Best beginner bicycle tours in Ontario

Niagara Region

Niagara Wine Tours International

Cycle in and around Niagara-on-the-Lake, the first capital of Upper Canada, before Ontario was a province.

The Victorian homes and buildings are impeccably restored. The tour pace is leisurely, the scenery is lovely, and the terrain is flat. The best part is visiting wineries that were some of the first in the region, including Between the Lines Winery and Reif Estate Winery.

Led by local hosts, tours include some history about the region. Tours run alongside the Niagara River, country roads, orchards and vineyards. Choose a tour with a hearty lunch or a wine and cheese pairing. If you’re new to cycling, local guides will help fit you to the perfect bike before the ride.

Find more bicycle tours in Niagara-on-the-Lake and throughout the Niagara region.

Southeastern Ontario

Sandbanks Vacations 

Sandbanks Vacations offers a guided classic wine tour through Prince Edward County wine country. The Sip & Cycle Bike Tour travels approximately 20 kilometres. It starts at noon and runs until 6 p.m.—the end time varies depending on how many wineries you visit (typically, it’s about four).

A fun stop along the way is Chetwyn Alpaca Farm, where you can visit a herd of furry creatures.   

The route follows soft gravel along the almost 50-kilometre Millennium Trail on mostly rural country roads and towns. You will also pass small towns such as Picton, Wellington, Bloomfield, and Consecon.

Find more bicycle tours in Prince Edward County.

Kingston By Bike

Kingston By Bike offers a three-hour guided tour that provides a wealth of great information about Kingston, which was once in contention for the provincial capital.

Learn about the architectural styles and military structures such as the Martello Towers and Fort Henry. Cycle past the Kingston Penitentiary, which is now a tourist attraction. It was the first maximum security prison in Canada and endured riots, fires and hostage takings. The tour stops on the Waterfront Pathway for a snack of some chilled local fruit.

Greater Toronto Area

Toronto Bicycle Tours

Grab your passport because cycling through Toronto’s diverse neighbourhoods feels like crossing borders.

From Chinatown to Little Italy and eclectic Kensington Market to the chill vibes of the Toronto Islands, Toronto Bicycle Tours explores some of the coolest neighbourhoods in the city.

The tour routes are flat, and e-bikes are available. The company provides helmets, snacks and a guide. Family and custom tours are available if you want to keep it just for the family. 

Bruce, Grey and Simcoe

Born to Ride Bicycle 

Based in Barrie, Born to Ride Bicycle provides learn-to-ride workshops, bike rentals and custom guided tours, throughout Central Ontario. The tours traverse both paved and gravel terrain, or entirely dirt in the case of mountain bike tours.

The Huronia Beach Tour meanders up a climb overlooking the valley in Southern Georgian Bay (30 kilometres long). The Western Wetlands Tour near Orillia stops in Coldwater, a quaint village with Victorian-style homes and a Georgian-style library made from fieldstone.

Ride alongside some of the province’s most attractive waterways and lakes including Wasaga Beach and Lake Couchiching. For the adventurers, one tour includes a flight over Georgian Bay and another visits the Elmvale Jungle Zoo.

Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington

Changing Gears Adventures 

Local cyclist Vicky Rao is the knowledgeable guide for Changing Gears Adventures tours. Based in Goderich, the tours mainly travel along the Goderich to Guelph rail trail (G2G).

Half-day trips include a section of the trail, either near Guelph or Goderich. If you choose Goderich, the trail passes along Lake Huron and over the spectacular Menesetung Bridge with expansive views. If you’re feeling ambitious, add another few days to complete the 132-kilometre trail in one direction.

For something entirely different, Vicky also offers night riding. The Eyes to the Skies Night Tour is a one-of-a-kind night-riding tour with an astrophotographer where you can identify your favourite constellations by looking through a telescope at a local observatory. Lights are provided as you safely ride through the dark, then stop to gaze up at the nighttime sky. And, monthly, Vicky offers a full moon ride.

The Food and Flower Tour is a colourful way to sample the tastes and take in the region's sights.