No big bus windows. No phone screen. No maps, walls or guidebooks. Just your wheels, the wind and the open road. That’s how we roll.
From pedalling through peaceful villages in Vietnam and Japan to cruising down epic, ever-changing landscapes in Jordan and Tanzania, our cycling tours allow you to really immerse yourself in a place, and not just travel through it. Powered by nothing but your legs (and maybe a slice of biscotti and a couple of extra-strong cafés au lait), there’s a nice simplicity to cycling as well as plenty of adventures waiting for you off the saddle. Intrepid style cycling isn’t the Tour de France – you don’t get prizes for coming first and the lycra bodysuits are definitely optional – but we promise it’s a totally unique way to experience the world.
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Why choose Intrepid for your cycling holiday
The bikes we use
On most of our trips we use hardtail mountain bikes armed with front suspension. Depending on the country, we’ll use a mix of makes and models like Giant Talon and Trek X Caliber 5, but they’re pretty similar when it comes to form and function. Our bikes are serviced regularly by local experts who know their stuff, and any pesky broken chains or flat tyres can be fixed in a jiffy. You can usually bring your own bike, too (check our FAQs for the logistical info).
Responsible travel
Riding a bike is good for you (even factoring in the odd gelato or Tuscan cellar door pitstop). But it’s also good for the environment. Like all our trips, our cycling tours are 100% carbon offset. Most of the transport is powered by the greenest energy of all: yours. We’ve been certified as the world’s largest travel B Corp, which means when you choose Intrepid, you’re travelling to improve the planet. Learn more about Responsible Travel with Intrepid.
How we give back
There’s something special about Intrepid travellers. You travel differently; you travel with purpose; you seek to leave a positive impact and give back to the people and places you visit. When you book a cycling trip with Intrepid, we give AUD $5 on your behalf to The Intrepid Foundation. Your donation is used to support local organisations around the world to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable communities through sustainable travel experiences.
Safety first
We run risk assessments on all our cycling trips and our leaders are specially trained to run cycling adventures, so you can rest assured you’re well taken care of. Our leaders are also trained in basic first aid, and we’ve got a support vehicle that follows the group in case of injury, inclement weather, unexpected and hazardous road conditions, or if you’d like to give your legs a rest.
Small groups
The beauty of small group travel means our groups are small enough to allow you to ride at your own pace, but big enough to connect with others and create a good social vibe. Our maximum group size is 12 people, which we’ve found is a great number to let you get to know your fellow cyclists and also benefit from your leader’s knowledge and experience.
Local leaders
We think the best folks to show you around the heart of a destination is someone who lives there. That's why we work exclusively with local cycling leaders, which means you’ll really get to know the places you’ll be visiting. Our leaders are not just cycling enthusiasts, they’re also your travel guru, teacher and enthusiastic purveyor of local experiences.
Cycling tours by region
Our cycling tours
15 Days
From
2742
Jump in the saddle for a two-wheeled adventure tour of Vietnam. Take in cultural...
4 Days
From
1505
Cycle New Zealand's South Island, from Queenstown to Middlemarch’s Otago plains. Follow...
8 Days
From
2546
Retrace the steps of ancient empires on this cycling tour through Austria, Slovakia and...
9 Days
From
3005
Pedalling past Petra, Jerash, Mount Nebo, Wadi Rum and more – experience the best...
14 Days
From
2712
Discover a world of spice and splendour on a cycling trip across Sri Lanka, taking in...
Tailor-Made trips
Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary
7 Days
From
1508
Explore laidback Cuba on a two-wheeled round-trip adventure from Havana. Cycle along...
8 Days
From
3069
Encounter the picturesque hills and olive groves of Tuscany on this cycling adventure...
4 Days
From
1450
Cycle Victoria's High Country, from historic Beechworth to charming Bright. Follow the...
14 Days
From
2134
Discover the beauty of Morocco from the saddle on this 14-day cycling adventure that...
7 Days
From
3243
Discover the ancient cities of Croatia on this Dalmatian cycling tour. Ride to Split,...
6 Days
From
1996
Explore South Australia’s famed wine regions the best way – on a 6-day cycling...
13 Days
From
4708
Discover the best of Tanzania on this cycling adventure. Safari through the Serengeti,...
8 Days
From
3120
This cycling tour through Provence, visiting Avignon, Orange, St Remy and Arles, is the...
13 Days
From
2808
See Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand from two wheels on this adventure from Ho Chi Minh...
8 Days
From
2644
An epic cycling adventure through the Balkans, beginning in Dubrovnik and finishing in...
8 Days
From
1748
Explore laidback eastern Cuba on a two-wheeled round-trip adventure from Havana. Cycle...
14 Days
From
3366
Cycle along rural roads, meet friendly locals, swim in the warm seas, explore white...
11 Days
From
7625
Experience the best of this fascinating country on a comprehensive cycling tour of...
7 Days
From
2888
Delight in the inspiring Chateaux and charming French countryside on a Loire Valley...
9 Days
From
1440
Cycling allows you to get closer to the real face of Thailand. From bicycles to...
8 Days
From
1496
Jump in the saddle for a two-wheeled adventure tour of Northern Vietnam. Take in...
11 Days
From
4820
Cycle through the Baltic States – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – from Tallin to...
15 Days
From
2268
Travel to India and cycle the romantic Rajasthan region. Tour from Delhi to Pushkar and...
8 Days
From
1535
Discover Bali on a cycling adventure from Ubud to Sanur. Visit Mount Batur, Kintamani,...
8 Days
From
3052
Spend 8 days cycling through the spectacular scenery of Slovenia, taking in Ljubljana,...
27 Days
From
5759
Gear up for an energising and rewarding cycling tour that takes in the best of...
8 Days
From
3014
Get active on an eight-day European cycling adventure, beginning in Prague, and passing...
16 Days
From
5487
Get active on an 15-day European cycling adventure, from Prague through Bohemia then...
14 Days
From
5712
An epic cycling adventure through Croatia and the Balkans, beginning in Split and...
Cycling holiday FAQs
Our cycling tours span the gamut of two-wheeled challenges: from a leisurely ride through Vietnam to cycling across landscapes of Cuba. Some of these trips include cycling as just one of a number of active adventures, others are more cycling focussed (ie. You’ll be riding almost every day).
All airlines will have their own rules and fees when transporting bikes. Make sure you contact the airline (preferably) before you pay for your flights to see what charges and requirements they have.
Before you depart, you must box your bike for transport. See our section ‘taking your own bike vs. hiring one’ for more information.
On all of our cycling tours your accommodation is pre-booked and your luggage is transferred from one point to the next. All you have to carry is water, any snacks or gadgets you may want and a few layers to keep you dry and warm. A small, lightweight backpack may come in handy.
Helmets are compulsory on our cycling tours, so you can either bring your own or (to save on luggage space) buy one at a local bike shop once you arrive in-country. We also recommend you bring your own water bottle/hydration pack, and closed shoes. You may also wish to bring Cycling shorts, and (if you ride regularly at home) your own saddle and pedals. Many of our clients who do not ride regularly find a gel seat cover helpful in making the ride more comfortable. For more info on packing, check out the What to Pack section of your Essential Trip Information.
All you need to enjoy our cycling trips is the ability to ride a bicycle and a passion for seeing a destination on two wheels. That’s about it.
While there are occasionally longer days on some itineraries, the vast majority of our cycling days are between 30-60kms and are done at a leisurely pace with plenty of opportunities to stop and enjoy the scenery or just take a break. Anyone with a reasonable level of fitness will get by with no trouble. Be sure to check the physical rating and description in the Essential Trip Information to make sure the trip suits your fitness level and skills.
Our cycling trips are done predominantly on sealed roads (with the odd unsealed section), but none of the trips require any specialist cycling skills. We’ve also researched extra riding routes in each of the destinations we visit, so if you want to stretch your legs a bit more, you can.
To make our trips more accessible for cyclists of varying fitness levels and skills, most of our trips will have a support vehicle that follows the group. You can jump into the support vehicle any time you feel like taking a short (or long) break from riding. Many of our cycling trips also include the option to use an e-bike, an electric motor-assisted bike that’ll get you up any hill or allow you to zip along the flats with minimum effort.
We run risk assessments on each and every one of our cycling trips to make sure they’re up to scratch, and your cycling leaders have personally ridden every inch of the itinerary in advance. We’ve assessed the road conditions, the level of traffic and any potential blackspots. Our leaders are trained in cycling health and safety, as well as basic first aid, and we usually have a vehicle following us if an evacuation ever becomes necessary. We’ve also made sure our cycling tours depart during the milder months when the weather isn’t too hot or too cold, so the ride should be as pleasant (and safe) as possible.Â
Not as a rule. Any injuries you might suffer while riding should be covered by the more reputable comprehensive policies (we can recommend some good brands if you’re unsure of what to get). It’s always important to double-check the fine print before departing on your trip and be aware that, like all Intrepid trips, travel insurance is compulsory on our cycling itineraries.
Cycling tour reviews
Our favourite cycling destinations
Croatia
With little olive groves and hilltop villages on Brac, Korcula’s cliff-top switchbacks and charming local vineyards and nights spent refuelling with fresh seafood plucked straight from the Adriatic, it's like the Croatian islands were built for cycling trips. Get ready for a blur of orange orchards, white pebble beaches and sparkling water to cool off and buckets of tangy gelato, Dalmatian-style.
France
Don’t worry, we won’t be leading you on any mountain climbs up to the Alpe d’Huez. French cycling for us is more about slipping into the relaxed rhythm of Provencal life. Stop for a picnic with the group by the Gardon River, browse for antiques in Uzes or Tarascon, and ride along quiet country lanes outside Caderousse. It’s tough work, but someone’s gotta do it.
Vietnam
Join us as we get active and cycle from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. From the tranquil waterways of Mai Chau and peaceful rice paddy roads of Ninh Binh, to the pretty pagodas and colourful lanterns in Hoi An, this mesmerising country is even more beautiful from handlebar height. We promise there'll be piping hot phở and crusty banh mi waiting for you at each stop.
Morocco
It’s not what you’d call a ‘classic’ cycling destination, but there’s no doubt Morocco is an up-and-comer in the world of two-wheeled adventures. Where else can you cycle silhouetted against the dunes of the Sahara? Swap your bike for a camel? Or spend the night with Berber tribesmen in your very own desert camp? Yep, this isn’t your typical cycling tour.
Tuscany
A cycling trip in Tuscany? Just form an orderly queue. We’ll start on the cobbled lanes of Florence and work our way (in no particular hurry) through the rolling hills of Garfagnana and Barga’s sun-dappled vineyards and olive groves, and then onto the famed towns of Lucca and Pisa. If all that sounds like some Italian black and white movie starring a guy with a moustache, it’s because it is.
Cuba
Cuba ticks all the culture boxes. Cadillacs, cigars and nostalgia-soaked streets? Um, yes please. But it’s also a rider’s paradise: mostly flat, relatively compact, with a big variety of landscapes. Think dizzyingly colourful stress in Havana, rural villages around Vinales, the pristine beaches of Cayo Jutias and the stunning forests of Las Terrazas. Muy bueno.
Meet our cycling leaders
Our local leaders are all cycling junkies, but they go through some pretty rigorous training before being allowed behind the handlebars of an Intrepid cycling tour. Each leader has undergone on-road supervision and knows how to do safety checks, basic repairs and emergency first-aid. But they’re still regular Intrepid leaders, which means they know the best local bars, cafes and hidden spots (not to mention handling all the logistical stuff). You just focus on the ride. Â
One of my favourite trips is Cycle Tuscany. We ride from the Apuan Alps down to the coast, followed by a dip in the Mediterranean and a picnic of fresh focaccia and tomatoes. We continue through rural villages, protected wildlife parks and sandy beaches all the way to the medieval jewel of the walled city of Lucca – and that's just in one day. My top tip for an Intrepid cycling trip? Bring patience, an open heart and an open mind. Oh, and trust your legs!
- Alice, Italy
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