What to expect from a Cycling holiday

Our Cycling trips are a great way to see more of a country. Immerse yourself in nature, greet local people as you cycle by and feel all of the benefits of getting active and being out in the fresh air. We’ve got holidays to suit all levels of ability; from occasional weekend riders to keen regular cyclists.

How fit do I need to be?

It depends on the trip and cycle grade you choose. Although an active holiday, our trips are not a race! We regularly stop and regroup along the ride with planned rest breaks. If in any doubt, choose a grade within your comfort zone. We advise doing some training rides leading up to the holiday. On most trips a support vehicle will be nearby to provide back-up if needed.

What will the group be like?

As with all our trips, every group is different but the ‘average’ group consists of roughly half solo travellers and the other half made up of couples, friends and family travelling together.

Don’t worry too much about keeping up with the group; wherever possible your Explore leader will allow everyone to cycle at their own pace, regrouping along the route.

What kind of bike is included?

Every one of our Cycling trips includes the cost of bike hire; we choose good-quality hybrid touring bikes or mountain bikes – whichever is best-suited to the terrain – and we have experienced bike mechanics on hand to resolve any problems.

Cycle grade, route and terrain

All our Cycling holidays are graded, from ‘Leisurely’ (with flatter, shorter rides and plenty of rest-stops) to ‘Challenging and Tough’ (more time in the saddle and more hill-climbs). Our cycle routes are designed to follow quieter back roads or cycle paths wherever possible, with some off-road sections on fine gravel or dirt tracks. You’ll find the grade and a daily distance chart included on all trip pages and there is detailed information about the route and terrain online.

E-bikes

Most of our cycling tours have the option of e-bike hire which gives you the benefits of exploring on two wheels but with less effort.

E-bikes are great for couples or friends who want to cycle together but are of different abilities - join your partner on a challenging graded cycling tour without the worry of not managing the longer distances. Or perhaps you’re travelling solo and want to challenge yourself to a more demanding route with the back up of electric power. Just enquire when you book and we can let you know the cost and availability.

online or contact your travel agent.