Biking is fun, green, and good for your health (an hour of moderate cycling burns about 600 calories). It’s also a great way to absorb a destination slowly and without barriers. Bike tours are becoming more and more popular worldwide and often organised around food, wine, and other themes. While avid cyclists frequently represent bike vacationers, regular travellers who are in decent shape can enjoy cycling tours, as well.  Here’s the low-down on five, fabulous cycling tours. 

1. Mediterranean Island Hopping 

Outdoor enthusiasts, photographers, and nature and water lovers will be dazzled by the dramatic beauty of Italian-influenced Sardinia and French-flavoured Corsica as they tour these fascinating Mediterranean islands by bicycle. This coastal route showcases the best of northern Sardinia and western Corsica and their respective Italian and French cultures. ciclismoclassico.com/trips/bike-tour-mediterranean

2. Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula

Italy’s neighbour to the East, Croatia offers idyllic cycling through a medieval landscape of castles and vineyards, all with a beautiful view of the Adriatic Sea. The terrain on this peninsula’s coast is perfect for the cyclist who wants to combine slightly rolling and hilly terrain with images of Croatia’s history and unspoiled beauty. ciclismoclassico.com/trips/bike-tour-croatia-istrian-peninsula

3. Glacier to Yellowstone Cycling

Riders will cross the Continental Divide over Going-to-the-Sun highway in Glacier National Park then parallel the Rocky Mountain Front all the way to Yellowstone National Park. The rewards are abundant with stunning views, glimpses of wildlife (grizzly bears and more), and a chance to pass through almost every type of terrain in the park, from large glacial lakes and cedar forests to windswept alpine tundra. thecyclinghouse.com/trip/glacier-yellowstone

4. Provence by Bike

The bicycle outfitter Ride & Seek has introduced a tour in the Provence region highlighting some of the “most beautiful villages of France” as ordained by the group Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. Destinations include St.-Rémy-de-Provence, Ansouis, Les Alpilles and the ruins of Glanum. Time off the bikes will allow for wandering the streets of St.-Rémy, birthplace of Nostradamus and the site of the sanitarium where van Gogh painted his final work. rideandseek.com/local/provence 

5. Chile Wine Adventure

Explore the best of the Santiago valley region on this active wine and cuisine adventure. Enjoy biking through vineyards, trekking in the Andes, culinary tasting experiences and sightseeing on a week-long Chile tour. Visit well known museums and hidden gems as you soak in the beautiful landscapes and quaint villages which make this region unique and intriguing.  Rides can customize and increase the biking distances for more advanced cyclists. adventure life.com/tours/chile-wine-adventure-3335