Escape Adventures NZ

Africa is vast and varied with every point of the compass unique in its own way. East Africa is no exception and is famous for its traditional tribes people, exceptional wildlife and majestic vistas.

Kenya and Tanzania is where Escape Adventures first began back in 1999 and today remains our most popular cycle tour.

Break free from the bonds of ‘normal’ on our 16 day biking and camping adventure as we travel from Nairobi in Kenya to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Bike on remote back roads away from the chaos of Nairobi city to the sudden sparseness of open savannah. We bike alongside wildlife grazing the plains and camp with local families and villages along the way. We pass beneath the highest free-standing mountain in the world, Mt Kilimanjaro. Spend time game viewing in Amboseli National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater, with the highest concentration of plains game in the world, then cycle through the cool rain forested Usambara Mountains before ultimately dropping down the tropical Indian Ocean coast.

The terrain is mostly undulating and flat with some short rolling hills. The riding surface (80% dirt roads, 15% paved roads and 5% non-technical single track) can be rough at times, slow going, pot-holed and sandy and the riding challenge of the tour should not be judged by mileage alone. The trip is suited to riders with a good level of biking fitness and off-road biking experience will greatly enhance handling on rough roads and add to the enjoyment of your tour.

The Marlborough Molesworth Epic is quite possibly the perfect cycle tour, combining some of the best and contrasting riding locations in the top of the South Island. If you’ve ticked off some of New Zealands great rides and you’re keen to explore a little further afield, then this is the tour for you!

This diverse cycle tour begins with bird song and native forest as you wind your way along back roads towards the Nelson Lakes National Park. We hit the great taste trail for a day of smooth cycling, real fruit ice cream opportunities and potential detours for wine tasting on route! Boats and bikes are an unlikely duo, but when exploring the Marlborough Sounds, they are match made in heaven. Enjoy incredible scenery, quiet roads and relax to the gentle sounds of the ocean all around. The Molesworth Station often needs no introduction, a remote high-country road nestled between the inland Kaikoura mountains and the Nelson Lakes National Park makes for an epic day on the bikes bringing us neatly back to Hanmer Springs and the end of our ride.

20-104km riding per day on wonderfully remote and scenic riding route. Approximately 40% sealed roads / 50% quiet gravel roads and farm tracks and 10% cycle trails. There are some big climbs, big downs, undulating coastal terrain and of course there is also some flat terrain. We encourage an early start so that you have time to recharge at the end of the day.

Cycle from Bishkek to rugged Kyrgyzstan mountainscapes, wild alpine passes, and stunning valleys. Make Your Escape, this expedition-style bike trip immerses you into intriguing Central Asian nomad life in Yurts, soak up the ‘Land of the Kyrgyz’.

The Kyrgyz Republic was one of the first of the ‘Stans to become independent from Russia and travel the sometimes turbulent road to find its own identity. Kyrgyzstan, often referred to as the Switzerland of Central Asia is a land of rolling high altitude grass-lands, endless snow capped peaks, huge lakes, and raging rivers. Add to this an intriguing history, a friendly and unique culture of people who have learned to thrive in hot summers and freezing winters; great (and not so great) vodka and you have the perfect recipe for a fantastic and adventurous cycle tour.

You will gain a real insight into the ‘Land of the Kyrgyz’ while challenging your legs over high alpine mountain passes, across endless rolling grasslands, alongside raging rivers and tranquil lakes. Spend the night in traditional yurt camps, local home stays and camp in wildflower filled valleys. Sample sensational regional food, locally brewed kumys (fermented mare’s milk) and Russian beer and join us on our newest ‘favourite’ cycle tour.

The Terrain is mostly on dirt and gravel roads with very little traffic. The terrain varies from gentle meandering river valleys, some sustained climbs and lovely long valley descents. The majority of the tour is between 800m and 3000m above sea level with the highest point being a 3467m pass, with moderate gradients. The road surface can be rough at times, loose or corrugated. This tour is suitable for bikers with gravel road riding experience, a good level of fitness, an adventurous attitude, and perfect for a hard-tail mountain-bike.

Sandwiched between Thailand and Vietnam, Cambodia is a melting pot of South East Asian culture, scenery and cuisine. The local people are friendly, happy and gentle. Having struggled through years of bloodshed, poverty and political instability they have a seemingly unbreakable spirit, infectious optimism and they have prevailed with their smiles intact. Cambodia is one of those places that you come away from full of admiration and affection for the people.

In Cambodia we set out to create a ‘laid-back’ cycle tour with predominantly flat riding, laced with loads of interesting things to see and do and finishing each day with tasty food and great accommodation. Our tour begins in Siem Reap in the north and as we wind our way south we get all that and more. We explore the famous Angkor Wat temples by bike, check out floating villages, ride a bamboo train on abandoned train tracks and bike through a time-less landscape of dazzling rice paddies and swaying palms.

We cycle on a range of paved and unpaved roads, dirt tracks and village trails on mostly flat terrain. The surface can be rough and pot-holed at times so a mountain-bike fitted with semi-slick tyres is the perfect bike for this tour (we have mountain bikes available locally for you to hire.) The trip is suited to all levels of bikers, we have E Bikes and pedal bikes available so you can choose your challenge!

If you think Madagascar is just another part of Africa – think again! Madagascar, the fourth largest island in the world, broke away from Africa millions of years ago and was uninhabited for millennia. With a coastline lined with coral beaches and lagoons the land rises sharply to a great central plateau that covers most of the island. From temperate highlands to tropical coasts the landscape and scenery is as rich and unique as it’s wildlife. Madagascar’s isolation has allowed many remarkable species to evolve, and there is not a single Madagascan mammal species which can be found in any other place in the world.

To explore it all would take months, so we have created our cycle tour to bring you up close to the essence of what makes Madagascar tick. Starting from the capital of Antananarivo we leave the busy city behind. We ride on remote back roads, visit small towns and rural villages, and discover lemurs, chameleons and more wildlife not found anywhere else on earth. We cross the central highlands, through endemic dry forests, past ancient towering baobab trees and out to the tropical coast overlooking the Mozambique Channel in Morondava. You’ll take a two day riverboat trip through sparsely populated gorges, remote villages and sleeping crocodiles, hike through the incredible Tsingy limestone formations and dine on a mouthwatering mix of Malagasy and French cuisine.

The Madagascan Terrain is predominantly rolling and flat, with a couple of climbs up to 6km in length. The riding surface (50% quiet paved roads and 50% dirt and 4×4 roads) can be rough at times, slow going, pot-holed and sandy and the riding challenge of the tour should not be judged by mileage alone. The trip is suited to riders with a good level of biking fitness and off-road biking experience will greatly enhance handling on rough roads and add to the enjoyment of your tour.

The Cape to Cape - Kōpiko Aotearoa is a 1100 km route, taking you East to West across New Zealand’s North Island. Known in the bikepacking world for its challenging logistics and potential for big days... that's where we come in!

This route (created by the Kennett brothers) is one of the strings in New Zealand’s bow of epic pedal powered adventures. We have created a fully supported version of this ride, closely following the classic route, so you can get on with the pedaling and enjoy all the benefits that come with exploring on two wheels, without the stress of tricky logistics.

Taking you into the thick of the North Island’s most remote, rugged and off the beaten track towns: you will experience ocean vistas, pristine podocarp forest, cycle trails and rural farm life, knowing that we have got your back and lunch is ready just around the corner! You will be immersed into the small communities we pass through, interacting with locals and enjoying the slower pace of life that touring brings. Why not jump into the ocean for a mid-ride dip? Or stop at that tiny cafe for a brew? You might even get roped in to help herd some rogue sheep along the road!

This is a fully supported cycle tour, one crew will ride with the group whilst the other goes ahead to set up snack, water and lunch breaks. The support vehicle will have all your luggage and supplies for each day and is also available if you would like to take a break from the saddle.

The Cape to Cape is renowned for its hilly terrain – big ups, big downs, and otherwise rolling coastal terrain. Don’t say we didn’t warn you! Cycle trails have variable terrain and generally slow riding speed. Dirt/gravel road biking experience will add to the enjoyment of your tour.

We have created a fully supported version of the Tour Aotearoa so that you you can ride the full length of New Zealand knowing that we have got your back! Our tour closely follows this classic route and also includes plenty of quirky extras, stop-overs and special places in the true Escape Adventures’ style.

Whether you choose to ride the full length of New Zealand or just one Island at a time – we’ll sort the nitty gritty. Before your tour begins, we will organise all the logistics and book all accommodation.

We will give you daily digital route maps, that you can follow on your phone or GPS, and route cue notes so that you can ride at your own pace, stop when you like to smell the roses and grab a coffee when the opportunity presents, while always knowing that we are there if you need us.

On tour, your awesome Escape Adventures support crew will have your breakfast ready for an early start and provide snacks for you to carry with you. They will provide daily ride information and ride sweep with first aid and mechanical support. Our support vehicle will carry your luggage, and on most days set up a ‘floating picnic lunch’ on route so that you can dine’n’dash and top up on water and snacks. The support vehicle is also there if you need first aid or mechanical support, or if you need a break from the saddle.

31-126km riding per day on wonderfully remote and scenic riding route. Approximately 58% sealed roads / 18% quiet gravel roads / 22% cycle trails and a 90km beach section. There are some big climbs, big downs, undulating coastal terrain and of course there is also some flat terrain. Cycle trails have variable terrain and generally slow riding speed. Dirt/gravel road biking experience will add to the enjoyment of your tour.

Yes, Colombians are bike mad! They love road cycling; they love extreme mountain biking; they love urban downhill…. they love bikes, any bikes and most Colombians ride a bike… just any old bike will do and Sundays is cyclovia where the main roads in the the towns and cities close to motorised traffic and are filled with people riding bikes, skates, skate boards and scooters!

We make the most of the cycling culture and epic cycling terrain as we ride through thriving cities and friendly cowboy towns; vast coffee growing regions, tropics, jungle, semi-desert and Andean alpine environments.

Colombia is so diverse that it boasts every growing climate imaginable: hot steamy tropical valleys full of pineapples and papayas, higher up coffee, cacao and banana plantations thrive and in the highlands almost they grow every fruit and vegetable you can imagine!

If ever there was a land of diversity - Colombia is it! With a turbulent history of European colonialism, political struggles and drug wars, Colombia has now moved on and as a cycle touring destination - it is pretty much perfect!

We can't wait to share with you this land of divine cycling and warm welcomes from everyone we meet!

The Terrain: includes 70% paved roads and 30% un-paved roads with one 30km optional rough section which mountain-bikers will love, but others may not! The riding is mostly undulating with rolling hills and includes two days with long sustained climbs reaching a maximum altitude of 4200m, and of course some lovely long descents!! The trip is suited to riders with a good level of biking fitness who are happy chugging their way up a couple of long climbs, and off-road biking experience will add to the enjoyment of your tour.

We take you off the beaten track to discover the top of the Southern Alps and Canterbury's stunning high country, whilst focusing on opulent accommodation and fine dining experiences. This small but perfectly formed tour is an ideal ‘bridge’ from cycle trail riding to supported cycle touring. Soak up breathtaking views, relax in luxury accommodation and enjoy culinary expertise highlighting proudly New Zealand sourced ingredients. This cycle tour is ideal for those seeking a little more adventure than the usual cycle trail experience, but with luxury accommodation and fine dining to revitalise you after your days in the saddle. Starting and finishing in Christchurch, your first mode of transport will be the scenic TranszAlpine train to Arthurs Pass village. The ride from here is on a mixture of sealed roads, gravel roads and back country farm tracks staying in a variety of luxury lodges, hotels and even a private musterers hut perched high on a merino station dwarfed by the surrounding landscape. Throw into the mix an exhilarating jet boat transfer and you’ve got a small but perfectly formed Escape Adventures cycle tour. This is a fully supported loop tour – so you can ride the Canterbury Peaks to Plains Cycle Tour knowing that we have got your back!

We’ll sort the nitty gritty. Before your tour begins, we will organise all the logistics and book all accommodation.

We will give you daily digital route maps, that you can follow on your phone or GPS, and route cue notes so that you can ride at your own pace, stop when you like to smell the roses and grab a coffee when the opportunity presents, while always knowing that we are there if you need us.

12- 55km riding per day on a wonderfully scenic riding route in an area relatively untouched by cycle tourers. Approximately 40% sealed roads / 50% quiet gravel roads and farm tracks. There will be mostly undulating terrain with some sustained climbs and descents, our main variable will be the prevailing nor’wester. Dirt/gravel road biking experience will add to the enjoyment of your tour.

Experience a unique blend of history, natural beauty, and cultural richness as you explore southern Japan by bike. Travelling in the spring gives us the best possible chance to experience the natural wonder of the Sakura (cherry blossom) which the Kagoshima prefecture is renowned for. With vast landscapes and dramatically fewer tourists than further north, this cycle tour allows you to experience a more authentic Japan. We will embrace luxurious accommodations but enjoy cycling with an off the beaten track feel.

From Kagoshima, Japan’s southernmost major city in the Kyushu region, you will enjoy quiet back roads and excellent cycle paths. Exploring a mix of pristine coastline, traditional villages, lush forests and renowned tea producing areas. Be immersed in Japanese history at the ruins of Chiran Samurai District and staying in traditional Ryokan.

This tour has been designed for everyone, whether you are a regular biker or not, to enjoy. Utilising electric bikes means you can choose how challenging your ride each day will be. Evenings will be spent in luxurious accommodations, from high end hotels to beautifully presented Ryokans. And don’t forget the food … it will be a culinary journey to remember, sampling delicious traditional and contemporary meals throughout the tour.

The biking includes rides between 40 km & 55 km on paved surfaces. We use quiet back roads and Japan’s excellent network of cycle paths, for the majority of the tour. The terrain is gently rolling with some hills. The biggest day has a total ascent of 700m spread over the whole day.