The Spectacular Finger Lakes

Enjoy World-Class Vineyards, Stunning Natural Beauty and Charming Small Towns

Mighty waterfalls, rolling vineyards, farmland and historic villages: The Finger Lakes of Upstate New York has it all and more!

Destination

New York

Activity

Biking

Level

Intermediate

Duration

6 days / 5 nights

If you are a food and wine lover and have ridden in Napa, Tuscany, or the South of France, add the Finger Lakes to the top of your Bike Tour Bucket List. If you love big open views, silky smooth roads, and rolling farmland along stunning lakes, then this is the ride for you! Wine Connoisseurs take note: you will visit the Konstantine Frank vineyard whose founder, Dr. Konstantin Frank introduced vinifera to the region starting a winemaking renaissance in the region.

From $2,995 PP 6 days / 5 nights

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Explore the spectacular Finger Lakes and see why it’s earned the distinction as one of Travel and Leisure’s Top Travel Destinations! Home to almost 100 wineries and breweries, our bike tour weaves between three of the largest and deepest of the Finger Lakes–Cayuga, Seneca, and Keuka. You’ll visit unique and world-class wineries, ride along the shores of lakes, view stunning waterfalls, and visit fascinating sites, including the Women’s Rights National Historical Park, the spell-binding Watkins Glen State Park, and Taughannock Falls State Park, home of the highest waterfall in the eastern US. The Finger Lakes Wine Country has a rich cultural history with ties to glassmaking, winemaking and viticulture, aviation and motorcycle history, literary history, the Underground Railroad, and the Civil War. In addition to smooth and quiet cycling, this history provides unique cultural experiences. Foodies will be in heaven as food producers in the Finger Lakes make some of the freshest meats, cheeses, and shelf products to be found anywhere. We will visit area craft breweries and ice cream makers, wine tastings and an exclusive visit to the Dr. Konstantin Frank Vineyard on Keuka Lake, where the Finger Lakes wine revolution started. Bring your camera, your curiosity, and your taste buds!

Tour Essence

Daily rides along silky smooth roads that follow the shores of Cayuga, Seneca and Keuka Lakes
Wine tasting at the world-class Dr. Konstantin Frank vineyard
Two night stay at the Inn at Glenora Winery, rooms with stunning views of Seneca Lake
Visit to the unique Three Brothers Winery, microbrewery and cafe
Visit the village of Seneca Falls, where the women’s rights movement in the United States started
Visit George Bailey’s (It’s a Wonderful Life) bridge in Seneca Falls
Visit 215-foot Taughannock Falls, the tallest single-drop waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains.
Explore Watkins Glen State Park and its cascading waterfalls and breathtaking gorges
Enjoy a vintage biker’s dream at the Glenn Curtiss Museum, named after the pioneer in aviation and bicycle frame builder in the picturesque village of Hammondsport.
Stay at La Tourelle Spa on a lovely estate nestled on 70 acres minutes from Ithaca
Enjoy the Top Photos of the Finger Lakes

What to Expect

Terrain

Rolling Vineyards and Lake views

Start Location

Ithaca, NY

End Location

Ithaca, NY

Mileage

Average Daily: 45 miles Total: 272 miles

Elevation

Average Daily: 1,933 feet Total: 11,600 feet

Once you have a trip confirmed, we will feed you a steady diet of additional pre-departure information that includes: How to train, prepare, pack and all the wonderful, inspirational and practical things you want and need to know before you go! Our Travel Advisors will be available to help plan your pre- and post-tour travel.

Van Support
The services of 2-3 bike tour guides
Wine tasting at the world-class Dr. Konstantin Frank vineyard
Abundant Snacks
Ciclismo Classico jersey
Cultural visits and tours

*Alcoholic beverages are NOT included

Bring your own! Bikes are not included for this specific trip.

Call us if you need a rental bike!

All accommodations,
All breakfasts
2 lunches
4 dinners

Wine tasting at the world class Dr. Konstantin Frank vineyard, plus stops at other Finger Lakes vineyards.
Visit to women’s rights crusade landmarks in Seneca Falls
Ride across the George Bailey “It’s a Wonderful Life” bridge in Seneca Falls
Visit to the Glenn Curtiss Aviation Museum in Hammondsport
Visit to Watkins Glen State Park, with its spectacular gorge and Rainbow Falls
Visit Taughannock Falls, the highest single-drop waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains.

Itinerary

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Start Location

Ithaca, NY

Fly Into

Ithaca, NY (ITH)

End Location

Ithaca, NY

Fly Out Of

Ithaca, NY (ITH)

Download Itinerary

STYLED MAP

Day1

Welcome to the Finger Lakes! Ride from Ithaca to Glenora.

Meet the group at 9 am at the La Tourelle Hotel and Spa, ready to ride! Today, we will start our tour with a ride through Ithaca, then up and away from Cayuga Lake to Glenora, through the southern part of the Finger Lakes region. The quiet roads and low traffic will let you relax and warm up for the wonderful week to come! We will enjoy lunch beside the impressive Shequaga Falls in Montour Falls, then pedal north to Watkins Glen State Park, the most famous Finger Lakes State Park. The Glen Creek drops 400 feet between 200-foot cliffs, carving out a series of stunning waterfalls. It’s truly gorgeous! We’ll walk through the refreshingly cool gorge to visit Rainbow Falls, known to be the most scenic of all the glens in the Finger Lakes region. Tonight, we will stay at the Glenora Wine Cellars hotel, where your room will have a breathtaking view of Seneca Lake! Time to pour some wine and relax!

Meals Provided

Lunch (picnic), Dinner

Average Mileage

48 miles

Elevation Gain

2,500 feet

Riding Terrain

Combination of flat and rolling with a gentle climb (1-2%) out of Ithaca a long downhill to Watkins Glen and a challenging climb (7.5%) out of Watkins Glen.

Meals Provided

Lunch (picnic), Dinner

Accommodations

Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars

Escape to one of 30 spacious and inviting guest rooms at The Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars, each beautifully appointed with Stickley furniture and brand new pillow top mattresses and box springs. Every room features a private balcony or patio with a view of the vineyard and Seneca Lake.

Luxury Level3-star

Day2

Keuka Lake Loop

On today’s ride, we get a taste of the rolling farmland that makes this region such a perfect area to ride. The rolling ups lead to an incredible downhill to meet our third Finger Lake as we ride along the lovely shores of Keuka Lake. We stop in the tiny village of Hammondsport with its traditional Town Square surrounded by local lunch spots. Hammondsport was voted the “Coolest Small Town in America.” It’s also called “The Cradle of Aviation” and is home to The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, dedicated to the memory of the Hammondsport native, pioneer aviator, and housing such exhibits as a full-scale replica of the first naval aircraft and many original planes developed by Curtiss, who began his career as a bicycle messenger, racer, and bike-shop owner. After lunch, we head north on the west side of Keuka Lake through the heart of the Finger Lakes wine country to a very special visit to the Dr. Konstantin Frank Vineyard, one of the most prestigious and beloved wineries in the Finger Lakes named one of the top 100 vineyards in the world! Dr. Frank introduced vinifera (classic European grape varieties) to the Eastern United States, which ignited a winemaking renaissance in the region. Without the contributions of Dr. Frank, the Finger Lakes wine region would not be where it is today. The winery was established in 1962 and is now in its fourth generation of Frank family ownership. The winery’s tasting room overlooks beautiful Keuka Lake and some of the oldest vinifera vineyards in America. In the afternoon, we circle the north end of Keuka Lake and through the town of Penn Yan, then through verdant farmland and past Amish farmhouses before returning to the Inn at Glenora.

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Average Mileage

64 miles

Elevation Gain

2,800 ft

Riding Terrain

Varying from flat to rolling, with one challenging climb out of Hammondsport (10+%)

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations

Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars

Luxury Level3-star

Day3

Glenora to Geneva

Today, we head north on a shorter ride, enjoying views that alternate between open fields and vineyards with beautiful Seneca Lake in the background. Once north of Dresden, the lake disappears, and fields full of corn and other crops will remind you of the Great Plains. Like Keuka Lake yesterday, the western shore of Seneca hosts numerous wineries, and who knows where we may stop for some refreshments. (The Finger Lakes Region is home to over 100 different wineries!) Then, we’ll arrive in Geneva at the northern outlet of Seneca Lake with its beautiful lakefront park and our hotel, the 41 Lakefront, right on the water. In the afternoon, relax and explore downtown Geneva and the lakefront, or go on an optional short van trip to nearby Seneca Falls, where America’s women’s rights movement began with the first women’s rights convention. This meeting, held in July of 1848, launched the women’s suffrage movement that resulted in women winning the right to vote more than seven decades later. You will have a chance to explore the Women’s Rights National Historical Park, which pays tribute to our country’s history of women’s rights advocacy. Seneca Falls is also reputed to be the inspiration for the village of Bedford Falls in the iconic holiday movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which is only a short walk from the national historical park. Perfect for pictures!

Meals Provided

Breakfast

Average Mileage

33 miles

Elevation Gain

1,100 ft

Riding Terrain

Gentle rolling and mostly flat

Meals Provided

Breakfast

Accommodations

41 Lakefront Hotel

The 41 Lakefront Hotel, part of the Trademark Collection by Wyndham, helps you relax with on-site dining, a gym, and access right on the water to the scenic Geneva waterfront. Explore downtown Geneva right across the street or one of the many other attractions nearby, including world-class wineries, factory store shopping, and historical parks.

Luxury Level3-star

Day4

Land Between the Lakes

Today, we will enjoy a leisurely, straightforward cruise along the quiet roads in the “land between the lakes” – Seneca and Cayuga. This area is home to flat roads, beautiful views, and (surprise) several more of the wineries that make the region famous, including Ventosa, Zugibe, and Swedish Hill Vineyards. We will stop at the charming Three Brothers Winery – a distinctive culinary destination that houses three wineries, the War Horse brewery, and a cafe. Its vintage decor will delight you and we dare you to leave without some of its exclusive wine, beer, and distinctive Finger Lakes souvenirs. Don’t worry, we have plenty of space in the van for your purchases!

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch (picnic), Dinner

Average Mileage

49 miles

Elevation Gain

1,350 ft

Riding Terrain

Flat, flat, and more flat!

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch (picnic), Dinner

Accommodations

41 Lakefront Hotel

Luxury Level3-star

Day5

Geneva to Ithaca

After a quick shuttle to Seneca Falls for our starting point, we ride east around the north end of Cayuga Lake, then head South and pedal along the Eastern side of Cayuga. At a length of 40 miles, Cayuga is the longest of all the Finger Lakes. We’ll make a rest stop in the small college town of Aurora, the current home of Wells College and the former site of Chonodote, an 18th-century village of the Cayuga Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy. During the 19th century, Aurora developed as a minor center for manufacturing and was a stopping point for canal boats. As the area’s economy expanded, it became a port, shipping produce from farmers in the region up Cayuga Lake, then by the Erie Canal to other major markets. After a stop in Ludlowville at the beautiful Salmon Creek Falls, we finish our ride back to Ithaca, with its distinctive, cosmopolitan college town atmosphere. Our comfy lodgings close to the vibrant downtown commons will let you fully experience what Ithaca offers.

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Average Mileage

57 miles

Elevation Gain

3,150 ft

Riding Terrain

Flat and gently rolling, with one challenging climb (4-10%) out of Ludlowville

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodations

La Tourelle Hotel

Set on 70 lush acres in Ithaca, New York, La Tourelle Hotel, Bistro & Spa offers guests a relaxing atmosphere with sweeping natural views. Explore the property’s landscaped lawns, ponds and gardens, which includes a trail that connects with the Buttermilk Falls State Park trail system.

Luxury Level3-star

Day6

Taughannock Falls Loop

For the final day of our Finger lakes tour, we ride the beautiful Black Diamond Trail to Taughannock State Park. This Rail Trail is part of the old line that was once the flagship passenger line of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. The Black Diamond Express was a luxury passenger service from New York to Buffalo. Experience a range of natural landscapes from a towering canopy of mature maple, hemlock, oak, and hickory to views of pastoral agricultural lands and dozens of ravines with the sounds of cascading waters, all heading for the picturesque Cayuga Lake. At the end of the nine-mile trail, we will bike to the top of Taughannock Falls, one of the outstanding natural attractions of the Northeast that plunges 215 feet past rocky cliffs that tower nearly 400 feet above the gorge. Then we’ll return to our starting point in Ithaca to conclude a tour you will remember for years and want to bring your friends to experience with you again.

Meals Provided

Breakfast

Average Mileage

21 miles

Elevation Gain

700 ft

Riding Terrain

Gentle climb (1-3%) on the Black Diamond Trail, then downhill all the way back to Ithaca!

Meals Provided

Breakfast

Accommodations

The Spectacular Finger Lakes

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Meet Our Guides

Dave Kraus

John Gillvan

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The Spectacular Finger Lakes

Enjoy World-Class Vineyards, Stunning Natural Beauty and Charming Small Towns

Download a Detailed Itinerary

Destination

Activity

Level

Duration

Tour Essence

What to Expect

Terrain

Start Location

End Location

Mileage

Elevation

What's Included

Itinerary

Start Location

Fly Into

End Location

Fly Out Of

Welcome to the Finger Lakes! Ride from Ithaca to Glenora.

Meals Provided

Average Mileage

Elevation Gain

Riding Terrain

Meals Provided

Accommodations

Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars

Keuka Lake Loop

Meals Provided

Average Mileage

Elevation Gain

Riding Terrain

Meals Provided

Accommodations

Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars

Glenora to Geneva

Meals Provided

Average Mileage

Elevation Gain

Riding Terrain

Meals Provided

Accommodations

41 Lakefront Hotel

Land Between the Lakes

Meals Provided

Average Mileage

Elevation Gain

Riding Terrain

Meals Provided

Accommodations

41 Lakefront Hotel

Geneva to Ithaca

Meals Provided

Average Mileage

Elevation Gain

Riding Terrain

Meals Provided

Accommodations

La Tourelle Hotel

Taughannock Falls Loop

Meals Provided

Average Mileage

Elevation Gain

Riding Terrain

Meals Provided