Home > Top Tens > Cycle Rides

Top Ten Cycle Rides

Below we describe ten of the very best days on two wheels -
some real highlights from our wonderful selection of cycling holidays, from an easy ride along the banks of the Loire,
to a dramatic cycle through the mountains of Switzerland.

1: Azay-le-Rideau to Ussé - Châteaux of the Loire

Living up to the holiday's name, this ride gives you the opportunity to visit two of the Loire region's most beautiful châteaux: romantic, turreted Azay-le-Rideau, surrounded by a moat, and Villandry, the highlight of which is undoubtedly its astonishing ornamental gardens. You then follow the River Loire west on a picturesque country road to Ussé, the site of yet another superb château.

2: Roccastrada to Massa Marittima -Secrets of Western Tuscany

On one of our most inspiring routes, you cycle along beautiful crested hills with great views of this lesser-known part of Tuscany called the Maremma. You then have time to admire the exquisite cathedral in Massa Marittima, once the second city of the Sienese republic, and now the finest historic town of the Maremma.

3: Loubressac to Lacave - Dordogne Valley

This ride offers a delightful mixture of beautiful stone villages and riverside scenery. The route passes through Carennac, one of the most beautiful villages in the Dordogne, its turreted manor houses clustered round the ancient priory, and then follows a quiet road alongside the river and under the cliffs.

4: Son Jordà to Sos Ferres - From The Plain to the Wild Coast

This magnificent route leads you through some of Mallorca's most delightful landscapes, the quiet, agricultural heart that reveals the island's true soul. You pass sleepy villages and silent hamlets, and ride through countryside of vineyards, orchards, and olive and almond groves.

5: Noriega to La Pereda - Cliffs & Secret Coves of Asturias

This route takes in charming inland villages before heading to the coast, passing secret coves and bustling ports with memorable views of the spectacular coastline of Asturias. Your day is complete as you experience typically warm hospitality and great food at the high-quality Posada de Babel.

6: Melk to Dürnstein - Danube Castles & Vineyards

You see the very best of the Danube Valley on this picturesque riverside route. Passing peach and apricot orchards as well as seas of vines, you catch glimpses of the onion-domed castle of Schönbühel and, as the valley continues to narrow, you pass the impressive ruins and famous rose gardens of the castle at Aggstein. If that were not enough, you can also pause at the wine-producing village of Spitz and charming Weissenkirchen, complete with a fortress-like church.

7: Castelmuzio circuit - Siena & Southern Tuscany

On a holiday which boasts plenty of cultural and historical interest, this route sums it up well. It takes you through archetypal Tuscan landscapes of rolling wheat fields that ripple in the wind, olive groves, vineyards and stands of cypresses to Pienza, a Renaissance jewel. You can take your time to explore before returning via the charming hill-top village of Montepulciano.

8: Roussillon to Saignon - Luberon Valleys & Villages

The hill-top villages of the Luberon are impossibly pretty, and this route takes you through some of the very best as well as passing the St-Hilaire Abbey, the Aiguebrun Gorge and the château of Lacoste, which served as a retreat for the notorious Marquis de Sade. The wonderful Provençal landscape continues to delight all the way to beautiful Saignon.

9: Descent to Lake Bohinj - Lakes and Valleys of Slovenia

An early transfer takes you to the high plateau at Pokljuka from where you take an exhilarating descent into the spectacular Bohinj Valley. Take time to explore the idyllic lakeshore and nearby waterfalls before arriving at the Alpine-style Hotel Bohinj, set against a majestic backdrop formed by the jagged summits of the Julian Alps.

10: Into the High Mountains - Interlaken Lakes and Villages

Catch the train up to Lauterbrunnen, and then cycle to the pretty village of Stechelberg. This spectacular valley is home to some 72 waterfalls, including the impressive Staubbach Falls which plunge 300m from an overhanging rock face. The cable car up to the picturesque mountain village of Mürren and the amazing Schilthorn revolving restaurant are both easily accessible from Lauterbrunnen.

< To the top of this page

< Back to Top Ten Index