What kind of bicycles and equipment are provided on bicycle tours?
Bicycles for travel in Europe are mostly hybrid bicycles with 7 to 21 gears. There is a possibility in most of them to request an electric bicycle.

There is the possibility of requesting different accessories: panniers, repair kit or helmet. As well as a baby seat or trailer.

Can I bring my own bike?
You can always bring your own bike, but we can not take responsibility for possible damage to your bike. You must also send your own bike to the place. For any help, do not hesitate to contact our office in Madrid.

Do I have to wear a helmet?
Depending on the country where you travel there are specific regulations regarding the use of the helmet, it is always advisable to wear it. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions.

Anyone with a basic level of fitness who enjoys pedalling for four to six hours a day will enjoy our trips. Our routes take place on a combination of secondary (scenic!) roads and well-packed trails. Most cyclists do an average of forty kilometres (25 miles) a day, but there are always opportunities to do more.

Supported tours have full sag van support, so if you’re winded, you can hop in the vehicle and meet the other participants at the end of the day. Self-guided tours usually require more preparation on the participant’s behalf, because some of the routes can be a lot longer.

Level 1 or 2 EASY:
Rides are about 25 – 35 kilometres/15-22 miles per day over relatively flat terrain, secondary roads and/or well-packed paths. Level A tours are the easiest: the days are relatively short, and are perfect for people who want to try their first active vacation.

Level 3 or INTERMEDIATE:
Rides cover 30-50 kilometres (20-35 miles). These rides generally go on the same kind of terrain as the Level A rides but move at a higher velocity, allowing you to cover more ground. These rides are for cyclists with more experience and more confidence handling themselves on two wheels.

Level 4 or 5 ADVANCED:
Routes can range from 50 to 90 kilometres (30-60 miles) a day over rolling and hilly terrain, on a variety of surfaces. These require a fairly quick pace and participants have the option of going for higher altitude rides, or extending the rides to cover greater distances.

What is a guided tour?
If you like to travel with a group, meet new people and have a guide and a structured schedule, then it is likely that a guided group tour is the best for you. Traveling with a guide means that we will take care of everything: bicycle adjustments, route details, visits, meals, snacks during the route, van assistance in case you are tired … etc.

How much tip should I give to the guides?
Tips for your guides are not included in the price of the trip. As a guide, the industry standard is 100.00 / 150.00 € per person, per guide. We invite you to use your discretion and decide according to the quality of the service you receive.

How many people can I expect to have on a guided tour?
Our tours are groups in trips in Europe have around 4 to 15 people. The guide and the support van will be near you at all times, never far away … while another guide will ride with you (for groups of more than 4 people), leading the group and encouraging you.

In the boat and bicycle trips in the Netherlands and in the Loire (France), the guide accompanies all participants on bicycles. They do not always speak Spanish perfectly.

You will always pedal on very quiet back roads. For the tranquility of the group, when forming small groups, we advise to go better grouped and not to be spaced much.

Evenings are usually free and dinners can be included in the same hotel or at a nearby restaurant.

What is a self-guided tour?
A self-guided bicycle tour will offer you flexibility and independence and allow you to explore without marked schedules but still maintain assistance and support. We take care of hotel or boat reservations, luggage transport from hotel to hotel and we offer a complete information package with the route marked, a detailed description of the route and recommended restaurants. We also offer a direct line in case of emergencies or problems.
For some people, the group experience is part of what makes traveling fun. If you are one of those people, a guided bicycle tour may be the best option.

How can I communicate with Bike Spain Tours during my bicycle tour?
We will give you an emergency number so you can contact us for any emergency you may have during the tour.

What kind of support can I expect during the tour?
Make sure you are able to navigate a foreign culture and language, read maps and signs, order food and take care of reservations or other minor emergencies. Unlike guided bicycle tours, self-guided bicycle tours do not have a support van. This means that it is your responsibility to arrive at the next hotel every day. Of course, if you have problems, you can call the emergency hotline and we will help you as much as possible, either by sending a van or advising you on public transport options

The following is included in most of our guided tours:

• Accommodation: we always offer you the best hotels on the spot – charming, authentic and surprising – the most central places in the cities and the most spectacular places in the countryside.
• Meals: all breakfasts, most lunches and dinners including wine (although sometimes you’ll have the opportunity to explore regional cuisine on your own). We literally enter into the kitchen to make sure that everything is taken care of!
• Bikes: state of the art SPECIALIZED touring and road bikes and all the accessories you might need (optional carbon road bikes).
• Bilingual guide(s) to ensure that you always enjoy superior customer service.
• Support vehicle that helps you with a flat tyre, offers you refreshments and snacks when you need them, takes you along on the uphill of end-of-the-day parts and transports your luggage from one place to the other.
• Detailed information document with regional maps, a day-to-day itinerary plus hotel list and all you’d like know about Spain and the region you go to.
• Transportation from rendezvous to final drop-off, from our quaint region to our centrally located meeting place, both for you and your luggage.
• Gratuities: the monetary thank-yous deserving of our drivers, local experts and hospitality staff.
• CD with photos and video to take home as a memory.
• Bike Spain Tours handle bar bag, water bottle, a bag for your helmet or cycling shoes, luggage tags and a custom bike jersey, long zip.
• Bike Center travel coordinator that is available to assist you with all of your pre- & post-trip travel plans and arrangements (hotels, restaurants, transport and more…).
• Travel insurance with medical assistance.

And .. a Spectacular Bike Experience filled with fun and friendship!

What type of accommodation can you have?
We always offer you the best hotels in the place, charming, authentic and surprising, the most central places of the cities and the most spectacular places in the countryside.
In most of our tours you can choose between two options:
• LUXURY HOTELS: the best hotels in the city. Picture or five star hotels that offer excellent customer service. Ask us this option if you enjoy the best when you travel.

• PREMIERE: Hotels well located with three stars, with special charm and first class service.

What happens if I travel alone and I want my own room? What is an individual supplement? If you travel alone, there is always the possibility of having your own room, but it will be necessary to pay a supplement that varies depending on the date and destination chosen.

What do i need to bring?
Please, check our packing list for more details (link to the luggage list)
We recommend that you put at least the following items in your suitcase:
• Any official documentation, such as an EU identity document or a valid passport. (Be sure to keep a photocopy of all documentation in your baggage, just in case.) If you need a prescription medication, it is helpful to have a copy of the prescription, along with the generic name of the medication.

• Cycling equipment you use, such as cycling shoes (or running shoes / sneakers) and a helmet.
• Helmet if you want to take it and have your own.
• Travel accessories, such as sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm, camera (and extra batteries) and an adapter / electric converter (220V) if you bring any item that requires charging.
Clothing in Europe is informal, and Europeans in general do not care about how people dress. You may want to bring something a little more elegant for the evenings. Because luggage space is limited on the vehicle for the tour, luggage should be limited to a suitcase and a bag (or small backpack) per person.

What travel documents do I need?
To travel to Spain, you need a passport or identity document and (if necessary) a visa. To verify if you need a visa to travel to Spain, you must contact the nearest consulate of Spain in your country and consult it.

Do I need travel insurance?
Yes, to travel abroad you always need medical insurance for what may happen. Travel insurance is included with medical assistance during our guided tours, and optional in our self-guided visits.