Cycle Tours Global Blog

More than any other there is one word that the vast majority of cycle tour operators use in their tour descriptions with the greatest of trepidation – hills.

What can we expect over the next 10 days? Korea is not a country that quickly springs to mind when thinking of cycle tours - but it probably should be.

It is a sad fact of life that there are many people who have abandoned plans to enjoy a cycle touring holiday just because they do not have a travelling partner. But this is totally unnecessary.

Sunrise at Angkor Wat, a moment when time pauses and the baton is passed from dark to light.  A new day is being born and the sun’s reappearance is heralded by an exquisitely choreographed crescendo of colour that calls us to the magical reawakening.

Without warning, my front wheel struck a bulldust-concealed dip in the track and I tumbled head first over the handlebars, landing with a spectacular face-plant into the ground.

THE time has finally come for you to start thinking about your preparation for your long-awaited organised cycling holiday, but what do you take?

Australian adventurer, Kate Leeming, is an extraordinary woman. The story of her astonishing 22,000-kilometre trek by bicycle across Africa is much more than a story of mental grit and physical endurance.

IT is a surprising fact, but for the vast majority of people who decide to book   either a guided or self-guided cycling holiday the most difficult task is picking a suitable destination.

AS is the case with any contract you put your signature to, it is vitally important to read the fine print attached to your chosen cycle tour BEFORE paying.

As a destination Victoria’s North East is a cycling paradise, as The Cycle Tourist discovered much to his delight during a recent three-week visit to the region.

WITH literally hundreds of cycle tour operators across the globe offering a bewildering number of tours in a vast number of amazing locations, how do you go about picking one particular tour operator to provide a cycling holiday experience that is “just right” for you?

AS far as diverse holiday groups go ours was about as diverse as you can get. There were 28 of us who boarded the barge Ave Maria in the historic Italian city of Venice on a perfect Saturday afternoon late in June primed for a week of guided cycling, sightseeing and, as it turned out, a lot of fun and good company.

After much research you have tracked down an organised cycle tour that is just perfect for you and have made the booking. What now?

Finally, after weeks - if not months - of searching for a cycle tour that ticks all of your boxes, the research is over and the booking is made.
Now all you have to do is sit back and wait for the day when you can finally head off on your long-awaited cycling holiday ... if only life could be that simple.

You have booked a cycle tour because you want to cycle, sightsee and generally soak up the culture of a foreign country – not to worry about doing your laundry and finding a place for it to dry overnight.

While there are a wide variety of cycle tours on the market available for aspiring holidaymakers, there are essentially three types that mainstream tour operators offer.

So what exactly do you need to find out before handing over your hard earned cash to the cycle tour operator of your choice?
Essentially there are 10 questions that you need to ask of yourself and your proposed tour company.

The Lot valley is a much lesser known but very close cousin to the Dordogne, being just the next river valley south. As such it is much less crowded and popular, though equally beautiful. It may not have the chateaux but the quaint villages and by-ways are all there - and if you need to visit a Dordogne chateau just point your bike the other direction!

If you were hoping to read about the macabre Thomas Harris character then I'm sorry to disappoint you. This article is about the original Hannibal, the Carthaginian general who was the nemesis of Rome in the 2nd and 3rd centuries B.C. Among his many exploits he most famously marched with his army and elephants from Spain to the gates of Rome - you can now follow this route by bike.

Perhaps more than many global cities, Barcelona makes a very strong case for being a unique destination for travellers – and cyclists.