We can be contacted by phone, fax or email or snail mail. The website provides all the necessary information you’ll need, but if you have additional questions email us at info@firstlightbicycletours.com In the US call 1 866 380 2626 (8am-4pm, M-F, CST) Outside the US call +44 (0) 208 241 7145

We offer a mix of guided and self-guided biking and walking tours from 2-11 days long for individuals, groups, private parties and families. We take great pride in our routes, which have been meticulously planned down to the last forest track.

They take in beautiful parts of the host country, in little known areas yet to be discovered, to the most interesting, incredible places on and off the beaten track. Each is a mix of interesting sights, scenery and options laid out for you every day and totally flexible. Our guided groups are small, no more than 14 cyclists, which we think makes for a more friendly and interesting experience. Our self-guided Explorer  tours allow you to go independently, without a group, but with support. 

We’re passionate about walking, cycle touring and discovery. We take pride in the tours we offer and strive to give you the most unique cycling experience you can get, on the best equipment money can buy, at a reasonable price.

Lodging is handpicked for quality and character, the beds inviting and the showers hot and long. For dining, the restaurants are the best in the area and have been vouch-safed with a few memorable, wine-laden meals of our own.
As longstanding cyclists we decided to make this our work, and our play. We’re pretty passionate about providing a top-notch experience that you can honestly say you thoroughly enjoyed and will remember for years to come.

For our guided tours we offer all lodging, breakfasts, most dinners, bicycle rental, vehicle transfers within the tour, van support, the services of 1-2 First Light Trip Guides, planned routes, detailed maps, recommendations and much more. All you have to do is get there. For more information on what’s included found on each tour page.
On self-guided Explorer tours we offer all lodging, breakfasts, some dinners, luggage transfers, scale maps, itineraries, technical support and bicycles to rent. For more information on Explorer tours, see what’s included on each tour page.

First Light trips are not an up-at-dawn, give-me-fifty-pushups affair.  But being reasonably fit certainly makes the trips more enjoyable and safer for you. Why drag yourself along when you can fly with a little preparatory exercise?

A basic fitness level is needed if you’re to have an enjoyable and safe trip. If you’re currently cycling, swimming, running, fast walking or taking aerobics classes, you shouldn’t have any trouble cycling on a tour. The routes are designed on a 1-5 scale, easy to difficult. We also have optional add-on routes to increase degree of difficulty or distance for those wanting more of a challenge.

You ride at your own pace and you’re supported along the way. On guided tours, trip lengths are optional. On both guided and self-guided, there are loop days built in so you can ride, rest or explore the area on foot.

Because you use different muscles riding a bike than running or aerobics, we recommend cycling 40 minutes, 2-3 times a week in advance of the tour. Real “saddle time” is a great way to rediscover your cycling muscles, increase your bike handling skills, minimize any bike seat discomfort and increase your confidence.

If you live in an area of the country where you can’t cycle outdoors, most gyms and health clubs have excellent indoor spin cycle classes. They’re good motivation, excellent preparation for a bike tour and you get to ride with other avid, sweating cyclists while it’s howling outside. Spin twice a week for 45 minutes and you’ll be passing everyone in sight. Spin more and we may ask you to be a Trip Guide.

No. Your luggage will be transferred for you and will be waiting for you when you arrive. On road tours, the bikes are fitted with a nifty handlebar bag big enough to carry a map, camera and incidentals. This leaves you free to cruise along the route, sans weight, the way it should be.

On guided tours, there are two Trip Guides per tour. One cycles with the group, bringing up the rear as you pedal at your own pace. The other drives the support van. The van will loop the route several times a day and “sweep up” cyclists who need assistance.

You’re also given itineraries with distances, route suggestions and other helpful information on a daily basis so you’re free to explore on your own. Your Trip Guide will go over these every day as well as tell you where the rendezvous points are before you set off.

Guided routes have built-in mileage options for those who want more or less time in the saddle. This allows each cyclist to “do my trip” as they say. It’s also totally natural for couples or friends to travel together but not cycle together. So if your idea of a perfect trip is to explore every village or castle, but your partner just wants to put in the big miles, you’re both free to follow your own pace and join up again later.

We’ve found that most people team up with someone else in the group with the same riding ability so you’ll never be riding alone unless you want to. For both guided and self-guided trips, we include loop days, which gives you options to ride, rest or explore the surrounding area on foot.

Normally 2 – 4 cyclists take self-guided Explorer tours but even 1 person can book a trip. For guided tours we keep the total number of cyclists under 14 as it's easier when booking the better restaurants or getting into the smaller hotels and inns. We also think it’s important for you to experience this type of traveling with a dozen new friends, not dozens of strangers. Our Trip Guides have more time to get to know each of you, which makes it a more enjoyable experience for everybody, including them.

That’s up to you and depends on a number of factors: your normal cycling pace, degree of fitness and any other side trips you decide to take part in – all will have an effect on your total time.

The routes have been planned for an average cyclist to spend between 3 to 4 hours per day on a bike. Add in the downtime - checking out a castle, taking photos, languishing over lunch, this makes for a full and interesting day.

Once you’ve booked a trip, we’ll send you a Pre-Trip Travel Planner package with practical information about the trip. It has arrival/departure info, includes tips on how to prepare for the trip, recommended reading, daily distances, itineraries, what to bring, recommendations on where to stay pre-post tour and other useful information. 

The age range runs the gamut from mid 20’s to over 60, with a healthy mix of other ages as well. We’ve designed most trips to accommodate solo travelers, couples, groups of friends and families. We’ve had seasoned, avid, leisure and newcomers to cycling, 2 year olds to 70 year olds on our tours. Some take trips for historical, cultural, fitness, wildlife, photographic, gastronomic, viticulture or eco-tourist reasons. Others do it because they just love cycling in new places. Vive la différence!

Yes. We have “kid-friendly” trips. These aren’t watered-down versions of adult trips. They’re designed for families traveling with children to cycle together as on a regular adult tour, but the focus is on shorter, easier routes and more “down-time” so the kids can explore the world around them.

We also take special care to travel on the safest and quietest forest tracks and lanes. On guided trips, depending on the size of the family groups and ages of children on the trip, we can provide staff to give parents extra support during the trip. If you’re interested in a family trip, contact a Trip Advisor for more information.

Like everything else in this world, there’s greater choice and availability the further forward you book. Because our tour group sizes are small and can fill up quickly, we recommend you book at least 9-12 months in advance. For self-guided tours, it’s best to book 3 months in advance as the lodging on the routes are highly sought after and fill quickly. Still, we’ll make every effort to accommodate those travelers who can’t commit that far in advance.

The quick answer to that is no, but we understand it if you want to. We just think it’s easier to leave yours at home and enjoy ours instead.

Why pay extra airline costs to box and lug your steed through airports and into taxis, worrying about it being damaged or lost in transit, carrying tools, spare parts and generally getting greasy when there’s a perfectly good bike waiting for you at the other end? If you’re still dead set on bringing yours, give us a call.

Reserve your trip using our secure Online Reservation Form or download the printable reservation form and fax or mail it to the contact numbers provided. You can also call a Trip Advisor and book over the phone.

The deposit per person, per trip is €400/$500. Deposits may be made by check or credit card Visa or MasterCard, payable in GB Sterling. The balance of the trip cost is due 90 days before departure.

If you’re reserving a trip within 90 days, full payment is due upon booking. For convenience sake, with your authorization, we can automatically bill your credit card when the remaining balance is due.

If traveling outside of your country of residence you will need an up to date passport. Visas are not required for residents of United States or Canada and in the European Union.

As of last notice, visas were required if you were a citizen of Canada, Australia or New Zealand to enter Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Poland and Hungary. For travelers from other countries, please contact your embassy or consulate for further information on visa requirements.

Yes. Up to 90 days prior to your trip you can transfer from one trip to another without any penalty. From 61-90 days prior of your original trip you can switch to a different trip for an administrative fee of €80 per person. No trip changes can take place within 60 days of your departure date.

Once you’ve made a reservation, we’ll send you a Pre-Trip Travel Planner that includes the tour itinerary in more detail, what clothes and gear to bring, arrival and departure information and recommendations on pre-and-post tour hotels. We're also happy to provide answers to your questions over the phone or by email.

If, for some reason you must cancel your reservation, the cancellation policy is as follows:

Unfortunately, we cannot make any exceptions to this policy for any reason, including personal emergencies or weather. Please note:

There is no refund for arriving late or leaving a trip early, voluntarily or involuntarily.
Single supplements are considered part of the trip price and are subject to cancellation fees.
Should First Light be required to cancel a tour, for whatever reason, all tour payments received to date will be refunded, constituting full settlement. If First Light is required to cancel a trip within 30 days of departure due to low enrollment, civil unrest, natural disaster or terrorism, First Light will provide a full refund.
First Light is not responsible for any expenses incurred in preparation for any canceled trips, including non-refundable airline tickets, trip-related purchases made prior to the trip, or for costs incurred due flight cancellation, illness or travel delays.
First Light reserves the right to make route and hotel modifications as needed to ensure the safety and enjoyment of the travelers.

To have your reservation accepted, a signed and returned Limitation of Liability, Release, Assumption of All Risks and Arbitration Agreement must be received with the Reservation Form at First Light offices at least 90 days prior to departure, to confirm that you have read and agree to those terms. For reservations made within 90 days, a signed and returned Limitation of Liability, Release, Assumption of All Risks and Arbitration Agreement must accompany your Reservation form along with the full payment.

If the signed Limitation of Liability, Release, Assumption of All Risks and Arbitration Agreement is not received in the First Light office 30 days prior to the start of a trip, you will not be allowed to join the trip. First Light has the right to consider that reservation cancelled and it will be subject to First Light’s cancellation policy as described above. First Light further reserves the right to resell tour space if the final payment has not been received by the due date.

First Light has partnered with Quoteright, where you can find a travel insurance provider to meet your needs. Most travel insurance plans cover trip cancellation for medical reasons; trip delay; medical expenses; accidental death; lost baggage, and medical evacuation.

First Light strongly advises all travelers to purchase travel insurance, including tour package cancellation insurance and health insurance that is sufficient to cover repatriation and additional hospital and medical costs. You can find a link to Quoteright under Travel Insurance at the bottom of this page.

Please contact one of our travel agency partners or your preferred travel agent, to arrange flights and hotel accommodation. In the UK, contact Corniche Travel, (flights) or Liberty Travel, (flights and hotels). They can help with arranging pre-and post-trip hotels, airline tickets, car rental or other transportation requests you may have.

There are also low-cost airlines that service UK and European airports such as Ryanair, Smartwings, BMIbaby, AirBerlin and Easyjet. We're happy to offer recommendations to hotels in the larger cities we travel to.

First Light tours begin and end at or near major airports or train stations. These will be listed in the specific itinerary descriptions along with meeting points and any transfers First Light provides from the meeting point to the tour start. 

All information about getting to and from the trip, including start times and locations will be included in the Pre-Trip Travel Planner you will receive after booking your reservation. 

We strive to use the best accommodation available in the area on all our trips and work closely with our lodging partners on your behalf. Depending on which tour you choose, you will find our accommodation is based on double occupancy with a private bath or shower in a 3 - 4 star hotel, B&B, 2-4 star chambre d’hote or country inn.

The lodging fits the tour and surroundings and we strive to work with lodging partners that offer warmth, hospitality and appropriate amenities. Some of the lodging is absolutely luxurious, while others are charming and full of character. All are clean, well equipped and very welcoming.

Yes. Single travelers have the option of having their own room for a supplemental fee which varies from trip to trip. In some cases, single rooms can be smaller than double rooms. On guided tours there are a limited number of single rooms so it’s best to book early if you wish to have one confirmed.

Yes, in many cases. On guided tours, if there are twin rooms available, we’ll do our best to match you with a roommate of approximately the same age and gender. If no roommate is available we’ll place you in a single or double room, whichever is available and a supplement will apply.

We're happy to provide private tours as well as customize a tour to fit your particular interest area. These are similar in price to regular tours unless there are extra costs such as more tour days or higher cost hotels. Please contact a First Light Trip Advisor to get details and discuss your needs.

Yes, depending on the trip. In all cases, all children must be accompanied by at least one adult family member over 18. Due to safety considerations, children under the age of 2 are not allowed on Family Trips. Our family trips are suitable for children from 2 - 16. 

On all guided trips, any child under 8 must be accompanied by an adult while in the van. If your child weighs less than 40 pounds, parents must provide them with a child’s car seat as First Light does not provide child seats.

Certain trips require a minimum age requirement due to the activities involved. Your First Light Trip Advisor can provide details to these and other questions.

Price reductions vary depending on the age of the children, if they’re sharing rooms with their parents or with other children.  We strive to offer affordable family trips and maintain some of the lowest children’s prices in the industry.

Given the number of possibilities, it’s best to contact a First Light Trip Advisor for further details on costs, discounts, eligibility, First Light support and adult supervision requirements.

Given the nature of the active vacation, you are responsible for your personal fitness level and health, knowing which tour is right for you and then preparing yourself sufficiently to be able to participate in the daily physical demands of that tour, following the Pre-Trip Travel Planner recommendations, arriving at the designated tour start location on time and with the correct gear, following the directions and instructions of the Trip Guides on guided tours, respecting the laws, customs and traditions of the host country, having sufficient insurances to protect you and your family in the event of an accident, respecting the rights of your fellow travelers on the tour, securing and respecting your cycling equipment, being flexible to changes, delays, weather conditions, other unforeseen and unplanned changes to the itinerary, agreeing to all the Terms and Conditions and signing a Limitation of Liability, Release, Assumption of All Risks and Arbitration Agreement.

To participate in an active holiday, it is necessary that you abide by the authority of the Trip Guides who represent First Light. Our first responsibility is to the safety, rights, welfare and enjoyment of all tour participants. Should a traveler’s continued participation in the tour be seen to jeopardize any of the above, the Trip Guide may ask that individual to leave the tour early.

Please see First Light’s Terms and Conditions and Limitation of Liability, Release, Assumption of All Risks and Arbitration Agreement listed at the bottom of this page.

The website has been written to provide all the information about the tours. For questions that are not related to booking a reservation, it’s best to email us at info@firstlightbicycletours.com. For booking a tour from the US call 1 866 380 2626 (8am- 4pm M-F CST). For callers outside of the US, please call +44 (0) 208 241 7145.