Bike Tours Around The World

Planning your travels for 2019? Consider seeing a new place on two wheels this year with a cycling tour. With various companies offering tours abroad, as well as in the USA (many of which are focused on social good and sustainability), cycling is a fun and memorable way to experience a new place. It’s also a lot kinder to the environment!

Don’t worry about being an expert cyclist, either. Many of these tours are designed for most fitness levels, and some even have shuttle buses following the group in case you need to rest your legs. Whether you have a few days or a few weeks to spare for this year’s vacation, here are six cycling tours that have caught our attention for 2019.


1. Erie Canalway Budget Tour

Country | USA
Route
| Buffalo, NY to Rochester, NY
Length | Less than 100 miles; 4 days
Best For | Women of all ages and abilities, American history buffs 

Planning a trip to New York City in 2019? Why not pair your stay with a visit to one of our favorite underrated U.S. cities and join a short cycle tour along the Erie Canalway? Named an ‘engineering marvel,’ the canal was built in 1825 and played an essential role in spreading social reforms to abolish slavery and progress rights for women. You can learn about all of this while pedaling along the waterfront. 

We especially love this cycle tour option in New York not only because it is budget-friendly and more accessible for those of us who have fewer vacation days, but also because it is led by WomanTours, a women-only bike tour company designing cycling trips for women of all ages, abilities, and interests. If the Erie Canalway trip doesn’t work for you, check out their website to learn about all their 2019 cycling tours. They have tours in the USA, as well as abroad.

Price | Starting at $990

Learn more about the Erie Canalway Tour


2. Cycle Cape Town & Winelands

Country | South Africa
Route
| Cape Town to Cape Town
Length | 250+ miles; 12 days
Best For | Views, wine tours, and a breathtaking coastal ride for recreational cyclists. Support vehicle available.

Cycle Cape Town & Winelands is a cycling tour operated by Intrepid Travel, a Certified B Corp tour company committed to sustainable and experience-rich travel. This route takes riders along winding coastal roads overlooking Atlantic waters, as well as through nature reserves, mountain ranges, and heritage vineyards (with breaks for wine tasting, of course).

Intrepid Travel is also committed to offsetting their carbon footprint. By investing in renewable energy sources, minimizing waste during trips, and consistently measuring initiatives, the company is helping fight climate change. Learn more about their projects here.

Price | Starting at $2,975

Learn more about Cycle Cape Town & Winelands


3. Riding Royal Rajasthan

Country | India
Route | Udaipur to Jaipur
Length | 537 miles; 10 days
Best For | Experienced travelers and intermediate cyclists, cultural immersion

Rajasthan translates to “The Land of Kings” and, on this cycling tour, you can expect to see more than a few ancient palaces in India’s most romantic state. Led by Bike Street Boys, a company born from the desire to change how the world sees and experiences India, Riding Royal Rajasthan is your chance to see a new place through the eyes of a local, and all while on two wheels. See the Taj Mahal, experience the sacred city of Pushkar, and pedal through picturesque villages. When not cycling, wander through palaces and historic forts or mingle with new friends while tasting the local cuisine.

Price | Starting at $2,999

Learn more about Riding Royal Rajasthan


4. Great Ocean Road

Country | Australia
Location | Adelaide to Melbourne
Length | 650+ miles; 11 days
Best For | Views, wine tours, and a breathtaking coastal ride for recreational cyclists. Support vehicle available.

Dreaming about cycling down under in 2019? Here’s your chance. In October of this year, you can join TDA’s Global Cycling tour for eleven days of adventure along the south coast of Australia and Great Ocean Road, an Australian National Heritage. Trip highlights include cycling through fertile lagoons, seeing the 12 Apostles rock formation, whale watching, wine tours, and, of course, leisure time in Melbourne. 

This cycling tour is section three of TDA’s Trans-Oceania ride, a 94-day, 5,000-mile journey from Perth to Queenstown. Eager and experienced cyclists can take on the whole ride or join the group for one or more sections, like this one. We also recommend section six, the Kiwi Country ride in New Zealand. 

Price | Free; Or $3,360/person for a guided tour

Learn more about Great Ocean Road


5. Douro Valley Bike Tour

Country | Portugal
Route | Guimarães to Lamego
Length | 140+ miles; 6 days
Best For | Intermediate cyclists who love cuisine, wine, and site-seeing. Electric assist and support vehicles available.

A Duvine tour led by local, expert guides, this route takes cyclists through the lush valleys and verdant pastures of the Trás-os-Montes region in northern Portugal. Along with cycling, the itinerary includes wine tours, a riverboat cruise, and time set aside to explore UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal and a city with a 10th-century castle. A cycling tour packed with charm, mouth-watering cuisine, and enough exercise to earn the group a bottle (or a few) of regional wine, this ride is the perfect way to experience a slice of Europe in 2019.

Price | Starting at $4,995

Learn more about the Douro Valley Bike Tour


6. Self-Guided Cycling

Country | Iceland
Route | Varies – Laugavegur Route is one of the more popular rides
Length | 50+ miles; 5+ days
Best For | Camping, outdoor enthusiasts & advanced cyclists/mountain bikers

Have you ever pedaled down a mountainside while feeling the heat from a volcano on your face? You will in Iceland. The ultimate playground for more experienced cyclists, Iceland offers miles of paved road (called the Ring Road), as well as rugged single-tracks for exploring the interior highlands. And being located so far north of the equator, summer gifts explorers more than twenty hours of daylight. Wild camping is also legal on the island, making it easy to pitch camp at night. Alternatively, there are huts scattered along the trails for cooking, sleeping, and meeting other cyclists and trekkers.

Whether you want to go at it alone on a self-guided adventure (check out Simply Cycling’s blog for tips) or be led by a local guide (we recommend Big Mountain’s Tectonic Treasures), this cycling tour is one for the books.

Price | Free; Or starting at $3,360 for a guided tour

Learn more about Self-Guided Cycling in Iceland


RELATED READING


Kayti Christian, a staff writer for The Good Trade, is a storyteller, creator, activist, and avid traveler hailing from Colorado, now living in London. With 30+ stamps in her passport, she is passionate about responsible tourism and is always looking for new ways to be a more conscious traveler. She is currently pursuing her MA in Creative Nonfiction Writing at City, University of London.