ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours, a leader in expertly-crafted guided and self-guided cycling adventures in Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean, has added a suite of new and updated guided tours to its 2025 trip portfolio. The standout addition to the line-up is a brand-new European destination – the Basque Country in France and Spain – offering cyclists an opportunity to explore this unique region for the first time with ExperiencePlus!
“The Basque Country tours are entirely new for us, promising to immerse riders into the rich culture found here, along with the stunning landscapes and delicious cuisine that this celebrated region is known for,” says Maria Elena Price, co-owner of ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours. “Unlike many cycling itineraries of this region, our tour explores both the French and the Spanish Basque regions, which share cultural traditions and language, but are also distinctly shaped by geography and climate.”
“We have also updated our tour in Sardinia to explore more of the stunning western coastline and hidden villages of this beautiful island, adding a breathtaking afternoon sailing trip around San Pietro,” continues Price. “For the new ‘bike and barge’ trip from Bruges to Amsterdam, we reversed the itinerary and found a newly restyled barge that will act as the perfect home base for the duration of the journey.”
Keep reading for an overview of what’s coming in 2025. What’s more, ExperiencePlus! is currently offering early booking savings of $200.00 per person on all 2025 guided tours when booked by November 1, 2024. Visit ExperiencePlus.com to find out more.
Bicycle the Basque Country: France and Spain Plus! Bilbao
On this brand-new, 11-day adventure through France and Spain, guests will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the language, culture, and ancient traditions of the Basque people, along with the remarkable landscapes, colourful villages, vibrant port cities, and exceptional cuisine that define the Basque Country.
Starting in Bayonne, France, the itinerary starts with a loop ride through the rolling Basque countryside to La Bastide Clairance – considered one of the most beautiful villages in France, with its well-preserved half-timbered houses and stone churches, that offer a glimpse into the town’s medieval past. Then, on to the prized seaside town of Biarritz and along the Atlantic coast to Saint-Jean-de-Luz. The itinerary here features a loop ride through the countryside to Espelette, continuing along the coast to Hendaye, the last town in France before entering Spain’s País Vasco, where the group will stop for a rest in the fortress town of Hondarribia. This is followed by an exciting ride over the Jaizkibel ridge en route to Donostia-San Sebastian, a place that is revered for its exceptional restaurants. After a ‘choose your own adventure’ day here, it is on to Zarautz, Lekeitio, Gernika, Mundaka, and finally over a spectacular stretch of Basque coast to Bilbao, known for its famed Guggenheim Museum that is a testament to city’s urban renewal.
For a shorter alternative, ExperiencePlus! has also introduced the Bicycle the Basque Country: France and Spain tour, which features the first seven days of the Plus! itinerary, wrapping up in Donostia-San Sebastian.
- Priced from US$5,550.00 per person
- 2025 departures: June 16-26, Sept 8-18, and Sept. 29-Oct. 9
Cycling Sardinia’s West Coast Plus! the South
This stunning 12-day cycling tour on the island of Sardinia is built off ExperiencePlus!’ popular eight-day Cycling Sardinia’s West Coast tour, traveling a total distance of 597 km from the city of Alghero, once a Catalan outpost, to just outside the capital city of Cagliari.
Exploring stunning coastal landscapes, meandering along quiet country roads, and even pedalling past spectacular mountain vistas, this tour excels in natural beauty. Following the western coast road south to Bosa – arguably one of the world’s best rides – the itinerary then heads inland, enjoying loop rides into the scarcely populated Marmilla and Sulcis regions, one famous for its high mesas, the other for its industrial and mining history. Then it is on to the southwestern coast to spend a few nights exploring the fascinating islands of San Pietro and Sant’Antioco, and then onto the Porto Pino lagoons and the ancient Phoenician city of Nora. The tour finishes just outside of Cagliari, in a small beach town.
- Priced from US$6,400.00 per person
- 2025 departures: May 18-29 and Sept. 21-Oct. 2
Cycling Copenhagen to Oslo
What better way to experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of three Scandinavian countries than on a bicycle tour? This new and improved 14-day Northern European guided tour starts in beautiful, bike-friendly Copenhagen, and then works its way up Sweden’s west coast from Helsingborg, all the way north to the much-loved village of Son, Norway, ending with a final approach to beautiful Oslo via ferry.
Traveling a total distance of 577 km, on this classic bike tour some of the many highlights include:
- Exploring some of Europe’s oldest city bike paths
- Beautiful coastal cycling, including the famed Kattegattleden bike route, which was named ‘Europe’s Cycle Route of the Year’ in 2018
- Visits to breathtaking castles, such as Kronborg Castle (famously known for being the setting of Shakespeare’s Hamlet)
- A couple of nights spent in the fortified town of Varberg, home to several hot spring baths (old and new)
- Quaint fishing villages and vibrant cities, including Gothenburg, an important seaport and unexpectedly energetic city
- Exploration on the islands of Orust, Malö, and more
- Stops at some of Europe’s most significant and extensive carvings at the Tanumshede UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Viking burials grounds
- And much more!
Priced from US$7,550.00 per person.
While ExperiencePlus! has offered their very popular seven-day Copenhagen to Gothenburg guided adventure for some time now, this new trip adds on the Gothenburg to Oslo leg (which can also be enjoyed as a new standalone, eight-day itinerary) for an even more memorable adventure!
Note: All 2025 departures for the above Northern Europe trips are currently sold out, however waitlists are available and gets you front-of-the-line for 2026 departures.
Bike and Barge: Bruges to Amsterdam
This new, eight-day ‘Bike and Barge’ itinerary is a reverse of ExperiencePlus!’ popular Amsterdam to Bruges trip. Starting out in Bruges’ historic city centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its beautiful medieval buildings, squares, and streets that have remained largest intact for centuries, the group will meet up on the barge that will act as homebase for the duration of the trip.
From Bruges, the itinerary takes guests pedalling through the Flemish landscape along the Ghent canal, to the city of Ghent and its many architectural riches that date back to the Middle Ages. Next, it is downstream through a diverse landscape along the tidal Schelde River to Dendermonde, which is located at the confluence of the Dender and Schelde rivers – without a doubt one of the natural highlights of the tour. Here the group will have a chance to visit a 200-year-old family-run brewery, now in its 7th generation. It’s then on to St. Amands, followed by Antwerp, where guests will enjoy a guided visit of Rubens’ art in the city’s Cathedral, before continuing to Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. After that, it is on to UNESCO cultural heritage site of Kinderdijk, where 19 windmills, originally constructed in the 18th century to pump water, are aligned to form a stunning vision. The final day is spent following bike paths through the region of the Hollandic Waterline, a defense system born in the 17th century, and as such home to several imposing forts, including Muiderslot and Weesp. Guests will pedal through Breukelen, the namesake for the New York City borough, through the historic town of Muiden, and finally on to Amsterdam where the tour concludes.
- Priced from US$5,995.00 per person
- 2025 departure: May 13-20
Self-guided tours in Italy
Launched earlier this year, ExperiencePlus!’ six self-guided tours through Italy will be back in 2025, providing independently-minded cyclists the opportunity to explore and experience the very best of Italy’s culture, landscapes, and gastronomic delights!
From the shores of Lake Garda and the peaks and valleys of the famed Dolomites to the Apennine Mountains, Tuscany’s golden landscapes, and the great heart of Umbria, these budget-friendly, self-guided adventures offer flexibility and independence coupled with the convenience of having all the route planning mapped out, accommodations booked, and daily transfers provided to make daily outings a breeze.
“We were thrilled to have world-famous adventurer, Erik Weihenmayer, join our self-guided bicycle tour in Italy’s Alpine Valleys in mid-July. He and his partner, Heather Quiroga, captured the joys of riding every day at their own pace and finding adventure at every turn, while relishing in the ease of having all the logistics covered,” concludes Price.
