Cycling tours for beginners

Whether you’ve just found a new love for two wheels, are an active tour first-timer or a self-proclaimed cycling softie - we're here for you!

A cycling tour is a fantastic way to enjoy your free time and explore the great outdoors, all while reaping the health benefits of an active break.

The idea of a cycling tour should be exciting, but we know it can be a little bit overwhelming at first when you don’t know what to expect! That’s why we are here to tell you that a holiday with Skedaddle can be enjoyed by anyone who can ride a bike and is comfortable spending a few miles a day peddalin’.

So, keep reading to find out more about why we are convinced a cycling tour is something everyone can enjoy, what our tours include and answers to some frequently asked questions to help get you started.

Why try a cycling tour?

We wholeheartedly believe that travel should move you and that there is no better way to meet a place properly - its people, its culture and natural wonders - than by bike. Not only that but it’s a great way to keep you physically and mentally fit too!

But that’s not all, here are a few more reasons why we want you to join in the fun...

Your chance to immerse yourself in the great outdoors
You can get off the beaten track and escape the tourist traps
An unrivaled sense of achievement and feel-good moments
Indulge in food that tastes even better after you’ve earnt it
...because it’s fun!

Discover all the simple pleasures of a cycling tour!

Everyone's different, but everyone pedals...

Is a cycling tour right for you?

Our tour revolve around pedal power! But don’t let that put you off just because you've never done this kind of active break before. We believe there’s a ride for everyone in our range, including beginners who are comfortable riding a few miles a day and seasoned active tour enthusiasts who are new to cycling tours.

We know finding a ride that suits your fitness level and skill is crucial to making sure you have a great trip. That's why each of our cycling holidays have been graded depending on a variety of factors, including daily mileage and terrain.

A cycling tour is an active break, so for all itineraries in our range we expect:
- You to be able to ride your bike confidently and generally be fit and healthy.
- You to be confident with the daily distances, surfaces and gradient of your chosen itinerary. Our lowest graded tours begin with distances from 10-20 miles (15-35 kms) per day. Note that no route can be pancake flat the entire way, with some gentle slopes being inevitable even on our lowest graded tours.
- You to be comfortable riding your bike while sharing the cycle paths and roads with other users.

Our tour Trip Notes come with detailed insights to help you understand what you can expect on each day and make sure it is right for you; and our team is always here with loads of helpful advice! For more information about our grading system click here.

Go electric! Get the boost you need with the help of an e-bike...

Are you worried about keeping up with your cycling buddies each day? Looking for a boost up a cheeky hill? Or not sure you’re ready to go ‘the extra mile’? With an e-bike, you can cycle with complete peace of mind. Hear this Skedaddler story to find out more about them.

Most of our leisure cycling tours now come with the option to hire an e-bike, making our tours accessible to more of you than ever before!

Check out our range of tours available with e-bikes here or head to our blog for more information about these electric two-wheeled marvels.

What do our cycling tours include?

Our job is to take care of everything, so all you need to do is pedal! So, what does a cycling tour with us actually include?

Luggage transfers each day
Quality accommodation that is hand-selected to provide a flavor of the area
Detailed route notes, maps and a handy navigation App on selected trips
Friendly guides, a support van and delicious lunches on our guided and supported trips
Emergency 24/7 support should you run into any issues or have any questions
Optional bike hire, including hybrid or electric bikes and other essential items

Learn more about what our tours include here!

Frequently Asked Questions

More and more people are choosing a tour on two wheels! After all, if you ask us, it is the best way to explore a destination.

But if you have never done a cycling tour before, you might have a lot of questions right now.

To help with those 'first-time' jitters, we’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions that we think you might find useful. That’s everything from what you should wear, to what happens if you get a puncture or get lost!

Have more questions? Don't worry, we heard them all! Our friendly team is here to help.

Cycling tours perfect for beginners

You’ve heard a bit about us and what we do, now we want to share some travel inspiration to get you excited about exploring the world by bike. These cycling tours all feature lots of traffic-free cycling paths, small daily distances and plenty of time to explore off the bikes:

Discover our full Gentle Pedallin’ range for more!

Why Skedaddle?

Glad you asked! We are the world’s leading independent cycling tour specialists with over 25 years of experience and unrivaled expertise. We’ve been searching far and wide to bring you over 200 spectacular cycling tours in some of the world’s best destinations, with something to suit all wheels and abilities - no matter if you are a beginner or have miles of experience...

You'll feel personally welcomed by our friendly and caring community who are passionate about pedallin'.
You can book with confidence - 96% of Skedaddlers say they would return for more!
You’ll enjoy an authentic travel experience developed with the help of our trusted local partners.

Read our Pedallin' Promise and unwavering commitment to you!

Sounds good? Why not explore our range of cycling tours and all the incredible destinations you can go to! Or head to our blog for even more inspiration and advice on everything cycling.