It's no secret that cycling tours have grown massively across the travel industry in recent years. In fact, it is not uncommon for many tours to now include a cycling component that can range from a short city tour by bike, to a full itinerary of riding that can last for days at time. Many of these trips are designed with the casual traveler in mind however, allowing them to have a unique experience before returning to a more typical style of travel.
But adventure travelers looking for something that will challenge them in unusual ways will find plenty of options too. Here are five such trips that will test you both physically and mentally, while taking you to some of the most spectacular places on Earth.
The Napoleon Bike Tour ($15,539)
Want to explore Europe from the back of a bike?
The Napoleon Bike Tour from Ride & Seek just might be exactly what you're looking for. It crosses through seven different countries as travelers journey from Paris to Moscow over the course of 43 days. Along the way they are treated to amazing food and wine, as the route wanders through the Champaign region of France, into southern Germany, onto Poland and the Baltic states, before passing into Mother Russia itself. This is a cycling adventure that offers culture and history, along with some amazingly scenic rides, all wrapped up in one unforgettable package.
A Patagonia Offload Adventure ($2995)
Sacred Rides has been leading mountain biking excursions to far-flung corners of the globe for years, and their tours are some of the best around.
Take for example the 9-day journey through Patagonia, one of the most shockingly beautiful destinations on the entire planet. Travelers get the opportunity to ride (and paddle) through the wild and remote landscapes of southern Argentina, while staying in rustic lodges while the Andes Mountains make a dramatic backdrop.
Singletrack trails offer a true sense of exploration, while pristine mountain lakes and snowcapped peaks line the route.
Explore New Zealand ($5098)
Adventure travel company Backroads specializes in bike tours to all kinds of different destinations, but their 10-day trip through New Zealand is one of the best. The route takes riders past massive glaciers, through mountain passes, into rainforests, and along the Tasman Sea. New Zealand is one of the most beautiful countries on the planet, and exploring it by bike is the absolute best way to take it all in. This trip gives you that opportunity, and a whole lot more.
Tanzania by Bike ($6875)
Ever wanted to go on a safari? How about by bike? That's exactly what Global Cycling Adventures offers with their Tanzania Bike Tour, a 16-day excursion that takes riders from Moshi to Zanzibar, passing through the shadow of Kilimanjaro, and on to some of the top wildlife destinations in the country, including Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, and beyond. Along the way, you'll get the chance to spot wildlife, including Africa's famous Big 5: lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, and rhinos.
Ride to the South Pole ($70,000)
TDA Global Cycling just might offer the most adventurous bike ride in the world – and the most expensive. Their "Last Degree" excursion challenges riders to pedal for 18-days across the frozen expanse of Antarctica, covering the final degree of latitude before reaching the South Pole. The first ever departure for this tour is scheduled for December of 2016, at which time adventurous travelers will climb aboard their fat-tire bikes to begin the ride to the bottom of the world. It just doesn't get more remote or challenging than this.
If these cycling tours sound like they are a bit too adventurous for your tastes, there are of course countless others to choose from. Perhaps you'll want to start with something a bit simpler first, and then expand your options over time. After getting one or two other rides like this under your belt, these might not seem so daunting.
Happy pedaling!
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