Sign up for membership to become a founding member and help shape HuffPost's next chapter. They aren't only international as they do USA tours as well. While you’re biking… the barge makes its way to the next port, and meets you there at the end of the day. The protagonist in her Grace McDonald series is a 55-year old therapist and mediator who could some more "Woo-hoo" in her life... but there isn't much time left after mediating tough custody cases, using her women's intuition to solve crimes and conundrums, and helping raise a grandson with Asperger's. Good planning helps. Bike and barge Europe with us! Average daily miles, total miles, trail surface, difficulty and skill levels and more. CLICK HERE, July 9-14, 2021 | $1660 Bike and barge cycling holidays are one of the best ways to relax and explore one or more countries in one week. Finding vacations with some adventure and physical challenge for the 70+ demographic is no walk in the park. Our guide was engaging and fun, the cook on the barge fantastic, and the accommodations comfortable. But, in seeking out this 'mode' of touring, they bring a different set of values and attitudes to the shared dinner table. All participants will be notified of any changes to their tour. Highlights: Paris. We offer lovely bike and boat tours during Tulip Season where if the weather cooperates, you cycle through fields ablaze with Tulips. Of course, these bikes are balance-friendly and the terrain likewise. in Holland, Belgium, France and Germany. Guided Bike & Boat. And now, with decades in the business, experience is the most telling element of all. They're signed on for the "70 Plus" tour in April and expect to see friends from previous trips. The country is home to many of the most popular bike and boat tours, where you can choose to enjoy the Dutch countryside from two wheels or from a boat deck on the extensive canals and waterways. But there are times now, in my 60's, when it's less about solitude than camaraderie, meeting new people who have a sense of adventure and enjoy getting off the beaten path. Tours are listed in chronological order. "What we like is biking into the villages and being with the locals... not in huge crowds. And, since IBT is a provider with the Elderhostel Road Scholar programs, they're experienced at developing meaningful 'content,' including lectures and unique cultural experiences. In searching for this elusive "balance," I came across IBT (International Bicycle Tours.) IBT does cycle tours for all ages, but has developed a loyal clientele of seniors. View more details of our tours. For U.S. tours, the focus is Cape Cod or Wisconsin. Call 1 877 965 2064 to reserve your tour now! The barge interior is climate-controlled; its upper deck has a spacious sitting area, a bar, and a sun deck. Tap here to turn on desktop notifications to get the news sent straight to you. If your tour is sold out, join the wait list. There is also multigenerational appeal: Steve just booked a tour with his 56 yr. old daughter and 17 yr. old granddaughter. Group excursions and bus tours made me feel trapped. From the comfort of your barge, with a group of only 20 to 24 passengers, you’ll unpack just once and for a week feel as if you’re on a floating hotel. By Gene Bisbee in Active Senior Cycling, Bike travel, Main Page June 13, 2012 Bob Lee plans to embark on the third and final leg of his perimeter bicycle travels — Ride for 3 Reasons — around the continental United States this fall to raise money for three charities. "Woo-hoo!!!!" BOOK NOW FOR 2020 - CALL OUR BIKE & BARGE TEAM ON 1800 331 582. Since 1979, Backroads has been the leader in active travel. We offer wonderful bike rides over beautiful cycle paths in about 15 European countries, where you’ll be cycling at your own pace or in a group with an experienced tour guide. IBT does cycle tours for all ages, but has developed a loyal clientele of seniors. Steve started bike tours in his early 70s... and has never quit. Steve Yanai, an 87 year-old retired chemist, believes that these tours attract people who enjoy experiences that are less conventional. 21 Bike and Barge trips through Europe with 5 reviews View Map. A great vacation is all about balance: meeting interesting people, seeing new sights, engaging in different cultural activities, physical and mental stimulation and escape from routine. Bikes are generally 7 to 21 speed bikes, with upright handlebars (no speed junkies here), with a rack over the rear tire for the rider's personal items. Bike & barge tour Provence and Camargue: from Aigues-Mortes to Avignon . Tours are assessed levels of difficulty: easy to moderate to challenging. The barges are comfortable and the food is fantastic. (No barging during the night.) Welcome to Paris, the city of lights. ", Lillian added that she already knows several of the participants in her upcoming trips, now friends, which makes traveling alone more appealing. Our bike tours set the standard for luxury adventures, led by expert Trip Leaders who know the most scenic biking routes. We have made two bike barge tours with Van Gough and enjoyed both very much. Far from providing just another cycling holiday, a Boat and Bike Tours-organised holiday on the … Exclusively for you . Slow Tours offers a huge range of the best tours in Europe for unique experiences, active or relaxing, so you return home refreshed, re-energised.. Connect with the locals, take time to genuinely experience another culture, relax with the easy flow of life, enjoy fresh air and freedom from crowds. Booking a tour is simple. T he concept is simple; bike during the day and then relax, dine and sleep on board your comfortable barge by night. View This Tour Just click on a tour, buy a ticket and get ready for the adventure! On an REI bike tour, we take care of all the details -- all you have to do is pedal! Trip Costs for 2021 Tours: $3,395 per person Bike & Barge cycling cruises combine two great ways of exploring Europe - cycling and river or island cruising. Accompanied by expert guides . Woo-hoo! Just click on a tour, buy a ticket and get ready for the adventure! Exploring a destination by bicycle allows you to really experience a region and immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and scents of a place. Note: A minimum of three people is required for the tour. I'm done with helpful tips for families with young kids. Dutch Barge Cruises offers a variety of boat and bike tours in Europe: e.g. SOLD OUT, February 7-13, 2021 | $2190 Bike and barge tours are a unique way to discover the delights of the European countryside. Barge captains pick their cooks with care; breakfasts and dinners aboard are a daily pleasure. Today is National Voter Registration Day! Holland & Belgium Bike & Boat: Bruges to Amsterdam, Aboard the Magnifique II 2021. Our tours are designed for you to celebrate the joy of bike travel with a group of fellow riders and, hopefully, new friends. Boating is as much a part of the Dutch culture as biking and a bike and barge tour any time of the year is a special experience. Bike and Barge tours in Europe. Your group, your own ship . IBT operates domestic and international bike tours, international bike & barge tours, Nordic walking & barge tours, and Road Scholar programs, these in collaboration with Elderhostel. Good accommodation helps. Find local Bicycling groups in Los Angeles, California and meet people who share your interests. Easy BIKE AND BARGE Tour Tulips and Cheese; Easy bike and barge through the Middle Rhine: Aschaffenburg to Cochem; Danube Easy Guided Bike&Cruise Tour Passau-Budapest-Passau 2021; BIKE AND BARGE: Moselle, Rhine & Main: Cochem to Aschaffenburg; BIKE AND BARGE: Main River Aschaffenburg to Bamberg; BIKE and BARGE Tour Moselle River Koblenz to Metz With so many bike and barge tours throughout Europe, you're sure to find trips that suit your style and satisfy your sense of adventure. "They're physically fit enough to bike... they are all fun-loving people... well-educated and from all kinds of backgrounds ... IBT Tours are a combination of physical and cultural activities.". Seniors, who, oddly enough, may not be avid cyclists at home. A bike tour in Europe is sure to capture your heart as you take time to indulge in a slower paced lifestyle. Whether you prefer to discover quaint European towns with the boost of an e-bike or to climb the epic mountain passes made famous in the Tour de France, Vuelta d’Espana, or the Giro d’Italia, our bike trips and cycling tours in Europe won't disappoint. These tours are more than bucket-list destinations, they are journeys through magical places that lift the spirit to greater heights and fueling our passion for travel. Susan Kraus is an award winning travel writer, novelist, therapist and mediator. With more than 12+ tours available, easily compare packages, reviews, duration, and destinations to find the cycling holiday for you. And, maybe, not falling off your bicycle. Note: Due to weather, trail closures, accommodation changes and other unanticipated events, Senior Cycling reserves the right to make necessary changes to our tours. Wait List: We have wait lists for tours that are full. Dates & length Places Filters. Cruise and bike along the Danube River through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. They also like the option for travel with their adult children and grandchildren that allows everyone to have their own unique experiences which they can then share at dinner. Bucolic countrysides, medieval towns, iconic windmills, and more await along easy bike paths. As an aging travel writer, my focus is shifting. All over Europe . "What makes these trips especially good for couples is the interaction with other couples that often become good friends... You develop a sense of shared adventure that nurtures strong bonds.".