Great Bike Tours

Our six-day Bike & Boat Tour explores the flat coastal plain & waterways between Hilton Head Island and Charleston, South Carolina. Warmed by Southern breezes and shaded by live oak trees and stately palms, we’ll spend a relaxing week cycling past old plantations and antebellum towns, as well as exploring the local waterways by boat.

All week we stay at deluxe Inns overlooking the water: two nights on Hilton Head Island, one night in historic Beaufort, and two nights in Charleston.

Highlights
Visit famous Hilton Head Island. We are the only major bike tour company to include Hilton Head on their itinerary
Over 160 miles of paved bike paths, cycling beneath magnificent live oaks trees cloaked in Spanish Moss
Enjoy a different mode of water transport every day – water taxi, zodiac raft, double-decked party boat, and kayak. These boats allow us to take short cuts over the water, to our next cycling destination
Cycle on the beach at Hilton Head (we supply a separate beach cruiser)
Nature cruise aboard a 65-foot boat, exploring the calm estuary waters that serve as critical spawning grounds for fish, shellfish, and birds
Horse-drawn carriage ride past the stunning antebellum homes of historic Beaufort, learning about the city’s history, from Revolutionary times to modern-day movie making (The Big Chill, The Prince of Tides, Forrest Gump)
Zodiac raft trip to observe a unique feeding habit of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, first discovered by famed marine biologist Jacques Cousteau
Highlights (continued)
Walking tour of historic Charleston, rated the #1 activity in town
Educational two-hour kayak excursion down winding tidal creeks – home to dolphins and southern bald eagles. Jacques Cousteau called this area “one of the most unique ecosystems in America”
Special guided tour of Boone Hall Plantation, America’s most photographed plantation and the #1 plantation in the Charleston area. View the original slave cabins and the antebellum-style mansion
Storytelling Performance about the rich history and traditions of the local Gullah-Geechee culture – which involves a unique blend of West African, Caribbean, French, English, and American culture, food, religion, and traditions
Dinner at a famous Charleston restaurant. If you wish to put a little south in your mouth, try the local favorites such as shrimp & grits or She-Crab soup
Explore Charleston’s City Market where more than 50 artisans weave a variety of Gullah baskets, one of the oldest handcrafts of African origin found in the U.S.
Enjoy the cooler weather in April (average max temp is 76 degrees), before it gets too hot, and before the crowds arrive

Turquoise water, towering palms, and warm ocean breezes. Imagine yourself whisked away to this tropical paradise where you can indulge your mind, body, and spirit. The Florida Keys is that place. So kick off your shoes and come join us next January. We have everything you could possibly want for a laid-back vacation - the only thing missing is you!

Perfect Weather for January
It seems the Florida Keys weather is always better than elsewhere, and that’s part of the reason why people love it here. With an air temperature in the upper 70s and water temperature in the low 70s, January is the perfect time to bike the Florida Keys.

Highlights
Cycle through Everglades National Park
Experience one of the “Five Great Tailwind Rides” of the world
Stay at three gorgeous waterfront resorts
Delicious outdoor meals
Private guided kayak eco-tour
Guided tour of the non-profit Turtle Hospital
Private guided tour of the non-profit Dolphin Research Center
Great wildlife, including manatees, alligators, large wading birds, giant tarpon fish, bottlenose dolphins, sea lions, iguanas, loggerhead sea turtles, manta rays, and roosters
Two full days in Key West
Memorable sailing trip aboard a 60-foot schooner, along with bottomless cocktails

Imagine New England at its most rose-covered, cobblestoned, and picture-postcard perfect - and you have found the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Join our six-day bike tour as we explore these jewels of Cape Cod.

The small size and flat terrain of these islands make them ideal places for bicycling. With 73 miles of bike paths to choose from, you'll have a care-free time exploring the world of old whaling captains' mansions and seaside cottages, with their climbing pink roses on gray cedar shingles, and exquisite gardens. Cycle through historic harbors containing quaint inns, boutique stores, galleries, blinking lighthouses, chowder shacks, and upscale dining delights.

Highlights
Enjoy 44 miles of paved bike trails on Martha’s Vineyard
Explore classic New England harbor towns + visit eight different lighthouses
Cycle to galleries & studios that feature (and celebrate) the many island artists
Visit the original Black Dog shop, try a scoop of lobster ice cream, and sample fantastic seafood
Take a trip on the bicycle ferry operated by Hugh (brother of James) Taylor
Discover the quiet solitude of Chappaquiddick Island
Marvel at the 300 tiny cottages of Oak Bluffs, each adorned with whimsical gingerbread trim
Savor the sunset aboard a 60-foot catamaran sailboat
Enjoy another 35 miles of paved bike paths on Nantucket, an island without any traffic lights, neon signs, or fast-food restaurants
Visit charming seaside villages, where iconic cottages and whaling-era mansions are adorned with climbing pink roses on gray cedar shingles
Easy bike rides to local beaches, passing famous cranberry bogs and iconic lighthouses, and stopping at Cisco Brewery for live music & beer tasting
Celebrate sunset during our beachside happy hours
Explore the many shops & galleries on Nantucket’s cobblestoned streets

Less than a half-day’s-drive from Boston, New York, or Montreal lies a vast unspoiled wilderness where nature remains pristine and untouched. Come and join us in August as we escape to the Adirondack Park, an expansive playground for cyclists, hikers, and kayakers alike.

Whether by bike, on foot, or with paddle, you’ll enjoy an unforgettable week exploring the six-million-acre Adirondack Park – greater in size than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier, and the Grand Canyon national parks combined. Luckily for us, nearly half of this Park is now a Forest Preserve, constitutionally protected to remain “Forever Wild.”

Highlights

• Exciting multisport vacation with 5 bike rides, 4 short walks, 2 boat trips, and 1 signature kayak excursion
• Explore the expansive Adirondack Park, famous for towering fir trees, sparkling lakes and rivers, and spectacular mountains
• Visit the award-winning Wild Center (also known as the Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks)
• Visit the top of Whiteface Mountain, New York’s fifth-highest peak, with spectacular 360-degree panoramic views of New York, Vermont, and Canada
• Private narrated boat tour of Lake Placid
• Private sunset cruise on Saranac Lake to explore the many islands and quiet bays, and to follow the call of the loons
• Complimentary use of kayaks, canoes, and SUPs at our Lake Placid lodgings
• Kayak downstream on the sparkling Raquette River
• Cycle down Whiteface Mountain, featuring 9 miles of downhill with a descent of 3,500 ft
• Enjoy the region in late August, the perfect month to visit the Adirondacks; the crowds are gone but the weather is still warm

Easy to Moderate – 20-40 miles per day, with total mileage of 75-120. Some optional hills, or grab a lift in the van. Cycle at your own pace. E-bikes available. Also enjoy easy kayaking (3 hours max) and moderate hikes (2 hours max)

Few regions in the United States pack in as much culture, history, and natural beauty as the Golden Isles of Georgia. This lovely part of the Georgia coast should not be rushed through by car. Rather it is best explored on bicycle, allowing you ample time to savor the unique southern hospitality, reflect upon their 300 years of fascinating history, and explore the many wild beaches, barrier islands, and famous marshlands.

This six-day tour starts in Savannah, GA (one night), and travels south to visit St. Simons Island (two nights) and Jekyll Island (two nights).

Highlights
Relaxing bike rides through canopies of live oak trees adorned with Spanish moss and resurrection ferns
Relish in the 50+ miles of paved bike paths on St. Simons and Jekyll Islands, leading to hidden maritime forests, traveling above marsh and sand dunes, and along ocean and rivers
Enjoy a narrated tour of Savannah, on a bicycle built for 15!
Private cruise on a real shrimp trawler. Watch the crew haul in the nets and then explain their catch to us
Cycle through history, past British forts & plantations from the 18th century, through towns that were luckily spared from destruction in the Civil War, and along roads that were routes to freedom from slavery
Visit the loggerhead sea turtles at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center
Highlights (continued)
Eat fresh local seafood, from boat to table – it’s shrimply the best!
Relax on a private tram tour of the National Historic Landmark District of Jekyll Island
Kayak on the Marshes of Glynn, immortalized by Georgia poet Sidney Lanier
Savor the gorgeous April flowers in full bloom, including gardenias, dogwoods, wisteria, and luscious pink azaleas
Stroll around Savannah with your favorite beverage “to go”
Treat yourself to the ultimate in gracious living at the exclusive Jekyll Island Club, a.k.a. the “Millionaires Club”
Enjoy the cooler weather in April, before it gets too hot, and before all the crowds arrive

Our six-day Bike & Boat Tour explores the many islands and waterways of Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay. We’ll treat you to great cycling on islands, cycling within view of islands, and boat rides between the islands.

All week we stay at deluxe Inns overlooking the water: one night in Bristol, three nights in historic Newport, and one night on Block Island.

Highlights
Cycle on Rhode Island’s first multi-town bike path – the paved East Bay Bike Path that hugs the shoreline of Narragansett Bay
Ride on the railway tracks using a fleet of pedal-powered rail-bikes
Stroll along Newport’s Cliff Walk, rated the #1 attraction in Rhode Island
Sample fresh local seafood, including lobsters, quahogs, and “chowdah”
Cycle along Newport’s famous Ocean Drive, known for its jaw-dropping splendor – from the opulent mansions of the Gilded Age, to the spectacular views over Narragansett Bay
Get up close and personal with lobsters on our educational lobster boat tour. Learn about the life of the lobster, and the lives of the lobstermen who catch them
Tour Newport’s Breakers mansion, once owned by the Vanderbilt family, and considered the grandest of all Newport’s Gilded Age mansions
Enjoy a breathtaking boat ride on a restored 1929 rum runner boat, and relive the “thrill of the chase” of the smuggler boats from the days of Prohibition – all while sipping on our own rum punch
Set sail on our 80-foot schooner, which we’ve chartered to take us out on the waters around Newport, which is known as “the sailing capital” of the United States
Optional boat trip on an America’s Cup sailboat ($)
Stay at a resort island (Block Island) that was deemed one of the “Last Great Places” by the Nature Conservancy – there are no traffic lights; all 17 miles of beach are open to the public; and all the Island’s power is provide by an offshore wind farm
Enjoy the cooler weather in late May (average max temp is 70 degrees), before it gets too hot, and before the crowds arrive

Welcome to our 12-day bike tour of the world’s 12th largest island – the South Island of New Zealand! We plan to take you on a very special trip that offers a rich assortment of scenery, wildlife, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. We can’t wait to show you around!

The Washington Post published a full-page article about our New Zealand Bike Tour, stating that they “would not have a traded a minute of the experience.” The author wrote that “New Zealand offers pretty much every landscape imaginable in this world — or any other.” She went on to describe our bike tour as traveling “through rain forest and farmland, past sheer cliffs striped with waterfalls, along rushing green glacier-fed rivers and around neon-blue alpine lakes.” It’s time to cross New Zealand off your “bucket list.”

Highlights
Explore more different regions of NZ than any other bike tour company
Fantastic bike rides, including two days of relaxing car-free cycling on the Otago Central Rail Trail and Lake Dunstan Cycle Trail. Cycle through two National Parks, including riding on beautiful Highway 6 on the West Coast, known as “one of the planet’s 10 best road trips” (Lonely Planet)
Spectacular scenery at every turn
View unique wildlife including penguins, albatross, kiwi birds, merino sheep, seal lions, fur seals, giant eels, glow worms, and alpine parrots
Learn about merino wool at a high-country sheep farm
Naturalist-led hikes on glaciers, through rainforests, on pristine beaches, and through a mystical landscape
Mellow water activities, including kayaking in a World Heritage Area
Option to Fly to Milford Sound for a boat cruise in Fiordland National Park, part of the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area.
Savor a scenic train ride through the Taieri River Gorge
Explore the exciting towns of Dunedin, Christchurch, Wanaka, and Queenstown
Opportunity to explore the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers
Experience Hokey Pokey ice cream, manuka honey, and vegemite; search for pounamu (greenstone, or NZ jade) on the beach
Warm Weather!

Great Bike Tours is proud to be the “First in the Nation” to run week-long bike vacations in New Hampshire. From the summit of New England’s highest peak, all the way down to the seacoast, we’ve got New Hampshire covered. We plan to spoil you on this bike tour, where the grandeur of nature is matched by the grandeur of our hotels.

Highlights
Explore two great regions of New Hampshire – the White Mountains and the Seacoast
Enjoy New Hampshire’s top cycling routes, including the Kancamagus National Scenic Byway, the Coastal Scenic Byway, and two car-free bicycle trails (Presidential Rail Trail and Franconia Notch Recreational Trail)
Feel like a rock star when you stay at New Hampshire’s Grand Hotels
Stand atop the highest peak in New England – Mt. Washington!
Travel through seven State Parks and one National Forest
Discover the White Mountains, a spectacular region where nature takes center stage. Enjoy the soaring peaks and lush valleys, the wild rivers, waterfalls, and scenic vistas. Breathe in the fresh air. Enjoy the ride.
Take a train ride on the world’s first mountain-climbing COG train
Cherish the best fall colors in New England (Travel Channel)
Cycle the entire length of the New Hampshire coastline – all 18 miles of it! Enjoy flat cycling around islands and along the ocean, passing summer cottages, lighthouses, secluded beaches, coastal walks, and seafood shacks.
Relax on the veranda of the Omni Mt. Washington Hotel, with the mountains seemingly close enough to touch.
Take a hike in the Flume Gorge, past historic covered bridges, beside babbling brooks, and through magnificent glacial landscapes
Kayak on the largest inland body of salt water in New England
Learn how to throw an axe (family-friendly)
Visit the famous Old Man of the Mountain
Explore a working fiber farm (sheep, llamas, alpacas, Angora rabbit)
Enjoy optional activities including an 18-hole golf course designed by Donald Ross, horseback riding, full-service spas, fly fishing, tennis, yoga, bocce, and more

Great Bike Tours offers the best bike tours in Vermont. Our six-day cycling tour is designed to include everything that Vermont is famous for, including fantastic roads for cycling, gorgeous fall colors, peaceful farm countryside, covered bridges, great hiking trails, small villages with their quintessential country stores, local artisans, micro-brew beers, cheese production, locally-sourced organic food, apple & berry picking, and of course maple syrup.

Our Vermont bike tour explores more areas of the state than any other bike tour company. We’ll spend four action-packed days exploring the countryside on the east side of the state (Woodstock & Quechee), on the west side of the state (Brandon & Middlebury), as well as two days of riding in the Lake Champlain Valley – on the islands of Lake Champlain, and around Shelburne and Charlotte (see attached map).

Highlights
Stay at the Amee Farm Lodge the entire week, and only unpack once
Explore more areas of Vermont than any other bike tour company
Solo travelers get their own room (no extra charge)
Cycle a “Top 10 Scenic Road” in the U.S. (Rt. 100 Scenic Byway)
Savor the best fall foliage in New England, from the seat of your bike
Explore quaint New England towns of Burlington, Woodstock, Shelburne, and Middlebury
Taste local micro-brew beers at Long Trail and Fiddlehead Breweries
Enjoy short hikes on the Appalachian Trail, through Quechee Gorge, and on the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail
Watch glassblowers at work in the Simon Pearce gallery
Taste local maple syrup at a mom-and-pop “sugar house”
Explore Shelburne Museum or Shelburne Farms
Bike one of the “10 Best Rail Trails” in the nation, with water on both sides, from Burlington to the Lake Champlain Islands (bike ferry included)
Sip the local wines at Snow Farm Vineyard and Shelburne Vineyards
Enjoy optional activities including golf, kayaking, massages, yoga

Join us in October for our easy bike tours in Virginia. Located in a flat part of the state known as the Tidewater area, our Virginia bike tours are perfectly suited to school groups, family bike tours, as well as to history buffs and folks seeking to prolong their summer.

Our Virginia bike tours take us back to the 18th century, to Colonial Williamsburg on the eve of the American Revolution. Come, be part of the story, as the city comes alive to depict the days, months, and years leading up to and during the Revolutionary War.Cycle to Jamestown and Yorktown, which signify the beginning and end of English Colonial rule in America - for it was in 1607 that the English first landed on the swampy marshes of Jamestown, and then 174 years later the English were defeated in the Battle of Yorktown (1781), the final major battle of the American Revolutionary War. The Revolution secured independence for the United States, and a new nation began. Come, be part of the story, on your 21st century bicycle!

Highlights
Explore Colonial Williamsburg, America’s largest living-history-museum
Enjoy 60+ miles of paved bike paths throughout the week
Unpack only once, by staying at the Williamsburg Lodge the whole week
Dine at historic 18th century taverns, with servers in costume
Cycle through history at the Colonial National Historic Park, run by the National Park Service
Witness America’s beginning during your private guided tour of Jamestown Settlement, a living-history-museum depicting the story of America’s first permanent English colony
Cycle the newly-completed Virginia Capital Trail, a paved bike path that connects Jamestown and Richmond – traversing 400 years of history
Laugh at a bawdy theatrical show in Colonial Williamsburg
Cycle on quiet country roads passing cotton and tobacco fields
Sip wine at the Williamsburg Winery, the largest winery in Virginia, followed by a cooking-school-dinner
Marvel at General Washington reviewing his troops, complete with cannon salutes and fife & drum marching bands
Enjoy optional activities such as a sailing trip aboard Yorktown’s 105-ft Alliance tall ship