Best of · SELF-GUIDED BIKE TOURS
A bike, a route on your phone and nobody waiting for the slowest rider. These 15 are compared on how good the navigation actually is, what happens if you puncture and how long you keep the bike.
Steven, Tanya, or Laurent picks you up in Las Vegas, fits you with a helmet and electric bike, and explains the Red Rock Canyon route. Ride at your own pace along the paved 13-mile loop, stopping for photos and views. Expect a small group, water, snacks, and hotel drop-off.
“Great few hours out in Red Rock Canyon. Fantastic scenery . Good company to book with very professional.”
John from E-Bikes Florence sets you up with a pedal-assist bike, helmet, phone holder, and GPS route. You ride independently from Florence to Fiesole, through hills and olive groves to Poggiopiano vineyard, then return via Piazzale Michelangelo. Wine, food, and a full battery are your responsibility.
“Amazing self guided e-bike tour with spectacular views of Florence & the Tuscan countryside! Everything from preparations to check in , riding & drop off went very smooth due to great service & instructions. Winery was beautiful & relaxing reward after the more challenging part of the rlde. Just want to advise that even though you are on E-bikes this ride is not easy, lots of steep inclines up & down, & not always smooth surfaces. Great adventure!”
Start before dawn with a warm shuttle ride to Haleakala’s summit for sunrise, park stops, and sweeping views. Then ride a custom Kona mountain bike downhill from 6,500 feet, with time for photos, Makawao, and breakfast on your own. Guides such as Eddie Buddy and Corey add local stories and humor.
“Great experience. We were bust 40 miles up 10,000 feet where we watched the sun come up from inside the rim of a volcano. We were above the clouds. Wish I could share pictures.”
Pick up a bike in Manly and follow a flexible self-guided route through North Head, Q Station, Shelly Beach, Manly Beach, and Cabbage Tree Bay. You receive a helmet, lock, locker, and route help from the shop, with time to swim, stop for food, or explore at your own pace.
“This was a great way to see the Manly Beach area. They provided breakfast staff was held our stuff so we didn’t have to take it all with us.”
Start at 6,500 feet on Haleakalā, coast through scenic mountain roads, shuttle through Kula, then ride toward Makawao and Paia. Maui Sunriders provides bikes, helmets, weather gear, maps, and roadside help. Guides such as Remy, Dane, Matthias, and Ron add safety tips and island insight.
“Fun experiencing the ride with family. Remy (sp?) was an very entertaining and interesting tour guide. We enjoyed his insights very much. The ride, not so much. Did not enjoy it on a mountain bike - we weren’t going off-road! I personally would have enjoyed it more if it been more of an upright road style bike. Also, to no fault of the Maui Sunriders Co, riding ~6.5 miles, loading back into the van for several miles, then unloading and riding the rest of the way on the bikes again just took away from the experience. The city/locals decided they didn’t want all the bikes riding through a “residential” area.…”
Start at Hulls Cove Visitor Center, where Island Time Ebike Rentals provides a Class 1 e-bike, helmet, lock, basket, phone holder, map, and safety lesson. Ride Acadia’s carriage roads toward Jordan Pond and other scenic stops at your own pace, with route advice from staff such as Wilton.
“I really enjoy the experience gives you a different perspective of the park. I would highly recommend.”
Pick up a pedal-assist e-bike in Incline Village, learn the controls, then follow the East Shore Trail at your own pace. You can stop for photos, swimming, snacks, and beach time before reaching Sand Harbor. Helmets, locks, and storage racks are included.
“A Beautiful ride!! Bikes were great!! Easy paths to follow. You can stop and enjoy a swim so bring a suit and towel.”
Lorelle, Greg, and their team set you up with a comfortable bike, helmet, wine pannier, map, and practical winery advice in Renwick. You then ride quiet roads and bike paths between nearby cellar doors, stopping for tastings, food, and scenery at your own pace. Shuttle pickup is available in Blenheim and Renwick.
“Steve & Jo were fantastic! Don’t hesitate to book this self-guided tour. My wife’s favorite tour in NZ. Thank you, Marco”
Set out from central Bled on a Scott e-bike after a short briefing and route lesson. Ride to Vintgar Gorge, enter at your fixed time, then hike the one-way trail and return to your bike by foot. The 4-hour outing runs 9 AM to 1 PM or 3 PM to 7 PM.
“Loved every second! Amazing e-bikes, and overall great experience”
Set off from Vines Village with a comfortable bike, helmet, lock, and a detailed wine map. You can reach up to 12 wineries within 3 kilometers, stop for tastings and lunch, and return by around 4:30 to 5:00 PM. Hotel pickup from Blenheim and Renwick is included.
“Fantastic day out. Cycling easy. Wineries varied but fun . Came home early as had had enough wine. Trip organisers very flexible. Well organised.”
Start with pickup from Blenheim or Renwick, then choose a standard bike, e-bike, tandem, or kids’ bike at The Vines Village. Andy, Roo, Matt, or another local staff member sets you up with route advice, safety gear, and a winery map. Spend about six and a half hours visiting cellar doors at your own pace.
“The biking company is great, pick up and drop off with Matt welcoming and reliable. Bicycles are well maintained and in good working order. Check with wineries ahead of time regarding their hours of operation and if reservations are needed or not. The bicycle company may not have the most updated information regarding this. You will be riding on the shoulder of somewhat busy roads as well as gravel paths that are mostly smooth.”
You’ll ride a well-maintained e-bike through Sete Cidades on a self-guided route loaded onto GPS, with a printed map, helmet, gloves, tools, and insurance included. Choose a shorter lakeside ride or a demanding crater-rim route with Pico da Cruz, Grota do Inferno, Vista do Rei, and Lomba do Vasco.
“Our first time on e-bikes had fun. Should have taken easy tour as the moderate route was taking us on a busier road than we wanted. We took our own tour route with no problems.”
Ride from Lucca to Pisa on a trekking bike or e-bike, following the Serchio River, country roads, and paths around the Monti Pisani. A phone app guides you to Piazza dei Miracoli. Stop in San Giuliano Terme, then return by bike or train.
“The ride and route to Pisa were good. unfortunately we did not know to scan the QR code to get the route to ride back so it was tricky for us to navigate.”
Pick up a cruiser, hybrid City Cross, or available e-bike at 646 Hornby Street, then follow a self-guided map through Stanley Park, Gastown, False Creek, and Granville Island. Helmets, locks, bags, local route advice, and emergency bike support are included for a full day of independent sightseeing.
“Checkin was easy and smooth. Definitely recommend getting there when they open even with a reservation because the line gets long. Hybrid Bikes were in good condition and come with a bag on the handlebars to carry items And location is great - easy to bike down to the water front and get to Stanley park”
Start near Rotorua’s Redwood Forest Visitor Centre, where Mountain Bike Rotorua fits you with a Giant bike and helmet, then helps you choose a route through 160 km of trails. You ride independently for about four hours, with onsite mechanical support and a café available from 9am to 5pm.
“The outfit you with bike and helmet. Remember to bring gloves and water bottle. The mountain biking here is the best I’ve ever experienced, and I only did one percent of the trails. I can’t wait to come back someday and try different trails. The 3 to 4 hour experience was a great idea and Viator was great and communicating and for a reasonable price.”
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