Explorer tours include van support that provides luggage transfers, water and snack resupply, mechanical assistance, and a lift for tired cyclists! However, given the nature of the routes the van will not always be able to follow the cyclists.
- Complimentary gift.
What’s not included:
- Transportation to and from the bicycling tour including airfare or ground transportation.
- Pre and post tour travel assistance. We will provide arrival and departure details and tips as well as first and last night hotel information if you would like to book any extra nights on your own.
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Alcohol at group meals
- Tour Leader gratuity
- Trip Insurance – learn more about trip insurance at our travel planning pages.
Find a tour
Gravel Explorer: Coastal Croatia
Cycle Croatia, Slovenia and Italy as you explore the picturesque Adriatic coastline and rolling hills of the Istrian Peninsula.
8 days
From USD$4195
Gravel Explorer
Level 3.0
May 17, 2025 – May 24, 2025
1 more to confirm the departureAug 30, 2025 – Sep 06, 2025
Gravel Explorer: Cycling the Algarve
Join us to cycle under sunny skies, and over a variety of paved and dirt terrain as you explore sandy shores as far as the eyes can see, soaring cliffs, whitewashed fishing villages, and a true taste of the warm Mediterranean culture.
7 days
From USD$2995
Gravel Explorer
Level 2.5
Apr 02, 2025 – Apr 08, 2025
Apr 21, 2025 – Apr 27, 2025
Oct 07, 2025 – Oct 13, 2025
Departure confirmed to go!Oct 14, 2025 – Oct 20, 2025
Filling fast!Nov 19, 2025 – Nov 25, 2025
Gravel Explorer: White Roads of Tuscany
In 1997, 92 cyclists pedaled out of Gaiole in Chianti, to protest the paving of Tuscany’s white gravel roads, or strade bianche. Two decades later the excitement around riding gravel hasn’t subsided and we’re thrilled to have a beautiful gravel bike tour from Siena to Cortona to showcase some of these stunning roads.
7 days
From USD$3295
Gravel Explorer
Level 3.5
Apr 27, 2025 – May 03, 2025
Sep 07, 2025 – Sep 13, 2025
Departure confirmed to go!Oct 05, 2025 – Oct 11, 2025
Gravel Explorer: Cycling the Azores
Cycle the rugged and stunning coastline, quiet back roads, verdant hills and lush valleys and forests of the Azore’s São Miguel Island from east to west. Experience the magical thermal hotspot of Furnas, cycle up and over the base of Pico de Vara and west through fishing villages on the north coast, climb the breathtaking Sete Cidades caldera and descend into its and volcanic lakes.
7 days
From USD$3495
Gravel Explorer
Level 4.0
May 01, 2025 – May 07, 2025
Oct 05, 2025 – Oct 11, 2025
2 more to confirm the departure