What Makes an Outfitter Bicycle Tours Self-Guided Tour Different?
One of the most common and fair questions we hear from prospective guests is about pricing, especially when comparing self-guided bike tours across Europe and the United States. On the surface, many itineraries can look similar. But when you dig deeper, the differences become clear. And you’ll know that we deliver the best self-guided bicycle tours.
Recently, a guest asked us a great question about how our self-guided tours compare to other operators. We thought the answer might be helpful for others considering a self-guided cycling vacation, so we’re sharing it here.
The Question We Hear Often
A prospective guest wrote:
“Outfitter Bicycle Tours seems more expensive than similar self-guided trips offered by other companies. Can you explain the price difference?”
It’s a thoughtful question — and one worth unpacking.
The Short Answer: These Are Not the Same Kind of Self-Guided Tours
While many companies offer self-guided bike tours, not all self-guided experiences are created equal.
Outfitter Bicycle Tours specializes in private, high-touch self-guided tours that are curated entirely around your calendar, preferences, and travel style. You choose your start date, and we design the tour around you — not the other way around.
You can learn more about our approach here:
👉 Self-Guided Tours by Outfitter Bicycle Tours
https://outfittertours.com/tour-type/self-guided/
And for a deeper explanation of the concept:
👉 What Is a Self-Guided Bicycle Tour?
https://outfittertours.com/2013/11/what-is-a-self-guided-bicycle-tour/
Why Prices Look Different at First Glance
Many comparison tours advertise prices listed as “from” or “starting at.” These base prices often increase quickly once you factor in:
- Peak season travel
- Hotel upgrades
- Preferred start dates
- Bike upgrades
At Outfitter Bicycle Tours, our pricing reflects the real experience from the start. We don’t begin with 2-star hotels or stripped-down services that require multiple add-ons later. Our baseline is already a premium, thoughtfully designed experience.
Hotels: Our “Standard” Is Not Industry Standard
When comparing itineraries, hotel categories can be misleading.
Many lower-priced self-guided tours use:
- 2-star or basic 3-star hotels. We use nice 3-star and up.
- Properties chosen primarily for availability and cost
Our tours use carefully selected boutique hotels that we know personally and would happily stay in ourselves. Comfort, character, and location matter especially after a long day on the bike. We are a small business that has developed personal relationships with many of the hotel’s proprietors. Personal and familiar service matters.
Bikes: Choice Matters
Some tours include a bike in the base price, but that bike is often a hybrid. Road bikes and eBikes, which many riders prefer, are typically upgrades.
We price bikes separately because:
- Most guests want road bikes or eBikes
- Bike choice should match riding style and terrain
- Quality and fit are essential to the experience
Logistics & Safety: Details That Make a Difference
There are also important inclusions that aren’t always obvious at first glance:
- Train station pickup and drop-off at the beginning and end of the tour. We provide this service on our tours in most of our destinations, including Provence, Asheville, Burgundy and more.
- Avoid congested urban riding, such as navigating busy city centers on day one.
- Routes that prioritize quiet countryside roads, not just convenience
In Provence, for example, we transfer guests from Avignon to the countryside before riding begins, prioritizing safety and enjoyment over the cheapest logistics. And in Tuscany, we start our tours in Florence, but your first day is fully guided, with your guide on the bike leading you safely out of the city to your first hotel in Chianti.
Thoughtful Routing & Navigation Support
All Outfitter Bicycle Tours self-guided itineraries include:
- GPS routes
- Turn-by-turn cue sheets
- Printed maps
- A mobile Tour Packet app with daily details, contacts, and route links
- WhatsApp communication before and throughout the tour
You’re free to ride independently — but you’re never unsupported.
The Biggest Difference: Service & Personal Connection
Perhaps the most important distinction is how the tour is delivered.
Many large tour companies operate as wholesalers, relying on rotating subcontractors and high volume. Guests may have one brief orientation and little contact afterward.
Our self-guided tours are different.
Your local guide is involved every day:
- Checking in on weather and conditions
- Offering restaurant and sightseeing suggestions
- Personally moving your luggage
- Being available if you need help, a phone call away
Think of them as a local friend on the ground, someone who knows your names, your route, and your preferences.
Self-Guided, But Never Left Alone
At Outfitter Bicycle Tours, self-guided does not mean hands-off.
It means:
- You choose your dates
- You ride at your pace
- Your tour is curated around your calendar
- You enjoy independence with a safety net of expert support
Our tours are intentionally smaller, more personal, and more thoughtful — and that’s reflected in the experience as much as the price.
Final Thoughts – We Offer the Best Self-Guided Bicycle Tours
If you’re looking for the lowest possible price, there are plenty of options available. But if you’re looking for a high-touch, private self-guided bike tour — one that’s built around you, not a template — that’s where Outfitter Bicycle Tours stands apart.
You’re on a self-guided tour, but you never feel left alone.
