This tour is designed to immerse you in the heart of the great city of San Francisco and let you experience its beauty and charm from innumerable vantage points, both south and north of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge (which we will cycle across on Day 5!). With just one change of accommodations during the week (we stay the first four nights at the historic Inn on the Presidio, followed by two nights at the Tiburon Lodge), you'll have many relaxing mornings, afternoons and evenings before and after you've cycled the safest and best bicycle paths/routes that the City and Marin County have to offer. While most people think only "hills!" when San Francisco is mentioned -- and of course, there will be some -- our cycling routes have been chosen to stay at Bay level as much as possible and to climb and descend as gradually as possible when not. Read the Daily Itinerary descriptions below for a detailed accounting of where we'll ride and what we'll see. Whether you've never been to this great "City by the Bay" or you've visited before but never cycled it, you will experience it in the best way possible -- from the seat of your bike -- and never forget this fabulous week!
Why Senior Cycling?
For over 20 years, Senior Cycling has been a hands-on, owner-operated bike touring company for folks over 50.
We've helped thousands of active seniors enjoy fun, safe outdoor bike adventures in beautiful locations around the US, Canada, and abroad. Our senior bike tours are well planned and fully supported, so you can relax and enjoy the ride.
You'll find our tour guides are ... Seniors themselves! Experienced, welcoming, and committed to making sure you have a great trip. Bike at your own pace, make new friends, and enjoy the adventure – we'll take care of the rest!
What's Included
- Overnight accommodations for SIX (6) nights
- Area-knowledgable and cycling expert tour guides
- 13 meals: 6 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
- Gratuities for included Meals
- In-ride drinks & snacks
- Full Van support
- Route navigation via free use of Ride With GPS
- Round trip ferry to Angel Island on Day 3
Not Included
- Airfare/transportation to and from San Francisco
- E-Bike Rental (available as Add-on option)
- Alcohol with meals
- Items of a personal nature such as laundry
- Gratuities for guides
- Travel Insurance (please purchase!)
Daily Itinerary
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Day 1 - Sunday
Arrive in San Francisco for a 3:00pm check-in at the stunning Lodge at the Presidio, located in the Presidio National Park, overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. This historic lodge will be our home for the next four nights. If you’re renting an E-Bike from us, look for us in the parking lot and get your assigned bike fitted and adjusted perfectly for you. Then, gather in the lobby at 5:30pm to get acquainted with each other and we’ll walk next door to the urban chic restaurant, Dalida for dinner and a discussion of our plans and expectations for the week. Feeling adventurous? Download the Waymo app and take a driverless car from the airport to the hotel.
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Day 2 - Monday
San Francisco Grand Tour 19.1 miles/ 1,200 ft cumulative elevation gain
Experience the best of San Francisco by bike as we explore the city’s iconic waterfront, neighborhoods, and landmarks. Ride beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, explore historic Fort Point, cruise through the Presidio and Sea Cliff with stunning bay views, and enjoy lunch along the coast. Afterward, pedal the car-free paths of Golden Gate Park, visit the legendary Haight-Ashbury, admire the Painted Ladies in Alamo Square, and wind through the city’s famous hills with views of the Bay and Ghirardelli Square. This unforgettable ride captures San Francisco’s history, beauty, culture, and unique neighborhoods in one spectacular day.
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Day 3 - Tuesday
Angel Island and the Bay – 14.3 miles / 1200 ft cumulative elevation gain
Today’s adventure takes us from the historic docks of Fisherman’s Wharf to the tech innovation hubs downtown that are shaping the future. We’ll visit the sea lions at Pier 39 before loading our bikes onto a scenic ferry to Angel Island. You’ll ride at your own pace on the island’s car-free perimeter road exploring museums, military ruins, and historic sites that reveal how the island helped defend San Francisco Bay through three wars. You’ll visit the immigration station where hundreds of thousands of Asian immigrants entered America in the early 20th century, a place known as “The Ellis Island of the West.” Ferrying back to the city, we’ll ride through the modern financial district and SOMA, viewing architecture, parks and world-class public art installations. We’ll finish with a waterfront ride beneath the Bay Bridge and around Oracle Park before returning to our hotel.
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Day 4 - Wednesday
A City of Neighborhoods - 16.6 miles/ 1,500 ft cumulative elevation gain
Today’s ride takes you beyond the postcard views and into the vibrant neighborhoods where the incredibly diverse population of San Franciscans live. Explore the literary history of North Beach, the lanterned alleyways of Chinatown, and the city’s civic landmarks before riding the legendary Wiggle to Mission Dolores. Discover a hidden redwood forest, the powerful murals of the Mission, and the multicultural communities that shape San Francisco’s identity. Continue through sunny Potrero Hill and historic Dogpatch to Pier 70, one of the West Coast’s best-preserved 19th-century shipyards and a fascinating reminder of San Francisco’s industrial past. Finish along the revitalized waterfront, experiencing the city’s evolution from working harbor to modern urban neighborhood.
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Day 5 - Thursday
The Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, and Marin County. 26.5 miles/ 1,700 ft cumulative elevation gain
Today we say good-bye to San Francisco and ride across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge into the bucolic landscapes of Marin County. We’ll explore the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Fort Baker, and the picturesque waterfront town of Sausalito, where you’ll have time to relax, find a lunch spot and enjoy the views. From there, we’ll follow peaceful, car-free paths through wetlands, into the creative community of Mill Valley. We’ll ride through a magical redwood forest tucked into the hillside at the base of Mt. Tamalpais with homes that appear to be built in a redwood sky. With our E-Bikes helping on the climbs, we’ll return to the coast and follow the car-free Old Tiburon Trail through Blackie’s Pasture to the town of Tiburon and our hotel for the next two nights.
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Day 6 - Friday
Paradise Loop & The Cross Marin Trail 30.9 miles / 1400 ft cumulative elevation gain
Our final ride showcases the incredible diversity of Marin County — from sparkling waterfronts and charming small towns to towering redwood forests. We’ll ride the legendary Paradise Loop with sweeping views of San Francisco Bay, Angel Island, and the Marin hills before following quiet waterways into the storybook town of Ross. We’ll continue through bike paths and neighborhood lanes, with a stop at the Marin Museum of Bicycling, before refueling over a picnic lunch in the park. Our e-bikes will help us climb into the Mount Tamalpais Watershed, where we’ll finish on the spectacular, car-free Cross Marin Trail through Samuel P. Taylor Park’s majestic redwoods. The Sag vehicle will meet us for a relaxing ride back to Tiburon.
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Day 7 - Saturday
You'll Leave Your Heart in San Francisco ...
This morning, you’ll have breakfast on your own and check out of the hotel. You can wander the shops and cafes of Tiburon, visit the small railroad museum (open 1pm-4pm) and/or head to the airport or your next destination when you’re ready.
Difficulty Level: Advanced
Even though it's an all E-Bike tour, this tour's difficulty rating is Advanced. Even though our routes maximize the use of bike paths and separated/marked lanes and avoid the steepest hills, scaling the unavoidable elevation changes and the urban environments of the city of San Francisco is not for casual cylists or those not in good shape. You can't get away with using the Turbo setting all day.
While the trails, paths, and roadways we follow are all paved or hard-packed gravel, road bikes are not recommended.
Suggested bicycle: Sturdy Touring bike, Gravel bike, or Hybrid/City bike
Suggested tire size for this tour: 32mm – 42mm
Pricing
$3,650 per person (based on double occupancy)
$1,140 – Single Supplement (extra price to have your own room)
$400 - E-bike Rental
$150 - Standard Bike Rental
50% of the total is a required deposit, due upon registration
You'll be invoiced for the the balance due 90 days from the Tour start date
Balance is due 60 days prior to departure date.
IMPORTANT NOTE regarding Registration and Credit Card fees: Senior Cycling has adopted WeTravel as our payment platform in order to enable us AND you to avoid the cost of credit card processing fees, which can amount to $100 or more on just the single rider cost of a trip. Please see graphic below.
When you get to "Payment Method", if you choose "U.S. Checking Account", you'll avoid the 3% credit card processing fee. You MAY have to actually click on "Add Payment Method" to get the "US Checking Account" to appear (See below). I apologize that this is not as clear and consistent as it could be; I've given feedback to WeTravel.
Trip Insurance and Cancellation Policy
Please review Senior Cycling's Cancellation Policy here.
Please purchase Trip Insurance. Especially at our age, even though no one expects or wants it, health issues arise and accidents happen. You can purchase Trip Insurance from Senior Cycling/WeTravel during checkout or afterward from a major provider (Trawick International) at very competitive rates. At Travelinsurance.com you can get quotes for coverage from several different providers and get all your questions answered about different levels of coverage, such as "Cancel For Any Reason (COFR)" polices and Pre-Existing Condition waivers. Please check it out and protect your travel investment.
Your Travel Plans
For this tour we meet riders at 3:00 pm on Sunday afternoon at our opening hotel, the Lodge at the Presidio. The trip ends on Saturday morning. We will return guests who drove to the Tour back to the Lodge at the Presidio by noontime on Saturday.
If you are traveling by air you fly into and out of either San Francisco International (SFO) or Oakland Airport (OAK). Check each airport's website for information about/links to the numerous ground transportation options available from each. Obviously Uber or Lyft is an option, probably a fairly expensive one.
If you are driving, you drive to our starting hotel, the Lodge at the Presidio, where parking is free and you may leave your car for the additional two nights that we stay over in Tiburon. We will return you there at the close of the trip.
