Bicycle tours are a great way for families to explore a country and to really get a feel for its geography and terrain, scents and smells, history and culture, and its people—experiences that aren’t often possible from a train or rental car.

Most tours are designed for leisure cyclists, many of them especially for families and novices.

According to leading bike tour website www.biketoursdirect.com, which features more than 200 tours in 40 countries, one of the most popular tours for families is Austria’s Danube Bike Path. Nearly the entire route is on dedicated bike paths – so you’re away from traffic nearly the entire time, and you follow wide, well-marked asphalt trails. The route features castles, medieval towns, vineyards, cathedrals, beautiful scenery and the exciting cities of Passau and Vienna on each end. If you get tired, you can often roll your bike onto a train or riverboat to cut down daily distance.

Most families enjoy the independence of a self-guided tour like the Danube, which still includes lodging with breakfasts, luggage transfers, detailed route information and maps, rental bikes, orientation with the local tour company, and a service hotline. With self-guided tours, you can ride at you own pace, and make stops at sights (and ice cream shops) that interest you. (Self-guided tours are also a value, with most costing less than $1,000 for one week and even less for children sharing rooms with parents.)

However, many families appreciate the support of a guided group tour, where the group rides together with a guide, and a support van is always at the ready to ferry tired riders.
BikeToursDirect’s site, www.biketoursdirect.com, offers both options.

For further information on tour choices and trip planning, contact BikeToursDirect: info@biketoursdirect.com, 1-877-462-2423, 1-423-756-8907, www.biketoursdirect.com.