The 10 best Cycling holidays
1 SOAK UP THE SCENERY IN THE LAND OF LAVENDER
HeadtoProvenceforsomeofEurope’sbestcyclingroutesandthedauntingclimbsofMontVentoux.Whenyouareoutofthesaddle,enjoyolivegroves,cherryorchardsandthevineyardsofChateauneuf-du-Pape.Seven days costs from £1,379, exodus.co.uk
2 LUSH VALLEYS AND THE WONDERS OF WALES
LittlecanbeattheBreconBeaconsandSnowdoniaforruggedandtestingterrain.Ridealongcoastlinesandthroughlushrivervalleys,passingoldwoollenmillsandslatemines. Eight days from £1,865, the-carter-company.com
3 A BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
FollowthecyclepathsthathugtheRiverElbeandcrosstheborderbetweentheCzechRepublicandGermany.FromPraguetoDresden,youwillmeanderpastBohemianvineyardsandRenaissancepalaces. Eight days from £1,325, chaptersholidays.co.uk
4 BRAVE THE MOUNTAINS OF BAVARIA
Letbratwurstandbeerbeyourfuelonthistourofsouth-eastGermany,againstthestunningbackdropoftheJuramountains.ThetourstartsandfinishesinmedievalRegensburg.Eight nights from £1,169, headwater.com
5 A SPARKLING TIME IN CAVA COUNTRY
Enjoygreatsceneryandancient lanesonatourthroughAltPenedesinCatalonia,withplentyofstopsatwineriesthatproducecava.Six nights from £795, inntravel.co.uk
6 SEE THE BEST OF THE BALKANS
StartingandendinginDubrovnik,thisBalkanTrilogytourtakesinlush countryside,theDinaricAlpsandtheDalmatiancoastincludingatriptotheislandofKorcula.TheroutecrossesintoBosnia-HerzegovinaandMontenegro,witharidearoundLovcenNationalParkandtheBayofKotor.Eight days from £995 (excluding flights), keadventure.com
7 ON THE TRAIL OF THE KING OF THE MOUNTAINS
FancytacklingsomeTourdeFranceclimbsinthePyrenees?MountainpassesherearegenerallynotashighasthoseintheAlps,butifanythingtheyareevenmorememorable.TakeonlegendaryclimbssuchastheColde
PeyresourdeandColduTourmalet. Six days from £990, marmot-tours.co.uk
8 GEMS ON THE EMERALD ISLE
Cycle along the ruggedAtlantic coast on this tourof County Clare , includingthe extraordinary limestonelandscape of the Burr en andthe famous Cliffs of Mo her. Eight days from £618, irishcycletours.com
9 PUT TUSCANY TO THE TEST
Followanoldpilgrims’routethroughtheTuscanhillsfromSanGimignanotoStPeter’sSquareinRome.Encounterrollingcountrysidestuddedwithtallcypresstreesanddelightfulhilltowns. Nine days from £1,440, skedaddle.co.uk
10 LOCHS, CASTLES AND WHISKY GALORE
Afiveorseven-nighttourheadsthroughthefabuloussceneryofLochLomondandTrossachsNationalPark.Saviourmountains,whiskydistilleriesandthecastlesofDoune,MenziesandBlair.From £399, hookedoncycling.co.uk