The bike and barge format is the one most people picture. You board in Venice or Mantua, settle into a cabin, and the boat moves to the next stage while you ride. Days are spent on quiet minor roads and bikeways, with a local guide leading the way to the day's highlights. Evenings are on deck or in the salon, with meals cooked for cyclists and a drink as the sun goes down. The Mantua to Venice route takes in Ferrara's walled town and the wetlands of the Po delta; the reverse route adds Lugana white wine and fresh seafood cooked to traditional recipes.

In summer 2027 there is a new bike and boat holiday between Venice and Treviso that trades cities for beaches. Each day brings a different stretch of sand, plus the islands of Burano, Murano and Albarella, and food cooked on board in the traditional style. Bring swimwear and a towel.

The Aeolian Islands trip north of Sicily mixes cycling, hiking and sailing on a small, characterful vessel. The seven islands — Lipari, Salina, Vulcano, Stromboli, Filicudi, Alicudi and Panarea — are all UNESCO World Heritage sites, volcanic in origin and very different from one another. The standout day is the volcano hike on Stromboli.

Tuscany is covered by a self-guided bike and hotel tour from Pisa to Florence, through rolling hills, vineyards and cypress-lined roads, past the homes of Leonardo da Vinci and Giacomo Puccini, with stops in villages known for their food. You choose your own hotel level and set your own daily pace.

The second self-guided option follows the Adige cycle route from Bolzano in the Dolomites down to Venice on the Adriatic, passing Lake Garda and Verona, with a recommended ice-cream stop in Vicenza. Puglia, the heel of Italy, is also on the list, cycling between the Ionian and Adriatic seas through an ancient landscape with hotels in two categories.

What's included

- Overnight stays (self-guided bike and hotel tours) - Bicycle or e-bike rental (self-guided bike and hotel tours) - Route descriptions or GPS tracks - Luggage transport - Airport transfers - Service support line - Onboard accommodation, meals and a local cycling guide (bike and barge tours)

What's not included

- International flights - Travel insurance - Drinks and personal expenses - Meals not specified for your chosen tour - Anything not listed as included for your chosen tour