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Cycling Trips of the Beaten Path
Easy Rider
Tours has specialized in cycling trips in Ireland, Portugal, Spain, the
Canadian Maritimes, and New England. Over the past fifteen years,
our bicycle tour programs in Ireland and the Iberian Peninsula have grown
to be the most extensive of any American adventure tour outfitter!
We're proud to offer four unique biking itineraries in the west of
Ireland, and seven different cycling trips in Portugal and Spain.
Each of our cycling trips is carefully designed to emphasize the people,
traditions, and landscapes which make a place unique. Each day's itinerary
includes spectacular scenery, a history lesson or two, and plenty
of opportunities to soak up the local color. A flamenco performance
in Spanish Andalucía, a whale watch in Nova Scotia, and a spirited
music seisiun in an Irish pub are all part of an Easy Rider vacation.
Cycling
Trip Routes
Our off-the-beaten-path
routes will lead you along back roads and byways you might never have
discovered on your own. Each road we pedal has been carefully chosen
for its regional "flavor," scenic beauty, and low traffic. Cycling
days average 35-40 miles, and most days offer a choice of longer options
as well. With our detailed maps and written directions, cyclists are
completely free to pedal at their own pace. Short riding days or layover
days are planned for those destinations where you'll want extra time
off your bicycle to explore.
Tour Accommodations
Our inns are chosen
not only for their number of stars or mentions in guidebooks, but
also because they capture the authenticity, history, and character
of the places we visit. Often we stay in one-of-a-kind manor houses,
castles, and country inns that are just large enough to accommodate
our group.
Whether you find yourself enjoying legendary Irish hospitality in
a cozy B&B or surrounded by Spanish splendor at the magnificent Parador
in Santiago, your day will always end with a gracious combination
of Old World charm and modern comfort.
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Our Tour Groups
A friendly
ambiance and lots of laughter are the status quo on our tours. We
limit our groups to a friendly size of sixteen. Our trips attract
young-at-heart cyclists of all ages, with a congenial mix of singles,
couples, and occasionally families.
Tour
Guides
We consider our
international team of European, Canadian, and American tour guides
to be Easy Rider Tours' biggest asset! Their expertise, enthusiasm,
flexibility, and humor ensure that each tour moves smoothly, both
on and off the road. On European tours, we team an American with an
Irish, Portuguese, or Spanish guide, whose insight into local culture
and customs adds an invaluable dimension to your vacation experience.
Our guides are multilingual, trained in first aid for both people
and bicycles, and average six years of experience as Easy Rider leaders.
Tour Support
A support
van accompanies each of our cycling trips to carry luggage and offer
mechanical assistance, water, and snacks. Van support means you're
never pressured to ride or walk any more than you want-we're always
available to give you a lift.
Terrain
Our cycling trips are designed for people who enjoy active vacations. We hesitate
to assign ratings to our trips because we've watched "beginners" charge
up hills, and triathletes enjoy slowing down to smell the roses! Our
support van makes it possible for an energetic beginner to enjoy virtually
any of our cycling or walking tours. As a very general guide, we've
included a note about terrain at the beginning of each trip description.
For more details about the terrain on any tour, please call us at
(800) 488-8332.
Cuisine
Experienced
travelers know that one of the most enjoyable ways to get to know
a country is through its food! We celebrate each day's adventures
with the very best of regional cuisine, from freshly-caught Irish
salmon or Nova Scotian lobster to an Azorean cozido cooked in a
volcanic steam vent. Our restaurant selection includes an eclectic
mix of well-known establishments as well as a few of our own serendipitous
discoveries. You'll also enjoy home-cooked feasts at several of
our inns, gourmet picnic lunches, and substantial breakfasts each
morning.
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