How to Build a Self-Guided Cycling Tour With an Audio Guide App

Andrew Applebaum
Sep 22
4 min read

Updated: Oct 11

Woman cycling on a pathway with autumn trees, wearing a brown coat and beanie. The Driftscape audio guide app on a mobile device displays "TOUR: Spirit of the Bay Cycling."

Picture this: It's a crisp, sunny autumn day. The leaves are changing color, and the air is perfect for getting outside. You know people want to get out and explore your community, but you just don’t have the time or budget to organize a big, staffed cycling event. The permits, the volunteer coordination, the liability... it's all just too much for a small team (I get it, I’ve been there!).

What if there was a way to capture that fall tourism magic without the logistical headache?

The good news is, you can!

A self-guided cycling tour is the perfect solution. It's a low-cost, high-impact way to get people moving, and the secret to making it truly special is building it with an audio guide app.

This approach lets you tell your destination's stories and create an incredible experience that visitors can enjoy on their own time, all season long.

Why an Audio Guide App Is Perfect for Fall Cycling Tours

Creating a self-guided cycling tour means you only have to do the work once, and it lives on as a permanent attraction.

My first experience with this was working with a DMO that wanted to highlight a historic rail trail. The paper map they had was always out of date and didn't tell a compelling story. We moved the route onto an audio guide app, adding narration from a local historian about the trail's history. It transformed a simple bike path into a journey through time.

The beauty of a digital tour is that it’s always on. Visitors can start, pause, and stop whenever they want, letting them linger at a scenic lookout or grab a coffee at a local cafe you’ve highlighted. This flexibility is a huge win for them, and a huge win for your small team, since there's no ongoing staffing required.

Here's what you can gain from this approach:

Massive time savings: Create the content once, and the tour runs itself.
Low-cost setup: Say goodbye to expensive printing and event permits.
Rich storytelling: Audio brings history and local flavor to life in a way a static map never can.
Enhanced accessibility: Visitors can explore at their own pace, making it perfect for families, seasoned riders, and casual explorers alike.
Actionable insights: See where visitors are going and which stories they love most with built-in tour analytics.

Your 5-Step Checklist to Build a Great Tour

Ready to get started? Here's a simple, step-by-step guide to building your fall cycling tour using a self-guided tour app.

Map Your Route (With Stories!): Start with an existing, well-maintained cycling path or a quiet series of roads. Don't just plot points on a map; think about the stories. Why is this bridge here? What's the history of that old farm? Use Points of Interest (POIs) to mark these spots. For more tips on crafting your route, check out our guide on interactive tourism storytelling.
Gather Your Content: You don't need a professional recording studio! Use your phone to capture short, crisp audio clips (60-90 seconds is perfect) at each POI. These sound bites can be from a local historian, business owner, or even just a passionate community member. (Trust me, an authentic voice is always better than a corporate one!) The Michigan Heroes Museum used a similar approach to deliver their stories, resulting in over 3,000 exhibit interactions in the first year alone.
Add Visuals & Details: Supplement your audio with great photos and a brief text description for each stop. This provides visual context and is helpful for visitors who might prefer reading over listening. It also allows you to highlight nearby local businesses.
Test the Experience: Before you launch, ride the route yourself (or send a friend!) to make sure the POIs are placed correctly and the audio triggers at the right time. This is a crucial step to iron out any bugs and ensure a seamless visitor experience.
Promote the Tour: Share your new cycling adventure across all your channels. Promote it on social media, feature it in your e-newsletter, and add it to your website. Partner with local cycling clubs or outdoor retailers to get the word out. The Destination Canada Federal Tourism Growth Strategy also highlights the importance of leveraging digital tools to promote outdoor activities. Creating a tour focused on local lore or historical landmarks can even be a great way to attract people to your community's heritage tours.

Tourism Reality:

Many people think creating an audio tour is complicated and technical. The reality is that today's mobile platforms have made it incredibly simple, allowing you to focus on what you do best: telling great stories.

Creating a self-guided cycling tour with an audio guide app is one of the most effective and low-effort ways to engage visitors this fall.

You get to highlight your destination's unique stories, boost local business visibility, and provide an unforgettable experience, all without the logistical stress of a one-time event.

You’ve already got the incredible places; now you just need the right tool to connect people to them.