Bike Tours

An Odyssey cycling south from the rugged hills of Northern Greece to Pella, Mount Olympus, Meteora and Thermopylae. Then boarding luxury yachts to explore Turkey’s Turquoise Coast from Marmaris to Antalya, before finishing in Egypt at the foot of the Pyramids of Giza, the last standing of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Riding a bike up to one of these vast structures has always been a dream. In the footsteps of Alexander, we trace his route across three continents to make it a reality!

From beautiful St Malo to our first night on the road, sleeping on Mont St Michel to our historic trail through Normandy. Our cycling is relaxed as this Odyssey takes in more forgiving terrain and less kms per day giving us time to explore the epic recent history all around us. We pedal through France, Belgium, Luxembourg and into Germany – traversing the magnificent regions of Normandy, Picardy, Flanders, The Ardennes and along the Moselle. We following and examining the two greatest historical conflicts of recent times – WWI and WWII.

England, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland – The Five Nations. For so many Antipodeans and North Americans, these five nations carry a sense of ancestral connection. For others, there is a strong cultural connection as British influence spread far and wide – Every castle, battlefield and village pub feels half-familiar – the setting of stories absorbed since childhood, now finally ridden through rather than read about. It is culture in context. Five fiercely independent nations sharing one small archipelago — Stonehenge to Glencoe, London to Edinburgh, all packed into one extraordinary ride.

This volcanic wonderland shaped and fuelled the revolutionary thoughts of Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, born in 1928. ‘The Man’ himself cuts a fascinating figure – equally revered and reviled around the world. Starting in Santiago, Chile, we follow his footsteps; we pedal south along the exceptional Pacific Coast and explore the New World wine regions, traverse the Andes, circumnavigate the island of Chiloé and explore in depth the breathtaking lake districts and volcanoes of Patagonia. We of course finish riding up a volcano!

First ridden in 2009 by Sam Wood, Bike Odyssey founder as a BBC Documentary, this established epic route has been recognised as our of the top 100 rides in the world. Follow Hannibal’s famous elephant-led surprise attack, over the Pyrenees into France’s Languedoc and Provence. Climb the Alps and descend into Italy’s Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria and finally to Rome. Experience some of Europe’s most beautiful and breathtaking routes and infamous climbs, fuelled by the diverse gastronomy of world-renowned cuisines and one’s own legs!!

Lionheart – an epic that sits rightly alongside Hannibal, built on some of Europe’s most spectacular roads, mountains and vistas.

Richard I of England, ‘Lionheart’, is remembered as an iconic hero of the English-speaking world. In the 12th century he led the Third Crusade against one of Islam’s greatest heroes, Saladin – the clash of the giants of medieval history. Returning home to France, he was shipwrecked off Venice, then captured and imprisoned along the Danube. Follow in his footsteps from Venice, climbing deep into the Dolomites over the Sella Ronda and Grossglockner to the Danube itself, then turning west through Bavaria’s fairy-tale castles – Neuschwanstein among them – the Black Forest, Alsace and Burgundy, all the way to Paris: a journey of escapades, imprisonment, ransom and battles, echoing Lionheart’s own long road home.

From the colourful Moroccan souks (markets) in Marrakesh to the Sahara Desert and the epic Atlas Mountains, we ride Morocco’s best before we cross the Mediterranean, as the Moorish invaders did just over 1300 years ago. Spain’s epic cycling awaits with the stunning Sierra Nevada and magnificent rolling Andalucian olive and orange groves. 700 years of Moorish occupation have left an indelible and fascinating cultural stamp, visible as we pedal through castle-topped towns and whitewashed villages, now tuned to the rhythm of Flamenco! On into Portugal and UNESCO filled Alentejo. Vines, cork forests and first class Pousadas bedeck our days as we descend into the beautiful Douro, along which we wind all the way to Porto on the Atlantic shore to complete our Odyssey.

As we embark on a journey traversing the land of the rising sun, we’ll follow ancient kaidos (historic routes) across the land – walked and ridden – for centuries. They will guide us to explore the historic landscapes where these warriors ruled, conquered and honed their skills. From ancient castles to sacred shrines, our exploration will unveil the multifaceted legacy, showcasing their contributions to art, philosophy, governance and, of course, the way of Bushido. Mixing traditional Ryokan Inns and their inimitable authentic experience with Onsen hot springs and luxury unique accommodation, this Odyssey has accommodation covered like no other. Post-ride there is nothing better than luxuriating in the hotsprings – Japan does this well!

Australia’s island state of Tasmania is full of contrasts; from white deserted beaches to rugged mountains and rainforests, wild rivers and historic villages. More than 42% of the state is National Park and much of that is World Heritage listed. We will explore Tasmania’s unique flora and fauna and breathtaking natural beauty: Also explore its European settlement history – plentiful for such a short period and unfortunately, remarkably bloody. We learn about the indigenous people of Tasmania from their descendants – hear their stories of the Dreamtime and see Tasmania through their eyes as it was pre white-settlement.

Odyssey……meaning to voyage, trek, travel, quest, crusade, pilgrimage, wander and journey.
The Odyssey…..An epic journey and challenge, an exceptional historical tale, an amazing character.
From the soaring Byzantine dome of the Aya Sofya in Istanbul, across the glittering island studded Mediterranean, to Odysseus´ home Ithaca in the Ionian Islands, ‘The Odyssey’ is true to its origins (besides its 10 year duration!) and the modern day definition of the word.

Marco Polo was not the first European to travel to Asia, but he was the first to chronicle his adventures and share it with the rest of the world. In his spirit of adventure, we take a spectacular route, cycling from his hometown of Venice across the Adriatic to Slovenia and then south through the Istrian Peninsula, island hopping along the Dalmatian Coast to end in Dubrovnik. This Odyssey is cruisy in every way – lovely riding, (always with extra loops for those who want them!), luxurious hotels and plenty of time to soak up the culture with olive oil and wine tastings, truffle forest hunting, museum visits and frequent dips in the consistently glorious teal and green Mediterranean Sea.

Rising like a storm out of the sparkling canals of Copenhagen to a crescendo among the epic fjords, snowy peaks and roaring waterfalls of Norway. From one of Europe’s finest cities Copenhagen – the Michelin star and cycling capital of Europe across Denmark, Europe’s highest-ranked bike destination. Across the Kattegat (North Sea) the fjord expedition begins in earnest! With, of course, the best of rewards – epic roads, views and scenery, great hotels, restaurants and experiences. The Fjords of Norway are one of the most dramatic landforms on earth which makes this region a genuine marvel for road cyclists. Many are World Heritage listed and we ride along the best of them springboarding from one sparkling waterway to the next over amazing switchbacked roads past roaring waterfalls and pretty villages.