We offer two types of tours – guided and self-guided, and cater to all ability levels.

Guided tours
Guided tours are all-inclusive tours with van support, trip guides, luggage transfer, bike maintenance, accommodation, meals, route maps and a trip information booklet.

Self-guided tours
Self-guided tours – we call them Explorer tours – include everything that a guided tour does but there are no guides or van support. Lodging, food, luggage transfer and emergency support are included. You’re given detailed maps and itineraries to get you to each night’s lodging. For details on self-guided tours see What is a self-guided tour?

Choosing a trip involves a mix of your interests and ability. You already know what interests you have. We’ll tell you here what you can expect physically. First Light cycle touring is not a race. If you’re in a guided tour, you won’t find 13 cyclists bunched together, nose to tail, screaming down the road. If you’re on a self-guided tour, it can be just you and a friend cycling along. Many of our guests have a group of friends who opt for self-guided.

Both tours are meant to be a relaxed way of experiencing a country up close. You cycle at your own pace. There is no itinerary except to enjoy yourself, and part of that enjoyment is taking breaks from riding – shop, take photos, visit historical sites, visit the local wine cellars, chat with the locals or just stop off at a café that looks too good to miss.

We’ve planned the routes to give you enough time in the saddle to feel good about your cycling efforts while also giving you ample time to relax and not feel pressed for time. When you arrive at your lodging at the end of the day you should be healthily tired, not exhausted. To enjoy feeling more the former than the latter, see the section below on how to prepare for a cycle touring holiday.

The information below describes distances, terrain and easy-to-difficult ratings. These are guidelines and are not specific. Each person is different and will react differently to a tour based on his or her physical ability. Add in your fitness level and you can decide what is best for you. The tours have been designed with flexibility in mind. The van is there if you want to have a shorter day. It will be sweeping the route and can be called up to provide assistance should you need it.