As electric bike sales continue to skyrocket, so too are group bike tours that allow travelers to pedal on e-bikes. These e-bike friendly adventures open doors for travelers eager to get outside, breathe in the fresh air and see the world, whether as part of a multi-day cycling tour across France or a 2-hour spin on 2 wheels across Washington, DC.
Electric bikes are the great equalizer, allowing groups of all sizes, shapes, ages, and fitness levels to get outdoors and experience the joys of cycling. Bike touring companies are racing to keep up with the e-bike trend, too. Some companies, like Backroads, are launching e-bike only tours, where every participant, even guides, pedal on e-bikes.
When you’re ready to roll, here are a few eco friendly e-bike options:
GUIDED MULTI-DAY ELECTRIC BIKE TOURS
Active travel companies, like Backroads and Trek Travel, offer multi-day cycling escapades that span the globe. Their trips are designed to appeal to a range of travelers, from avid cyclists to laid-back cruisers, and boast expertly planned routes, meals and accommodations, knowledgeable guides and picturesque landscapes. These trips are fully-supported too, meaning that if your bike gets a flat tire or you run out of steam, you’re covered with a repair or a ride.
Backroads has 17 dedicated e-bike tours, up from 14 tours in 2023. More than a dozen of these cycling trips are in mainland Europe, including Spain, Switzerland, Italy, and France. When not cycling, travelers indulge in spas, shopping, and local museums. In Asia, Grasshopper Adventures offers six e-bike tours, including week-long trips in Japan, Thailand and Taiwan. Trek Travel and Exodus Travel offer e-bike rentals on many of their tours, usually with a surcharge.
SELF-GUIDED MULTI-DAY ELECTRIC BIKE TOURS
For those who crave the thrill of a cycling adventure, but want the freedom to explore at their own pace, there’s a world of self-guided tours. One company leading the way is Macs Adventure, which books hiking and biking vacations, including multi-day self-guided e-bike tours. Most of their cycling tours are in Europe and range from 5 to 9 days.
With self-guided adventures, your accommodations are booked, a detailed itinerary is created and you’re given a mileage plan and route map. Then it’s off you go on your own. North America Active is another self-guided adventure company, offering cycling trips, several with e-bike options, in the U.S. and Canada, including Quebec and Nova Scotia. Your luggage is even shuttled from one hotel to the next so you don’t need to tote your bags along with you on your e-bike.
GUIDED DAY TOURS
No time for a multi-day electric bike adventure? Many cities, even some national parks, offer pedaling tours on e-bikes that last just a few hours, like the Best of DC Electric Bike Tour in Washington, DC with Fat Tire Tours. This 3.5-hour sightseeing tour guides cyclists across the city on e-bikes to see the highlights, like the Jefferson Memorial and Pennsylvania Avenue, while covering much more ground than if walking or cycling on a cruiser bike.
At Glacier National Park, travelers can take in all the park’s majestic beauty on a guided e-bike tour on the famed Going-to-the-Sun Road with Glacier Guides between mid-May and mid-June, a short window when the snow is (mostly) gone and the road is closed to motor vehicles. This 4-5 hour tour offers a unique way to see the park on a delightfully car-free park road.
Electric bikes are truly revolutionizing the way we explore, tearing down barriers and making cycling accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Whether you're craving a multi-day exploration or a zippy afternoon adventure, e-bikes promise a sustainable, inclusive and just plain fun travel experience.
