This was such a tough list to cut down!
This is our team’s best day’s on a bike anywhere in the world. It isn’t just a list of amazing climbs and cols but they do feature. We also have best descent, loop ride, lake ride and island ride.
Take a look and dream away…
Sella Ronda Loop – Distance 67km / 44mi Elevation 1994m / 6542ft
This is one of the world’s most epic loop rides. On our Lionheart Odyssey, our hotel allows us to ride the Sella Ronda in a circuit right from our doorstep. Enjoy a late breakfast as we watch the Dolomite peaks warm in the morning sun, then start heading north towards Campolungo and descend into Corvara – the start of the famous Granfondo Maratona dles Dolomites where tens of thousands of cyclists gather every year in July to tackle these same passes. From there we head towards Passo Gardena and then Passo Sella, descending and then climbing again to Passo Pordoi. Four Dolomite passes in a day before our return to Arabba for lunch and back to the hotel Cesa Padon for a little rest. Or, if you’re looking for some time off the bike you can also check out the WWI museums at Langazuoi mountain and see first hand the extensive tunnel networks that existed during the First World War. The views, roads and atmosphere on this amazing ride are unbeatable.
AIT OURIER to AIT BENHADDOU – Distance 138km / 86m | Elevation 2428m / 7966ft OR for just the descent 65km / 40m | 798m / 2618ft
Lets discuss the descent first….65km with 800m of climbing and over 1800m of descent…This is a ride which showcases the true highlights of Morocco. 65km of rolling descent through gorges, palm groves, Berber villages with fantastic smooth tarmac and amazing views – this is one of the great sections of cycling in our Othello Odyssey and must not be missed! The more time and energy you have to enjoy this the better.
The climb before it is overall 73km long ascending 1600m. With multiple vehicles in support on our tour you can ride all the way, or we can take you to the top or anywhere in between. The views are astounding all the way up and with multiple tea houses there are many places to rest and admire the surrounds. Once we reach the Tiz n’Ticha pass at 2260m the descent is one of the great rides of the world. We quickly turn off the main road with a sharp left and a perfectly paved descent winds down…see above! On the Othello Odyssey our destination is a tiny village called Tamdakhte, just outside of Ait Benhaddou, which has two restored Kasbahs with views over the Palms and rocky cliffs – a perfect finish! Furthermore, for our finale before our well earned day off, Michelle, a retired French chef from Paris, who owns one of these remote Kasbahs will cook for us tonight!
VILLA LA ANGOSTURA TO SAN MARTIN DE LOS ANDES – DISTANCE: MAXIMUM 123KM | 76MI / ELEVATION: 1775M | 5823FT
On our 2018 South America Odyssey here we had veteran cycle tourists in awe stating this is the best ride they had ever done anywhere in the world.
The famous Siete Tazas (seven lakes) road. Exactly as the road describes, our route follows the seven magnificent lakes and eleven heritage viewing points of: Lago Nahuel Huapi, Lago Espejo, Lago Correntoso, Lago Escondido, Lago Villarino, Lago Falkner, Cascada Vuñanco, Lago Machonico, Lago Arroyo Partido, Valle del Arroyo Pil Pil and Lago Lacar. Words cannot describe this cycling feast: google it! Coffee and lunch stops are stupefyingly scenic and we you do well to drag yourself from the grassy seats!
Col du Galibier – DISTANCE: MAXIMUM 19KM (up) | 12MI / ELEVATION: 1250M | 4101FT
The iconic and in our opinion (and that of many great climbers including Pantani and Schleck!) greatest climb of the Tour de France. On our Hannibal Odyssey we ride out of La Grave, staying in the beautiful Edelweiss Hotel which amoungst other attributes has a very impressive wine list! La Grave is also listed as one of France’s most Beautiful villages so it is a stunning place to reside for our interlude day in the mountains. As for Galibier, it is a beautiful monster – the Col Tourmalet is more than half a kilometre shorter than it! The remote open, snow covered tops you ascend past whilst overlooking glaciers and mountains which go for ever make this a truly special ride. For many of of our riders who have come across the Pyrenean climbs and will take on the biggest cols of the Alps, this is both the physical and emotional peak of their experience. A col not to be missed!!
VELA LUKA TO KORCULA. DISTANCE 69KM/43MI & ELEVATION 1050M/3445FT.
This is a luxury ride which covers the entire length of Korcula Island. Known for its dense forest, the ancient Greeks called the island Black Korcula (Kerkyra Melaina) for this reason. Lots of tiny roads and olive groves to roll through and two good climbs, and we do all our riding before lunch, but the ending to this day is unsurpassed. A late lunch and wine tasting is a great reward. A dip in the sea just around the corner afterwards is a fantastic way to refresh you for still more fun. In Korcula we will see where Marco Polo was born and then enjoy a gorgeous dinner by the sea. This is a ride to be deeply enjoyed, not just for the cycling but for the experience on and off the road! Our Venetians Odyssey takes this all in an more….
