Cycling holidays

There’s few experiences better than exploring a new destination by bike – whether you’re winding through the foothills of the Atlas Mountains or pedalling the Adriatic coastline in Croatia, cycling offers an unbeatable way to immerse yourself in your chosen destination.

Cycling offers a unique  chance to immerse yourself in the landscapes and communities of a country. With an average group size of 11, Explore’s cycling tours will see you ride with other like-minded cyclists, and each tour has a cycling tour leader to guide your group and share their expert local knowledge.

Trips have a cycling grade from Leisurely (typically flat, easy rides) to Moderate and Challenging (which cycle hillier and longer routes). Most of our tours are graded from Leisurely to Moderate, but for keener cyclists, we do also offer some Moderate and Challenging graded tours.

Never travelled with us before? Take a look at our answers to frequent questions about our Cycling holidays. 

 

How does a group cycling holiday work? 

Every itinerary is slightly different, but in the majority of cases, your bicycle rental will be included in the cost of your tour. Once you’re in the saddle, your local cycling leader will guide you along the roads, paths and trails and take you to the highlights of your chosen destination along the way. Itineraries are built to accommodate breaks, and while some of Explore’s cycling tours are more challenging and may require a higher level of fitness, you will be supported throughout.

Our small-group cycling tours are a great way to explore a destination. Cycling gives you the chance to immerse yourself in the landscapes and communities of a country. With an average group size of 11, you'll get to enjoy the ride with other like-minded cyclists. And you'll have a cycling tour leader to lead your group and share their expert local knowledge.

Never travelled with us before? We've answered the top questions about our Cycling holidays in this blog. 

 

How difficult are Explore Cycling tours?

Explore’s cycling trips are graded by difficulty from Easy to Challenging. The majority of our tours are graded from Easy to Moderate, but keener cyclists might opt for Challenging graded tours. Challenging cycling tours often traverse hillier terrain and longer routes, so a high level of fitness may be required.

E-Bikes are available to rent on many of our Cycling holidays for a small additional cost. Read more about our cycling grades here, or review your chosen trip itinerary for more information.  

 

How can I prepare for a cycling holiday?

We recommend that you spend some extra time in the saddle before you set off. How much time will depend on your chosen trip and its grade, alongside your confidence cycling.

It’s also important that you get the right equipment, from clothing to your helmet and even snacks and sustenance when you’re on the trail. Read more about how to prepare for your cycling holiday.

 

Can I take my own bike on an Explore cycling holiday?

If you wish to take your own bike with you, we may be able to support.

We supply good quality bicycles on all our cycling holidays. You can find the full details of bikes included on the trip pages. However, it is also possible to take your own bike if you’d like to.

Please contact our expert team before your holiday to let us know you’d like to bring your own bicycle, or if you want to find out more about the bicycles we supply.

 

Where are the best places to take a cycling holiday?​

The world is full of fantastic destinations to explore by bicycle. For some inspiration, take a look at our blog featuring Explore’s ten most popular cycling trips.