Short answer: a self-guided bicycle tour is a cycling vacation where we plan the routes, book the hotels, set up your bikes, and move your luggage, while you ride on your own dates, at your own pace, with your own group. A local concierge is on call throughout the tour, there to act as your local friend. We take care of everything except pedaling the bike.
Picture a quiet road winding between vineyards, the morning still cool, and nobody waiting on you. You stop for a second espresso in an ancient village because you feel like it. You linger at a market, take the long way to lunch, and roll into tonight’s hotel to find your bags already in your room. That’s a self-guided bike tour with Outfitter Bicycle Tours.
We first answered the question “What is a self-guided bicycle tour?” on this blog in 2013. It’s still one of the questions we hear most, so here’s the full, current answer.
Why we’ve never loved the name “self-guided”
Honestly, the name sells it short. “Self-guided” sounds like you’re on your own, sorting out maps, hotels, and luggage yourself. On our self-guided bike tours, you’re not. You get the same care as on our guided tours, minus the support van riding a few minutes behind you. In exchange, you get the most flexible cycling vacation there is: your dates, your pace, your group, your route choices.
It’s independent travel with a safety net. (We’re still open to suggestions for a better name.)
How a self-guided bike tour works, day by day
- You name your start date. Many self-guided operators only depart on set days. With us, you choose the date and we build the tour around your calendar.
- A local concierge/guide meets you. Think of them as a friend who lives there. They fit your bike, are with you through the week, and transfer your luggage. Want suggestions for off-bike excursions or the best place for lunch? They are a phone call or WhatsApp message away.
- You ride with turn-by-turn directions. Every route is loaded into RideWithGPS on your phone or GPS device, so you always know the next turn and where you are.
- Your luggage moves ahead of you. Tag your bag in the morning with the OBT luggage tag we provide, leave it at the hotel, and it’s waiting at the next one when you arrive.
- You stop wherever you like. A castle, a winery, a swim, a two-hour lunch. Nobody is waiting for you. You’re not on someone else’s vacation.
- You check into a hotel we’ve chosen. Usually a blend of very nice 3-star and excellent 4-star properties, picked for character, comfort, and location.
- If anything comes up, you call. A flat tire, a wrong turn, a rain-day change of plans, a lunch recommendation. Your concierge will help by phone or come out to you on the road if needed.
What’s included on an Outfitter self-guided bike tour
Included:
- Hand-picked hotels, usually 3-star and 4-star, with upgrades available
- Breakfast daily, plus dinners as listed on each itinerary
- Daily luggage transfers from hotel to hotel
- Routes designed and tested by us, loaded into RideWithGPS
- A local concierge on there for you during the entire tour
- A digital tour packet with local tips on food, wine, and what you’ll see, plus a guidebook for your destination
Not included:
- Travel to the start location and from the finish location
- Lunches, which are half the fun
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended, and easy to add when you book)
- Bike rental, available as an add-on at every destination, including e-bikes
- Admission to sites unless the itinerary says otherwise
Self-guided vs. guided bike tours
On a guided bike tour, you ride with a small group and a professional tour leader, a support van stays close behind, and the tour runs on set dates. On a self-guided bike tour, you ride with your own group, on your own dates, with your concierge a phone call away. Both are fully supported. Guided gives you company; self-guided gives you freedom. Many couples and families choose self-guided; many solo travelers choose guided.
Who self-guided cycling vacations are perfect for
- Couples who want time together, not time with a group.
- Families and friends who want, in effect, a private tour. Your group is self-selected, anywhere from 1 to 16 riders.
- Independent travelers who love freedom but not logistics.
- Mixed-ability riders. Pick a Relaxed, Standard, or Aggressive itinerary, and add an e-bike for anyone who wants a little help on the hills.
- Anyone with fixed vacation dates. You choose them.
Completely customizable
The itineraries on our site are starting points, not rules. Add a night or three. Stay an extra day in a village you love. Upgrade a hotel, add a cooking class, or ask for a longer route for the strongest rider in your group. We build every tour in-house, so we can say yes to a lot.
Our self-guided bike tour destinations
Tuscany, Italy
Roll through the vineyards of Chianti, past the cypress-lined hills of the Val d’Orcia, and up to medieval hill towns like San Gimignano and Montepulciano. Tuscany is rolling and rarely flat, rewarded with Brunello, pecorino, and long lunches. It’s our most popular self-guided cycling destination for good reason.
Provence, France
Ride past lavender fields, through Luberon villages like Gordes and Roussillon, and into weekly markets that have run for centuries. Easy valley days mix with optional big climbs, including legendary Mont Ventoux. Rosé at a café table under the plane trees is part of the plan.
Burgundy, France
Cycle the gentle vineyard roads of the Côte de Beaune, the heartland of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, through villages like Beaune, Meursault, and Pommard. Burgundy is one of the easiest wine regions in Europe to ride. Read more in Cycle Through Burgundy: The Freedom of a Self-Guided Wine Tour.
Piemonte, Italy
Climb into the Langhe hills, home of Barolo and Barbaresco, hazelnut groves, and fall’s famous white truffles. Piemonte is quieter than Tuscany and, for many food and wine lovers, even better. The vineyard landscapes are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Dordogne, France
Follow a slow, green river past castles like Beynac and Castelnaud and the cliffside village of La Roque-Gageac. Add prehistoric caves, walnut groves, and rich Périgord cooking. The Dordogne offers some of the gentlest riding in France, which makes it a favorite for families.
Asheville, North Carolina
Our home base. Ride the Blue Ridge Parkway, then refuel at Asheville’s farm-to-table restaurants and craft breweries. No passport, no jet lag, and the same self-guided support as our European tours.
“They took care of all the logistics and planning and we just had to show up and ride.” Kyle and Gregg Caruso, Self-Guided Asheville
What makes an Outfitter self-guided tour different
Many self-guided bike tours in Europe are resold by wholesalers. Ours aren’t.
- We build every route ourselves and keep you on quiet roads, even when that means a less obvious way.
- We choose hotels for character, not to fill contracted rooms.
- Your concierge is a local, not a call center.
- You name your own start date.
- Nearly 30 years of experience. Outfitter Bicycle Tours was founded in 1996, and we, Jamie and Joy Gilpin, have run it since 2010. We ride these roads ourselves.
“OBT is very accommodating, responsive and attentive; it was very easy to plan a trip.” Dale A., Self-Guided Provence
More guest stories are on our Testimonials page.
Frequently asked questions about self-guided bike tours
What is a self-guided bike tour? A cycling vacation where the routes, hotels, bike setup, and luggage transfers are arranged for you, but you ride on your own schedule with your own group, with local support on call.
Is a self-guided bike tour safe? Our routes favor quiet roads, and your concierge is a phone call away all week, ready to help by phone or come out to you.
Do I need to be good at navigation? No. RideWithGPS gives you turn-by-turn directions on your phone or GPS device. Most riders are comfortable by the end of the first morning.
Can I do a self-guided bike tour on an e-bike? Yes. E-bikes are available as a rental add-on at every destination and are a great equalizer for couples and groups with different fitness levels.
Can I choose my own dates? Yes. On every self-guided tour, you name your start date.
How far ahead should I book? About six months ahead for May, June, and September, and three to four months for other months.
Still have questions? Visit our FAQ or contact us.
Ready to ride at your own pace?
A self-guided bike tour is the freedom of traveling on your own, with the planning, local knowledge, and support of a company that has been doing this for nearly 30 years. Choose your destination, choose your dates, and leave the rest to us. Explore our self-guided bike tours and start planning your own cycling vacation today.
