Pure Adventures, which was created to meet North America's growing demand for high-quality, self-guided cycling tours, uses local expertise for route development, sites to see, people to meet, where to eat, and shop and experience life as a local would.
This company pioneered self-guided tours in Europe in 1994 and recently launched its first itineraries in North America.
Tours span Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and now the United States.
Pure Adventures has recently launched self-guided bicycle tours of Italy's Tuscany, France's Dordogne and Spain's La Rioja regions.
Food, wine and history are the key elements of these tours, giving cyclists the chance to travel at their own pace, pausing when and where they wish, but without foregoing road and route trip assistance and lodging and luggage logistics.
Italy
In Italy, Tuscany Wine & History, is an eight-day/seven-night tour of the Tuscan hills starting in the Renaissance town of Pienza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Here guests may opt to partake of the hot springs and spa of Bagno Vignoni.
Other villages include Montepulciano and Montalcino.
Spain
Moderate distances over modestly rolling country including unpaved country lanes through vineyards are the focue of the seven-day/six-night Spain - Rioja Wine Cycling Tour through the wine villages of La Rioja Alavesa.
The route encourages the discovery the region's history and enjoyment of the mosaic of landscapes of the southern Basque region at the foothills of the Pyrenees.
France
In France guests can opt for the seven-day/six-night France – Best of Dordogne Cycling Tour combining the best of the Dordogne countryside and mixed with vineyards, chateaux and the grottos of prehistory.