Mountain biking holidays - Holiday Activity Guide
PureTravel says:
"A mountain biking holiday offers you the opportunity to visit some of the world’s most beautiful mountainous destinations and see it and its peoples first-hand. You get away from the crowds and tour at your own pace, seeing what you want to see from breathtaking vantage points.
Tour guides can provide you with transportation to and from difficult to reach locales, and can you tell you about resort packages specifically made for mountain bikers. They can also provide tips and pointers about trails, and in some cases even provide mountain bikes for rent if you don’t have your own to bring. You should be in good physical shape and have some experience riding mountain bikes. The rugged terrain can be a challenge for bikers who are new to this experience. However, some of the mountain biking holiday destinations offer beginner trails. For your safety you will need a helmet, shin guards, padded cycling shorts, gloves (full or cut-off), jackets and of course plenty of bottled water. For your shoes you should use training shoes that don’t slide off the pedals."
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Suggested Mountain biking holidays:
Chatel, France.
Experience a European mountain biking holiday at France’s resort Chatel, a village in the Portes du Soleil region in France. Chatel connects to surrounding villages using 24 ski lifts that also double as chair lifts for mountain bikers. Bikers can ride meticulously landscaped downhill runs. For cross country mountain bikers, Chatel opens up to a vast terrain against the backdrop of the French and Swiss Alps. Chatel has even hosted prestigious athletic competitions such as European Downhill Cup. For sheer beauty and accessibility, mountain bikers continue to flock to this popular destination each year.
Lake Garda, Italy.
Lake Garda, Italy is considered one of the best mountain biking holiday destinations. The mountain summit ascends with breathtaking majesty over 2000 meters high. Demanding mountain bikers will find many tracks and trails here, including single tracks, Skedaddle climbs, and alpine routes. Make sure that you ride a quality mountain bike with good suspension to match the rugged terrain and steep ascents. The steep mountain tracks are not for everyone, however. Beginners should consult tour guides for information about easier trails and tracks.
Mountain Biking Holiday in Peru.
The Incas of Peru provide a majestic backdrop for this mountain biking holiday. These mountains offer 30,000 kilometers of single track trails that wind around mountains ascending 6,000 meters in height. Downhill trail runs in Peru total 5,6000 meters. During your holiday you will witness the Inca site of Machu Picchu, the sublime Lost City of the Incas. You will also have the opportunity to travel down the Cactus Trail, Santo Domingo de Los Olleros, among other famous trails.
Whistler, Canada.
A great mountain biking holiday awaits you in Whistler, BC, Canada, featuring the world-famous Whistler’s bike park with over 200 kilometers of trails cutting through a plush forest. Cross country mountain bikers will find a variety of biking activities available to them as well, from stunt riding, simple trail biking or rush filled descents down trails in nearby mountains. The Soo Valley Loop offers a cross country double track climb up Cougar Mountain. Other trails offer great learning experiences for free riders, with obstacles, ramps and bridges and other challenges. With over 200 kilometers of different downhill trail runs, there is a trail for every rider.
The Scottish Highlands, Scotland.
Scotland’s beautiful Highlands and archipelago make it an attractive mountain biking holiday. Mountain bikers can ride the steep climbs of Sky, Outer Hebrides and Riding on the Edge. The Isle of Lewis offers backcountry single-track trails set against its pristine beaches. Nearby is the Isle of Harris, with its own rugged terrain and peaks, the highest one being Clisham at 799 meters. Other experiences include the Coast to Coast adventure, a dramatic single track tour through the Highlands.
The Atlas Mountains, Morocco.
Morocco’s Atlas mountains are home to mud brick Kasbah’s and dirt roads, making it a unique mountain biking holiday experience for those wanting to take in the sights of traditional cultures. Trails descend from Tichka Pass, the highest peak, down to the Draa Valley, once home to trans-Saharan traders. Dirt trails make the trek up and around the mountainside manageable for even less experienced mountain bikers. The weather, however, can be a challenge; because of the hot temperatures, mountain bikers should drink lots of water.
Mountain Biking Holiday in Andalucia, Spain.
A mountain biking holiday in Andalucia, Spain will offer you quality trails and cross-country mountain biking, against the backdrop of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada, white villages and lush green hills. A culture rich in history lives here in its famous architecture, such as Granada’s Alhambra mosque, and yet still contemporary and teeming with nightlife in its city of Cordoba. A variety of biking experiences await you here, whether you like rock gardens, single track trails or any other style of mountain biking you can think of. Best spots for your trek include the Grazalema Natural Park, Serrania de Ronda and the Sierra de las Nieves trails.
Fruita, Colorado, USA.
Finally, for those seeking a true thrill ride of a mountain biking holiday, Fruita, Colorado offers just that. Its singular attraction is the Edge Loop, a roller coaster ride of climbs, descents, rappels and spectacular views propelling the mountain bike rider at full throttle for thirty miles. The highest climb, Books Cliffs, is 3,800 feet at which point you will behold the grandeur of Colorado’s snowcapped Rocky Mountains. From there, it’s a slalom-like descent down the mountain through technical single track trails, rolling hills and a rappel down a waterfall. This experience is certainly not for the faint of heart, but it will be unlike anything you have ever experienced before.
