More detailed descriptions can be found on the Ride Rating System page
† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $150 for all other countries, both are per participant.
OVERVIEW: Join us for an incredible adventure, cycling between Dresden and Copenhagen. We’ll get to explore these two amazing cities, plus Berlin and many other historic towns along the way. This point-to-point ride begins in Dresden, Germany near the Czech border, extends northerly through Germany to the Baltic Sea; after a short ferry ride into Denmark, we end in Copenhagen, Denmark’s beautiful capital city. This ride has been planned in cooperation with, and is supported by, Best European Bike Tours, a commercial cycling tour company specializing in European bike adventures.
The trip starts in Dresden, the historic capital of Saxony situated on the banks of the Elbe River. Our route to Berlin takes us through forested nature reserves and charming small towns. Our first non-cycling day (Day 5) is in Berlin, where we’ll take a historical walking tour of the East Side Gallery, and see this unique monument to the fall of the Berlin wall. The countryside around Berlin is beautiful, gently rolling and forested countryside dotted with natural lakes, meadows and fields. We will visit historical sites along the way eventually arriving in the city of Lubeck, Germany’s most extensive UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will have a day off (Day 10) to explore this unique and remarkable city situated on the Trave River, which connects the city to the Baltic coast. We then cycle through a maritime environment to the northern tip of Germany, passing through charming villages with Baltic architecture, stopping at Fehmarn Island, a popular resort area. We will take a short ferry ride to Denmark and spend a few days on the bike paths and countryside roads of rural Denmark, arriving in Copenhagen on Day 13. A detailed itinerary will be available in the Ride Leader Documents.
The trip is suitable for road as well as hybrid bikes. Our route is predominately along small, quiet, and picturesque roads with as little car traffic as possible or on bike paths that will enhance your sightseeing experience. Except for a few sections, the roads and bike paths are paved.
Highlights include the following.
This ride officially ends in Copenhagen, after breakfast on Monday, July 5th. This ride has been scheduled to end on the starting day of the BAC Copenhagen to Gothenberg Ride (Ride Leader Albert Balingit) which starts from the same hotel in Copenhagen. Our ride ends the morning July 5th and the second ride begins the afternoon/evening of July 5th.
HEALTH AND SAFTEY: Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride. Should someone's health become compromised and the group’s health and safety placed in jeopardy, a plan will be developed by the ride leader(s) and communicated to all individuals. The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness to ensure the tour can continue as planned.
RIDE RATING: This ride is rated 1C. The average riding day is 51.5 miles, and ranges from 44 to 66 miles. There are a total of 10 riding days with five days below 50 miles and five days greater than 50 miles per day. There are 2 non-riding days. The terrain is flat, with an average per day climb of only 410 feet.
Participants are expected to ride the entire route each day; the luggage transport van does not support riders on the road except those with significant injuries, or whose bikes have a major mechanical issue. For a detailed itinerary with daily distances contact the Ride Coordinator.
CUE SHEETS, MAPS, GPS FILES: GPS files in .gpx and. tcx format will be provided for all the routes on this tour. Participants will need to have the RWGPS App (Ride with GPS) on their phone or equivalent GPS device (Garman, Wahoo). Whichever navigation device you choose, you must come to the tour knowing how to use it. A few weeks before the tour, the Ride Coordinator will send an email containing a link to our tour EVENT file which contains all the routes. It is recommended that you download the routes before leaving home. Note that both the paid and free versions of the RWGPS app provides audible turn-by-turn directions for our EVENT. Printed cue sheets will also be available for the tour.
WEATHER: The weather in late June and early July in eastern Germany includes relatively cool but pleasant cycling temperatures, with lows in the high 50’s and highs in the mid-70s. In Copenhagen and nearby coastal regions, the temperatures tend to be a few degrees cooler. The probability of rain occurring over the period of this ride is 25%.
LODGING, MEALS, & HAPPY HOUR MEETINGS: This is a 14-day, point-to-point tour starting in Dresden and ending in Copenhagen. As we travel thru the countryside between the two major cities, we will be staying primarily in four-star and a few three-star hotels. The list of the hotels will be sent to the ride participants before the start of the ride, and a copy of the list will be posted in the Ride Leader Documents. There will be 7 group dinners, leaving you 6 evenings to choose your own dining options (a list of suggested restaurants and cafes will be provided). Lunches will be on your own most days, as food is available in towns along the route. Breakfast will be included at all our hotels including the last day.
We will have group Happy Hour Meetings in the late afternoon/early evenings which will include one alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink and light snacks. The purpose of the Happy Hour is to have fun, make new friends and reconnect with old friends, but we will also be covering important information regarding the following day’s route, safety, weather as well as logistics for luggage loading, tours, and other details.
LOGISTICS: This trip starts at our hotel in Dresden on Tuesday, June 22 at 2:00pm. We will have a brief welcome and introductions followed by a group walking tour of the Zwinger Palace. Participants renting bikes will be fitted before our first group dinner that evening.
Dresden Airport is located 7 miles from the city center. There are both public transportation buses and reasonably priced shuttle as well as taxi services from the airport to the hotel. Participants can fly into Dresden Airport (DRS) via a 1-hour connecting flight from Munich International Airport.
This trip ends at our hotel in Copenhagen the morning of Monday July 5, after our final breakfast. The Copenhagen Airport (CPH) is located 4 miles from the city center. There are easy and fast public transportation options (trains and buses) as well as taxi services to get from the hotel to the airport.
· Van Support: The support van will transport the luggage between hotels. Participants are expected to ride the entire route and will be transported only in the case of injury, illness or major mechanical failure.
· Luggage: We request that each participant limit luggage to one medium sized suitcase or duffel bag (40lb max) and a small backpack. You will be responsible for moving your luggage to and from the luggage van.
· Bicycles: Single, tandem, and E-bikes are all eligible for this trip. Please communicate with the Ride Coordinator if you plan to use a tandem or an E-bike. If you bring your own bike, be sure that it is in good mechanical condition, and that you have spare tubes, a patch kit, etc. The routes are predominately on paved roads and bike paths except for a few short distances which may be on cobblestone or compacted gravel; standard road bike tires of at least 28mm are suggested to provide rider comfort. Individuals bringing their own bikes can make arrangements with Best European Bike Tours to transport bike boxes from the starting hotel in Dresden to the final hotel in Copenhagen for a fee of 110 Euro.
· Bike Rental: Best European Bike Tours has a variety of fully serviced modern standard road and electric cross or electric mountain bikes available to rent. Those wanting to rent a bike will need to work directly with the tour company; please contact them at info@besteuropeanbiketours.com .
Standard bikes that are currently available include:
o Fuji Absolute 2, 3, and 4, flat handlebars
o Fuji Newest 1 and 2, drop handlebars
o Fuji Roubaix 1.3, drop handlebars
o Fuji Sportif 2.1, drop handlebars
o Electric cross or mountain bikes are also available
The rental bikes come with a rear luggage rack, bungie cord, extra tube and levers, water bottle cage and pump. Upon request, they can also be fitted with an odometer and a lock. The price for renting a non-electric bike for this tour is $200 for Fuji Absolute or $270 for Fuji Newest, Fuji Sportif or Fuji Roubaix.
E-Bikes that are currently available are cross or mountain bikes. Participants planning on renting an E-bike for this tour should be experienced riding models like those that they rent. Those wanting to rent an E-bike will need to work directly with the tour company regarding brand, features and cost. The cost for renting an E-bike is higher than for a non-electric bike. Please contact the tour company at info@besteuropeanbiketours.com .
COST & ADMINISTRATION: The estimated cost of this tour is $5060 per person double occupancy based on the US dollar, but it may be adjusted if the exchange rate exceeds $1.25=1 €. The initial payment of $2200 is due upon acceptance to the ride. The second payment of $2400 will be due February 1, 2027, approximately 4 months before the tour begins. A final payment of approximately $460 will be due on April 1, 2027, approximately 10 weeks before the tour starts. The final payment amount may be adjusted according to the currency exchange rate (> $1.25=1 €) on or about March 1st. Payments for double occupancy must be made by credit card through the BAC website. The additional payments for singles or solo participants are described below.
The price includes 13 nights lodging in 4-star to 3-star hotels with breakfast included, 7 group dinners, 11 Happy Hour meetings with one alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage per person and light snacks. Van support with light snacks and water stops along the routes will also be included. Luggage transport between hotels is included. We will be co-led and accompanied by the bilingual Best European Bike Tours company owner, Ludvik Grec on the cycling routes, at the group dinners, and during the evening Social Hour meetings. A standard gratuity for the staff of commercially assisted tours is included in the cost.
This tour includes entrance fees to the following historic/cultural sites:
The cost of this tour does not include:
SINGLES AND SOLOS POLICY: Singles and solos are welcome on this tour. A “single” is a member who signs up by himself or herself and wishes to share a room with another participant. A “solo” is a member who signs up by himself or herself and does not wish to share a room. Due to room availability at some hotels, only 2 solo participants will be accepted onto the tour.
It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own. However, after receipt of the initial deposit, a single rider without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until March 1, 2027 to find a roommate. If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fee) or pay the Solo Supplement cost of $1400 and stay on the ride. If a single pays the supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary. The Ride Leader will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride. Singles may of course request to share a room with another club member, and an effort will be made to accommodate the request. Members seeking specific roommates should communicate their wishes to the ride coordinator at the earliest opportunity.
The solo supplement payment of ($1400), is due on March 1, 2027 and can be paid by Zelle or check. To pay using Zelle:
If you have questions, contact Nancy Bohnett via email at nbohnett@bicycleadventureclub.org. Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check and mailed to: Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193.
RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY: Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. For our Dresden to Copenhagen trip, participants should come prepared to comfortably complete 45-60 mile days on flat to very slightly rolling terrain.
All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from the Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and cleanup. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you might have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.
EU EUROPEAN TRAVEL INFORMATION AND AUTHORIZATION (ETIAS) and ENTRY/EXIT SYSTEMS - TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION: EES Entry/Exit System is in place as of April 10, 2026 for Americans traveling to European Union countries for stays of less than 90 days. EES is a digital IT system that records when non-EU national travelers enter and exit individual EU countries and is designed to make border checks faster and to enhance security.
ETIAS is expected to be operational in the last quarter of 2026. The ETIAS process will require short-term travelers to apply online, pay a $20 fee if you are under 70 years of age (free for those over 70 years old) and then wait up to 96 hours for applications to be approved. The authorization is good for a three-year period or until the traveler’s passport expires – whichever comes first. Unlike the EES, ETIAS will not be required for a layover if you remain within the airport's international transit area and do not leave to enter the country itself.
For both the EES and ETIAS programs, airlines will be required to notify passengers in advance of their flights, allowing enough time for them to complete the approval process. BAC will continue to update members as these travel requirements change.
CANCELLATION POLICY: The BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour. In the case where an individual withdraws from the tour, refunds of their tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on the costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost because of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant cannot be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the canceling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. The cancellation policy of our commercial tour company is consistent with the BAC policy. Please note that the BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.
INSURANCE STATEMENT: BAC maintains two insurance policies: a) United States, and b) Foreign (all other countries). Both the U.S. and Foreign policies are considered secondary policies to your personal medical insurance policy. They are subject to a $1000 deductible and may not cover all expenses related to an accident. Copies of the current policies are located under the “Docs” tab on the BAC website.
Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your personal medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. While touring internationally, i.e., outside of the U.S.), BAC maintains foreign accident insurance to assist with expenses related to accidents, medical emergencies (including sudden and unexpected sickness), and repatriation. Insurance will apply door-to-door for treatment and travel for a maximum of 90 days overall. Coverage extends to a limited period spanning the published BAC trip dates, allowing for side trips occurring before and after the BAC ride; the limitation period is 7 days before or after the published BAC trip dates. The policy covers the cost of treatment for Covid and other unexpected illnesses, but not quarantine.
SIGN-UP: To register for this ride, use the highlighted sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL) and to pay by credit card, both the Tour Deposit and the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee. The BAC Ride Registration cost includes the $150.00 international ride fee and Payment Processing fees. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.
Bicycle Adventure Club
PO BOX 23998 San Diego, CA 92193
Telephone (858) 715-9510 office@bicycleadventureclub.org