Slow-travel specialist Cycling for Softies’ is expanding its European footprint for 2026, unveiling 19 new itineraries that favour immersion over intensity. Exploring lesser-visited regions alongside familiar favourites, the tour programme focuses on savouring the journey and unwinding in style.
The cycling tours span Portugal, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Austria, with landscapes ranging from volcanic lava fields in the new Canary Islands tour to Atlantic coastlines and vineyard-covered valleys. Several itineraries also mark firsts for Cycling for Softies, including inaugural bike-and-boat journeys, which will be fully guided and combine gentle daily cycling with overnight stays aboard boutique barges.
Best for year-round sun – Volcanoes & Vineyards
7-night classic tour – Prices from £1,785 per person
Cycling for Softies’ debut Canary Islands tour explores Lanzarote’s stark volcanic landscapes at a relaxed pace. Over seven nights, riders move from the lava fields of Timanfaya National Park to the fertile vineyards of La Geria, passing cactus gardens, fishing villages and black-sand beaches along the way. Quiet roads and consistently mild temperatures make this an appealing option outside the traditional European destinations.
Best for luxury – Douro in Luxury
7-night e-bike tour – Prices from £2,845 per person
Set in Portugal’s UNESCO-listed Douro Valley, this premium e-bike itinerary pairs short, manageable rides with elegant accommodation in riverside quintas and boutique hotels. Days are spent cycling through terraced vineyards and hilltop villages, with time built in for wine tastings and long lunches overlooking the river. The journey concludes in Porto, where the region’s exceptional food and wine culture provides a fitting culmination.
Best for multi-modal travel – Grand Tour of the Danube
7-night bike and boat tour – Prices from £1,245 per person
Combining cycling tours with river travel, this seven-night guided journey follows the Danube from Passau to Budapest. Riders pedal scenic riverside paths through vineyard-lined valleys, Baroque towns and castle-crowned hills, including the Wachau Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site. Evenings are spent aboard a comfortable boutique barge, where river views add a delightful backdrop to the evening’s meal.
Best for culture lovers – Pisa to Florence
7-night classic tour – Prices from £1,745 per person
A culture-led route through Tuscany, this itinerary connects two of Italy’s most celebrated cities, Pisa and Florence, while visiting smaller historic towns en route. Highlights include Vinci, Leonardo da Vinci’s birthplace, the walled city of Lucca and the spa town of Montecatini. Gentle cycling allows time for galleries, churches and piazzas, ensuring cultural exploration remains central.
Best for effortless e-biking – Authentic Andalucia
7-night e-bike tour – Prices from £2,040 per person
Using e-bikes to cycle Andalucía’s rolling terrain, this seven-night route explores the region without demanding climbs. The gentle electric assist allows visitors to travel comfortably through olive groves and Moorish landscapes while staying fully immersed in their surroundings. Beginning in the whitewashed village of Espejo, the journey passes Córdoba’s iconic Mezquita before tracing the Guadalquivir River to Seville, the birthplace of Flamenco. With effort taken care of, days offer time for unhurried tapas stops, architectural exploration, and long evenings embracing Andalucía’s warm, Hispanic charm.
Best for coastal escapes – Costa de la Luz
7-night classic tour – Prices from £1,750 per person
Tracing Andalucia’s southwestern Atlantic coastline, Costa de la Luz balances coastal cycling with time off the bike. Beginning in Tarifa and ending in Jerez de la Frontera, the route passes long sandy beaches, working fishing ports, and Cádiz, one of Europe’s oldest cities. The charming, whitewashed towns and expansive, rugged coastlines provide a beautiful backdrop for a cycling holiday, where guests can punctuate days with sherry and fresh seafood.
Best for multi-destination – Amsterdam to Bruges
7-night bike and boat tour – Prices from £1,865 per person
Linking the Netherlands and Belgium by bike and boat, this new route combines flat, scenic cycling with overnight stays aboard a boutique barge. Days are spent riding along canals, through windmill-dotted countryside and quintessential Dutch villages, while evenings offer a waterside perspective on life in the Low Countries. The format allows travellers to experience two countries at a measured pace without the disruption of frequent hotel changes.
For more information on Cycling for Softies and their cycling tours, please visit www.cyclingforsofties.com or call 020 3918 9195.
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