Bike touring with special dietary needs: Ride well, eat well
At WomanTours, we understand how important it is to eat well on a trip. Not only do you need the calories and nutrients to fuel your body, but good food is a big part of the enjoyment we all get from travel.
WomanTours works hard to accommodate riders with special dietary needs, such as food allergies, gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, a vegan or vegetarian diet, kosher-style diets that avoid pork and shellfish and lactose intolerance.
But in some corners of the globe where our international tours take place, dietary alternatives for vegans, vegetarians and individuals who can't eat gluten or dairy, may not always be available. If, for medical reasons, you are unable to be flexible with your dietary restrictions, here is some information to consider for our 2026 international tours.
Cuba: Bicycling to Havana
Vegan/Vegetarian: Lunches and dinners are centered around seafood, beef, chicken or pork. While many meals include rice and beans, they are sometimes flavored with bacon, lard or pork, so be sure to ask. Vegans will do best if they bring their own protein sources. Vegetarians who eat eggs (available at most breakfasts), cheese and seafood will have plenty of options. Vegetarians who don't eat seafood may want to consider bringing their own protein sources.
Gluten-free: Rice (often served with beans) is available at dinners. Potato dishes may also be available. While food preparers follow strict hygiene protocols, kitchens where meals are prepared may not be able to prevent cross-contamination due to limited resources.
Dairy-free: Dairy can be avoided during the tour.
Cuba: Bicycling to Havana Feb. 15-23, 2026
Netherlands Sail & Cycle Tulip Tour
Vegan/Vegetarian: Vegan meals are available with a small surcharge but they may not have much vegan protein. Vegans are advised to bring their own protein sources. Vegetarians who eat eggs and dairy should have ample protein offerings, and will have even more if they eat seafood.
Gluten-free: Available with a small surcharge. While the chefs on board follow strict hygiene protocols, they may not be able to prevent cross-contamination due to the small size of the galley kitchen.
Dairy-free: Available with a small surcharge.
Netherlands: Sail & Cycle Tulip Tour April 18-25, 2026
Netherlands: Sail & Cycle Tulip Tour April 25-May 2, 2026
Portugal: Along the Atlantic Coast from Porto to Lisbon Bike Tour
Vegan/Vegetarian: Traditional Portuguese lunches and dinner rely heavily on seafood, pork and meats. Vegans may want to bring their own protein sources. Vegetarians who eat eggs and dairy should have ample protein offerings, and will have even more if they eat seafood.
Gluten-free: While bread is popular at lunch and dinner, so too are rice and potatoes. Gluten can be avoided during the tour.
Dairy-free: Dairy can be avoided during the tour.
Portugal: Along the Atlantic Coast from Porto to Lisbon May 16-25, 2026
Croatia: Bike & Boat
Vegan/Vegetarian: Vegan meals are available with a small surcharge (but they may not have much vegan protein). Vegans are advised to bring some of their own protein sources as needed. Vegetarians who eat eggs and dairy should have ample protein offerings, and will have even more if they eat seafood.
Gluten-free: Available with a small surcharge. While the chefs on board follows strict hygiene protocols, they may not be able to prevent cross-contamination due to the small size of the galley kitchen.
Dairy-free: Dairy can be avoided during the tour. The chefs on board offer no special accommodation.
Croatia: Bike & Boat June 13-20, 2026
Croatia: Bike & Boat Sept. 12-19, 2026
Ireland: Connemara Bike Tour
Vegetarian/Vegan: Irish lunches and dinner rely heavily on meat, pork and seafood. Vegans may want to bring along their own protein sources. Vegetarians who eat eggs and dairy should have ample protein offerings at breakfast and will have even more if they eat seafood, but they too may want to bring along their own protein source.
Gluten-free: Gluten can be avoided during the tour.
Dairy-free: Dairy can be avoided during the tour.
Ireland: Connemara June 20-27, 2026
Scotland: Edinburgh and Beyond Bike Tour
Vegan/Vegetarian: Scottish lunches and dinner rely heavily on meat, pork and seafood. Vegans may want to bring along their own protein sources. Vegetarians who eat eggs and dairy should have ample protein offerings (especially at breakfast) and will have even more if they eat seafood, but they too may want to bring along their own protein source.
Gluten-Free: Gluten can be avoided during this tour.
Dairy-free: Gluten can be avoided during this tour.
Scotland: Edinburgh and Beyond June 28-July 5, 2026
Italy Bike & Barge Avignon to Aigues-Mortes
Vegan/Vegetarian: Vegan meals are available with a small surcharge but they may not have much vegan protein. Vegans are advised to bring their own protein sources. Vegetarians who eat eggs and dairy should have ample protein offerings, and will have even more if they eat seafood.
Gluten-free: Available with a small surcharge. While the chefs on board follows strict hygiene protocols, they may not be able to prevent cross-contamination due to the small size of the galley kitchen.
Dairy-free: Available with a small surcharge.
Italy: Bike & Barge Mantua to Venice Oct. 10-17, 2026
France Bike & Barge Avignon to Aigues-Mortes
Vegan/Vegetarian: Vegan meals are available with a small surcharge but they may not have much vegan protein. Vegans are advised to bring their own protein sources. Vegetarians who eat eggs and dairy should have ample protein offerings, and will have even more if they eat seafood.
Gluten-free: Available with a small surcharge. While the chefs on board follows strict hygiene protocols, they may not be able to prevent cross-contamination due to the small size of the galley kitchen.
Dairy-free: Available with a small surcharge.
France: Bike & Barge Avignon to Aigues-Mortes Oct. 17-24, 2026
Spain: Camino de Santiago Bike Tour
Vegan/Vegetarian: Traditional Spanish lunches and dinners rely heavily on meat, pork and seafood. Vegans may want to bring along their own protein sources. Vegetarians who eat eggs and dairy should have ample protein offerings, and will have even more if they eat seafood.
Gluten-free: Rice and potatoes are available at many meals. Gluten can be avoided during the tour.
Dairy-free: Dairy can be avoided during the tour.
Spain: Camino de Santiago Sept. 13-20, 2026
Chile: Lake & Volcano District Bike Tour
Vegan/Vegetarian: Chilean lunches and dinners rely heavily on meat and seafood, though beans are often available. Vegans are advised to bring their own protein sources. Vegetarians who eat egg and dairy should have ample protein offerings, and will have even more if they eat seafood. Some vegetable and grain dishes may be flavored with meat so it's good to clarify with servers when ordering.
Gluten-free: Rice and potatoes are available at many meals. Gluten can be avoided during the tour.
Dairy-free: Dairy can be avoided during the tour.
Chile: Lake & Volcano District Dec. 6-14, 2026
Japan: The Shimanami Kaido Bike Tour
Vegan/Vegetarian: Many dishes, even those featuring plant-based proteins such as tofu, are made with broths that contain fish or pork. It may not be possible to avoid them. We recommend bringing your own snacks and protein sources.
Gluten-free: Soy sauce, miso and other common seasonings that are used in a wide variety of dishes including rice and sushi are typically produced with gluten. It may not be possible to avoid them. We recommend bringing your own gluten-free snacks and meal supplements.
Dairy-free: Dairy can be avoided during the tour.
Japan: Island Hopping the Shimanami Kaido May 14-21, 2026
Japan: The Shimanami Experience-Ride Connect Celebrate Oct. 16-27, 2026
Take control of your dietary needs during your international bike tour
Here are some steps we recommend to help ensure that you stay on course with your diet while on one of our international tours.
1. Be sure to communicate your dietary restrictions on your tour registration so our tour specialists can pass along that information to our tour partners and guides.
2. When you arrive on tour, talk with your tour guides right away about your particular needs. Be sure to speak up right away if a meal does not meet your needs. The guides can't fix a problem if they don't know about it.
3. When ordering off the menu at a restaurant, be sure to check with your server about ingredients you need to avoid, especially food allergens.
4. If you have a severe food allergy, bring your EpiPen with you at all times. While our guides are certified in basic First Aid and CPR, they are not trained in administering EpiPen injections. Nor do the guides carry EpiPens in their First Aid kits.
5. Consider packing snacks and supplemental foods for yourself if you know your tour may have limited options.
6. It's a good idea to have a translator app (such as Google Translate or Apple Translate) to help you navigate menus at restaurants and hotels, in case your server speaks little or no English.
7. If you have other food-related questions about your tour, get in touch with our office, 585-424-2124 or info@womantours.com. We’ll be glad to help.