Gravel bike holidays are surging in popularity, and it’s easy to see why. They open up quieter routes, wilder landscapes and a sense of adventure that you often can’t experience on the road.
I love gravel riding (you can read about my most recent escapade in Slovenia here) and within the Epic Road Rides team, we have interviewed every tour operator featured below to get a better sense of what the experts think make a truly great gravel experience.
This is not an exhaustive list of gravel tour operators. Instead, it is a carefully curated selection of companies we would happily suggest to our friends, based on our conversations with their teams and their approach to gravel cycling holidays.
Our aim is to help you get a feel for the different styles of trips available, so you can find the right fit for your next off-road adventure!
Fran Wilson is a cyclist based in the North East of England and has a particular passion for cycle touring. Her love for cycling has seen her take on some of the UK and Europe's best-known multi-day cycle routes, including the Hebridean Way, Camino de Santiago, the Via Francigena and the Trans Dinarica.
Fran was a core member of the Epic Road Rides writing team until March 2026. She continues to work in the cycling tourism industry and is excited to join our team of Community Contributors!
We’ve worked with all of the bike tour operators featured in this article over the years (there are links to our interviews with them in the relevant section). We have chosen to include them in this article because the gravel cycling experiences they offer are ones we’d suggest to a friend, or book ourselves, if we were planning a gravel bike adventure.
Always check current travel information and advice. For visitors from the UK, the UK government travel information pages are here.
1. Mont Ventoux with GravelUp
Gravel route on Ventoux (photo credit: GravelUp)
The riding
Riding Mont Ventoux from Sault on a gravel cycling tour offers a fresh take on one of France’s most famous summits.
Step away from the famous road climb and you discover a quiet web of forest tracks, ridge lines and stony farm roads. This is Ventoux at its most peaceful. You ride through raw Provençal landscapes, far from the busy asphalt that draws thousands each summer.
Local expertise matters here. GravelUp runs small-group tours with certified guides, pre-scouted routes and smooth logistics. You are led to big viewpoints, remote cafés and welcoming overnight stays. The focus stays firmly on riding, scenery and adventure.
What we love
We love how this experience shows a completely different side of Ventoux.
You avoid busy road climbs and instead follow hidden gravel lines through forests, plateaus and forgotten mountain tracks. The riding feels remote and calm and the sense of adventure is very real.
There is also real depth to the experience. You are not just ticking off a famous climb. You are discovering quiet landscapes, small villages and local food stops that many other riders never see.
What else they offer
GravelUp runs small-group gravel cycling tours across France and beyond. As well as a point to point gravel tour of Mont Ventoux, they also offer a shorter 3-day centre-based tour exploring the trails around this iconic peak.
Their current destinations include the Basque Country, Brittany, Swiss Alps, Ventoux, Grands Causses, Champagne, Norway, Andalusia, Côte d’Azur, Provence, Pyrenees, Corsica, Vosges and Morvan.
Tours range from short, centre-based escapes to multi-day, place-to-place adventures. E-gravel bikes are available, making these trips suitable for mixed-ability groups.
More information
- Mont Ventoux from Sault, for an in-depth guide to this route based on an interview with GravelUp.
- Gravel cycling in France, for another in-depth from GravelUp.
- GravelUp’s website to find out more.
2. Sardinia with Saddle Skedaddle
Early morning gravel riding along the Cabras Lagoon on the Sinis Peninsula (photo credit: Lighttrapper Photography via Saddle Skedaddle)
The riding
Gravel riding in Sardinia is remote, varied and wonderfully quiet. The island is criss-crossed by farm tracks, forestry roads, old railway lines and rugged tracks that feel made for gravel bikes. Routes move away from busy coastal areas and into open plains, rolling farmland and low mountain terrain, where the riding becomes more adventurous and isolated.
You’ll encounter fast, hard-packed gravel, dusty limestone tracks and rougher, rock-strewn climbs, especially as you push inland. The riding balances long, flowing sections with short, punchy efforts and delivers big scenery without the crowds found in more famous European gravel destinations.
What we love
We love how this trip showcases how wild and untouched Sardinia is for gravel riding. It’s easy to ride for hours without seeing traffic or other cyclists, which makes every day feel like a real adventure.
The landscapes are constantly changing, from coastal lagoons such as the Cabras lagoon and bird-filled wetlands to oak forests, abandoned mining tracks and tiny rural villages such as Assolo and Mogorella. It feels authentic, quiet and deeply connected to local life.
What else they offer
Saddle Skedaddle runs guided and self-guided cycling holidays around the world, covering road, gravel, mountain biking, leisure and family-style trips. Their tours range from fully supported small-group adventures to independent, hotel-to-hotel rides with luggage transfers.
Beyond Sardinia, they operate trips across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, creating carefully planned cycling experiences for riders of all abilities and travel styles.
More information
- Cycling Sardinia, for a detailed guide on riding in Sardinia including how Saddle Skedaddle can help.
- Saddle Skedaddle’s website, to find out more.
3. Heart of Puglia landscapes with Puglia Cycle Tours
Exploring the picturesque Itria Valley (photo credit: Puglia Cycle Tours)
The riding
Gravel riding in the heart of Puglia is gentle, scenic and full of character. You ride on pale limestone farm tracks, dirt roads and quiet rural lanes that wind through olive groves, vineyards and low rolling hills.
The riding is technically straightforward, with mostly hard-packed surfaces and occasional loose gravel or rougher patches. Routes link small stone villages, dry-stone walls and wide, open farmland, with stretches through wild parkland such as the Murge and Terra delle Gravine.
It is more about rhythm and scenery than technical difficulty, offering long, flowing days with a strong sense of place.
What we love
We love the contrast between landscapes here.
One minute you are pedalling through endless olive trees, the next you are skirting canyons, rock-cut settlements and vast open plateaus. The atmosphere feels calm and deeply rooted in tradition. It is a region that rewards slow travel and curious riders.
What else they offer
Puglia Cycle Tours delivers guided and self-guided cycling holidays across southern Italy. Their portfolio includes road, gravel and leisure tours, as well as centre-based and point-to-point itineraries.
They provide local support, bike hire, luggage transfers and tailored trips, with a strong focus on cultural experiences, regional food and small, characterful accommodation.
More information
- Cycling tours in Puglia, for more on cycling routes in Puglia and how Puglia Cycle Tours can help.
- Puglia Cycle Tours’ website, to find out more.
4. Cazorla National Park with Sierra Sports and Tours
Admiring the views of Cazorla National Park (photo credit: Sierra Sports & Tours)
The riding
Cazorla National Park is big, remote and heavy on mountains – making it one of the more iconic gravel bike routes. You ride a mix of hard-packed forestry tracks, limestone gravel and old four-wheel-drive roads that climb onto high plateaus and drop into deep valleys.
The surfaces vary from smooth white gravel to rougher, rock-strewn sections that keep the riding engaging without being overly technical.
Routes follow turquoise reservoirs, mountain streams and long ridgelines, with wide open views and long, steady climbing, including peaks like El Yelmo, rising up 1,800 metres. The riding feels adventurous and expansive, delivering a real sense of space.
What we love
We love the scale and silence of this landscape. The high plateaus feel almost otherworldly, with wide skies and empty tracks stretching to the horizon.
The wildlife encounters, especially soaring vultures, add to the raw, untouched feel. It’s a place where every ride feels like a proper expedition.
What else they offer
Sierra Sports and Tours delivers guided (and some self-guided) cycling holidays across southern Spain, covering both road and gravel.
They operate fully supported small-group tours with local guides, support vehicles and mechanical backup. They’re an owner-run company with high attention to detail and ensuring their guests have a fantastic experience.
Their wider portfolio includes road cycling trips around Granada and Andalucía, designed for riders who want challenging routes with expert local support.
More information
- Cycling Granada, for a detailed dive into the region and the bike holidays that Sierra Sports & Tours offers.
- Sierra Sports & Tours’ website, to find out more.
5. Carretera Austral with Cicloaustral
Heading towards General Carrera Lake (photo credit: Cicloaustral)
The riding
Riding the Carretera Austral is remote, rugged and demanding. You cover long distances between towns on a mix of rough gravel and sealed roads, with frequent rolling climbs and sustained ascents.
Surfaces range from hard-packed dirt to loose, corrugated sections that reward steady pacing and good bike handling. Expect some big elevation, with over 8,501 metres of elevation gain to conquer on the Southern Carretera Austral alone. There’s also fast-changing weather to contend with, and riders will experience a true sense of isolation as they cycle through sparsely populated regions.
The northern section combines smoother asphalt with stretches of gravel, while the southern section leans heavily towards off-road, with fewer services and longer gaps between resupply. It is point-to-point riding at its most raw.
What we love
We love the grandeur of the landscapes that this tour traverses and the sense it brings of riding through real wilderness.
Turquoise rivers, hanging glaciers and empty gravel roads make every day feel like a small expedition. The sense of achievement after each stage is hard to beat.
What else they offer
Cicloaustral runs guided and self-supported tours along the Carretera Austral. They offer gravel bike hire (plus other options to suit your needs), navigation support, luggage transfers and local guides.
Their team also creates tailor-made itineraries for riders who want a customised Patagonia cycling experience.
More information
- Guide to cycling the Carretera Austral, for a detailed look at the route and how Cicloaustral can help you tackle this Patagonian adventure.
- Cicloaustral’s website, to find out more.
What’s next?
Do you love the idea of gravel bike holidays? Perhaps you have been on a gravel bike tour already? Let us know in the comments below!
Or, if you’re looking for more inspiration, don’t miss:
- What is gravel bike touring, for a clear introduction to what gravel touring really involves.
- 9 best gravel bike adventures in Europe, for more inspiration on epic gravel bike trails to explore.
- Guide to gravel cycling in Austria, for alpine routes, forest tracks and mountain scenery.
- Gravel cycling Girona, to explore one of Europe’s most famous gravel riding hubs.
- Gravel cycling in the Algarve, for a look at coastal trails and quiet inland tracks.
- Trans Dinarica: Gravel bike touring in Slovenia, for a deep dive into one of Europe’s newest long-distance gravel routes.
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Looking for an organised cycling trip?
If you want someone to help you plan and book your cycling holiday, fill out this form. We aren’t a tour operator/agent but we work with lots of people who are and will do our best to put you in touch with someone that can help (within 24 hours where possible)!Fran Wilson is a cyclist based in the North East of England and has a particular passion for cycle touring. Her love for cycling has seen her take on some of the UK and Europe's best-known multi-day cycle routes, including the Hebridean Way, Camino de Santiago, the Via Francigena and the Trans Dinarica.
Fran was a core member of the Epic Road Rides writing team until March 2026. She continues to work in the cycling tourism industry and is excited to join our team of Community Contributors!
First Published: 06 April 2026
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