The Loire River was once the highway between the Atlantic and the heart of France. Its valley was known as the 'playground of kings' - a neighbourhood of impressive chateaux and vast fortune. Travelling by bicycle is a great way to experience this world famous valley. Based in a delightful family run hotel in the small town of Chitenay you will be provided with a bike, maps and route notes to discover the surrounding forests, vineyards and medieval towns and the famous chateaux of Cheverny and Chambord. In the evenings, soak up the warm atmosphere of the hotel and garden, and sample the hotels excellent local cuisine and wine. The trip is also available as an 8 day itinerary.

The Whiterock Canyons Road Tour delves into the most remote region of the lower 48 United States, the canyon-country of south central Utah. How remote you ask? Well the tiny Mormon outposts in this region (Boulder, Escalante, Tropic) were the last towns to receiv U.S. Mail via mule train (the late 1940′s). The only paved road in this region, Highway 12, was not completely paved until 1985. There are few cars out here in this land of weird and wild geology. The Mormon Church’s Hole in the Rock Expedition of 1879 attempted a crossing of this inhospitable terrain to settle Bluff, Utah in 1879. Although ultimately successful, the 60 young families struggled and suffered bitterly with wagons and beasts of burden for months across an unforgiving moonscape of rock and canyon. They had chosen an impractical route of epic proportions in their attempt to cross southern Utah. Today this is the route of our Whiterock Canyons Tour!

A Mediterranean biking adventure in spectacular surroundings. An excellent introduction to mountain biking or a relaxing break for the more experienced rider, southern Turkey offers some fantastically varied riding in changing surroundings. Every day has a downhill bias, with 1000m or more of descent: vehicle support to take us up to the start of the day's riding, and all with a stunning backdrop of mountains, canyons, cedar forests and the ruins of ancient civilizations. En route we have lots of time for impromptu picnics and swimming stops, and the chance to experience the famous hospitality of Turkish village life. Our last four nights are based in the lively port town of Kas, our base for great evening entertainment. Kas is comparatively unspoilt, with locally-run restaurants and bars along the marina and side streets extending in towards the town square. With a free day, adrenaline junkies can finish the week with optional paragliding, scuba diving, or sea kayaking. Alternatively, simply relax in the sun on one of the nearby Mediterranean beaches. 

Enjoy fine food and wine whilst exploring a heritage stretching from the Gauls to the Romanesque in the beautiful Bourgogne countryside. Burgundy styles itself 'The Land of Great Art and Good Living'. The landscape is an attractive patchwork of lush pastures and broad-leaved woodlands, interspersed with extensive vineyards. This is one of France's foremost wine regions and we will be passing some of the most valuable vines in the world. For those who enjoy some classic wines the names of the towns and villages will have a distinct resonance: Pommard, Beaune, Nuits Saint Georges. The architecture, too, is distinctive, with many fine old half-timbered buildings whose steeply pitched roofs are patterned in multi-coloured tiles. The lattice of quiet lanes and tracks follows rivers and meandering canals and climbs into the hills to explore the enchanting countryside, ancient abbeys, historic towns and magnificent chateaux. This itinerary enables an appreciation of the food, wine and the countryside but also provides some healthy exercise to justify a little indulgence at the end of each day. As well as guiding you between the charming mediaeval villages we will recommend a number of possibilities for you to taste the fine wines of Burgundy en route.

The temples of Angkor arouse images of ancient kingdoms, temples hidden by jungle and the mystery of the rise and fall of civilizations. Justified in their fame, the Angkor temples in Cambodia have become a must see destination. There is however, so much more to Cambodia than temples. Friendly people, great hospitality, picturesque countryside, vibrant cities and relaxing beaches are some other great reasons to come and see this country by bike. We cross to Vietnam and after some time at the truly beautiful Phu Quoc Island, we cycle through the fascinating Mekong Delta, where the activity never stops and the leafy canal lanes provide some of the best cycling in the country.

This Angkor Wat Explorer 5 Day Cycle Tour is fully supported and fully guided. There is possibly no better way of discovering the ancient Angkor temples than cycling along forest tracks and emerging upon them. This 5 day cycle tour allows you to fully explore the Angkor temples at a relaxed pace as well as enjoying a delightful cruise on the Tonle Sap Lake (the largest in South East Asia) and witnessing its fascinating floating villages. Plus in your free time you may wish to take advantage of the many excellent spas in Siem Reap and receive a soothing massage, your reward after a few days of cycling…

A cycle tour of Cambodia is undoubtedly the best way to really connect with the country, its people, to experience the tempo of village life, and escape the well trodden tourist trail. This Charming Cambodia Cycle Tour is fully supported and fully guided. Your cycle tour of Cambodia begins with easy cycling around the spectacular Angkor Wat temples. After a few days you leave the tourists well and truly behind as you head east, via the jungle clad temple of Beng Mealea, to the town of Kompong Cham, sitting on the banks of the mighty Mekong river. You then follow the Mekong through picturesque villages to charming, colonial Phnom Penh. Here you will discover the sights, and learn about the countries traumatic past, plus enjoy a delightful cycle / cruise to ‘Silk Weaving Island’ located in the Mekong river. You then pedal south to often forgotten Takeo where you will visit the New Futures orphanage and have the opportunity of donating a bike to one of the children through the ‘Pedal2Empower’ project. The next day you spin towards the coastal hills, stopping off in colonial Kampot with the Bokor mountains as a backdrop. Then the final leg to the beautiful beaches and seafood of Sihanoukville. As a reward for completing your cycling adventure you have a free day in Sihanoukville to relax on the beach or perhaps do a bit of island-hopping. You then return to Phnom Penh for your departure having had an unforgettable introduction to the real Cambodia!

Ask a tourist which region embodies the best that Italy has to offer and they’ll invariably say Tuscany. Ask an Italian (other than a Tuscan), and you’ll find that the response is more often than not Piedmont. Situated in the north east of Italy this region, which is the home of the Slow food movement, really does encapsulate the idea of ‘dolce vita’. Nestled between the Alps on one side, and surrounded by the Appenines on the other 3 sides, Piedmont clearly lives up to its Latin derived name which translates into ‘foot of the mountains’. Inexplicably untouched by tourism the region offers a veritable treasure trove to the discerning traveller and with some of Italy’s most scenic ridge lines it is a cyclist’s delight. Riding over the vine clad hills of the Langhe and Monferrato we follow in the tyre tracks of the greatest Italian cyclist of them all - Fausto Coppi. With arguably Italy’s richest cycling heritage you’ll be amazed by the quality and quietness of the roads that we explore as well as the courtesy of the drivers we meet. In addition this tour really can lay claim to present Italy’s premier gastronomic experience. With over 300 cheeses hailing from the area and Alba hosting the world’s most important truffle fare it is clear that the region has a strong culinary focus. That the ‘King of wines’ Barolo is produced in these parts, along with a plethora of other great wines, serves only to reinforce the point.

Beautiful coastal ridesHistoric sights of ancient GreeceDiscover Athens by bike . The Peloponnese is arguably the most interesting part of Greece when it comes to history, archaeology and mythology. Our week of cycling will take us through fascinating classical history and a fantastic variety of landscapes, from the azure blue of the sea along the coastline to the green olive trees and the vineyards of the heart of Greece. Starting and finishing in the buzzing city of Athens, the ride offers plenty of opportunities to discover some of Greece's treasures, such as Poros Island or the beautiful town of Nafplio. Each day gives us the chance to sample some fantastic local food in various restaurants and tavernas and immerse ourselves in the greek culture and lifestyle. The scenic cycling sections will be punctuated by visits to sights such as the Acropolis in Athens, the amphitheatre at Epidaurus or the ancient site of Mycenae.  

Saddle up and ride some of the famous passes of the Tour de France. Every year France holds its breath as the multi-coloured peloton winds its way into the Pyrenees, producing some of the most dramatic and memorable moments of the Tour. But the cols are not just the preserve of the likes of Contador, Wiggins and Armstrong. All the mountains can be ridden by anyone who is fit and wants to experience the buzz of cresting a pass, having climbed through some of Europe's most beautiful scenery. This challenging itinerary takes in eight of the most famous cols, including the Aspin, Portet d'Aspet and Peyresourde, and gives you the option of taking on a few more. What goes up must come down and the exhilarating descents are a great reward for your hard work. The support vehicle will urge you along, or give you a lift, and as you conquer each mountain the sense of achievement just gets better and better. Our crowning moment is the ascent of the Col de Tourmalet, at 2115m the most formidable road pass in the Pyrenees and a fitting end to our quest to become King (or Queen) of the Mountains.