Cycling and river cruises seem to go hand in hand more often than not these days. Rewind a couple of years and there were only a few cruise lines offering a fleet of bikes to borrow for your own two-wheeled adventures, but now there is an influx of active tours offered for those who wish to saddle-up and explore the river banks further.

And why not? Europe’s rivers have some fantastic cycle paths running alongside them, offering scenic views along with flat, effortless cycling for experienced and leisurely riders alike. In their pursuit of the younger market and with a desire to offer more engaged excursions, it seems obvious for operators to turn to pedal power.

The latest river cruise line to expand their cycling offering is APT, who have recently launched two new special interest itineraries for 2017 as part of their Cycling Series. Both ‘Bordeaux By Bicycle’ and ‘Cycling Magnificent Europe’ will offer a wide range of two-wheeled shore excursions, with those on the French itinerary being slightly more challenging. Each tour will be led by an expert guide and you will be followed by a dedicated vehicle equipped with everything you need should a problem occur.

In France, you will have the opportunity to cycle through vineyards to wine and cheese tastings or make your way to the medieval castle of Château de Vayres for a look around its superb gardens. Along the banks of the Danube, cycling excursions include a visit to the world-famous Eberbach Monastery and tours of both Vienna and Cologne in the saddle. On both trips, the bikes, access to the guide and use of the support vehicle are all included in the price along with drinks, meals and entertainment on board.

If you like the sound of these itineraries but would rather explore on two feet, alternative activities are offered in each port alongside APT’s fantastic Signature Experiences.

Africa With AmaWaterways

In more new itinerary news, AmaWaterways have launched a brand new river cruise in the heart of Africa, bringing its offerings on the continent to five. All of these include a Chobe River cruise combined with land stays in the area and the latest addition is called ‘Wildlife and The Falls’. You will start your epic adventure with a one-night stay in Johannesburg, before flying to Botswana and sailing through the Chobe National Park on board the Zambezi Queen river ship. Following that, you will transfer to Victoria Falls for a two-night stay, return to Johannesburg for two more nights and then end your journey with a three-night stay in a luxury safari lodge inside the Kruger National Park.

Not only will you get to experience the sheer power of one of the world’s largest waterfalls, you will get the chance to hunt for the ‘Big 5’ in one of Africa’s premier game reserves.

For more information on either of these two exciting new products for 2017, contact us today and our friendly team will be happy to help.