[Updated in August, 2026]
When you're considering a cycling tour in Italy, you probably have plenty of questions on your mind.
Is the difficulty level right for me? Will the schedule feel too packed? Will we get to try the most typical local foods?
But one question we get more and more often is:
How many people will be in my group?
It's a good question.
Some people have had frustrating experiences on large bike tours, where they spend a lot of time waiting for the group to regroup, traveling in large buses, and eating at big, tourist-oriented restaurants rather than local places. That kind of experience can feel more like a school trip than a cycling vacation.
A smaller group means less waiting, more flexibility, more personal attention from your guides, and a more intimate experience both on and off the bike.
At Tourissimo, we intentionally keep our groups small, with a maximum of 12–14 guests on most tours.
This made us curious how our max group size compares with other tour operators.
After doing some research, we discovered that we have some of the smallest group maximums and guide-to-guest ratios among tour operators who offer cycling and hiking tours in Italy.
How Many People Are on a Tourissimo Cycling Tour?
The exact size depends on the tour, but on most of our tours, the maximum is 12 guests.
On our Magnifica Tours, the maximum group size is 12.
On our Chef Bike Tours, our maximum group size is 14 because the nature of these trips and their culinary focus allows us to accommodate a slightly larger group.
While our average cycling tour group is approximately 12 guests, our hiking tours average around 8 guests.
On any of our tours, if the group size exceeds 12 we add a third guide.
As the group grows, so does our level of support.
How Does Tourissimo Compare With Other Cycling Tour Companies?
We were curious about this ourselves, so we researched the published group-size information for several cycling and hiking tour operators that offer trips in Italy.
Here's what we found.
(All info was found on the companies' respective websites and was correct as of August 2026. Policies change, and it's always a good idea to do your own research when you're planning a trip and also ask about group size if you're unsure.)
Duvine
They have one of the smallest maximum group sizes that I found among comparable tour operators at 14 guests.
Backroads
Their cycling trips have a maximum of 26 guests, with an average of aprroximately 18. Their hiking tours have a maximum of 20 with an average of 14.
Ciclismo Classico
Their maximum group size is 18 guests and their average group size is 14. For groups that exceed 18 guests, they add a 3rd guide.
Butterfield & Robinson
They list a maximum group size of 16 guests.
Trek Travel
Trek Travel standard trips have a maximum group size of 20 guests (capped at 16 for Hiking and Walking tours)
Experience Plus
Their maximum group size is 18 guests, and they occasionally go to 19.
Is a Smaller Group Better for a Cycling Tour?
The perfect group size depends on you.
Some people enjoy the energy and excitement of a larger group. But if you're looking for a more personal cycling tour in Italy, group size is worth considering, especially because smaller groups make the logistics easier and create a smoother experience.
A smaller group makes it easier to:
- Get to know your fellow travelers
- Spend more time with your guides
- Keep the group together while riding
- Make spontaneous stops
- Visit smaller restaurants and local businesses
- Spend less time waiting for everyone to regroup
What About Private and Custom Cycling Tours?
Group size works a little differently when you book a private or custom cycling tour.
For private tours, we can accommodate groups of almost any size and tailor the number of guides and level of support to your needs.
Over the years, we've organized tours for groups as small as one person and as large as 50 guests!
A private cycling tour can be a great option if you're traveling with family, a group of friends, a cycling club, or a corporate group and want to create a trip specifically around your interests and abilities.
For us, keeping our regular tours small is one of the ways we make sure our guests have the time, space, and personal attention to enjoy the journey.
We want you to feel like a person, not a number.
