No big bus windows. No phone screen. No maps, walls or guidebooks. Just your wheels, the wind and the open road. That’s how we roll.
From pedalling through peaceful villages in Vietnam and Japan to cruising down epic, ever-changing landscapes in Jordan and Tanzania, our cycling tours allow you to really immerse yourself in a place and not just travel through it. Powered by nothing but your legs (and maybe a slice of biscotti and a couple of extra-strong cafés au lait), there’s a nice simplicity to cycling as well as plenty of adventures waiting for you off the saddle. Intrepid style cycling isn’t the Tour de France – you don’t get prizes for coming first and the lycra bodysuits are definitely optional – but we promise it’s a totally unique way to experience the world.
Our cycling trips
Where you can go cycling
Why choose us
On most of our trips we use hardtail mountain bikes armed with front suspension. Depending on the country, we’ll use a mix of makes and models like Giant Talon and Trek X Caliber 5, but they’re pretty similar when it comes to form and function. Our bikes are serviced regularly by local experts who know their stuff, and any pesky broken chains or flat tyres can be fixed in a jiffy. You can usually bring your own bike, too (check our FAQs for the logistical info).
Riding a bike is good for you (even factoring in the odd gelato or Tuscan cellar door pitstop). But it’s also good for the environment. Like all our trips, our cycling tours are 100% carbon offset. Most of the transport is powered by the greenest energy of all: yours. We’ve been certified as the world’s largest travel B Corp, which means when you choose Intrepid, you’re travelling to improve the planet.
There’s something special about Intrepid travellers. You travel differently; you travel with purpose; you seek to leave a positive impact and give back to the people and places you visit. By travelling on an Intrepid cycling trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation cycling partner, World Bicycle Relief. Donations provide school children, health workers and farmers in rural low-income communities with durable bicycles, research and mechanics training.
We run risk assessments on all our cycling trips and our leaders are specially trained to run cycling adventures, so you can rest assured you’re well taken care of. Our leaders are also trained in basic first aid, and we’ve got a support vehicle that follows the group in case of injury, inclement weather, unexpected and hazardous road conditions, or if you’d like to give your legs a rest.
The beauty of small group travel means our groups are small enough to allow you to ride at your own pace, but big enough to connect with others and create a good social vibe. Our maximum group size is 12 people, which we’ve found is a great number to let you get to know your fellow cyclists and also benefit from your leader’s knowledge and experience.
We think the best folks to show you around the heart of a destination is someone who lives there. That's why we work exclusively with local cycling leaders, which means you’ll really get to know the places you’ll be visiting. Our leaders are not just cycling enthusiasts, they’re also your travel guru, teacher and enthusiastic purveyor of local experiences.
The people who make our trips great
Our local leaders are all cycling junkies, but they go through some pretty rigorous training before being allowed behind the handlebars of an Intrepid cycling tour. Each leader has undergone on-road supervision and knows how to do safety checks, basic repairs and emergency first-aid. But they’re still regular Intrepid leaders, which means they know the best local bars, cafes and hidden spots (not to mention handling all the logistical stuff). You just focus on the ride.
One of my favourite trips is Cycle Tuscany. We ride from the Apuan Alps down to the coast, followed by a dip in the Mediterranean and a picnic of fresh focaccia and tomatoes. We continue through rural villages, protected wildlife parks and sandy beaches all the way to the medieval jewel of the walled city of Lucca – and that's just in one day. Top tip for an Intrepid cycling trip: bring patience, an open heart and an open mind. Oh, and trust your legs!
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Cycle New Zealand: Otago Rail Trail
Cycle New Zealand: Otago Rail Trail
Cycle New Zealand: Otago Rail Trail
Cycle Northern Vietnam
Cycle Croatia