Top bike tours last month

This superb race in the sun the Volta ao Algarve as become an important early season race for the best professional cyclists in the world. Make this your perfect start to the year with a visit to Portugal and enjoy all the spectacle of this fantastic race route in the Algarve. An event not to be missed with this amazing cycling week in Europe this February.

The Volta is the only Portuguese stage race on the UCI Pro Series circuit, with the race route exploring the Algarve in the south of Portugal.
The format of the race stays the same each year, and includes a time trial, challenging mountains of the Serra de Monchique and Serra do Caldeirao ranges, and sprint stages. Some thing for everyone and the ideal all-round test for the professional cycling peloton.
The 50th edition of the Volta ao Algarve Tour consists of 5 stages and will cover 752.9 kilometers and have an elevation gain of 14,455 meters.

Each year the Volta route includes quiet cycling roads we’ve been exploring for over 10 years.
Bike race tours are more enjoyable when you Unpack Once, Ride Everyday with this small group cycling vacation. With an exciting variety of contrasting stages on offer, join the action live and enjoy a selection of superb, tailored rides to suit all abilities.

Highlights:

• Get close to your favourite superstars of professional cycling in a relaxed environment
• Europe’s hidden cycling secret, the Algarve ‘Rocha Praia Mar’ – cliffs, beaches, ocean
• Get your cycling season off to a flying start with kilometers / miles in the sun!
• Great cafe stops during the tour at unique Algarve towns & villages; Silves, Monchique, Portimao, Lagos, Alte, Tavira, and Albufeira.
• Spectacular rides of the natural Algarve including the challenging mountains of the Serra de Monchique and Serra do Caldeirao.
• Insight to stage race action live from the roadside each day with stage starts, sprint finishes, mountain action, time trial power.
• Amazing Algarve, friendly Portugal, superb cycling & great local food!

Han River represents Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, South Han River represents Gangwon Province and Chungcheong Province, Nakdong River represents Gyeongsang Province, and Geum River represents Chungcheong Province, and Youngsan River represents Jeolla Province.After 4 Big River restoration construction, Korean government built the bike road next to 4 Big rivers, so now bike riders can cross all over Korea through 4 River Bike Road.

The most famous 4 River Bike Road is Han River Bike Road(209km), Saejae Bike Road(100km), and Nakdong River Bike road(324km), and we can ride bike between Seoul and Busan. It's approximately 640km.STB Bike Tour will be challenging for yourself, and also it would be fun and unforgettable experience to you.

STB(Seoul to Busan) Bike Tour is designed to discover whole South Korea on two wheels. While adventurers ride bikes everywhere in South Korea from Seoul to Busan as passing Seoul, Gyeonggi Do, Gangwon Do, Chungcheong Do, Gyeongsang Do, and Busan, the travelers will meet lots of locals and very unique Korean local cultures which are real face of South Korea. Time to ride bikes to discover South Korea.

5 km outside of Nice you find the former fishing village Villefranche-sur-Mer.  Villefranche-sur-Mer attracts people from all over the world to visit the picturesque streets, the beautiful bay and wide sand beaches. Framing the bay you find Cap-Ferrat.

We meet in central Nice from where we start by going via the Promenade des Anglais. We pass the harbour and climb the ocean road in an easy pace. It starts with a 2 km uphill to Mont-Boron, but we go in an easy pace. You will be rewarded with a magnificent view in Mont Boron of the bays towards Nice and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat!

When we reach Villefranche, we stop in the old town for you to walk around and perhaps buy a snack or coffee. We can visit the old habour and the magnificent beach front.

From Villefranche, we climb to the main road again to go 2 km further on the road from Nice to make a round-trip at Cap-Ferrat.

The cap is known for glamourous villas, e.g. Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. We make stops to enjoy beautiful sceneries of the views to Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Beaulieu-sur-Mer and Eze. As we reach the lighthouse , we get off the bikes to discover the scenic rocks surronding it.

At this point of the trip, you make feel like making a stop in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat for a drink, before we make our way back to Nice.

Our self-powered caravan begins in Beijing, China, the political and cultural centre of China and crosses mysterious lands, fiery deserts, and forbidding mountains. Almost 20 weeks later riders will arrive in Istanbul, the majestic capital of Byzantium, the Roman Empire, the Ottomans and now the Republic of Turkey. The route follows the Silk Road northwest before dropping back south in Central Asia. Included are visits to destinations definitely off the beaten track - the Pamir Highway in Tajikistan where we will climb to over 4600 meters and cycle across the 'Roof of the World' and distant Mongolia, where riders will cycle along ancient trading routes through the vast steppes and meet the country's nomadic people, experiencing their age-old traditions.

Silk Route participants will ride to the mystical Central Asian cities of Samarqand, Bukhara and Khiva, and camp amongst the stunning meadows, rivers and peaks of Kyrgyzstan. There are points where quietness pervades and where the original travellers of the Silk Route seem to be just beyond the next hill, beckoning cyclists further along this arduous trek. Time and time again, riders will be amazed at the layers of history emerging from the sand, shake their heads at all that has been lost and take heart from all that is being preserved and created. Each group of Silk Route riders will be enriched by an intricate knowledge of ancient lands crossed and the inspiration that comes from sharing a grand adventure with new friends and fellow nomads.

Highlights

• Mongolia's Gobi Desert & Steppes
• Tajikistan's Pamir Highway
• Silk Road cities of Central Asia
• Cycle down the Bosphorus into amazing Istanbul

Jeju Island is Korea's volcanic island which is egg-shaped and located far southern part of South Korea. So it has many beautiful white beaches along the coastal line. Jeju Island is famous for its emerald color of the ocean and exotic scenery of tropical climate. But the best reason why Jeju Island is beloved by Korean riders is its 'Fantastic Bike Trail' along the ocean. Jeju Island built this safe and well paved bike path around the island as expecting bike travelers to enjoy bike riding so this 'Fantastic Bike Trail' leads bike travelers literally everywhere in Jeju Island so that bike travelers discover more and more of Jeju Island. Please come to Jeju Island and ride together. Oh and don't forget about amazing Jeju Island's sea food selection.

Why this route? This is the shortest route from coast to coast at 2940 miles, yet you’ll still have bragging rights of cycling across the country.

The timing will be perfect for those who want to get a big jump on their 2024 miles. As we progress West to East, we should have the best, consistent temperatures ranging from the 60s to perhaps the 80s–perfect cycling conditions.

While we won’t guarantee freshly paved bike trail for the entire route, we will boast that we have sought the most accommodating routes available in the area and you will enjoy scenery to include: seashores, mountains, ranch lands, wildflowers, bayous and citrus groves.

This southern route takes us through wonderfully warm towns in southern California. We climb out of San Diego and head toward the Arizona border, Tucson, Tombstone, and the Chiricahua Mountains before taking on our 3rd state, New Mexico (Land of Enchantment).

Then, we are on to Texas where we will ride 1/3 of our tour crossing TX at its widest part. We enjoy the flat ranches of western TX, the TX Hill Country, just outside of Austin, and on to the rolling hills of east TX.

From there, it’s a few days of riding across Louisiana. Time to enjoy some Cajun cooking. We cross the boot heels of both Mississippi and Alabama, then take a ferry across Mobile Bay to enter FL’s panhandle. North Florida has a varied landscape of strawberry fields, lush Live Oaks, horse farms, small college towns and orange groves, as we move toward the coast. If you are curious, try connecting the dots:

San Diego, CA · Tucson, AZ · Tombstone, AZ · Columbus, NM · El Paso, TX · Del Rio, TX · Austin, TX · LaGrange, TX · De Ridder, LA · St. Francisville, LA · Poplarville, MS · Mobile, AL · Dauphin Island, AL · Pensacola, FL · Tallahassee, FL · Gainesville, FL · St. Augustine, FL

This is our most comprehensive bike tour of Laos and an incredible way to discover the charm and beauty of this hidden gem with great cycling and beautiful sights.

'Lao Lao' is a rice wine distilled locally in villages and while we don't suggest you consume it while cycling, it does give a good idea of this trip: fun and tasty with the potential for a little bit of pain the next day.

This trip's cycling offers wonderful variety as we ride along the back roads and quiet highways, alongside rivers and past scenic limestone mountains. There are some short manageable climbs, but the stunning views and Hmong village scenery are ample rewards for the effort.

Most days you'll find yourself on undulating terrain, but there is a fair share of flat gentler pedaling along winding river roads and daily distances are moderate. When not exploring on the bikes we make use of boats or our own two-legs for some added variety to your adventure.

This trip offers a good mix of on and off-bike activities with a number of free afternoons to spend at your leisure, be it enjoying some well earned R&R or delving deeper into your new environment by exploring town or trying some optional suggested activities.

Highlights

• Hike above your Muang Xai resort to visit local villages and farms before taking a refreshing swim.
• After a boat ride to Luang Prabang, explore the sacred caves of Pak Ou.
• Join the monks giving alms in UNESCO World Heritage Luang Prabang for an amazing cultural experience.
• Cycle to the aquamarine waters of the Kuang Si Waterfall for a dip in this idyllic spot.

The terrain is a mix of sealed and unsealed roads sometimes on the main roads but generally on secondary roads. Main roads in Laos are actually like a backstreet anywhere else due to the low number of vehicles on the road.

Cycling through two Austrian regions, i.e. the states of Salzburg and Carinthia, which extend along two rivers featuring two completely different characters, and also among the magnificent Alpine peaks, then relaxing in a spa (Bad) in the Gastein valley before crossing the mountain barrier in a train and reaching the Austrian border at the city of Villach, which albeit being located at the foot of the Alps shows the Mediterranean spirit, is a worthy experience. What follows is a quick visit to Tarvisio in Italy only to turn back to the Slovenian Alpine village of Kranjska gora located in the area surrounding the Julian Alps, which feature somewhat lower peaks but are of no lesser beauty. The Fusine lakes just before the Slovenian border, as well as the emerald green waters of the Zelenci nature reserve (the word “zelenci” reads as “greens” in Slovenian) just a few kilometres apart indicate a change in the pace of the tour.

Running from Kranjska gora to the valley of Radovna, which is one of the most beautiful Alpine valleys, the tour reaches a Slovenian gem – the famous Lake Bled. Another train ride following the scenic Bohinj railway takes the group out of the Alpine region into the lower Soča valley, a European Destination of Excellence. The cycling starts again in the lovely town of Kanal with the path running along the emerald Soča river, which is considered one of the most beautiful rivers in Europe. It is a smooth transition to the Mediterranean climate. In the Tuscany-like landscape of Goriška brda/Collio, which is covered with vineyards and orchards, one can already feel the sea breeze, the tour leaving the mountains, which remain to be seen only on the horizon. Home to many world-famous wine growers and known by excellent food, this area is the best overture to paying a visit to the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

The terrain is quite flat here, so the last days of cycling include easy cruising among the historic towns, fishing villages and nature parks until reaching Lido di Jesolo, a 15 kilometres long beach, which makes up the Venezian Lagoon. The iconic destination is here to be explored. The toor is suitable for e-bikes and can be arranged also in the opposite direction, from Venice to Salzburg.

This route takes you from Coolah, through charming Binnaway, and into the vibrant town of Coonabarabran, known as the gateway to the Warrumbungle National Park. The park itself offers stunning vistas, rugged landscapes, and challenging trails for keen cyclists. Continuing on to Tooraweenah, riders can enjoy a blend of scenic beauty and local hospitality. This trail is perfect for those seeking adventure and the chance to immerse themselves in the unique natural wonders of New South Wales.

The trans-African crossing from Cairo to Cape Town has long been one of the world’s epic journeys and an iconic goal for global adventurers. Over the years individuals have attempted to complete the route using every kind of transport imaginable, with many forced to abandon their quest due to physical challenges and geopolitical complications. The Tour d’Afrique Cycling Expedition is a unique test of mind, body and bicycle, an incredible physical and mental challenge that will ultimately reward the riders with an intense feeling of personal satisfaction and accomplishment.

Our trans-continental journey and flagship expedition crosses Africa from north to south as riders pedal along the Nile past ancient temples before flying to Rwanda to continue the journey through the ‘Land of a 1000 Hills.’ The route continues through the lush rainforests of Uganda and crosses the Equator in Kenya. The cyclists will spin past legendary Mount Kilimanjaro and Lake Malawi and stop to admire the incredible power of Victoria Falls. Finally, the track follows the edge of the magnificent Kalahari desert, past the towering red dunes of Namibia and finishes in the shadow of Table Mountain in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa.

Highlights

• Ancient Egypt's most famous sites
• Rwanda’s mountain gorillas
• Mosi oa Tunya (Victoria Falls)
• Namibia's stunning desert landscapes

The west coast of Ireland is rich in awe-inspiring landscapes, fascinating characters and foot-tapping music. Cycling Ireland End to End from the most southerly point to the most northerly will leave you with rich memories, new friends and a thirst for more! There is no better way to explore the wild beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way than from the saddle. The grandeur of the Cork and Kerry mountains. The warmth and joy of a night in a Galway pub. The lunar like landscape of the Burren. The packed mountain ranges dominating the horizon of the Connemara National Park. The giant Sea Loughs of the Inishowen Peninsula. Your Ireland end-to-end journey of 12 days has a breath-taking finish on the rocky promontory of Malin Head.

For a more challenging ride check out the Mizmal Ireland End to End tour.

#wildatlanticway #eurovelo1 #EV1

Many riders have cycled the United States from East to West or the other way around. Of course, a great achievement.

It is probably a bigger challenge to traverse the United States from North to South over the dirt roads of the Rocky Mountains, following the Continental Divide. The divide of roughly 2,800 miles between Canada and Mexico splits the North American Continent in two. Drops of rain that fall on your left side flow into the Atlantic or the Gulf of Mexico. Drops on your right side will find their way to the Pacific. The drops of sweat from your brow will evaporate in the thin air of the Rocky Mountains or fall to the trail and eventually make their way to one of the two great Oceans. This is the trail of “The Great Divide” !!!

In 1998, the Adventure Cycling Association developed and published the world’s longest off-pavement cycling route and called it “The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route”. The original route starts in Banff, Canada, zigzags along the Continental Divide, climbs over isolated passes and finishes in Antelope Wells at the border of Mexico.

The Great Divide takes you through a wide variety of terrain and geographic features. You cycle through isolated river valleys, mountain forests, wide open grasslands, high desert, alpine wilderness, and, at the end of the ride, a section of the Chihuahuan Desert. Along the way you can expect to meet cowboys who drive their cattle across the prairie. You will cycle through pristine woods full of deer and elk, and of course there is always some trepidation that you may stand face-to-face with a grizzly bear. Colorado's Indiana Pass is the highest point on the route at 11,910 feet.

Our cycling holidays are small scale, with no more than 8 bikers, so we are able to give you an individual personalised service, thus making sure you get the best experience possible cycling in Provence, France.

We live here all year round, so we have lots of local knowledge. And we use this to guide you along quiet, beautiful backroads, that will take you through picturesque landscapes, some beautiful lavender fields and on to the best sights; whether it be to an unknown pretty stone village, a favourite local restaurant, an authentic farmers' market or renowned vineyard.

Our Provence bike trips from our our 17th Century farmhouse in Coustellet are self-guided and flexible. And we are always happy to help you choose the right ride, distance and level of difficulty to suit you on a daily basis. And you ride at your pace, after all these are your cycling holidays!

And you'll use our quality, new Trek hybrid bikes & the latest, easy to use, stress-free Garmin GPS systems, preprogrammed with all of our most popular rides, for all levels.

We have been running our single base Provence bike trips for the last 13 years, and have had a 5* rating on Tripadvisor for all of that time, along with a 100% recommendation rate.

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I loved this tour - Neil and Nat are so flexible and accommodating and the location is magical. Read my account at 'My Week in Provence'.
Bruce (CTG Editor)

Make a genuine coast to coast journey across the entire continent of South America from the Pacific to the Atlantic, linking 2 fantastic cities and 2 fantastic countries – Valparaiso in Chile and Buenos Aires in Argentina. Our route climbs from sea level and traverses the high passes of the dramatic Andes mountain range, lifting you nearly 4km skyward before descending all the way down the other side…

Embark on an exciting 7-day Japan Cycling Adventure that encompasses 6 days of invigorating cycling and unique cultural experiences along the way. Experience the beauty of Japan as you pedal through picturesque landscapes, covering an average of 50km per day. Throughout the journey, you’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the charm of 6 different cities.

Explore a variety of cycle-friendly accommodation in each city, ranging from traditional Japanese Ryokans and ancient temples to modern western-style hotels, carefully handpicked for their hospitality and uniqueness. These local gems offer complimentary breakfast and ensure secure bike storage during your stay. Many locations boast the indulgence of hotel hot springs (Onsens), where you can unwind, immersing yourself in an ancient tradition after a day of cycling. Embrace the perfect blend of comfort and cultural experiences throughout your cycling journey!

Starting in the Jewel of the Balkan Crown’ City of Dubrovnik we head south to the world famous Kotor Bay in Montenegro and onwards to Shkoder, known as the ‘Cycle City’ in Northern Albania. When you arrive you’ll know why! The bells ring here like the bicycles in Beijing! You have a day off and we miss cycling through the bustle of Tirana although you can opt to stop here for a few hours to explore the sights of Albania’s capital city. We stay over in Elbasan and you cycle across the border to the breath-taking beauty of Ohrid in North Macedonia. TWe head east through Bitola and Veles where you spend the night. In the morning it’s a short bus ride to Kochani to cycle over the mountain across the border at Delchevo into Bulgaria. From the University city of Blagoevgrad we then take you to the ski resort of Bansko at the foot of the Pirin Mountains. We breathe out here then head south freewheeling to the beach in Greece with a worthwhile detour to a ‘tour within a tour’ trip round the island of Thassos … from whence we make our last ride east across the Nestos Delta via Komotini and Alexandroupoli into Turkey and down the western side of the Dardanelles Strait ferrying to Cannakale then heading east to Can before taking a bus to bandirma to cross the Sea of Marmara by ferry to Istanbul, the historical bustling ‘gateway to the east’.

It is an exciting journey in this enthralling part of the world. Much of which is emerging slowly enough as tourist destinations so as to continue to retain much of the natural beauty, uniqueness and charm of the countryside and villages.

Highlights

• Kotor Bay and The Serpentine Climb in Montenegro
• Views from hotel in Shkoder and the hills in the north of Albania
• The beautiful Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia
• The Ciflik Winery in Bitola
• The Climb from Delchevo to the Bulgarian Border crossing
• The mountain town of Bansko in Bulgaria
• The freewheel down the River Mesta towards the Greek Border and into Gotse Delchev
• Thassos Island
• The ride through the Nestos Delta in Thrace national Park in Northeastern Greece
• Crossing the Turkish Border
• The Ancient City of Troy in Canakkale
• Crossing from ;The East' to 'The West' then 'West' to 'East' by ferry on our final day in Gelibolu (Gallipoli)
• Our hotel with its terrace overlooking Topkapi Palace in Istanbul

The first 6 days are the toughest from Dubrovnik to Ohrid with an average of 90 km and 1,652 metres of climbing per day.
The 11 days from Ohrid to Istanbul (Bus and ferry transfer to Istanbul from Gelibolu) average 95 km and 962 metres of climbing per day

The Central West Cycle trail provides a 400 km circuit through the rolling rural landscape away from the main road. Located in the state of New South Wales, Australia the circuit has been developed by local cyclists who know the backroads between the towns.

• Day 1: Dubbo to Wellington via Geurie – 64km
• Day 2: Wellington to Gulgong via Goolma – 76km
• Day 3: Gulgong to Dunedoo – 58km
• Day 4: Dunedoo to Mendooran – 63km
• Day 5: Mendooran to Ballimore – 52-61km
• Day 6: Ballimore to Dubbo via Wongarbon – 55km

SCT Cycling Tour to Korea's 4 Rivers Cross Country Cycling Road (or 4 Rivers Bike Path or Trail) is the most famous cycle route that stretched from Incheon down to the beautiful coastal city of Busan, a world-class cycle lane dedicated to only cyclist and pedestrians with the most breathtaking view of mountains, rivers, farmlands and many beautiful weirs, bridges and parks.

This cycling route is voted as one of the best bike paths in the world with a dedicated cycling path made just for bikes! Ranging from easy to challenging trails, this 4-Rivers Bike Path runs from the north-west corner of South Korea to the south-east corner spanning more than 600 km.

Our cycling tour from Seoul to Busan follows these connected cycling paths known as the Ara, Hangang, SaeJae, and Nakdonggang bike pathways, tracing the country’s 4 major rivers: Han, Nakdong, Geum & Yeongsan Rivers, with additional routes along the coasts.

Highlights

• Experience world-class cycling infrastructure bike paths
• Well-designed & safe designated cycling paths
• Good mix of easy, moderate and difficult paths
• Beautiful natural landscapes including lakes, mountains, rivers, pine forests, seasonal flowers, vegetable and fruit farms and more
• Delicious Korean food, quaint cafes & coffee stops throughout the journey

Jeju Round-the-Island (Fantasy Bike Path)
Optional: Extension cycling tour to Jeju island, where you will circumnavigate approximately 234km on its Circular Bike Path / Fantasy Bike Path, with the ocean always next to you! The entire route is made up of 10 courses that wind their way along the coast and past all the island’s lovely beaches & cafes.
We will make a stop at each course, for the stamp station, so you can collect all 10 of it & be eligible for an official certificate of completion issued at the Jeju Provincial Tourist Information Center at the airport or at Jeju Port. Come & Join us to experience Jeju by bicycle to feel the wind & hear the sound of the waves!

On our Portugal End to End tour you will cycle the length of this wonderful country from North to South mainly on the popular N2 route. The N2 in Portugal is known as Europe's Route 66. The tour starts in Chaves - located in Northern Portugal, next to the shores of Tâmega river and only a few kilometres away from Spain, Chaves is a city that has both a natural beauty and an incomparable historical and cultural legacy.

Accommodation is in good quality hotels that we have personally selected and visited. You will enjoy a fantastic breakfast each morning to fuel you for the day. Your luggage will be transferred each day. Our support van will be there in a jiffy if you need any assistance during the day. Water and bars and snacks are available without limit each day!

There is a lot of choice when it comes to stopping off for lunch in local cafés and restaurants. Lunch and evening meals are not included in the price. On occasions you may choose to have an evening meal together with the group, or you are free to stroll around and explore the local cuisine which Portugal is known for!

Our guides will take you on a full-day bicycle tour through the winding alleyways, and gorgeous plazas that served as a backdrop to some of the most pivotal moments in Spanish history. The tour starts at our office in Madrid. From there we’ll drive to Toledo, and cycle along the Tagus river towards the city. Once inside its medieval walls, we’ll be stopping to see the fortresses, cathedrals, synagogues, and museums.

A three-course lunch is optional after which, we’ll continue seeing some more of the city. Before heading back to Madrid, we make one final stop at the Parador hotel and enjoy a well-earned drink, taking in the spectacular views from its dazzling roof terrace.