Building on last year’s successful launch of self-guided cycling tours in Italy, ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours, a trailblazer in cycling vacations and leader in active travel, is introducing three new extended itineraries for 2025, offering travellers a deeper dive into the rich culture and stunning landscapes of Italy’s la dolce vita. These longer trips align with the growing trend of slow travel, combining multiple weeklong routes to create seamless adventures that prioritise immersive and sustainable experiences.
“We think that with the expense and time it takes to travel these days, a longer bike tour just makes sense,” says Maria Elena Price, co-owner of ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours. “Not to mention, spending more time in a place – getting to know it in the more immersive and intimate manner that exploring by bike provides – is so much more enriching, rewarding, and overall, a more sustainable way to travel.”
Designed for travellers who love the freedom of choosing their own pace while enjoying the peace-of-mind that comes with knowing key details such as accommodations and route mapping are taken care of, these new adventures offer deep dives into three famed regions: The Dolomites, Emilia-Romagna, and Tuscany. Continue reading below for details.
Self-guided: Grand tour of the Dolomites Plus! Garda and Verona
- 12 days: Cortina D’Ampezzo to Verona
- Level 2
- Departs any Saturday between May 1 and September 30
- From US$3,450.00 per person
This 12-day journey offers the best of ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours’ Dolomites and Alpine Valleys self-guided itineraries. Starting in Cortina d’Ampezzo (home of the 1956 and 2026 Winter Olympics), in the heart of the Italian Dolomites, the route heads north via bike paths towards the Austrian border where it enters the Sud Tyrol region, a unique area of Italy where traditional culture is still wonderfully preserved. The route eventually joins the ancient Roman Via Claudia Augusta, before entering the Trentino Alto-Adige region. After crossing Lake Garda, where riders can take a break from the saddle to enjoy a scenic boat ride, a grand ending awaits in fair Verona, one of Italy’s most famous art cities. Along the way, cooking classes are also available in several towns. Organized by Le Cesarine, cyclists are hosted by a local at their home and will help the Cesarina (the host) prepare three courses before enjoying the meal (lunch or dinner) prepared during the class.
Brisighella, one of the most beautiful medieval villages of Italy, located on the hillside between Florence and Ravenna in Emilia-Romagna (ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours).
Self-guided: Grand Cycling Emilia-Romagna
- 13 days: Ravenna to Parma
- Level 2
- Departs any Tuesday between March 1 and October 31
- From US$2,950.00 per person
This 13-day itinerary combines the Bicycle Romagna and the Taste of Italy self-guided tours into one grand cycling adventure that showcases the renowned food traditions, expansive landscapes, beautiful towns, and limitless riding of this amazing region. Stretching along the northern flanks of the Apennine mountains and spilling into fertile plains dominated by orchards and fields, Emilia-Romagna is often overlooked for neighboring Tuscany. This tour elevates the region’s many gastronomic traditions, such as balsamic vinegar, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and Parma ham, while simultaneously introducing cyclists to towns and cities, from Ravenna and Bologna to Modena and Parma, that have influenced the country’s cultural identity. Cooking classes organized by Le Cesarine are also available in various locations, inviting guests to enjoy a truly immersive experience with their local host and local flavours.
The Medici Villa of Cerreto Guidi, one of the many stops that can be made travelling between Ravenna and Pisa (ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours).
Self-guided: Italy Coast to Coast
- 9 days: Ravenna to Pisa
- Level 1
- Departs any Tuesday between March 1 and October 31
- From US$2,375.00 per person
The perfect blend of Italian art, culture, and cuisine awaits you on this unforgettable bike tour that traverses the country from the Adriatic to the Ligurian Sea. Starting in Ravenna, guests cycle through picturesque landscapes and charming villages, cross the verdant Apennines, and along the way savour local culinary delights such as olive oil, wine, and pecorino cheese. Passing through Florence, with the opportunity to explore this city’s many Renaissance-era wonders, the tour wraps up in Lucca, a charming medieval city known for its well-preserved defensive walls that still encircle the historic centre. Before the journey ends, there’s a final loop ride to Pisa, including the chance to cycle all the way to the nearby Tuscan coast. Cooking classes with Le Cesarine are also available in various locations along the route, offering guests the opportunity to really connect with the people and gastronomic traditions found here.
For more information about any of the above tours, and for details on all ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours’ guided and self-guided cycling adventures in Europe, the Caribbean, and South America, visit ExperiencePlus.com.
