Cycling Holiday

CYCLING TOURS with the groups company appeal in a variety of ways. Some groups prefer the rigours of mountain biking, with the terrain a challenge. Others prefer the gentler terrain of riverside routes and meandering lanes. Some groups consist of experienced riders who want to cover a significant distance each day; other groups may have less experience and prefer to cover shorter and less tiring itineraries.
Our cycling tours generally have vehicle back-up and the security of staff to come to your aid if necessary, and to transport your luggage to the next night stop.
 
Some groups prefer to ride together for most of the day; with a tour leader showing the way; others prefer to ride in the company of just a few of the party, with the aid of a map and to meet up at the end of the day’s ride.
You and your group choose which style of cycling tour you prefer.
 
We operate cycling tours to the following destinations:-
Australia, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Greece, the Greek islands, India, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, USA, Sri Lanka & Vietnam.
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A Typical day
The example of a typical day which follows is intended only to give a flavour of what might be possible and to suggest what you might choose to do with your days. We can only give you ideas of what previous groups have done. Nothing is cast in stone since the way you decide to structure your day; the places you plan to see; the amount of travelling you do; the amount of relaxation you build into your day; depends on the focus of your holiday; and on what you want to achieve. The choice is yours. 
After a leisurely breakfast the day’s cycling begins. The distance covered will have been decided by you at the planning stage of the holiday. Your group may have decided to cycle together, as a group, or to split up into twos or threes, equipped with a map, and meet up at lunchtime. You may have a Tour Leader accompanying the group, or you may have decided this is not necessary.
Lunch – together or in twos  or threes – may be a meal at a local restaurant, or just a simple picnic by the roadside, bought by the group individually at a local market or laid out ready for you by our staff at a pre-arranged point. The afternoon ride, like the morning run, may include a stop or two at points of interest along the way, before the group meet up at the day’s night stop. How late in the day you arrive will depend on the distance you have elected to ride that day. We will happily suggest this at the planning stage but your input is vital.
Dinner will give a chance to talk about the day and perhaps discuss tomorrow’s ride.
 
Long or short cycling stages; together or in ones twos or threes, picnic lunch or a restaurant stop: the choice is yours.
 
Sample itineraries...
The itineraries below are intended only to give an indication of what might be possible in a particular country, following an itinerary catering for a particular special interest..
 
No details of meals or accommodation are included in the itineraries as it would be your decision, at the planning stage, as to what is included. You would decide whether your tour included all meals, just Bed and Breakfast, or Bed and Breakfast plus some lunches or dinners at certain points on the itinerary. Similarly you would decide what standard of accommodation you wanted to use.
 
The itineraries detailed are deliberately short ones. It is intended to give a flavour, an outline, of an itinerary.  If you have more time, then extra time can be built into each stop on the itinerary, and additional places of interest and overnight stops can be added. Lengthening the itinerary, to 10 days or two weeks, for example, and adding further night-stops will enrich your journey; shown below is just a brief skeletal itinerary as a basis for discussion and more detailed planning.
 
Mexico - 10 days: -

1 Fly to Mexico City.

2. Mexico City tour; visit Teotihuacan.

3. Cycle from Xochimilco to Amecameca.

4. Cycle to Cuautla and Oaxtepec.

5. Cycle to Cuernavaca; city tour; Cycle to Tequesquitengo.

6. Cycle to Taxco; walking tour of city.

7. Cycle to Ixtapan DeLa Sal; visit Cacahuamilpa.

8. Return to Mexico City.

9. Depart for UK.

10. Arrive UK.

Turkey - 8 days: - 

1. Fly London - Izmir and board yacht in Kusadassi .

2. Ride to Ephesus & visit site. Rejoin yacht (27 miles).

3. Morning sail, afternoon ride and visit Didyma and Miletus, rejoin yacht (28 miles).

4. Morning scenic ride Altinkum to Iassos. Visit site and rejoin yacht. (19 miles).

5. Morning sail Gumuslik, afternoon ride to Myndos & visit, then on to Bodrum and rejoin yacht (30 miles).

6. Morning sail past Kos to Knidos and visit site, afternoon ride through Datca to Kormen and rejoin yachts (25 miles)

7.Morning sail across Gokova Bay to Yildiz, ride back to Bodrum and visit. Rejoin yacht.

8. Fly back to London.

South Africa - 8 days: -

1.Fly Capetown.

2. Arrive Capetown; afternoon city tour.

3. Drive to Albertinia; Big 5 sunset drive.

4. Drive to Oudtshoorn.

5. Drive to Storms River.

6. Drive to Swellendam.

7. Drive via Hermanus to Capetown; transfer to airport for flight to UK.

8. Arrive UK.

Bulgaria 8 days: -

1. Fly to Sofia.

2. Drive to Sestrimo; cycle to Velingrad.

3. Cycle to Dospat.

4. Cycle to Buinovsko Gorge; visit Yagodina Cave. Continue to Trigrad.

5. Cycle to Tragrad Gorge and continue to Mihalkovo. Transferto Devin.

6. Cycle to Shoroka Luka and Shimolian Lakes; transfer to Pamporovo.

7. Cycle to Chepilare; then via Bachkovo Monastery to Plovdiv.

8. Fly to UK