Eat. Sleep. Ride. Repeat. If this sounds like your idea of the perfect vacation agenda, it’s time to start planning your dream bike trip. While you’ll have to do a little homework to choose your ideal destination, the planning will prove to be worth it once you’re cruising down your soon-to-be new favorite trail.
What to bring along for the ride
Before you begin the ride of your life, you ought to double-check that you’ve packed your bag full of essentials. Be sure to bring along nutritional items like electrolyte drinks and compact whole foods/bars, travel documents like your driver’s license, passport, and transportation tickets, a first-aid kit, and critical bike repair tools. In addition, if you are traveling by car before you roll out on your bike, you’ll need to bring along a bike rack that will help you safely transport your bicycle.
If you’re ready to cycle your way to the ultimate adventure, check out these seven bucket-list-worthy bike vacations for the two-wheeled traveler.
Tuscany
When in Tuscany, you do as the Tuscans do: bike through rolling hills of green and enjoy Tuscan food, art, and architecture along the way. Tuscany makes for a dreamy backdrop for your cycling trip, thanks to its many paved paths and breathtaking scenery. Even better, the area is home to several luxury bike tour companies that offer luggage transportation, lodging accommodations, and more.
Redwood National Park
Zooming through the towering redwood trees in Redwood National Park is a must-do bucket list item for most avid cyclers. Luckily, tour providers like Western Spirit offer bike excursions that include checking out the coastal cliffs of Northern California and splashing through the forest’s rivers. The park’s paved gravel trails and limited vehicular traffic makes for a safe and visually stunning cycling adventure that beginner, intermediate, and advanced cyclists can enjoy.
The trans-Columbia challenge
When it comes to limit-pushing physical challenges and total thrill-inducing trails, Thomson Bike Tour’s Trans-Columbia Challenge takes the gold. Spanning through the Andes mountains and requiring riders to tackle over 70,000 feet of vertical elevation gain, this Columbian bike vacation is a coffee-loving exercise junkie’s dream.
Sonoma County
Wine-adoring cyclists, rejoice! Pure Adventures’ bike tour in Sonoma County Wine Country encourages guests to guide themselves through several of the finest vineyards and wineries that California has to offer. However, don’t let the boozy nature of the trip fool you. While plenty of wine can be drunk on the excursion, the trail is physically demanding. Therefore, pure Adventures recommends that mostly experienced bikers ride the nearly 280-mile journey.
Death Valley
While the name may be offputting, REI Adventures promises that riders who take on its Death Valley cycling tour will never feel more alive than when they’re rolling through the dunes and soaking up the awe-inspiring views at Badwater Basin. Although the tour guides recommend the excursion to intermediate riders, the sometimes-scorching heat takes the difficulty level up a notch.
China
If you’re intrigued by Chinese history and swoon at the thought of gazing through stunning Asian landscapes, World Expedition’s Hike and Bike China tour just might be the bike vacation for you. As you cycle through expanses of classic Chinese scenery, you’ll make wanderlust-satisfying pit stops at several bucket-list landmarks like the Great Wall, the Tiger Leaping Gorge, and the Forbidden City.
South African Cape
Not only does KE Adventure Travel’s South African Cape tour begin at a few of the world’s most breathtaking wineries, but it also guides riders through the Karoo Desert and a few charming Dutch villages. Following the Cape of Good Hope’s coast, this 12-day seaside jaunt is one you won’t want to miss.
In conclusion
With your bag packed and your dream destination selected, all that’s left to do is hit the trail.
