Our Team's Top January Sale Tour Recommendations

These tours have been picked using first-hand experience, meaning they come personally recommended - we’ve either cycled and enjoyed them ourselves or visited the areas they go through. 

If any of these tours catch your eye, make sure you book this month to save £50pp in our January Sale. Or to chat more about the tour and whether it is right for you or for more recommendations from our team, call us on +44 (0)1273 224066.

By Rollo Squire, Marketing Assistant

"I think the Porto to Lisbon Bike Tour we offer is one of our best. The cycle route linking the two cities is fantastic, following mostly dedicated cycle paths through pretty seaside towns with beautiful coastal views. Each day there was something different to see or do, from visiting one of Porto’s famous Port Distilleries, exploring the impressive castles at Sintra, or just relaxing on a beach all afternoon."

"The food was also a highlight (important when cycling!) with a real variety on offer. We enjoyed pastel de natas with coffee each day, then sampled fresh seafood, tapas, and pasta each evening."

"I cycled the route with Senior Operations Coordinator Darryl in October and enjoyed a week of warm sunshine, which was a nice change to the wet and wild weather back home. This combination of great cycle routes, interesting sights, and lovely food, makes the Porto to Lisbon Tour one I would certainly recommend."

View tour: Porto to Lisbon Bike Tour

"The South Dalmatia Boat and Bike Tour was, for me, the perfect combination of cycling, sailing and exploring. Of course, when you start at sea level, there really is only one way to go on a bike tour, and that's up! Every climb though rewarded us with magnificent views of the coastline and a sparkling sea before wonderful descents through small villages back to the comfort of our boat."

"Sailing to the next harbour was so relaxing with plenty of space on board to find a spot to read or admire the view or chat with fellow, like-minded cyclists from around the world. And then, we arrived somewhere new, refreshed, and ready to explore."

"Every place was so beautiful and so different; Brac with its white marble, Hvar with its cosmopolitan bars and restaurants, Solta with Goran, its wonderful bee-keeper, and Korcula with its ancient history and cocktail bar in a turret of the old city wall. Highly recommended – and e-bikes are available to help with extra oomph on the climbs so no-one has to miss out!"

View tour: South Dalmatia Boat & Bike Tour

"Florence to Rome was my first full Freedom Treks tour, experiencing it as a customer would along with Sales Consultant Andy. It's a classic route between two famous cities - one which I knew well and one I was visiting for the first time - sampling all that makes Umbria so special along the way."

"It's one of our more moderate tours with some sustained climbs, although the most challenging of these was on a steep detour up to Montefalco - thanks for that Andy! But what goes up must come down and the downhill sections were sublime, especially on day 6 cycling from Spoleto to Narni down winding roads through a narrow valley. We enjoyed that one so much that we cycled back up to do it again!"

"This is a tour that's as much about the food and culture as the cycling. You'll have time to soak up history in Florence and Rome (extra nights advised), while each town you stay in offers something new and interesting - Passignano on the banks of Lake Trasimeno, the hilltop city of Perugia, religious Assisi (we just missed the Pope!), stunning Spoleto and ancient Narni. Homemade pizza and pasta, local wines and Aperol Spritzes kept us well-fuelled.

Florence to Rome is a great option for late-season cycling. In October we were treated to a week of blue skies and warm temperatures."

View tour: Florence to Rome Bike Tour

"Puglia is certainly one of Italy’s most beautiful regions, not only because of the famous beaches and cliffs, but also because of its towns and their history, dating back to the Greek and Roman times. By going on this tour, you get to see both! From the prehistoric Trulli houses of Alberobello to the Baroque city of Lecce, all while cycling through amazing landscapes such as the famous olive groves."

"Perhaps even more importantly, you get to eat amazing food, and in my opinion (I am Italian so I think I can say this) Puglia has some of the best food in the whole country. You need to try their burrata, focaccia, figs, taralli and the amazing fresh fish and shellfish by the seaside. Locals actually also eat raw mussels, but I think that’s something that you need to train your whole life for. 

So, if you like sandy beaches with crystalline water, beautiful towns full of history, stunning cliffs and grottos, and incredible food (and wine), I’d definitely recommend this tour. The best thing is - you’ll be on a bike! So you will be fully immersed in the beautiful nature and won’t miss out on any location that you wouldn’t be able to see in a car."

View tour: Puglia Bike Tour

"The Danube - Passau to Vienna Bike Tour is a way to have the perfect blend of unwinding and sightseeing on a holiday. Cycling across Germany and Austria along the Danube, you couldn’t ask for a more beautiful setting. Following well-established cycle routes, surrounded by nature with interesting sights and towns on the way to vibrant cities, this is the perfect tour for those new to cycling holidays, families, and experienced cyclists looking for a more relaxed trip."

"You cannot do better than going from views of enchanting castles and pedalling through the vineyards in the Wachau region, to heading into exciting Tulln and Vienna - especially if you go in the summer months to see the flowers at Tulln!

I do like to take my time exploring though so I would arrive in Passau early to look around and would be sorely tempted to get an extra night in Vienna for enough time to see the palaces (Schönbrunn Palace is amazing but I cannot stress enough how gorgeous the extensive gardens are in the summer and The Belvedere Palace is a must see if you are interested in art history)!"

View tour: Danube - Passau to Vienna Bike Tour

"My recommendation is the Algarve Bike Tour in southern Portugal, which remains one of the most enjoyable trips I’ve done in over 7 years with Freedom Treks. I loved the way the landscape evolves from the wide beaches and sandy coastal pine forests in the east to the rugged coves and spectacular cliffs in the west. It’s my top pick for spring and autumn cycling, as well as all-round convenience with airport transfers included from Faro Airport."

"When most people think of the Algarve, they might picture golf courses and all-inclusive resorts, but there’s so much more to the region than that. Travelling the length of the coast on two wheels gives a real insight into the Algarve that most tourists don’t see - the fishing villages, the orchards, the historic churches and fortresses, and a rich cuisine influenced by land and sea."

View tour: Algarve Bike Tour

"I loved cycling the Istrian Coast - it was a great combination of a good coastal ride to some classic Istrian towns, with a more traditional beach holiday. Starting in Italy, riding through a slice of Slovenia, before getting to Croatia added another element of interest to the first few days of the trip."

"With the sea close at hand every day it was easy to have regular dips to cool off along the way and, with most of the daily rides taking about 3 hours, there was plenty of time to relax in the shade or enjoy the pool in the afternoons once we'd reached the hotels. With some of my family more interested in the afternoons than the mornings, we found dividing the day up like this kept everyone happy!"

"I'd recommend putting a pair of flip-flops in the pannier each morning - it's nice to be able to take the trainers off and let the feet breathe when you stop for a break, and they were good protection against some of the sharper rocks when getting in and out of the water too.

The small, picture-perfect towns you stay in along the way - Piran, Porec and Rovinj - are genuinely beautiful and ideal for a wander, dinner and then a gelato watching the sunset. Together with the morning rides and the afternoon relaxation, it made for a very well-rounded trip and one that had something for everyone in the family too.”

View tour: Istrian Coast - Trieste to Pula Bike Tour

"The Highlights of Albania tour is one that has everything, from a lively capital to snowcapped mountain vistas, UNESCO sites, thermal springs, and beautiful coastlines. The cycling is varied and a great way to see the country. The route is challenging at times, but I feel the spectacular views make it a worthwhile challenge (this can be made achievable by e-bike). Each day the rides are broken up with a coffee break, then a lunch stop meaning the miles simply fly by."

"The food is excellent and plentiful, this is all ordered in advance by the guide - less thinking, more eating. The guides are incredibly helpful and knowledgeable, you learn a lot about the history of the fascinating country. The tour is 9 nights, which is longer than a typical tour but still leaves you wanting more."

"There are a few slighlty negative myths about Albania, forget those - it’s a fantastic country which is in the process of a significant transformation and investment in its tourism sector - I recommend visiting before it becomes too popular!"

View tour: Highlights of Albania Guided Bike Tour

"I loved the Lakes of Southern Bavaria Bike Tour because the cycling is so quiet and varied thanks to the excellent network of cycle paths which skirt lakes and rivers, pass through forests and beautiful valleys with the stunning Alps as the backdrop."

"I really enjoyed the Bavarian food, beer and hospitality along the route. I highly recommend trying the beer cheese in the micro-brewery in Murnau and stopping to taste the white sausages with sweet mustard included in the tour - tradition says they must be eaten before midday!

Definitely take the cable car up to the Zugspitze for outstanding Alpine views from Germany’s highest mountain and if you can, have an extra night in Munich."

View tour: Lakes of Southern Bavaria Bike Tour

"Lake Garda is a special place. Like something out of a movie set. Glamorous, vibrant and beautiful - recognisable by its wide expanse of turquoise water, enclosed by steep, green mountains. A hodgepodge of hotels, B&Bs, restaurants, cafes, residential houses and stone-walled villas climb up the mountain from the water’s edge. The best way to see it, in my opinion, is to stay there (don’t just day trip it) so you can soak up the local ambience at different times of day. Our Financial Controller, Maggie, and I have both been and can wholeheartedly recommend it."

"There are plenty of cycle paths and well signposted, quiet roads, allowing you to embark on both circular and linear routes to the nearby region. Our self-guided Lake Garda from One Hotel Tour leads you to Verona, Mantua and Trento. Your hotel - which overlooks the water - acts as your base in Desenzano, so you can head out on your bike when you’re ready. Transfers by train, ferry and bus are used to avoid having to cycle the same route.

The areas you'll explore are lovely, with amazingly quiet villages, free of tourists, where you can hang out and have a coffee with the locals. There are lots of vineyards too which of course means one thing… wine tasting!"

View tour: Lake Garda Bike Tour From One Hotel

All of these tours are available to book in our January Sale, meaning a £50pp saving. Why not treat yourself to a delicious meal in one of these culture-rich destinations with the savings?

To get in touch, enquire online or call our team on +44 (0)1273 224066 (Monday to Friday).

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