Saddle Skedaddle
Holidays the move you
Since 1995 they have had one simple mission: to inspire as many of you as possible to travel by bike. They believe there's no better way to really experience a place, its people and its culture.
Whether you choose to go for their small-guided parties of around 6 to 15 people or decide to ride self-guided with friends or family, their hand-picked destinations and routes, led by local experts, are designed to make sure everyone has an incredible time.
We want you to relax and unwind, to be challenged and exhilarated. At Skedaddle, we want you to feel like you’ve really been somewhere on holiday. We visit destinations all over the world, with over 260 holidays in 36 destinations (and counting!)
Ruta de los Volcanes
Tour Operator: Saddle Skedaddle
Costa Rica
13 days (Bike: 10 days)
465 mi (~47mi per day)
Active
Some hills, On-road
Guided
Supported
Prices from
Guided
£ 2945
Overview
Tour Operator Saddle Skedaddle
Cycle in the shadow of palm trees along the Pacific coast
An awesome road cycling holiday in Costa Rica, taking you through a vibrant and fertile Central American paradise, blessed with a pleasant climate and an abundance of natural beauty.
Vast areas of lush green cloudforest and rainforest, magnificent volcanoes, two incredible and very different regions and of course, a network of stunningly picturesque paved roads make the country a perfect and idyllic road cycling destination. This action-packed tour, in which we experience both the laid back tranquillity of the Caribbean side of the country and the crashing dramatics of the Pacific, is a perfect escape.
After a first evening in San José we transfer to Guapiles in the Limon province on the Caribbean side of the country. On arrival we will embark on a short warm-up ride to acclimatise to the tropical climate and to experience first-hand the natural beauty that Costa Rica has to offer.
The following day will be our first full day on the bikes and by the afternoon we'll be leaving the coast behind us and heading for the hills. From here we continue making our way across the country, allowing plenty of time to enjoy the spectacular scenery in the heart of Costa Rica, following the shores of Lago Arenal and skirting the active Volcan Arenal; just one of a number of volcano experiences we will have during our journey.
After a week in the saddle we reach the golden beaches of Samara and Carrillo on the Pacific coast and our last day in the saddle sees us exploring the sparsely inhabited countryside of the Nicoya Peninsula before transferring back to Costa Rica's capital, San José, where will spend our final evening together.
Holiday Highlights
Spotting an unparalleled diversity of wildlife
Breaking through the clouds as we cross Costa Rica’s central mountains
Enjoying volcanic vistas over a drink in La Fortuna
Watching the sun go down from Samara beach after a rewarding day in the saddle
The change in scenery on opposing sides of the continental divide
Northumberland Coast
Tour Operator: Saddle Skedaddle
United Kingdom
3 days (Bike: 2 days)
52 mi (~26mi per day)
Leisure
Mixed on/off-road, Mostly flat, Quiet roads
Self-Guided
Semi-Supported
Prices from
Self-Guided
£ 350
Overview
Tour Operator Saddle Skedaddle
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
A unique cycling holiday in the UK along Northumberland’s stunning coastline, cycling past impressive castles and fortresses dating back to the Middle Ages. Our cycling holiday begins at the quaint village of Warkworth where the route travels northwards alongside the wide sandy beaches and dunes of Embleton, Newton-by-the-Sea and Bamburgh. You can then cross the tidal causeway (check the tide times!) to the historic Holy Island otherwise known as Lindisfarne, the place where the 8th Century Lindisfane Gospels were created.
This cycling holiday includes stunning views of the impressive castles of Dunstanburgh, Bamburgh, and Lindisfarne. The route then continues North to finish at the Elizabethan border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, with its impressive defenses built during many years of border wars. From Berwick-upon-Tweed we'll whisk you back to your car in Warkworth, or you can catch the train home from here.
This self-guided trip is for a minimum of 2 people and accommodation, transfers, luggage transfers and emergency back up are all included. We also provide detailed route notes and maps to enable you to do the route self-guided. Nothing could be simpler!
Create your own - If you are looking for extra days, extra routes, additional transfers, specialist bicycles on this route, then please contact the Skedaddle Office to discuss the available options.
Holiday Highlights
Lindisfarne with its castle and priory
Mile upon mile of golden dunes and sandy beaches
The pretty fishing villages North of Warkworth
The majestic castles of Dunstanburgh and Bamburgh
The historic town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, England’s most Northern town
Cuban Revolutions
Tour Operator: Saddle Skedaddle
Cuba
15 days (Bike: 10 days)
329 mi (~33mi per day)
Leisure
Mixed on/off-road, Some hills, Quiet roads
Guided
Supported
Prices from
Guided
£ 2995
Overview
Tour Operator Saddle Skedaddle
A lovely easy paced cycling holiday in Cuba
Two weeks of salsa and cycling, old cars and cigars, on the Caribbean’s most vibrant island. Our Cuban Revolutions tour offers an unrivalled insight into the fascinating island of Cuba. During our tour we stay in a wide variety of accommodation, including hotels with pools and, in order to get the full flavour of your time in Cuba, we will also be staying in casas particulares (private houses).
This biking trip takes us on a journey through Cuba and begins in the historic city of Havana with a city tour of some of its famous landmarks. After transferring to Bayamo our cycling starts in earnest with our initial highlight the religious site of the Virgin of Charity at El Cobre. It’s from here we set our sights on Santiago de Cuba; the birthplace of the revolution and home of Cuban music.
Stunning views of the Carribbean Sea are next as we follow the dramatic and stunning southern coastline and head west to Sierramar and Marea de Portillo on our way to the charming provincial town of Niquero. Perfectly positioned on the Golfo de Guacanayabo it’s positioned close to the landing point for Castro, Ché and the revolutionaries.
Trinidad, one of the jewels of Cuba is next and is without doubt the most picturesque city in Cuba. It’s here we spend time with local families for 2 nights before making our way to Santa Clara, to visit the Che Guevara Mausoleum. After a scenic transfer, we're back on the bikes in the area of Pinar del Rio, heading through the picturesque Mogotes of Viñales on route to Soroa.
A final day's cycling takes us back to the city of Havana for a night of daiquiris and dancing. Our final day starts with a lovely walking tour of Old Havana followed by a leisurely lunch and a spot of souvenir hunting before we head to the airport and evening flight connections.
Highlights
- Kicking back with a post ride Mojito
- Cycling around the loaf-shaped mountains of Viñales
- Exploring the colonial delights of Trinidad and Santiago
- Cuban salsa beats in downtown Havana
- Stories of Che, Castro and the Revolution
- Cycling the Caribbean coast of Marea del Portillo
Sensational Sierra Nevada
Tour Operator: Saddle Skedaddle
Spain
7 days (Bike: 5 days)
127 mi (~25mi per day)
Avid
Off-road
Guided
Supported
Prices from
Guided
£ 1395
Overview
Tour Operator Saddle Skedaddle
Impressive views of the Sierra Nevada’s highest peaks
A true classic, our mountain biking holiday in the Sierra Nevada mountains is designed to be both challenging and incredibly rewarding for experienced mountain bikers. We have the opportunity to explore seldom-ridden trails through the high mountains and highlights include two nights spent in mountain refugios spectacularly located at over 2500 metres.
Our Spanish team is convinced that the Sierra Nevada provides some of the finest riding you will experience anywhere in Europe. Our take on the Sierra Nevada adheres to the Saddle Skedaddle ethos of exceptional place to place cross country and enduro MTB tours. The terrain is natural, so while you wont see many berms or drops there are frequent sections requiring good bike-handling skills.
The Sierra Nevada is the highest mountain range in Spain, rising well over 3000m. The range was first inhabited by the Moors and Berbers that were driven out of Granada in 1492 at the end of the Christian Reconquista, and who created a cultivated hospitable land with villages linked by paths, and with orchards and allotments watered by snow melt from the high sierra.
hese paths and waterways, along with trails walked by shepherds for centuries have made the Sierra Nevada a mountain bikers Shangri-La. Our Sensational Sierra Nevada trip is almost a full loop of the Sierra and takes in the very best of these trails, providing a fantastic showcase of the area.
Holiday Highlights
Remote technical riding on seldom visited paths
Testing climbs and descents on natural terrain
Re-fuelling on tasty local cuisine
Endless free-flowing trails through a bikers paradise
Sleeping comfortably in a high-mountain refugio
Ruta de la Plata - Seville to Santiago
Tour Operator: Saddle Skedaddle
Spain
16 days (Bike: 14 days)
607 mi (~43mi per day)
Avid
Off-road
Guided
Supported
Prices from
Guided
£ 3995
Overview
Tour Operator Saddle Skedaddle
Join us for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure through the heartland of Spain on one of our flagship gravel biking holidays.
The Ruta de la Plata is an ancient trading and pilgrimage route taking us from the quintessentially Andalucian city of Seville through the green valleys of the far northwest to the beautiful city of Santiago de Compostela.
This is Spanish wilderness gravel biking at its best with long climbs, thrilling descents and new challenges every day. Each day the route leads us ever northwards over a range of paths, tracks and remote trails and quiet roads. The terrain is incredibly varied, with sections of gravel roads, singletrack, dirt paths, and some quiet country roads to link the route together.
The scenery is epic with high mountain passes, Roman viaducts and incredibly diverse flora and fauna along the way. We follow in the footsteps of centuries of traders, troops, travellers, and pilgrims, all of whom have left their mark and added to the character of the route.
We pass over Roman roads and through beautiful towns and cities such as Merida with its amazing Roman monuments, Caceres and her perfect medieval centre and Salamanca’s engaging Plaza Mayor. The diversity of landscapes make this trip an unforgettable experience.
Our journey traverses the Iberian Peninsula covering approximately 1,000km through some of Spain’s least populated areas, through the province of Extremadura. While the route is rough in places, the overall technical level is not demanding, and all intermediate level riders will be up to the challenge.
Highlights
- Biking through 4 diverse regions and 7 provinces of Spain
- Delicious, regional cuisine
- Sampling a diverse range of trails and paths
- Exploring historic Roman roads and viaducts
- 1,000km of challenging linear riding through ever changing landscapes
- Crossing high passes and endless thrilling descents
- Arriving in the beautiful Santiago de Compostela at the end of our journey
The trail itself has many different guises. Smooth gravel, packed earth, ancient cart tracks and fun singletrack, it has the lot. There are some more technical sections, some of which can be avoided by skipping onto asphalt. You can find more information on riding on gravel surfaces here in our Guide to Gravel Trails
This itinerary will suit the regular biker who loves an endurance challenge over a vast mixture of terrain. Fitness and an adventurous spirit are more essential than technical skill. We will be travelling through mountainous areas and hence significant climbs will be encountered most days.
Costa Rica Volcanoes and Valleys
Tour Operator: Saddle Skedaddle
Costa Rica
12 days (Bike: 7 days)
105 mi (~15mi per day)
Leisure
Mixed on/off-road, Some hills
Guided
Supported
Prices from
Guided
£ 2395
Overview
Tour Operator Saddle Skedaddle
Hundreds of varieties of wildlife call Lake Arenal home
With an incredible abundance of wildlife, stunning scenery and quiet trails, Costa Rica makes the perfect destination for an exciting family cycling holiday. Costa Rica's mix of beautiful coastline, rainforest and lofty volcanic peaks give it a diversity which is hard to match anywhere in the world and this holiday gives you the chance to experience all of the best bits for yourself.
Our trip starts with a visit to the edge of Volcan Irazu's crater from where, on a clear day, you can see the Pacific Ocean in one direction and the Atlantic in the other. From here we jump on our bikes to see who will be the first to spot a capuchin monkey or tapir as we cycle though the Trapanti National Park. As the forest thins out and makes way to sugar and coffee plantations we reach Pacuare River where we can swap our pedals for paddles to enjoy some whitewater rafting.
Our expert guides are on hand to ensure everything is both safe and fun for everyone. This is also an excellent opportunity to observe more of Costa Rica's indigenous wildlife with several species of monkey, hundreds of varieties of birds and even jaguars! We also get the chance to see another side of the country with a visit to a local school and farm before our journey takes us on to the Pacific coast and the spectacular beaches of Samara, a great place to try out some of the watersports or just relax after a rewarding week.
If one of our standard dates doesn't suit you, or you want something especially for your family, contact us and we can help put together the perfect trip for you in what has to be the one of the best destinations for a family adventure anywhere in the world.
Holiday Highlights
Peering in to a volcanic crater
Running the rapids on the Pacuare River
Arriving at the Pacific paradise of Samara beach
Trying a spot of surfing and impressing the kids
Monkey spotting as you cycle along
Northumberland Coast Tour
Tour Operator: Saddle Skedaddle
United Kingdom
5 days (Bike: 4 days)
57 mi (~14mi per day)
Leisure
Mixed on/off-road, Cycle paths/trails, Quiet roads
Self-Guided
Semi-Supported
Prices from
Self-Guided
£ 545
Overview
Tour Operator Saddle Skedaddle
Gorgeous sandy beaches and sweeping sand dunes of the Northumberland Coast
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
Atlantic Trails
Tour Operator: Saddle Skedaddle
Portugal
7 days (Bike: 5 days)
114 mi (~23mi per day)
Avid
Off-road
Guided
Supported
Prices from
Guided
£ 1645
Overview
Tour Operator Saddle Skedaddle
Ride superb trails in Lisbon's beautiful Natural Parks - 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
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
Vietnam Mountains and Coast
Tour Operator: Saddle Skedaddle
Vietnam
15 days (Bike: 9 days)
357 mi (~40mi per day)
Active
Mixed on/off-road, Some hills
Guided
Supported
Prices from
Guided
£ 1795
Overview
Tour Operator Saddle Skedaddle
We're passionate believers that seeing somewhere bybike is the absolute best way of doing it and this is certainly true in Vietnam, perhaps more so than any other country in Asia.
During this stunning cycling holiday in Vietnam we'll explore its finest backroads, to get the full "surround-sound" effect - you'll be able to interact with local children cycling to school, smell delicious wafts of street food cooking, see stunning scenery and feel the incredibly varied Vietnamese weather on your skin.
Our journey begins in Vietnam's former capital Ho Chi Minh city, still often referred to as Saigon by locals and tourists alike. The city has managed to retain a lot of its historic charms while evolving in to a bustling modern city. From here we head north to the Cu Chi tunnels where we'll get a real insight into the Vietnam war from a local perspective. Next we're off to the stunning coastline at Miu Ne where we can enjoy a swim and a fantastic sunset across the South China Sea. From the coast we head inland to the former French colonial hillstation of Dalat and then we're descending all the way to Nha Trang - famed for its 6km beach, crystal clear water and fantastic seafood.
From Nha Trang our route follows the coast north, riding through tiny villages, past rice paddies and well away from the tourist trail, before heading on to the UNESCO world heritage site of Hoi An. From here we travel to Hue where we spend a couple of days exploring this fantastic area, before boarding a sleeper train to our final destination - Hanoi. We'll spend a day here exploring this fascinating city, taking in the sights and the sounds, before flying home at the end of the holiday.
It's more than 1100 miles (nearly 1800 kms) from Saigon to Hanoi, so in order to fit in the best bits of cycling and to miss out some of the busier urban sections, this cycling holiday in Vietnam uses transfers to get us out of the cities and onto the quieter backroads. Don't let this put you off however - it just means you can save your energy for the great riding that can be found off the beaten track.
Highlights
- Exploring the lesser visited parts of Vietnam by bike
- Stunning Saigon – the ‘Pearl of the Orient’
- Heading off the tourist trail in the Central Highlands
- Treating your tastebuds to Vietnam’s legendary cuisine
- Get your caffeine hit with a fresh roadside brew
- Soaking up the sunshine at beautiful Nha Trang
The heat and humidity means we set a reasonably leisurely cycling pace, and where possible we stick largely to quiet rural roads. While the majority of these are sealed, they are sometimes not in the best of condition and the verges particularly can give way to hard packed dirt. Where the main road is busy, we occasionally take dirt roads for a more scenic ride.
The route is a mixture of flat riding in the plains and hillier routes in the Central Highlands. There are occasional more challenging climbs of up to 1000m / 3280ft where our support vehicle will be on hand for those who prefer a lift.
Roads of Ronda
Tour Operator: Saddle Skedaddle
Spain
7 days (Bike: 5 days)
228 mi (~46mi per day)
Active
Some hills, On-road
Guided, Self-Guided
Supported
Prices from
Guided
£ 1735
Self-Guided
£ 1235
Overview
Tour Operator Saddle Skedaddle
Ronda is a beautiful city, famous for its three historic bridges, steeped in history and generally regarded as the birthplace of modern bullfighting.
It's difficult to think of anywhere more Spanish and it’s difficult to think of anywhere more ideally situated for a centre based week of riding the Spanish terrain.
Ronda is a Spanish gem, surrounded by stunning mountain ranges. It boasts a wealth of fantastic loop rides which meander through chestnut clad hillsides and dotted with ancient white villages which lead us to some of the more challenging passes in the area - such as Puerto de Las Palomas.
The area is a road cycling paradise with miles of smooth surfaces and largely traffic free roads on which we will explore the Guadiaro Valley, the stunning limestone mountains of Grazalema and the Parque Natural Sierra de las Nieves. Throw in one of the best climates in Europe, lashings of fantastic home cooked Andalucian food, beautiful, peaceful accommodation close to Ronda and a generous sprinkling of Skedaddleness and we reckon you’re definitely in for a cycling treat!
With guided tours scheduled in March and November, the Roads of Ronda tour is an excellent option for riders looking for a little early or late season cycling in the sunshine and the perfect way to kickstart your road cycling season.
Highlights
- Staying in the quintessentially Spanish town of Old Ronda
- Cycling through the rugged, ‘bandit country’ of the Sierra de las Nieves
- Climbing the 1,200m up ‘The Colossus’
- The seemingly never-ending descent down to the fine sands of Estepona
- Taking a refreshing post ride dip in the Med
- Tasty tapas and sunset sangrias
A 100% tarmac route entirely suitable for racing style road bikes. The route is varied and includes some significant climbs and a number of long and occasionally technical switchback descents.