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Pages on this topic: Overview, Tour of Thailand, Tour of Scotland, Tour of the Mosel and Rhine River Valleys.
Overseas vacation tours, 2008
Overview
2008 is our twenty-fourth year of overseas touring, and this year we will travel to one new location (Thailand) plus visit two old favorites (Mosel and Rhine valleys, Scotland). We are really looking forward to these trips, and hope you can join us.
Our overseas tours are usually 16 days long. You bring your bike and we provide the rest: first class accommodations, most of the evening meals, full breakfast, complete sag support, mechanical service, maps, get-together parties before the tour, and experienced tour leaders. We usually ride 30 to 40 miles per day and our groups vary from roughly 20 to 30 people. For detailed information about tour itineraries, how the tours work and how much they cost, contact Donald N. Humphries: telephone 314-739-4648, fax 314-739-4972, email donaldh@touringcyclist.com
Tour of Thailand – January 1 through January 17, 2008
This is our first TC Tours bicycle trip to Thailand, although we have visited the country before by bus and are using a very experienced in-country agency (SpiceRoads) to book our accommodations, meals, support staff, etc. We expect this to be the premier tour of the year, and already had a long list of prospective riders even before officially announcing the tour.
The tour starts in Bangkok and heads north, following the Chao Praya River (the “River of Kings”) valley. Highlights along the way will include the ancient capitals of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, and the city of Chiang Mai in the north of the country. Most of the route follows river valleys so the grades will be gentle, with just a few hills in the north. We expect moderate weather with high temperatures in the 80’s and lows in the 60’s and 70’s. All our hotels will have air conditioning, as will the support vehicle.
The land package costs $2500 per person (double occupancy). This covers lodging, transportation in Thailand, almost all meals, and fees for admission to the museums and excursions we will take while there. Round trip airfare from St. Louis, Missouri costs $1350 per person, plus $130 for one piece of oversized luggage (your bicycle). A deposit of $200 (refundable within 60 days) is required to hold a reservation to join us on this tour.
A complete itinerary is available.
Tour of Scotland, June 21 through July 6, 2008
Scotland is a land of infinite variety and contrast. On this tour we will see deep, crystal blue lochs and magnificent mountains, beautiful islands and jagged sea cliffs, bleak and desolate moors and rich pastoral farm land, austere castles and rugged ruins next to quaint villages full of the very friendly Scottish people. This being summer in the British Isles, we can also expect contrasts in weather, ranging from fog and rain to hot sun, often all in the same day!
This tour follows a roughly triangular course through the north of the country. We fly into Glasgow, then take a motor coach to Edinburgh, the country’s capital. The cycling starts here, and we proceed north through the highlands to Loch Ness and Inverness. From there we head back southwest, through the Glen Coe mountains to Glasgow, Scotland’s most populous city and cultural center.
Riding a bicycle is by far the best way to see this country. You’ll see some tremendous sights and meet some wonderful people, in ways that never happen in a car or on a tour bus. We hope you join us on this trip, you’ll find out just how great touring the world by bicycle can be!
Check here for a tour itinerary.
Tour of the Mosel and Rhine River Valleys, July 19 through August 3, 2008
This is our fifth time to visit these two river valleys in France and Germany. It is our easiest tour—other than optional climbs out of the river valleys to see castles and vineyards, almost the entire tour follows bike paths along the river banks and can be ridden in a single gear. Despite the easy terrain, the tour still passes through excellent scenery. You’ll see some of the most historic towns in all of Germany and France, ending in Heidelberg, one of the most beautiful cities in all of Europe.
The Mosel River Valley (known as Moselle while in France) has retained its charm because its residents have worked hard to keep the valley rural, not industrial. Riding along the Mosel feels like a trip through time, with farmholds and villages seemingly unchanged for 100 years. The Rhine is a central transportation link in Germany and its valley is more developed, but even here the ever-present castles brooding on the ridge tops remind you that this land knows its past.
Wine is the most famous export of the Mosel valley, a product of over 1000 years of grape production. Many days while riding beside the Mosel you will be surrounded by vineyards as far as the eye can see.
Beer is the German national beverage, and while in the Rhine region you’ll have a chance to sample more than a few of the brews produced by the over 1200 breweries throughout the country. All told, if you like history, castles, fine food, wine and beer, you can’t help but enjoy this tour!
An itinerary of the tour is available.
Find out more…
For more information about our overseas tours, please contact:
Donald N Humphries
The Touring Cyclist, Inc.
11816 St. Charles Rock Road
Bridgeton, MO 63044
tel: 314-739-4648
fax: 314-739-4972
email: donaldh@touringcyclist.com