Experience Plus

Global Cycling With Local Character

All credible tour operators offer the basics – planned routes, tour leaders, and good food and accommodation. But our name says it all: ExperiencePlus! We provide an experience that is at once a celebration of cycling and of world culture.

Our routes are planned by locals and also in part by our father, Rick Price, a Ph.D. in cultural geography. Their combined intimate knowledge, experienced judgment, and meticulous planning ensure you have a satisfying route at whatever level you ride.

Over half a century of experience planning unique bicycle tours of all types and terrains, continually checking the routes, seeking new vistas and tucked away treasures….

Our most experienced tour leaders have undergone certification in interpretative guiding by the National Association for Interpretation. And because we retain guides with deep local knowledge, your trip is guaranteed to be rich in extraordinary, authentic experiences.

Our unique navigation system of arrows allow you to take your time, not feel pressured to ride with the group and stop and smell the roses, taste the gelato and enjoy a cafe con leche at your own pace. We call it guided independence.

Variety ensures there’s a tour for you

Unless you’re looking for a unicycle trip around Tibet, we’ve probably got just what you’re looking for!

With the right tour components in place, we then spend a lot of time to make sure there’s a trip for every sort of traveler. And to make sure this all comes together, our tour guides get you in synch as a group and then enable you to set the pace.

With our unique chalk arrows keeping you on track, the tour’s rhythm and yours meld together… without anyone shepherding you along. (Unless you prefer the help of our experienced tour leaders).

Shel Silverstein’s Poem “Where the Sidewalk Ends” has found a special place in our hearts for its description of the youthful glee that awaits when a sidewalk ends, and real discovery begins.

Shel’s subjects come to rely on chalk arrows just as you will. He writes:  “And we’ll go where the chalk-white arrows go.” We find delight in the parallel to our own chalk arrows as they also always point to the next right place to be.

Why Choose ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours?

It’s a fair question. Although we are certainly biased, we feel like we provide the most interesting cycling tours out there.

We offer a history of passionate commitment to traveling by bike, have a deep knowledge of the cultural geography, and select tour leaders that are citizens of the world. The bond we build with those who travel with us springs from a unique combination of respect and attentiveness.

8 reasons our travelers think our bicycling vacations are the best:

Discover Yourself...

ExperiencePlus! tours stir the imagination and push the bounds of what we know. When you’re people-watching on a bicycle, the scenes seem to unfold in front of you as if they were in High Definition.  Impressions of landscapes are palpable. Chats with the locals are enduring. You don't ride as a group, so you don't have to worry about "keeping up" or waiting for those who are slower.

Intrinsic Value

Prices are at the mid-point of global bicycle tours. ExperiencePlus! offers options for shorter 7 or 8 day itineraries or Plus! versions that allow you to extend the ride 3 or 4 days. Fun filled days and nights – and more of them. There are options for every skill level - recreational bikers as well as cycling enthusiasts.  ExperiencePlus! has been cycling the world since 1972 and has plenty of practice finding the best routes, wonderful staff, the perfect local hotels, culinary, and cultural experiences.              

Great Cycling Routes

Every tour is thoughtfully designed by people who are intimately familiar with the region.  Routes sidetrack into small towns and lead you to places of cultural and historical interest.  You'll ride on quiet, winding roads that locals use – for a more enjoyable ride and an authentic view of the cultural landscape. 

Over the course of your bike tour, you'll actually be traveling by bicycle - making your way from small village to small village.  Many tours include one or more two-night stays, which gives you a chance to rest your legs and explore on your own. On the other hand, if you’re looking for extra mileage, you can find it on almost every bike tour. This allows long-distance cyclists to travel happily with their more laid-back companions.            

… And Chalk Arrows Point the Way

Your personal horizons expand with each white chalk arrow you pass. Whether it leads to an exquisite view or hidden bakery just beyond the next village or ensures you meet with the group at the correct rest stop, the arrows are your personal navigation tools. Use them to cycle ahead, keep up, or just go at your pace. The arrows put your adventure under your control.

Superb Tour Leaders

Tour leaders are bilingual, bi-cultural experts and avid cyclists.  Are you wondering how to order espresso?   How to strike up a conversation with a shop owner?  How to shift gears to make the hills easier?  With a little help from ExperiencePlus! tour leaders, you’ll be prepared to navigate confidently on and off the road.              

Respect

Having been in business for over 4 decades, everyone involved with  ExperiencePlus! operations exudes respect for their travelers.

A Cyclists Bill of Rights that clearly states what you deserve on every cycling tour. You'll be treated with attentiveness and courtesy, every day, every bike tour. Check it out, it’s a handy reference when making the final decision about your tour company.

Ah, the Cuisine and the Accommodations!

Whether you’re about to sample a local brie and Bordeaux in St. Emilion or a seafood risotto in Venice, every meal on tour is a personal introduction to your host country.  Endless opportunity to taste and experiment – and to laugh with new friends by your side.  Restaurants and cafés are selected for their authenticity, charm, and great food.

Standards are similar for the hotels on tour.  The priority is comfortable, three or four-star hotels in the historic center of town rather than isolated luxury chains where your only local contact is the bartender.

Fantastic Travel Companions

ExperiencePlus! draws some of the most interesting travelers you'll meet anywhere. A wonderful mix of frequent travelers and those taking their first trip overseas. Regardless everyone loves the out-of -doors, the opportunity to explore a new place by bicycle while enjoying great food and fun. You'll meet people you'll want to travel with time and time again.