Q: Where can I learn more about OBT's Self-Guided tours?

You have two options: Click on our SELF-GUIDED TOURS page. CONTACT US and find out more!

Question 1

If this is a %22self-guided%22 tour, why do I have a guide/concierge?

Accepted Answer

Our local contact is dedicated to ensuring that your holiday goes as smoothly as possible. Think of them as your local friend showing off their home while you’re in town for a visit. They are there from greeting you at the beginning to saying goodbye at the end. OBT concierges take care of curating excursions taking care of mechanical issues & roadside assistance, luggage transfers from hotel to hotel, providing assistance with routing, and much more. They are a phone call away, and there for you.

We deliver this level of service because you’re exploring an area unknown to you, and having a local contact provides great peace of mind. Let us streamline your holiday so that you can focus on having fun! OBT’s level of service is well above the typical self-guided experience.

Question 2

What is included?

Accepted Answer

We take care of everything except pedaling the bike….except for eBikes. The eBikes we provide will help you pedal!

All hotel accommodations – mostly 3 and 4 stars but ask for custom accommodation requests.
An OBT cycling jersey!
Comprehensive routing instructions. GPS unit rentals are available.
Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel.
Meals as explained in the tour itinerary pages. Usually, this means all breakfasts, no lunches, and some dinners.
Detailed route notes, maps, and tourist information
Your personal guide/concierge

What is not included?:

Transportation to start location and from finish locations
Bikes, but we have rental bikes available
Travel and Health Insurance
Admission to site-seeing venues, unless explicitly mentioned as included

Question 3

Why is a Private tour better?

Accepted Answer

Our tours are centered around accommodating our guests and the experience they are craving. Not the other way around.

Have you ever been stuck with a group of people you don’t know and may not particularly like? Or have been required to go along with tour plans or excursions that you were not excited about? Have you ever been in a tour group where you feel like you’re being herded along and hurried regardless of what you’d like to do? We’ve been there and don’t like it either. A private tour allows you to travel when you want and with whom you want. Bring your friends, family, partner, or simply yourself. Let us curate an experience for YOU!

Question 4

We're on your schedule? How?

Accepted Answer

From when you register for the tour through the duration of your tour, we cater to your timing.

YOU get to name the dates of your tour. You don’t have to choose from a calendar of tours that require you to adjust the timing your vacation plans. Want to start on a Wednesday? Sure! Want to be on tour for 5 days rather than the 6 days on our sample itinerary? That is OK with us.
When on your tour you are not being pushed to get on the bike at a certain time with a group. You rise, have breakfast, and roll out when you’re ready.
Want to spend more time exploring an area on a daily riding route? Sure! Just make sure you get to the hotel in time for dinner.

Question 5

Are bike rentals available? If so, what kind?

Accepted Answer

High-quality rental bikes available – road, hybrid and eBike. We will deliver the bikes to you and fit them to you at the beginning of the tour. Your guide/concierge is always available for help if you have a mechanical issue.

Question 6

How customizable are your tours?

Accepted Answer

We are very flexible in the destinations we offer tours. Customization options include the number of days/nights on tour, accommodation level (but we DO NOT go under 3-star), new towns/villages within established destinations, and much more. We are open to trying new things in new destinations! Please ask if you’re not seeing what you want!

We have a minimum of 3 or 4 nights on tour, depending on destination.

Question 7

How are you %22a step above the typical self-guided tour%22?

Accepted Answer

The level of service we deliver is beyond the average self-guided tour. You have the freedom of choosing your tour dates and the flexibility to customize your tour itinerary. During your tour, your local guide/concierge is there to help you every step of the way. We require them to have more regular contact with you, our guests, than what you’ll experience with other tour operators. In fact, some of our guides have been known to offer to ride with you on certain tour dates, if you wish.

If you’re looking to experience a polished professional tour, we are your only choice.

Question 8

How short can a tour be? Do you provide one-day guiding?

Accepted Answer

We have a minimum of 3 or 4 nights on tour, depending on destination. We do not provide one-day guiding.

Question 9

Can I have a guided rather than a self-guided tour?

Accepted Answer

Yes, for most of our destinations and most of our itineraries we can create a fully guided experience. Note that a guided tour requires extra planning lead-time and additional cost.

Question 10

Where can I learn more about OBT's Self-Guided tours?

Accepted Answer

You have two options:

Click on our SELF-GUIDED TOURS page.
CONTACT US and find out more!

Question 11

What is the pricing of the tour?

Accepted Answer

Pricing varies on several factors: Number of days on tour, double or single occupancy of rooming, and level of accommodation. To discover more about pricing click on the itineraries above and find the “Pricing” tab halfway down the page. Each itinerary will have its own pricing structure.

Question 12

What is a self-guided tour?

Accepted Answer

We’re glad you asked! Ours are “a level above”. For general information on how our Self-Guided Tours work, please click HERE. Also, discover more about how we curate our self-guided bicycle tours so that they are the best available by reading this blog post.

Question 13

Do you actually organize these tours or are you an agent who passes guests along to other tour operators?

Accepted Answer

We curate all tours from in-house. Prior to and during your tour, you will always have access to our main office in North Carolina, USA. WE ARE NOT A TOUR WHOLESALER. We work with local individuals to be your guides/concierges at each of our destinations to ensure an authentic local experience. All of our tours have the same touch and feel across destinations and tour type. This ensures that you experience high quality and consistent tours, proven by over 25 years of experience.

Question 14

What are your Terms & Conditions? What is your Cancellation Policy?

Accepted Answer

For the complete T&E and Cancellation Policy, please click here for our Terms & Conditions.

Question 15

What sort of people go on your trips?

Accepted Answer

All types! Over our 25+ year history, we’ve hosted guests from North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia—men, women and children ranging in age from 10 to 72. The common denominator of all of our guests is a love of adventure, great food, and the outdoors. You don’t have to be an avid cyclist to enjoy our tours. And if you are an avid cyclist we have some great cycling challenges for you, too!

Question 16

Do you offer GPS units on your tours?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We can provide GPS units at some of our destinations, and we rely on RideWIthGPS for all of our our routing at all of our destinations.

Question 17

I, or someone I am considering traveling with, is not avid cyclist. Will I/he/she be fit enough? Will we have activities to do off the bike?

Accepted Answer

Many beginner riders have comfortably and successfully completed both our guided and self-guided tours. The best way to anticipate how well your riding level will align with a particular tour is to review daily riding terrain and ride lengths, as detailed in each itinerary. If level of difficulty is a serious concern, our self-guided tours offer the greatest degree of freedom to design an itinerary you are certain your party can manage. But don’t forget: our guided tours feature on-road Support And Gear (SAG) vehicles that can drive you any distance you don’t want to ride.

We also now offer eBikes in a number of our destinations. Ask us about them and how they can help non-cyclists enjoy a cycling vacation!

Question 18

I am an avid cyclist. Will I be challenged?

Accepted Answer

Unless you choose a tour that is specifically designated as “relaxed,” you can expect a formidable challenge. In addition, some tours can be customized to accommodate a very high level of difficulty. If you are looking specifically for a rigorous itinerary, take a look at those self-guided tours designated as “aggressive”.

Also, if you are an advanced cyclist and are with a group of relaxed riders we can accommodate you by creating additional challenging routes to extend your daily rides.

Question 19

What kind of accommodations will we stay in?

Accepted Answer

We generally target very nice 3-star hotels blended with excellent 4-star properties, which we hand select to maximize comfort while minimizing cost. Over the years we have found many amazing 3-star properties that distinguish themselves beyond their rating. We have loved developing all of our hotel relationships and sharing them with our guests. For self-guided tour parties wishing to upgrade their accommodations, we can provide custom pricing for four- and five-star hotels, pending availability.

Question 20

How do you deal with single room occupancy for travelers on group tours?

Accepted Answer

Single room occupancy supplements are available based on pricing listed on each itinerary. The higher cost covers expenses that are not shared with a roommate participants.

Question 21

Are self-guided tours offered for solo travelers?

Accepted Answer

Yes we do offer self-guided solo tours. However, due to the need for single room occupancy, listed prices will not apply. Please contact us for a custom quote.

Question 22

What does the local guide/concierge provide during the self-guided tours?

Accepted Answer

The concierge is a local resident who will be available throughout your tour, greeting you upon arrival, setting you up on your bikes, and ensuring that you are taken care of during your adventure. He/she will also transfer your luggage from one hotel to the next and be available via phone to fulfill impromptu requests as needed (e.g., mechanical support for your bike, help finding a good lunch spot in an unfamiliar village, and help with routing). Working with our concierges feels like having a good friend that happens to be a local resident.

Question 23

What type of bikes do you rent?

Accepted Answer

We rent hybrids, road bikes, eBikes, and mountain bikes where applicable.

Question 24

Can I bring my own bike?

Accepted Answer

Of course! For our big mountain tours we recommend it. Would you want to descend 20km down a mountain like the Galibier or Tourmalet on anything other than your trusty steed? We will even send you a bike packing guide and can sell you a bike case. Just ask!

Question 25

Can you accommodate guests with special dietary requirements?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Please be sure to specify your dietary needs in writing when registering for your tour.

Question 26

How far in advance should I book?

Accepted Answer

Guided: Because of the popularity of our tours and our small group sizes, guided tours often sell out months in advance. Self-Guided: Though we have been pulled together some beautiful last-minute self-guided tours, we are best able to secure placement in preferred hotels when guests book six months in advance. Typical advance booking is 3 to 4 months. Our season is April through October with our busiest months being June through September. For the warmer months we encourage booking even further in advance.

Question 27

Do you offer discounts?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We offer discounts to members of certain cycling clubs and organizations (please call us for a list). We also have a Return and Referral Program that gives progressive discounts to past guests—the more returns and referrals, the higher the discount.

Question 28

What if your Frequently Asked Questions page don’t answer all of my questions?

Accepted Answer

Please contact us at info@outfittertours.com, +1.877.275.9241, or reach out to us on our Contact Us page.

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