Saddle Skedaddle

Peppered throughout the awe-inspiring landscape you’ll find evidence of Morocco’s rich cultural history just begging to be explored - ancient fortified kasbahs with their windowless high walls and the maze-like medinas with their colourful shops, fragrant restaurants, and bustling mosques that serve as the heart and soul of any city. Morocco wouldn't be Morocco without its people - warm, inviting, and famous for their hospitality, the Moroccans are always eager to share a mint tea along with a story or two.

On this biking adventure, we explore a range of Morocco’s fantastic trails, including remote paths and dirt roads taking us from Marrakech to the Tichka Pass, the highest in the High Atlas, before descending along the Draa Valley to the fringes of the Sahara Desert. Here, mud-brick kasbahs appear to rise up out of the desert, sitting in tranquil palm oases and framed by dramatic backdrops of snow-capped mountains.

En route we pass through numerous traditional villages, including a visit to the ancient kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll also make plenty of mint tea stops to experience first-hand the legendary hospitality that has risen up from these remote desert outposts. As we descend from the High Atlas, we witness a gradual change in flora and fauna as the desert starts to make its imprint on the landscape. Following a route of palm oases that hide the occasional refreshing pool for a dip, we cycle alongside ruined villages and kasbahs which, in the early morning and late afternoon, are bathed in a sublime desert light.

As we arrive at the fringe of the Sahara Desert, not far from the town of Zagora, we take a break from the bikes and kasbah hotels and instead opt for camels and a night under the stars in a Berber desert tent, surrounded by pre-Saharan dunes. This is the ultimate trip for those who are looking for a mountain-biking adventure paired with memorable cultural experiences!

Highlights

• Biking across the remote, beautiful, and untouched Jebel Sirwa mountains
• Exploring crumbling remains of the past in Morocco’s many kasbahs
• Riding a huge variety of rewarding tracks and trails
• Sleeping under the stars in the Sahara Desert
• Relaxing in one of Morocco’s most beautiful palm oases
• Strolling through the spellbinding network of souks in Marrakech medina

This ultimate place-to-place MTB trip is aimed squarely at fit and experienced riders. A mountain bike holiday of the very highest calibre, a truly epic Scottish Highlands journey stretching from the extreme north coast through glens and over mountain passes to arrive in the heart of Scotland at the Wallace monument in Stirling. You need to be comfortable riding difficult terrain in remote areas and spending long days in the saddle. If this sounds like you, this adventure will be a highlight of your mountain biking career!

This trip builds on years of experience guiding mountain bike groups in Scotland, so you can relax and concentrate on enjoying the scenery and biking. Our route stretches over 300 miles in total and uses a wide variety of trails. There will be challenging singletrack winding through the mountains, old drove roads following the valley floors and easy rolling forest tracks. This is wilderness riding at its very best, but wherever possible our support vehicle will be close by to provide snacks and drinks as well as our renowned picnic lunches.
On our first day's riding we work our way up from the coast to get to some proper mountain riding as we skirt the majestic munro Ben Klibreck. For our second day we head south through the forests of Strath Tirry and along Loch Shin to reach Bonar Bridge on the Dornoch Firth.

Once we are in to the swing of things the days and trails come thick and fast. We pedal further into the Highlands around Loch Ness and the Great Glen before tackling the spectacular Corrieyairack Pass. From this high point we drop down to the banks of the River Spey famous for salmon fishing and whisky distilleries.

We use some stunning tracks running around Loch Ericht and Loch Rannoch to get us through to our last overnight stop at Killin where we can celebrate with a dram or two. The last day is a relatively flat gentle spin along Glen Earn to reach the monument to William Wallace just outside Stirling.

The arrival point for the trip is Stirling train station and from there we transfer to your initial accommodation at Bettyhill. We'll ride all the way back to Stirling at the end of the trip where you can clean up before jumping on the train back home or collecting your car.

Holiday Highlights
Relaxing at the end of each day whisky in hand 
Following in the footsteps of Viking settlers 
Riding mountain passes few bikers ever visit 
Ascending the Corrieyairack Pass with views down to the Great Glen 
Arriving tired but truimphant in the historic city of Stirling

The ultimate road cycling holiday in the UK - that really is the only way to describe our Land’s End to John O’Groats tour. Riding the entire length of mainland Britain is a journey that we believe every cyclist should experience at least once in their lifetime. With over 1,000 miles through 3 countries in just 14 days of riding, it’s one of the most impressive challenges in our range for riders to conquer. 
 
Making the most of the prevailing winds, our journey starts at Land’s End and heads north. Leaving the Cornish coast we head past the stunning wilds of Dartmoor and cross the River Severn before riding into Wales. Heading further north, we skim the edge of the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbria and cross the border into Scotland. Before long, we’re riding through the rugged Cairngorms toward Inverness, before reaching the north coast and John O’Groats. 
 
This is a fully guided and supported cycling tour, with GPS units supplied. We carry your bags and feed you along the way too, so all you have to do is focus on conquering the miles each day. 
 
We’ve been leading Land's End to John O'Groats tours since 2006. Our experts have carefully crafted the route based on years of experience. We provide a journey that showcases the very best of Britain, from the best roads, to the most remote landscapes. Learn more about what makes our route so special in our dedicated 'story behind' blog, which includes insights from legendary guide Peter Eagan who has led over 20 LEJOG tours for us. 

Holiday Highlights
Experience the regional changes in tradition, culture and accents as you progress from county to county 
Enjoy spectacular scenery from Cheddar Gorge to the Cairngorms 
3 countries in 14 days of riding 
1,000 miles of Britain at its best 
Cornish pasties to haggis and everything in between

The ultimate road cycling holiday in the UK - that really is the only way to describe our epic Land’s End to John O’Groats ride. We believe just about every cyclist should make this journey at least once in their lifetime and our 22-day version is perfect for enthusiastic, regular cyclists looking to be inspired by this iconic end to end journey.  

Starting in Land’s End and making the most of the prevailing wind, we skedaddle off on a 1,000 mile plus adventure through 3 countries in just 19 days of riding. Leaving the Cornish coast we pass through the wilds of Dartmoor, before crossing the River Severn and into Wales. Riding further north we skim the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, over the border into the dramatic scenery of Scotland, through Edinburgh and then up past Inverness to finally arrive at John O’Groats. 

This is a fully guided and supported cycling tour, with GPS units supplied. One guide accompanies riders whilst the other drives a support vehicle (perfect for those who feel they need a helping hand along the way!) What's more, we carry your bags and feed you along the way too - in short, we take care of everything so you can just concentrate on cycling at your own pace each day! 

We’ve been leading Land's End to John O'Groats tours since 2006. Our experts have carefully crafted the route based on years of experience. We provide a journey that showcases the very best of Britain, from the best roads, to the most remote landscapes. Learn more about what makes our route so special in our dedicated 'story behind' blog, including insights from legendary guide Peter Eagan who has led over 20 LEJOG tours for us. 

Holiday Highlights
Ride the length of Britain from toe to tip and declare yourself an ‘End to Ender’ 
Experience the regional changes in tradition, culture and accents as you progress from county to county 
Enjoy spectacular scenery from Cheddar Gorge to the Cairngorms 
3 countries in 19 days of riding 
1,000 miles of Britain at its best 
Cornish pasties to haggis and everything in between

On quiet country roads you will explore this traditional Italian island, taking in its natural beauty and experiencing its Greek, Roman and Baroque history. With its warm climate, beautiful coastline, gently rolling terrain and excellent food and wine it's the perfect destination for a cycling holiday.

Starting inland, you'll ride through open countryside and past stone walled olive groves on your way to Pozzallo on the south coast. You'll then ride along the coast towards Portopalo di Capo, cycling through traditional Baroque towns built around imposing churches and cathedrals, many of which are UNESCO world heritage sites. You'll then head north again, to the coastal fortified town of Ortiglia near Siracusa, a perfect end to your cycling in Sicily.

Highlights along the way include Modica, a town perched precariously on the side of a cliff and Noto the most Baroque town of Italy.
Along the way you'll stay in small good quality hotels and agriturismi with excellent local food and wine on offer, this is an Italian cycling holiday not to be missed.

Provided are route notes and maps so navigating each day's ride is easy. With start dates flexible and good flight options now possible to Catania, there's never been a better time to enjoy a week of cycling in sunny and vibrant Sicily!

Holiday Highlights

• Visiting the Baroque towns of Modica, Ragusa and Noto, all UNESCO Heritage Sites
• Sampling delicious Sicilian pastries, like cannoli 
• Cycling along the beautiful coastal road to Capo Passero 
• Exploring the medieval streets of Ortigia di Siracusa 
• Enjoying an aperitivo ‘al fresco’ with the locals in one of the many piazzas
• Discovering the astonishing Oasis of Vendicari

Situated off the coast of India, Sri Lanka is an often overlooked gem in the Indian Ocean. An island of beautiful tropical beaches, spectacular scenery and amazing wildlife. Ancient Buddhist temples rub shoulders with landscaped tea plantations and lush tropical forests entice you to explore them.

Our cycling holiday in Sri Lanka starts on the coast at Chillaw. From here we head inland, taking in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Anuradhapura and Sigiriya. From Habarana we start our ride to the higher reaches, as we head into the lush green central hills and the mountains of the Knuckles to reach Kandy. Here we’ll visit one of the most sacred places of Buddhist worship in Sri Lanka, the Temple of the Tooth.

Next is the hill station and colonial splendour of Nuwara Eliya and its world famous tea plantations, before we head downhill through teak and rhododendron forest to Horton Plains. The downward emphasis continues from here on in as we speed to the plains at Katharagama. Riding on the flat is then the order of the day from here on in as we head through the forest to Udawalawe. The National Park here is famous for its wildlife, especially elephants and with this in mind, we spend the next day on a jeep safari.

Our final day of this Sri Lanka cycling holiday ends at one of the best stretches of beach, Mirissa and is the perfect place to end our cycling journey. Next day we head to Colombo via the lovely colonial city of Galle, before our flight connections the next day.

Holiday Highlights
Eying up the elephants at Udawalawe 
Stunning Sigirya and the Lion Rock 
Colonial cool in Nuwara Eliya 
Honing in on Horton Plains after a day in the hills 
The Knuckles and Kandy’s Temple of the Tooth

Most of us know about Spain’s great weather and you probably something about Spanish culture, flamenco, bull fighting and the infectious fun loving attitude of the locals. You may have tasted tapas, manchego cheese and spicy chorizo.

But how well do we really know it? Many know the north and south are mountainous and think the middle is one huge plain! Think again, this journey heads through an untold number of sierras, the most significant being the Cordillera Cantabrica, the spectacular Sierras de Guadarrama and Gredos that envelope Madrid and the limestone splendour of the Nieves and Grazalema ranges in Andalucia.

The Vuelta a España has been running since 1935 and the whole country is a road cyclists’ paradise with untold amounts spent on ‘upgrading’ rural roads into smooth, flowing ribbons of asphalt. The road cycling tradition and culture is an integral part of life in Spain, with fantastic, empty roads winding their way through stunning sierras.
It’s certainly a bumpy ride but we do try to keep climbing to a minimum whilst still taking you on the most spectacular route. This is certainly no pass bagging trip, but one which links the very different provinces of Spain, giving you the chance to be seduced by the ever-changing geography, flavours and culture this proud country has on offer.

Days in the saddle will be linked by planned drink stops in local bars, 'al fresco' lunches of the best produce in the region and stays in a wonderful hotels including monasteries, olive farms and historical buildings which put the topping on this very Spanish torta!

A longer version of our 2 week North to South ride that has 17 days of cycling and 2 rest days in the enchanting cities of Segovia and Cordoba. The route is a more forgiving ride but equally as stunning and finishes in the stunning city of Malaga, famed for its great museums and fantastic seafood.

Holiday Highlights
Cycling through the vineyards & dramatic mountains of Rioja 
San Millan Monastery, the birthplace of the Spanish language 
Seduced by Segovia with its castle and cathedral 
Descending from the Sierras to the charming beauty of Cordoba 
Finishing your ride in style at the fun loving city of Malaga

This mountain bike holiday will give you a great taste of some of Portugal's most fantastic biking. The journey takes us on a tour of the highlights of the Lisbon region and its many great riding areas. While not well-known outside Potugal local riders have been enjoying these trails for years and included in the trip are two of Portugal’s picturesque natural parks; Sintra and Arrabida.

The riding on this biking trip is varied and interesting, with trails ranging from wide-open paths to tight and technical singletrack. On many of the days we have the chance to pick from a selection of trails, allowing us to cater the riding to the needs of the group. If you are a regular rider but dont think you are quite up to a week in the high mountains then this is the ideal trip.

Starting out south of the city we explore the unspoilt Serra de Grandola and the Arrabida Natural Park. Moving on to the coastal region west of Lisbon we spend a day ‘lost’ in the network of trails that have been created within Sintra Natural Park before heading north along the coast and into the Portuguese countryside.
Staying relatively close to the coast means that we are never far from our creature comforts. One of the biggest highlights of the tour is the area’s fantastic food and extremely high quality accommodation. We'll be staying in hilltop castles and luxury hotels, allowing plenty of chance for relaxing after each day of your biking adventure.

Holiday Highlights
Magnificent ocean views from the highest peaks of Sintra 
Exploring the rural villages of the ‘Zona Saloia’ 
Our local team’s favourite woodland singletrack 
Pedalling to picturesque Palmela Castle 
Vimeiro and its Atlantic Ocean vistas

Spain, España, doesn’t need much of an introduction. We all know something about this country which takes up the lions share of the Iberian Peninsula. Most of us know about the great weather, the best in Europe even, and you probably know something about Spanish culture, flamenco, bull fighting and the infectious fun-loving attitude of the locals. You may have tasted tapas, manchego cheese and spicy chorizo and you may have followed your heroes on the Vuelta a España. We may know that Andalucia is in the sweltering south, the north is mountainous and green and the capital, Madrid is slap bang in the centre.
But how well do we really know it?

Did you know that Spain is the 2nd most mountainous country in Europe? Many know the north and south are mountainous and think the middle is one huge plain! Think again, this journey heads through an untold number of sierras, the most significant being the Cordillera Cantabrica, the huge natural barrier that runs across the Atlantic north, the spectacular Sierras de Guadarrama and Gredos that envelope Madrid and the limestone splendour of the Nieves and Grazalema ranges in Andalucia.

The Vuelta a España has been running since 1935 and the whole country is a road cyclists’ paradise with untold amounts spent on ‘upgrading’ rural roads into smooth, flowing ribbons of asphalt. The road cycling tradition and culture is an integral part of life in Spain, with fantastic, empty roads winding their way through stunning sierras.

It’s certainly a bumpy ride, but we do try to keep climbing to a minimum at the same time as taking you on a most spectacular route. This is certainly no col bagging trip, but one which links the very different provinces of Spain, giving you the chance to be seduced by the ever changing geography, flavours and culture this proud country has on offer.

Days in the saddle will be linked by planned drink stops in local bars, al fresco lunches of the best produce in the region and stays in a cherry picked hotels including monasteries, olive farms, town mansions and a number of other historical buildings which will all put the topping on this very Spanish cake!

This will be a challenging journey giving you 14 days in the saddle, but a trip that will never stop charming you on this discovery of Spain.

Highlights

• Cycling through the varied beauty of 14 national parks
• Delicious regional dishes which change from day to day as you traverse the entire country
• Crossing the granite Guadarrama and Gredos mountain ranges as you move from the north to the south of the country
• Views over the Straits of Gibraltar to Morocco
• The beautiful towns of San Sebastian, Guadaloupe and Ronda
• The satisfaction of arriving in to Tarifa with over 1,000 miles of Spanish roads having passed beneath your wheels

The Northumberland Coast is best known for its sweeping sandy beaches, rolling dunes and islands. This is a lovely family cycling holiday that takes in the special qualities of this coastal landscape with spectacular views as the route passes impressive castles and fortresses.

Beginning in the beautiful market town of Alnwick there are plenty of local attractions to visit on your arrival day. Swap your bike for a broomstick and follow Harry Potter around Alnwick Castle, or enjoy 12 acres of delight at the world-renowned Alnwick Gardens, dodging the 120 water jets in their Grand Cascade before enjoying lunch in the world's largest Treehouse Restaurant. Alnwick itself is a fabulous introduction to Northumberland with its medieval winding cobbled streets, delightful cafes and independent shops, and pretty riverside walks.

From Alnwick our cycling route first takes us down to meet the stunning coast at Alnmouth before travelling northwards weaving its way through pretty villages and skirting alongside the wide sandy beaches and dunes at Embleton, Newton-by-the-Sea and Bamburgh. If tide and time allow (always check!) you can cross the tidal causeway to the historic Holy Island of Lindisfarne where the Lindisfarne Gospels were written in the 8th Century. It is also home to the world-famous Lindisfarne mead. The route continues north to finish at the historic Elizabethan border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, with its impressive defences built during many years of border wars. From Berwick-upon-Tweed we'll whisk you back to your car in Alnwick, or you can catch the train home from here.

Create your own - you can choose to do any combination of days along the route either moving on to the next destination or spending extra days exploring a particular area. 

Holiday Highlights
Discovering beautiful Alnwick and its famous Castle and Gardens 
Working out the tide times, then cycling over the causeway to Holy Island to check out the priory 
Tasty fish and chips at Seahouses 
Seeing who’ll spot the castles of Dunstanburgh and Bamburgh first 
Checking out the city walls of Berwick-upon-Tweed, England’s most northern town