This is the form of touring that my partner and I always opt for. A guided tour allows us to concentrate on riding and taking in the sights and experiences. We decide on the approximate location(s) we want to ride in and then start examining the many cycle touring websites offering guided cycle tours in the location(s) of choice. Depending on the company, the offerings may be a collection of rides per location, or they may be divided into categories such as bike and barge, on road, off road, bike and hotel, family friendly, short rides, medium rides, etc. Within many of these categories there will also be degrees of difficulty ranging from really easy on flat roads and trails through to big, adventurous climbs up or through mountains. 

Having chosen the type and location, a guided tour will usually start with a gathering on the afternoon of day one during which rented bikes are fitted to each rider, people are introduced (we have ridden in situations where we were the only riders with our guide through to groups of riders up to 32 in number with four guides provided. In the main though, the number in group with a guide usually is in the range of 6 to 12).

The introductory day will usually include a short ride to allow you to familiarise yourself with your bike and experience riding with the group and your guide. The ride is also useful for those who bring their own pedals, seats and/or bikes with most people in the latter category being those that can easily access the tour from their home. 

On a week long tour on land , there is usually a van/bus capable of carrying all luggage from hotel to hotel first thing each morning. The van is driven by the mechanic(s) who return to shadow the group as the day progresses to act as a sag wagon if needed or to provide mechanical services. Alternatively, the van/bus will be big enough for smaller groups to carry all luggage in the back, provide sag wagon services for the riders and carry bikes from those riders on a roof rack. Our ride in 2024 from Sienna to Elba Island in Tuscany, Italy started with four of us being collected in Lucca and driven to Sienna in a Road Bike Tours Italy mini bus with six persons, their luggage and five bikes all stowed in the bus.

Often with smaller tours, the tour support will be two persons, who swap roles each day. On the first day one rides and guides while the other drives, provides refreshments and water and acts as mechanic. They then swap on alternate days. Some tours will have the guides providing lunch as well, while others may either take you to a cafe or restaurant so you can do your own thing or simply point you in the right direction once you enter a town or city.

Other benefits gained through going guided are that the guides provide all directions, know the location and will take you to see the really interesting sights (including those that are not immediately obvious to those making their own arrangements), take you to dinner venues that you might not find on your own and make sure you don't get lost.   Also, depending on the price, you might find yourself staying in 5 star accommodation, eating in top restaurants (some of which are Michelin rated) and trying out fabulous wines.

Over the last few years we have begun to join tours in Europe that often include riders with Riding Experience 3. That is riders without much riding experience, but who are fit and believe that a seven day tour is within their scope and to date they have not been wrong. The advent of rented e-bikes has certainly made it easier for novice riders to complete one week tours such as the Dalmatian Islands Tour of Southern Croatia which involved lots of climbing and daily distances of 40-60 kms.  

However, if you are a novice and proposing to join a tour and hire a normal hybrid or road bike, I would suggest that you look for tours that are relatively flat. For example the French Cycling Holidays Chateaus of the Loire Valley Tour we did in 2019 was basically flat and the several novice riders coped without major problems. (Riding Experience 3,4,5 or 6)

My partner and I have joined many guided  tours over the last 15 years and have been lead by some wonderful guides, but not always.  As a result we now prefer to join tours based on who is the guide, as much as where the tour goes.