What are the best bike and boat tours in Europe?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 5 November 2026
These 12 cycling tour companies sell a bike and boat or bike and barge tour in Europe on their own websites, read 5 November 2026. Each card gives what the company says about it, with the trip, length, price or number where it names one, then why to choose it, what to ask for and the limits it publishes.
What are the best bike and boat tours in Europe?
12 cycling tour companies in the Uncompromised Travel table say on their own websites that they sell a bike and boat or bike and barge tour in Europe; DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co., Girolibero and Cycling for Softies have the most Google reviews.
Art of Bicycle Trips
- Best for
- Guided and self-guided bike tours worldwide
- Bike and boat tour
- Runs Guided Epernay to Paris on the barge Clair d'Etoile, up to 24 guests and 6 cycling days, with a Flyer Go Tour6 3.40 e-bike included in the price.
- Why choose them
- Art of Bicycle Trips was founded in 2010 by Pankaj Mangal during a 100km ride in India.
- Ask for
- Ask for the bike options and surcharges, group size and hotel level for your chosen trip.
- Not the fit if
- you will travel without medical insurance covering accident costs, which is mandatory to join.
Backroads
- Best for
- Guided bike trips with leaders and vans
- Bike and boat tour
- Sells the Rhine River Cruise Bike Tour from Basel to Amsterdam through Switzerland, France, Germany and the Netherlands, 8 days, from US$7,179 per person.
- Why choose them
- Offers more than 5,300 scheduled departures in 2025 across nearly 550 itineraries. Google: 4.2 out of 5 from 123 reviews. Read 5 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the activity level, hotel tier and e-bike option on your chosen departure.
- Not the fit if
- a rider under 16 wants an e-bike, as 16 is its minimum e-bike age.
- Website
- backroads.com
BikePlanet Tours
- Best for
- Guided bike and barge tours in Europe
- Bike and boat tour
- Runs bike and barge tours on the 24-guest barge IRIS, including the 8-day Rhine trip from Amsterdam to Koblenz from about €1,750, plus a Danube bike and cruise from €2,110.
- Why choose them
- BikePlanet lists 7 of its own guided tours plus 20 run by its partner Premium Bike Tours. Google: 5.0 out of 5 from 5 reviews. Read 5 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the e-bike rental price and the cabin or hotel list for your departure.
- Not the fit if
- you want travel insurance in the package, as the Normandy tour page lists it as not included and asks guests to arrange their own.
- Website
- bikeplanet.tours
Butterfield & Robinson
- Best for
- Small group and self-guided biking trips
- Bike and boat tour
- Lists Dalmatian Coast Self-Guided Biking in Croatia among its by-sea trips, 8 days from US$23,255 per person.
- Why choose them
- Butterfield & Robinson was founded in 1966 by George Butterfield, Sidney Robinson and his sister Martha. Google: 4.8 out of 5 from 33 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.9 out of 5 from 210 reviews, newest 3 November 2026. Read 5 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the activity level, e-bike option and hotel list for your chosen biking trip.
- Not the fit if
- you want to privatise a Small Group date for fewer than eight travellers, the group size the site gives for that option.
- Enquiry
- butterfield.com/contact-us
Cycling for Softies
- Best for
- Self-guided leisurely cycling holidays in Europe
- Bike and boat tour
- Sells the Venice and Mantua Bike & Boat tour, with a gondola ride in Venice and riding into the Prosecco hills.
- Why choose them
- A typical Softies holiday covers around 25km a day, with longer or shorter options on some tours. Google: 4.8 out of 5 from 164 reviews; Trustpilot: 2.9 out of 5 from 4 reviews, newest 31 August 2026. Read 5 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the hotel list, the e-bike supplement and the half board option for your tour.
- Not the fit if
- you want to ride with a guide, as its cycling holidays are all self guided apart from its bike and boat tours.
- Money protection
- ATOL 4055 for flight-based holidays and an ABTA bond for packages without flights (ABTA C6711).
Cyclomundo
- Best for
- Self-guided tours in France, Italy and Spain
- Bike and boat tour
- Sells Boat and Bike: Island Hopping in Brittany, 4 nights/5 days from Vannes in the Gulf of Morbihan, from 760 euros per person in April with boat crossings included.
- Why choose them
- Cyclomundo is a French travel agency established in 2003 that sells cycling trips in France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Switzerland. Google: 4.8 out of 5 from 107 reviews. Read 5 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the hotel list and the bike hire price for your start date and season.
- Not the fit if
- you want a fully customised tour for fewer than 6 people, the minimum the company requires.
- Money protection
- Member of APST, the French travel guarantee.
DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co.
- Best for
- Guided small-group road and hybrid bike tours
- Bike and boat tour
- Offers Cycle + Sail trips that cycle several islands while staying aboard a private yacht, featuring the Greek Odyssey Yacht + Bike Tour.
- Why choose them
- DuVine was started in 1996 by Andy Levine after a post-college cycling trip in Burgundy. Google: 4.9 out of 5 from 474 reviews. Read 5 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the trip level, e-bike or Colnago supplement and single supplement for your dates.
- Not the fit if
- you are bringing under-18s on a scheduled departure, which requires travellers aged 18 or older.
- Enquiry
- duvine.com/contact
FunActive Tours
- Best for
- Self-guided bike tours from South Tyrol
- Bike and boat tour
- Sells the Danube Passau-Budapest-Passau bike and boat trip on the ships MS VIVIENNE and MS LISABELLE, 8 days, from 959 €, graded easy.
- Why choose them
- FunActive Tours keeps a rental fleet of over 1,300 bikes for its customers. Google: 4.4 out of 5 from 145 reviews. Read 5 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the single room supplement and e-bike hire price for your tour and dates.
- Not the fit if
- you want to buy its travel insurance and live outside Europe, as that cover is valid only for European residents.
- Money protection
- Insolvency cover with Nobis Filo diretto Assicurazioni (policy 6006001594/I).
- Website
- funactive.info
Girolibero
- Best for
- Self-guided and bike and barge tours
- Bike and boat tour
- Sells 37 bike and barge tours on its own barges, such as The waterways of Venice from Mantua to Venice at 8 days from 1330€ and Amsterdam Southern Tour from 849€.
- Why choose them
- Girolibero has organised bike tours in Italy and Europe since 1998. Google: 4.8 out of 5 from 371 reviews. Read 5 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the difficulty level, bike or e-bike rental and comfort level for your chosen tour.
- Not the fit if
- you might cancel a cycling tour within 5 days of departure, when 100% of the price is charged.
- Money protection
- Member of the Fondo Il Salvagente travel guarantee fund (n. 2025/1-0132).
- Website
- girolibero.com
Life on a Bike
- Best for
- Comparing bike tours from European operators
- Bike and boat tour
- Sells Best of Holland and Belgium Amsterdam to Bruges by Bike and Barge, 8 days, from €1099.
- Why choose them
- Lists 450+ tours from 30+ partner operators in 20+ countries. Trustpilot: 4.3 out of 5 from 18 reviews, newest 28 October 2026. Read 5 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the operator's cancellation scale and insolvency protection for your chosen tour.
- Not the fit if
- you want to book with the company that runs the trip, as it retails packages organised by independent operators.
- Website
- lifeonabike.com
Pedal Ventures
- Best for
- Self-guided cycling holidays across Europe
- Bike and boat tour
- Sells Along the Danube to Vienna as a bike and boat tour, where travellers may bring their own bike or hire one.
- Why choose them
- Lists cycling holidays in 21 countries or regions, from Austria and France to Vietnam.
- Ask for
- Ask for the bike hire price and the hotel grades on your chosen self-guided route.
- Not the fit if
- you travel without comprehensive travel insurance, which is required for all customers.
- Money protection
- Payments held in an independent trust account through Protected Trust Services (member 6279).
- Enquiry
- pedalventures.com/contact
Tour de Vines
- Best for
- Food and wine cycling tours in Australia
- Bike and boat tour
- Sells sea bike and boat tours in Croatia on small ships, such as Kvarner Bay from $2,472 (AUD) on 7 May 2027.
- Why choose them
- Tour de Vines ran its first tour in 2005 and became a full-time business in 2012. Google: 4.6 out of 5 from 64 reviews. Read 5 November 2026.
- Ask for
- Ask for the e-bike hire price and the hotel list for your chosen departure.
- Not the fit if
- anyone in your group is under 18, the minimum age on scheduled group guided tours.
- Website
- tourdevines.com.au
Which of these publish a price?
10 of the 12 companies with cards publish a price for a trip on their own websites; ask the others for a written quote that lists what it includes.
- Art of Bicycle Trips
- Backroads
- BikePlanet Tours
- Butterfield & Robinson
- Cyclomundo
- DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co.
- FunActive Tours
- Girolibero
- Life on a Bike
- Tour de Vines
Which of these companies protect your money?
5 of the 12 companies with cards name a scheme, bond, insurer or client account that protects payments if they fail; check the number with the scheme before you pay.
- Cycling for Softies: ATOL 4055 for flight-based holidays and an ABTA bond for packages without flights (ABTA C6711)
- Cyclomundo: Member of APST, the French travel guarantee
- FunActive Tours: Insolvency cover with Nobis Filo diretto Assicurazioni (policy 6006001594/I)
- Girolibero: Member of the Fondo Il Salvagente travel guarantee fund (n. 2025/1-0132)
- Pedal Ventures: Payments held in an independent trust account through Protected Trust Services (member 6279)
Who to contact first
Start with the 9 companies on this page that publish both a price and their cancellation terms on their own websites, then add any other card that fits your dates and riding level.
- Art of Bicycle Trips
- Backroads
- Butterfield & Robinson
- Cyclomundo
- DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co.
- FunActive Tours
- Girolibero
- Life on a Bike
- Tour de Vines
What to ask each one to set out in writing:
- What the price includes and excludes, line by line: hotels, meals, bike, e-bike or road bike upgrade, support van, transfers.
- The riding: daily distances and climbing, the surface and how the group splits by level.
- The deposit, when the balance is due and what you lose if you cancel.
- Which scheme protects your money and the number to check it.
Bike and boat tours in Europe: the questions people ask
What should I ask a cycling tour company before booking?
What the price includes, line by line; the daily distances and climbing; whether the bike, an e-bike or a road bike upgrade costs extra; the deposit and what you lose if you cancel; and which scheme protects your money.
Do these companies provide the bikes?
10 of the 12 companies with cards say on their own websites that bikes are provided or can be hired with the trip; 10 say e-bikes are offered. Check the model and any upgrade charge on your quote.
Can I book with these companies directly?
Yes. Each card links the company's own website or enquiry page; ask for a written quote that lists what the price includes.
Do these companies all sell the same kind of trip?
No. Each card names the trip or offer the company's own website gives; lengths, riding levels, styles and prices differ, so compare the cards before you ask for quotes.
Which of these have the most Google reviews?
DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co., Girolibero and Cycling for Softies, in that order. A count says how many people reviewed a company, not whether it fits your trip; each card gives the rating and count, read 5 November 2026.
Which of these have Trustpilot profiles?
3 of the 12 companies with cards: Butterfield & Robinson, Cycling for Softies and Life on a Bike. Each card gives the TrustScore, the review count and the newest review date, read 5 November 2026.
Which of these publish their cancellation terms?
11 of the 12: Art of Bicycle Trips, Backroads, Butterfield & Robinson, Cycling for Softies, Cyclomundo, DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co., FunActive Tours, Girolibero, Life on a Bike, Pedal Ventures and Tour de Vines. Ask each for the full scale in writing before you pay a deposit.
Where can I check these facts myself?
Each card links the pages of the company's own website its lines were read from, with the date they were read.
How were these companies chosen?
Each one is in the Uncompromised Travel cycling tour operators table, built from the cycling tour companies ChatGPT names most often; its own website sells a bike and boat or bike and barge tour in Europe. A company is on the page because its published facts fit the question, never because it paid.
Is any company on this page paying to be here?
No. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel; none paid to be on it.
Read next
Built to answer the question in the main heading. What is shown: what each company published on its own website, read on 5 November 2026, with links to the pages read, with its Google and Trustpilot figures where the listing carries the company's own name, from the Uncompromised Travel cycling tour operators table. Cards are in alphabetical order. Photos show the places named in their captions, not any company's trips. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel. How this site earns · How we work.