DuVine or Butterfield & Robinson: which is better for a luxury cycling trip?

By Richard Jasinski·Updated 5 November 2026

No score and no verdict of ours: what DuVine and Butterfield & Robinson each publish on their own websites, read 5 November 2026, topic by topic, each line linked to the page it came from.

DuVine or Butterfield & Robinson: which is better for a luxury cycling trip?

Neither is better for everyone: DuVine caps scheduled departures at 14 guests and lists a 6-day Algarve tour from US$5,595, while Butterfield & Robinson caps Small Group trips at 16 and lists 6-day Provence Biking from US$6,595.

Vineyards in Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
Vineyards in Chianti, Tuscany, Italy. Photo: Adbar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What does each company sell?

DuVine runs its own guided small-group, multi-day cycling tours with its own guides, support vans and bikes and makes any tour private on request. Its founder Andy Levine started it in 1996. Source

Butterfield & Robinson sells Small Group guided trips, Bespoke private journeys and Self-Guided trips from Toronto, Canada. George Butterfield and Sidney Robinson started it with Sidney Robinson's sister Martha in 1966. Source

What trips does each company run?

DuVine runs guided scheduled departures across 84 tours and makes any tour private on your own dates, with trips such as A Cycling Pilgrimage: Stelvio Pass to Switzerland, Lake Como to Milan. Source

Butterfield & Robinson runs Small Group guided trips and 15 Self-Guided biking trips of 5 to 8 days with RideWithGPS routes, plus Bespoke private journeys designed by its Experience Designers. Source

Where does each company ride?

DuVine runs tours in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and US states including California, Maine, Vermont and Tennessee. Source

Butterfield & Robinson runs trips across Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, North America and Oceania, with Small Group biking in countries such as Italy, France, Japan, Morocco, Vietnam, Norway and New Zealand. Source

How big are the groups?

DuVine caps scheduled departures at 14 guests with a guest-to-guide ratio never larger than 7:1 and guarantees most trips to run with 2 to 4 people booked. Source

Butterfield & Robinson caps Small Group trips at 16 travellers, with most departures averaging 10 to 12 guests. Source

Who is the riding for?

DuVine grades tours from Level 1 for recreational cyclists at 15 to 30 miles a day to Level 4 at 45 to 75 miles with 5,500 to 10,000 feet of climbing. Source

Butterfield & Robinson gives each trip an Activity Level rating and multiple daily route lengths. It says riders need not be very fit or experienced, with e-bikes on most biking trips and a support vehicle. Source

Which bikes does each company provide?

DuVine provides Cannondale Synapse carbon road bikes, Specialized Turbo Vado SL hybrid e-bikes at no extra cost and BMC Roadmachine road e-bikes for a US$400 supplement. Source

Butterfield & Robinson offers e-bikes on most biking trips and lists a Dolomites Self-Guided E-Mountain Biking trip of 6 days from US$9,495 per person. Source

Lavender fields at Valensole, Provence
Lavender fields at Valensole, Provence. Photo: Grafixart-Photo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Where do you stay?

DuVine books stays such as Vidago Palace Hotel and Six Senses Douro Valley on its Portugal Douro Valley Bike Tour. Source

Butterfield & Robinson books castles, riads, historic estates and family-run inns, such as Hotel Villa Cipriani on its Prosecco Self-Guided Biking trip. Source

What support is on the road?

DuVine puts at least one guide on the road and another in the support van every day, providing refreshments, mechanical support, daily bike maintenance and lifts. Source

Butterfield & Robinson keeps a support van close on Small Group trips and gives self-guided riders a B&R Local Host on call, with a local guide and driver on days 1, 3 and 4 in Corsica. Source

What does a trip cost?

DuVine lists the Algarve Bike Tour, 6 days, from US$5,595 per person based on double occupancy including taxes. Source

Butterfield & Robinson lists Provence Biking, a 6-day Small Group trip, from US$6,595 per person. Source

What does the price include?

DuVine includes accommodation, luggage transfers, daily breakfasts, all lunches, local wine with every meal, a bike and helmet, guides and a support vehicle, while airfare and travel protection are extra. Source

Butterfield & Robinson includes accommodation, listed meals, a bike with helmet, a GPS smartphone, baggage transport and set-day guide support on Corsica Self-Guided Biking, while international flights and travel protection are extra. Source

What do solo travellers pay?

DuVine charges a Single Supplement that varies by tour, or tries to pair solo travellers with another solo traveller to waive it. Source

Butterfield & Robinson does not publish this on the pages read.

How much is the deposit?

DuVine takes a US$750 per person deposit for Scheduled Departures and a non-refundable US$1,000 per person for Private Tours, with final payment due 95 days before departure. Source

Butterfield & Robinson confirms Bespoke trips with a per-person deposit after a Trip Development Fee, with full payment due 95 days before departure. Source

What happens if you cancel?

DuVine charges US$550 or gives 100% travel credit on scheduled departures from 96 days out, then refunds 75% at 95 to 66 days, 50% at 65 to 31 days and 0% at 30 days or less. Source

Butterfield & Robinson does not publish this on the pages read.

Can children come?

DuVine runs private family itineraries such as Vienna to Prague at 6 days from US$5,995 and lets children aged 14 or older ride e-bikes. Source

Butterfield & Robinson does not publish this on the pages read.

When is each not the fit?

The limits below are published by each company on their own websites.

  • DuVine: not the fit if anyone in your party is under 18 and you want a scheduled departure, as those require travellers aged 18 or older. Source
  • Butterfield & Robinson: not the fit if a group of fewer than eight wants a Small Group itinerary made private, as B&R offers that for groups of eight or more. Source

How do their reviews compare?

Their figures per platform, read 5 November 2026, each from a listing under the company's own name; the figures are never added together.

  • DuVine: Google: 4.9 out of 5 from 474 reviews. Read 5 November 2026.
  • Butterfield & Robinson: 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.

The companies at a glance

One card each, as on every Uncompromised Travel cycling page: what each sells, why to choose each, what to ask for and the limits each publishes.

DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co.

Best for
Guided small-group road and hybrid bike tours
What it sells
Runs guided small-group cycling tours, listing 84 tours on its tour finder.
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.
Published price
Classic Tuscany 4-Day is listed from US$4,595 per person. Read 5 November 2026.
Read on its own website, 5 November 2026: tour-finder, about, trip-essentials/faqs.
Is this your company? See how a listing works

Butterfield & Robinson

Best for
Small group and self-guided biking trips
What it sells
Sells Small Group guided, Self-Guided and Bespoke biking trips, such as Piemonte Biking at 6 days from US$6,995 per person and Southern Japan Biking at 8 days from US$12,995.
Why choose them
Butterfield & Robinson was founded in 1966 by George Butterfield and Sidney Robinson with Sidney's 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.
Read on its own website, 5 November 2026: how-to-travel/small-group/biking, our-story, how-to-travel/small-group.
Is this your company? See how a listing works

Which other companies sell the same kind of trip?

These 5 sell guided cycling tours in at least two of the same places and have the most Google reviews of those that do. The full list is on What are the best alternatives to Butterfield & Robinson?

DuVine or Butterfield & Robinson: the questions people ask

How big are the groups on trips with DuVine and Butterfield & Robinson?

DuVine caps scheduled departures at 14 guests with a guest-to-guide ratio never larger than 7:1 and guarantees most trips to run with 2 to 4 people booked. Butterfield & Robinson caps Small Group trips at 16 travellers, with most departures averaging 10 to 12 guests.

How much does a trip cost with DuVine and Butterfield & Robinson?

DuVine lists the Algarve Bike Tour, 6 days, from US$5,595 per person based on double occupancy including taxes. Butterfield & Robinson lists Provence Biking, a 6-day Small Group trip, from US$6,595 per person.

What is the cancellation policy with DuVine and Butterfield & Robinson?

DuVine charges US$550 or gives 100% travel credit on scheduled departures from 96 days out, then refunds 75% at 95 to 66 days, 50% at 65 to 31 days and 0% at 30 days or less. Butterfield & Robinson does not publish this on the pages read.

Which bikes are provided with DuVine and Butterfield & Robinson?

DuVine provides Cannondale Synapse carbon road bikes, Specialized Turbo Vado SL hybrid e-bikes at no extra cost and BMC Roadmachine road e-bikes for a US$400 supplement. Butterfield & Robinson offers e-bikes on most biking trips and lists a Dolomites Self-Guided E-Mountain Biking trip of 6 days from US$9,495 per person.

What is included in the price with DuVine and Butterfield & Robinson?

DuVine includes accommodation, luggage transfers, daily breakfasts, all lunches, local wine with every meal, a bike and helmet, guides and a support vehicle, while airfare and travel protection are extra. Butterfield & Robinson includes accommodation, listed meals, a bike with helmet, a GPS smartphone, baggage transport and set-day guide support on Corsica Self-Guided Biking, while international flights and travel protection are extra.

Which is cheaper?

Prices are published differently, per trip, per person and with different inclusions, so compare like for like: ask each for a written quote for the same dates with every inclusion listed. The price lines above give what each publishes.

Can I book directly?

Yes. Each card links the company's own website; ask for a written quote that lists what the price includes.

Where can I check these facts myself?

Every line on this page links the page of the company's own website it was read from, read 5 November 2026.

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.

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. Google and Trustpilot figures are shown where the listing carries the company's own name, from the Uncompromised Travel cycling tour operators table. Companies are set out in the order the question names them. No score and no verdict. 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.