Italian Cycling Tours FAQs
Our philosophy is that with challenge, you find reward. All of our trips are designed for cyclists and are physically challenging, but some more so than others. From an Italy perspective, the Giro d’Italia and Como, Stelvio & Dolomites tours are generally our most challenging, with L’Eroica and our Tour of Tuscany less demanding overall, and Puglia our easiest tour. On all of our trips, our guides encourage and support riders to step up to their own challenge and go slightly beyond their usual level of riding. Each individual trip is rated for difficulty and to help you decide if it’s right for you, please talk to us anytime.
When you’re riding with A’QTO, you’ll always have at least one ride guide on the road with the group, and most often, there will be two guides. To manage varying levels of fitness, we often break into two groups with a guide leading each small group. There will also be support vehicle, complete with a tool kit and spare parts not far away – usually closely behind the group and sometimes in a very nearby town. Your guides and support staff will be able to help you out with ride food and drink, as well as local knowledge, and first aid if you need it. They’ll do everything they can to keep you and your bike on the road but, if for any reason you need it, there will always be a seat in the support vehicle.
Yes, you can either rent or buy a bike through us in Italy.
For all of our tours, we have access to a range of quality carbon hire bikes and for L’Eroica, we can also arrange very good quality steel vintage bikes for rent. If you would like to rent a bike, please let us know when you book so we can guarantee the right size is available. Please also send us your fit measurements, so our bike suppliers and support staff can set up the bike for you, ready for the start of your trip. If you’re renting a bike, you need to remember to bring your helmet, pedals and saddle to your trip start.
If you would like to buy a bike in Italy, we can assist with custom made carbon or steel frame bikes by Stelbel, master custom frame builders in Italy with whom we partner. To have a custom-made bike made available for pick-up when you’re in Italy, we require 12 months notice to facilitate your bike build.
If you would like to buy a Steel Vintage Bike for L’Eroica, we have a very trusted source whom we recommend highly. Talk to us when booking.
We believe accommodation is a significant factor in your overall enjoyment of a trip so we always ensure high quality accommodation is included, with your own private bathroom guaranteed.
Depending on the locations, we stay in very good quality three-star-chalets or villas, through to small boutique hotels and sometimes, grand five-star hotels. We like to also have access to a kitchen / outdoor cooking facilities where possible so that we can entertain our guests with a blend of home-cooked dinner parties, often co-hosted with our hosts, and using beautiful local produce, alongside dining in a range of superb restaurants.
All of our trips include the option of some off-the-bike activities as we believe a big part of the enjoyment of a trip is to experience and appreciate the local areas we stay in, as well as riding across their amazing terrain. From wine tastings to must see sights and local cultural experiences, to exploring the villages and towns we are in, we like to include options for you to explore should you choose to. On all tours, you will often have free time post-ride and your choice of activity can often also include massages and visiting wellness centres, therapeutic pools and saunas in and around our accommodation.
Absolutely. A trip to Italy can be made all the more special by having your non-riding partner join you.
During the booking process, we encourage non-riding guests to speak to us about their interests. We devise a program for the non-riding group that is diverse, active and reflective of the places we visit. Whilst we aim to include varying and/or specific interests, this is not always possible. Non-riding guests generally enjoy a range of organized activities which can include spectacular walks and hikes, cooking classes and cheese, chocolate or olive oil appreciation, exploring towns, shopping and sightseeing (guided and unguided), and enjoying being part of a group with other non-riding guests.
For our Italy bike tours, we require all customers to pay a deposit of $1,995 AUD when they book, which confirms their reservation. The balance is then due 120 days before departure. If you book less than 120 days before departure, we will ask you to pay the full price upfront.
Bike hire and optional experiences are charged separately from the tour booking.
Yes, insurance is required for all of our Italian cycling tours. We strongly advise that you take out your Travel Insurance Policy at the time of booking as this will mean you will be covered immediately, should anything occur between your time of booking and departure / return to your home country.
Yes, it is a requirement of A’QTO that you provide a medical certificate to be eligible to participate in our Italy trips. We will provide you with the appropriate documentation and medical certificates when you book. We believe this is mostly for your protection and is very good practice to undertake prior to any trip where you may be pushing your physical limits.
Yes – we partner with a trusted travel agent in Melbourne, Australia.
From flights to accommodation, and ideas for pre and post travel, they can help with any aspect of your trip. They are committed to making your travel as enjoyable as we are.
Booking through a travel agent is no more expensive than the internet and can offer a personally tailored service – always ensuring the best value and travel experience. We’ll provide you with further details when booking.
If your pre and post tour travel is within Italy, talk to us anytime post booking as we have a range of suggestions and itineraries which we can help you with.
Absolutely. We create unique trips for groups of friends, business/corporate clients, and families, both in Australia and in Italy. We can tailor the tour to accommodate the amount of riding you want to do, to the amount of non-riding activity you’re interested in, locations, tour types and accommodation styles – whatever your timing and interests, please talk to us. We’ll create a personalised and memorable experience for you and your group.
