Cycle Maine & Acadia National Park

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

5 out of 5 based on 10 reviews submitted.
Cycling
From
EUR €2,660
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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

Map of Cycle Maine & Acadia National Park including United States Of America
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
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, find out more about our climate commitments and carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • 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.

Is this trip right for you?
  • 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

Map of Cycle Maine & Acadia National Park including United States Of America

Inclusions

Meals

5 breakfasts

Transport

Bicycle (e-bike option available, subject to availability), Support vehicle

Accommodation

Simple Hotel/Motel (5 nights)

Activities
  • 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
Add on activities
  • 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

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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.

Essential Trip Information

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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Reviews

5 out of 5 based on 10 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Ashley · Traveled October 2022
Cycling was the perfect way to experience all of the beautiful scenery in coastal Maine and Acadia NP. It was challenging at times, but very fun and rewarding. This was my first multi-day cycling adventure and I was a little intimidated beforehand, but it was very manageable. Our tour leader was also great at working with us to ensure that every aspect of the trip was as enjoyable as possible. Thanks Travis and Intrepid for a great trip!
Review submitted 22 Oct 2022

Kathryn · Traveled October 2022
OMG Best trip of my life. The experiences, bonding with the other people and our guide, Travis, will never be forgotten. I have travel a lot in my 56 years of life and this was perhaps my favorite due to the overall aspects of every detail. safety, and personal companionship that Travis gave to our entire group.OMG Best trip of my life. The experiences, bonding with the other people and our guide, Travis, will never be forgotten. I have travel a lot in my 56 years of life and this was perhaps my favorite due to the overall aspects of every detail. safety, and personal companionship that Travis gave to our entire group.
Review submitted 21 Oct 2022

Marie Genevieve · Traveled September 2022
I totally enjoyed this trip, the guides were great, the sights beautiful, the other people very personable. I came back so much more relaxed than before my trip, feeling very positive and hopeful, and already looking forward my next Intrepid trip!
Review submitted 24 Sep 2022

Daniel · Traveled October 2021
Great trip. Maine is beautiful in October and cycling in Acadia National Park was amazing. Our leaders couldn’t have been better
Review submitted 28 Oct 2021

Hazel · Traveled October 2021
Loved cycling through the quaint towns of coastal Maine up to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park in the autumn season! The routes chosen always offered amazing scenery. Cycling the rolling hills were especially fun. Cycling uphill was quite challenging but doable. Our tour leaders, Beth and Patrick, were amazing and supportive. Read the Trip Notes! Don't dismiss the suggestions to prep for this trip, especially to prep for cycling uphill!
Review submitted 31 Oct 2021
Cycle Maine & Acadia National Park
From
EUR €2,660