6 Days | It's official – cycling is the best way to explore Maine and the Acadia National Park





While the rugged beauty of Acadia National Park naturally gets the headlines there is so much more to cycling in Maine. From the coastal scenery that inspired the tempestuous seascapes of the acclaimed 19th-century American painter, Winslow Homer, to the quintessential New England fishing villages and lighthouses, to riding up a mountain at dawn to watch the sunrise above the Atlantic Ocean, Maine offers something for cyclists at every level. Spend your days riding the quiet and beautiful tree-lined roads and your evenings enjoying some of America’s finest seafood cuisine – the perfect antidote to busy city life.
Trip overview
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- Start
- Portland ME, United States
- Finish
- Portland ME, United States
- Theme
- Cycling
- Destinations
- United States
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Original
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 13
- Trip code
- SSXM
- Ride through the beautifully rugged Acadia National Park, one of the nation’s most beloved parks.
- Enjoy sunrise and epic views from the top of Cadillac Mountain, known for being the first place to see the sunrise in the United States.
- Dine on some of America’s finest seafood cuisine – with a local leader’s expert insight to guide you to the best spots.
- Pedal through quintessential New England fishing villages and visit some of the most inspiring lighthouses you’ll ever see.
- Cycle the same rugged coastal scenery that inspired the tempestuous seascapes of the acclaimed 19th-century American painter, Winslow Homer.
- Cycle in the company of an experienced cycling guide as they share their unique perspective of this fascinating region.
- Please ensure you consult your local government’s advice regarding domestic travel prior to booking this trip.
- While the cycling distances on this trip vary, the terrain can sometimes be hilly so you’ll need a reasonable level of fitness to enjoy the trip – but remember, we will always have the support vehicle on hand if you need to take a break for an hour or a day.
- Due to the terrain the included bikes on this trip are a flat bar 'hybrid-style'. If you feel like doing all the riding but with less effort, you have the option (at extra cost) of hiring an electric bike (e-bike) on this trip.
Itinerary
Inclusions
5 breakfasts
Bicycle (e-bike option available, subject to availability), Support vehicle
Simple Hotel/Motel (5 nights)
- Expert Cycling Guide and Support Vehicle
- 6 Days Included Bicycle Hire
- Fort Williams
- Portland to Prouts Neck Guided & vehicle-supported Cycling
- Damariscotta to Rockland Guided & vehicle-supported Cycling
- Rockland to Bucksport Guided & Vehicle-supported Cycling
- Bucksport to Bar Harbor Guided & Vehicle-supported Cycling
- Acadia National Park
- Acadia National Park Guided & Vehicle-supported Cycling
- Acadia National Park/Cadillac Mountain guided & Vehicle-supported Cycling
- Local Brewery Tour - USD65
- Portland Museum of Art - USD15
- Portland Observatory - USD10
- Center for Maine Contemporary Art - USD8
- Farnsworth Art Museum - USD15
- Rockland Breakwater & Lighthouse - Free
- Maine Lighthouse Museum - USD8
- Whale Watching Tour - this activity must be booked well ahead as spots sell out fast. https://www.barharborwhales.com/ - USD63
- Sea Kayak Tour - this activity must be booked well ahead as spots sell out fast. https://www.acadiafun.com/ - USD60
- Lobster Fishing And Seal Watching - this activity must be booked well ahead as spots sell out fast. https://www.barharborwhales.com/ - USD35
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. To complete this trip it is important that you are both confident and competent in riding a bicycle. As our riding is done mostly on sealed roads with the occasional gravel cycle path there are no technical cycling skills required – but given the occasional hills involved, we do suggest practicing riding downhill so you are comfortable with this once the trip begins.
2. This trip starts with a welcome meeting at 1pm on Day 1 in Portland. This trip finishes upon arrival in Portland on Day 6 around 4 pm.
3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
4. Bicycle hire is included in your trip price.
5. Due to the terrain the included bikes on this trip are a flat bar 'hybrid-style'. You have the option (at extra cost) of hiring an electric bike (e-bike) on this trip - this must be requested at the time of booking.
6. A discount is available to those clients bringing their own bike, please ask your booking agent for more information.
7. Bike helmets are compulsory on this trip. We are unable to hire bike helmets locally so please ensure you bring your own bike helmet from home.
8. For groups of 6 or less clients we have a single leader that drives the support vehicle alongside the group. For larger groups, we have a separate driver and the leader will cycle all routes. Where the vehicle cannot travel directly with the cyclists (e.g. a cyclists-only path) your leader will assign a person from the group to act as a backmarker.
9. Accommodation is not included on day 6 of this trip. If you require additional accommodation (or want to reserve your room for the main part of the day) please enquire at time of booking.
10. Due to Covid-19 restrictions some of the local attractions may be temporarily closed, running reduced hours, or require booking ahead. Please check their websites for up-to-date opening hours.
11. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES in Bar Harbor: Whale watching (approx 3-5hrs), Lobster Fishing/Seal Watching (approx. 2hrs), and Sea Kayaking (approx. 4hrs) are all very popular activities and sell out very quickly - these must be booked by you well ahead to guarantee a place. It is often impossible to book a spot on the day, or even a couple of days beforehand.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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