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What is your favorite tour in Europe?

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What is your favorite tour in Europe?

Old 02-15-11, 05:56 PM
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What is your favorite tour in Europe?

My wife and have taken two tours. Vienna to Prague and Rome to Florence. We loved Tuscany so much we're thinking of going back this year. We have around 14 days? Do you have a favorite?
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Old 02-15-11, 07:53 PM
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My favorite was probably an arc eastward from Bordeaux through the Dordogne, then Lot valleys. Then south through St. Cirq-Lapopie, Castres, & Albi, to Toulouse. The landscape of the Dordogne & Lot valleys is gorgeous, and there's a great network of quiet roads. Lots of sights, including castles, caves, and medieval villages. Plus some of the best food in France.
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Old 02-15-11, 08:27 PM
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I've done tours of France, England and Switzerland. They were all very nice tours.

The one Axolotl described was fabulous, though, I'd recommend continuing past the Lot Valley and riding to and through the Gorges du Tarn.

I spent about 2 weeks riding through Switzerland which was a bike tourist's paradise. There are both hilly and flat rides and you can always take the train up and ride down. It would be hard to recommend it too highly!

England has some beautiful spots and it is always green.

It would be hard to go wrong with any of these three.

More specific questions would be helpful.

Ray
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Old 02-15-11, 08:31 PM
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Austria is fantastic. Take a look at the Inns and Etsch Bike trail. The Inns goes from Innbruck to Landeck. You can catch a bus in Landeck to Nauders or just ride it. It is a steep an narrow climb up to Nauder. I opted for the bus. If I were to do it again, I would ride to somewhere around Stuben and catch a bus from there.

You can then take a bike path from Nauders all the way to Trento any beyond but things start get boring once you hit Merano.

If you start in Innsbruck you could always loop back up over the Brenner pass back into Innsbruck. I was coming from Verona and time dictated that I take a train up the pass but the climb does not see all that bad. The ride down the other side of the pass into Innsbruck is great.

If you still have legs on your way out of Nauders and into Italy, you could always take a side trip an climb the Stilvio

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Old 02-16-11, 03:00 AM
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Google El Camino de Santiago. and check this site: https://www.csj.org.uk/ It is a 780 pilgrimage trail from France to Santiago Spain. People walk it, bike it, and go on horseback. Easily done in 2 weeks by bicycle. There is a network of hostels, but you can also stay in hotels.
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Old 02-16-11, 06:21 AM
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Slovenia is a great little country to ride. Mountain passes, green valleys, wooded hills, lakes, caves (yes cycling in caves), vinyards and a cycling President.
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Old 02-16-11, 06:28 AM
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Originally Posted by MichaelW
Slovenia is a great little country to ride. Mountain passes, green valleys, wooded hills, lakes, caves (yes cycling in caves), vinyards and a cycling President.
Sounds nice. What about the cost of living?
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Old 02-16-11, 07:09 AM
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Its in the Eurozone and not too different to Spain.
I was staying at tourist farms which are good value. You get farm-worker sized portions of local food.
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Old 02-16-11, 09:18 AM
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Each year since 2005 I've toured in a Western European country, and when I think back I have the fondest memories of the North Sea Coast of Denmark. The landscape, people, and accompanying North Sea just left an impression on me that I'll never forget.

Here's my trackmytour travelogue, if you're interested: https://trackmytour.com/555#3500
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Old 02-16-11, 10:58 AM
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Benelux, spent some time , in Ypres, hosted by a cyclist who worked for the British War Graves Commission.
, Landscape maintainence , in the miles of WW1 graveyards, surrounding the town ..

Kortrijk as many village Hostels there has a pub in it .

Also have fond memory of trip from southwest Eire to northern Scotland,
staying places along the way for a time to get to know people there.

Mixed benefit of traveling lone, is need to reach out and meet people, and rewards from doing so.
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Old 02-16-11, 12:31 PM
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Peloponisos, Greece, St.Jacobs route, (Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela), Corsica or the Dolomites (around Cortina, Italy).
A few others but these are the best I can think off right now.
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