Please note the tour price reflected on the brochure is subject to change. Due to seasonality, and taxes prices of the tour are subject to change without due notice. Please consult with the operator directly for the recent price.
Cycle Sonoma & the Napa Valley
Premier
Overview
Highlights (Bullets)
- Make your way through California’s most famous wine county the relaxed way – with plenty of breaks for tastings along the way.
- Be (literally) dwarfed by nature in Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve, pedal through quaint Californian towns, past rolling fields and explore the petrified forest. With a leader that knows the area inside-out by your side, all you have to do is enjoy the journey.
- Swap wine country for dramatic ocean views as you cycle alongside the Russian River all the way to the seal colonies of seaside Jenner.
- The only thing better than the landscapes you’ll see and wine you’ll taste is the conversations you’ll have along the way, whether it’s the insights from your leader or stories from the group.
- Taste local produce at its finest – from legendary wines to the freshest California cuisine – with a local leader’s expert insight to guide you to the best spots.
- After an enjoyable day's ride enjoy a soft landing at your comfortable accommodation
Short Description
Combine wine, rugged coastline and the best Northern California has to offer as you cycle from stunning wine country to epic redwood forests and on to the rugged Pacific Ocean coast. With great weather, breathtaking scenery and over 500 vineyards, the valleys of Napa and Sonoma are a cyclist's paradise. Off the bike, you’ll find comfortable accommodation, wine tastings, amazing cuisine and a wealth of history to experience, and this cycling adventure takes in the best of it at a pace set to enjoy rather than race, making it a trip for every rider. If you're looking for an unforgettable vacation for all five of your senses, look no further.
Itinerary
Day 1 San Francisco - Napa to Sonoma Cycling
Welcome to your California cycling adventure. Leave San Francisco and head north across the world-renowned Golden Gate Bridge for the one-hour journey to the heart of the renowned Napa Valley winemaking region and the outskirts of Napa itself. Here you’ll be fitted to your bike and, after a short safety talk, start your first ride in Californian Wine Country, enjoying a gorgeous route through the pastoral beauty of the farms and vineyards. First stop of the day is the Artesa Vineyards & Winery in the foothills of Mt. Veeder – an iconic winery that blends perfectly into its environment – then continue riding this rolling vineyard-filled route towards the historic town of Sonoma, passing many stunning wineries along the way. Finish up your ride in Sonoma and drop into the tree-lined town plaza, visiting the historic Mission San Francisco Solano and the Sonoma Barracks. This is where the 1846 Bear Flag Revolt took place in a bid to separate California from Mexico. Refuel from your first ride tonight by choosing from the range of top-quality restaurants that line the square.
Day 2 Sonoma to Santa Rosa Cycling
After breakfast, saddle up and leave sleepy Sonoma behind, ride out through the rolling green hills and countless vineyards, passing the Jack London State Historic Village and Park as you begin the long but manageable tree-lined climb. Once the climbing is done it’s an enjoyable freewheeling descent all the way down into the Bennett Valley and the historic city of Santa Rosa, your home for the next two nights. While the largest city in California's Wine Country Santa Rosa still retains a small town vibe. Sadly the 1906 San Francisco earthquake destroyed the entire downtown but rebuilt centre is still a great place to spend the evening exploring the many excellent bars, cafes and restaurants.
Day 3 Santa Rosa - Napa Valley Cycling
After breakfast, you’ll avoid a long climb up the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains by transferring by vehicle (approximately 30 minutes) into the Napa Valley proper and the small town of Calistoga, home to world-famous geothermal hot spring pools and some of the finest Napa wineries including the Chateau Montelena which has its place in wine history with its 1976 win of the Judgement of Paris that put California on the world stage for wine quality. From here ride back into Sonoma County via the Franz Valley and over Chalk Hill to return to Santa Rosa for the evening.
Day 4 Cycle Santa Rosa to Healdsburg
Today leave Santa Rosa and pedal west along the picturesque and traffic-free Santa Rosa Creek Trail, a raised path with great views of the waterway, farms, vineyards, and mountains, then continue along mostly flat and quiet roads to the town of Sebastopol, once a prime apple-growing region now turned over into vineyards. Here, lining Florence Ave, you’ll be treated to the whimsical and slightly surreal sculptures made from scrap metal by a local artist couple. Then continue north on undulating roads to the Russian River Valley, one of the cooler wine-growing regions in northern California, specializing in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir – you’re free to stop to taste along the way to Healdsburg. Tonight is free for you to explore the town of Healdsburg, and your leader will have a number of suggestions for you in a town that’s as much about food as wine.
Day 5 Healdsburg - Redwoods & Russian River Cycling
Today is a true cycling highlight as you ride into the heart of Californian redwoods country at the Armstrong Redwoods State Park. It’s impossible not to marvel at the 1,400-year-old trees that tower over 300 feet high, so take some time to appreciate the majesty of nature. Then leave wine country behind and follow the Russian River through light forest all the way to the small coastal town of Jenner, where the river meets the Pacific Ocean. You’ll be able to take in the sight of harbor seals beached on the riverbank with the ocean waves crashing behind them. From here drive (approximately 1 hour) back to Healdsburg. This afternoon you’ll have some free time to simply relax. Or maybe consider enjoying the many tasting rooms in town or treating yourself to a massage at a nearby spa.
Day 6 Wine Country Cycling - San Francisco
The final ride of the week will include some truly classic wine country cycling as you spend the morning making your way from the Lake Sonoma Overlook (an amazing 360-degree hilltop view the across Lake Sonoma Bridge and the Russian River) downhill then along quiet back roads dotted with welcoming vineyards. At the end of the ride head back to the hotel, where you’ll have a chance to return to your room to freshen up and pack before departing Healdsburg. Take the drive back toward San Francisco, taking the leisurely route through the famed Napa Valley, visiting St Helena for lunch (and one last tasting) before arriving back at Fisherman’s Wharf around 3 pm.
Availability
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4,320 Intrepid Travel Travel Reviews & Ratings
Cycle Sonoma & the Napa Valley
Company Reviews
Sardines in a can
If any of us had been physically inflexible or overweight we could not have coped with the sleeping arrangements . It is impossible to sit on the top bunk and even turning over in bed requires considerable planning .
An adventure does not mean cutting back on basic essentials …
In our view there were too many people in too small a space .
Two complete strangers were also asked to sleep together in an extremely small double bed , which meant that one of them decided to sleep on deck or in the living space .
The only redeeming factor was our Skipper who is professional, friendly , informative and skilled .
I would recommend this trip if the numbers were reduced .
I feel totally cheated
Have not even started and not impressed
No help when things go wrong (seriously ill on trip)
Trip 1- I was taken very ill while in Vietnam and had to drop out of the tour. I had no help from the guide- no help with getting to a doctor (I don't speak Vietnamese and was too ill to get out of bed anyway), he didn't even assist with arranging a hotel room.
Trip 2- I've had to cancel an upcoming (2024) trip, but haven't received the refund despite phoning the customer service line several times. The people I talk to are nice, but don't seem to be able to actually get anything done. They just suggest waiting a bit longer- not sure how long they think is acceptable to hang on to someone's money really.
Check for other companies offtering the same trip
Once I had paid for my trips, it was very difficult to get in touch with Intrepid to ask a question.
During the trips, several times I was told something one day only to have the info change without any good reason. The guides need proper training about dealing with the heat. Some of use suffered from dehydration and heat stroke and the guides were quite flippant about it. I was told that the guides would not leave anyone behind, but it happened several times.
There was one guide (a trainee) who really took some of the pleasure out of my cycle tour. She spoke to me with a tone used for a child. This tone and her attitude to me almost bordered on harassment.
I went on a third cycling tour with a different company after my 2 with Intrepid and it was much better than my experience with Intrepid.
As the demand for ebikes rises, tour companies such as Intrepid need to increase their fleet of ebikes. They also don’t need to charge the huge amount to rent these ebikes. We only want to rent them, not buy them. As the cost of ebikes comes down, if should reflect in the rental price.
Ecuador guide Eitel made the tour…
Details
Flight & Transport Inclusions
All internal ground transport Bicycle (e-bike option available,subject to availability),Support vehicle
Group Size
Small Group - 24 max
Maximum Number of People in Group: 13
Accommodations
3 star Hotel (5 nights)
Guides
All Intrepid cycling group trips are accompanied by one of our cycling leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders. Our cycling leaders are all passionate cyclists, as you’d expect, but they also go through some pretty rigorous cycle-trip specific training. Each one has undergone on-road training and supervision and knows how to do safety checks, basic repairs and emergency first-aid. And at the end of the day they’re still regular Intrepid leaders, which means they will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you were interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip. As an extra safety precaution our cycling leader will provide you with the daily routes through RideWithGPS smartphone app and supply a phone holding strap to connect your phone to the handlebars. On this trip you will be accompanied by two local leaders - one to cycle with you, and one to drive the support vehicle.
Age Notes :
Min. Age: 15
Max Age: 99
Additional Information
Finish point
- Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SOMA
- 50 3rd St
- San Francisco
- 94103
- UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
- Phone: 1 4159746400
Trip ID#:
intrepid-SSXS
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