Has anyone taken a Backroads bike tour in Italy?

We did a self-guided bicycle trip in northern Italy via Girolibero...booked via BikeTours.com (great search feature at the website). Would recommend both firms and happily use again as time, money and other trips permit. There's a slight booking fee but offset by a discount if a member of Adventure Cycling (bicycle touring centric organization) based in Missoula, Montana. From the buzz that reaches me and seeing all the Backroads tours through Whitefish each summer, the firm provides excellent fully supported group tours at related prices...if that's what you like. It's not my cuppa. Send me a private message if you wish more information about our trip, including photos.

We did a Walking, Biking, Kayaking Backroads trip in Alaska and I can't recommend them enough. They are so organized and are always well prepared. The staff works really hard to make sure everyone's trip is a success and that everyone has a great time. I was thinking about doing a Backroads bike trip in Tuscany, so I would be anxious to hear your trip report if you choose to do it. Backroads trips are expensive, but I really do think they are worth every penny. It was one of the best trips I have ever been on and I am looking forward to using them again for a future trip.

The only thing I would do differently on my next trip is to spend a few extra days on our own before and/or after the Backroads trip. It was my own fault (and also the lack of vacation time). A few other members continued their Alaska vacation after the Backroads trip was over, and I wish we had done the same. Alaska is sooooo beautiful, we should have stayed longer. Hopefully we'll go back on a future trip.

I can highly recommend Cicloposse. We did 2 self guided bike trips with Guiliana and Marco's company. They offer guided as well.
http://cicloposse.com/
And, we've taken 5-6 bike or hike trips with Chuck and Judy Nichols with Nichols Expeditions. Judy is very informative, they are based in Moab, UT. https://www.nicholexpeditions.com/ They offer guided and self guided trips as well.

Compare pricing, route and extras. We've found Nichols to be more reasonably priced for what you get than the "big name" bike companies like Backroads, etc.

If you are planning to bike in Tuscany ( we are actually going back for our 2nd trip this year, using Nichols) make sure you train on your bike, the hills are long, not horribly steep, but challenging for sure... each afternoon you can figure you are riding uphill to a town for the night...

Happy to give you more details if you PM me... I'd be willing to call you, or you can call me. We've been to Italy on lots of bike tours. Tuscany, Maremma, Piedmonte, Sicily, Sardinia, Umbria, Le Marche, Puglia, and back to Tuscany this year.

Thanks everyone for your very helpful info and insight. Buon viaggio!!

Thanks everyone for your very helpful info and insight. Buon viaggio!!

here's an update: We ended up taking a Backroads bike tour in Italy and it was PHENOMINAL. Yes, it was a bit pricey, but it was worth every single penny. It was the experience of a lifetime. I highly recommend and cannot wait to take another adventure with Backroads.

here's an update: We ended up taking a Backroads bike tour in Italy
and it was PHENOMINAL. Yes, it was a bit pricey, but it was worth
every single penny. It was the experience of a lifetime. I highly
recommend and cannot wait to take another adventure with Backroads.

Lynette, I'm so happy to hear you used Backroads and you enjoyed your trip. The staff is amazing and I'm looking forward to using them on our Tuscany vacation.

Can you elaborate a bit on your trip. Did you only visit Tuscany, or did you visit Rome, Amafi Coast, etc. Did you drive to Tuscany, or did you take a bus to get there.

Thank you for posting your update!