Explorer Tours

Portugal - Silver Coast Explorer

Porto to Coimbra
Tour Type
Explorer Tours
Difficulty
Duration
7 days/ 6 nights
Ave. Distance per day
47 km
Tour Starts
Porto
Tour Ends
Lisbon
Price
From 
$
 
2040
EUR
This tour is invoiced in 
€
Prices are subject to exchange rate differences.
Next Departure
See All Dates
Additional Costs

HYBRID BIKE: INCLUDED

E-BIKE HIRE - €300 PP

CARBON ROAD BIKE - €320 PP

GRAVEL BIKE HIRE - €420 PP

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT - PRICE ON REQUEST

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Overview

2027 DATES COMING SOON!

Seven days, two of Portugal's great cities and a coastline of lagoons, dunes and fishing villages in between. This guided Porto to Coimbra bike tour follows the Silver Coast south from the port cellars of the Douro River, then turns inland along the Mondego River to Portugal's historic university city.

You'll roll over Porto's double-decker Dom Luís I Bridge, hop on a ferry across the Ria de Aveiro lagoon and spend a night in Aveiro, a town of canals and brightly painted moliceiro boats. Next come the candy-striped beach houses of Costa Nova, pine forests that smell of resin and salt, and the long sandy beaches of Figueira da Foz, the Queen of the Silver Coast.

The journey ends in Coimbra, home to one of the oldest universities in the world. Climb its steep lanes to a baroque library where a resident colony of bats keeps the books free of insects, then settle in for an evening of Coimbra fado, traditionally sung by students in long black capes.

Along the way there's port in Porto, sponge cake in Ovar, sweet ovos moles in Aveiro and fish fresh off the boats.

Prefer to set your own pace? This tour is also available self-guided, with your route preloaded on GPS and your luggage sent ahead each day.

Highlights

Culture: The University of Coimbra, Coimbra fado, Porto's port lodges.

Nature: The São Jacinto dunes, the Ria de Aveiro lagoon, coastal pine forests.

Activity: Ferry hops, beach swims, riverside riding along the Mondego.

Culinary: Aveiro's ovos moles, Ovar's pão-de-ló, fresh-caught seafood.

Souvenir: Vista Alegre porcelain from Ílhavo

Full Itinerary

Day 1

Porto Arrival & Welcome

Start your Silver Coast journey in Porto, Portugal's second city and the home of port wine. Your guides will meet you for a welcome briefing, after which the afternoon is yours. Ride the old tram along the river towards the Atlantic, cross into Vila Nova de Gaia for a cellar tour, or simply track down your first pastel de nata. The streets are steep, so comfy shoes are a good idea.

Cycling Distance: 0 km

Meals: None included

Accommodation: Hotel in Porto

Day 2

Porto to Furadouro via Espinho

Today you swap city streets for sea air. Leave Porto across the Dom Luís I Bridge, with the port lodges lining the Gaia waterfront, and follow the coast south. Lunch is in Espinho, a seaside town with a long fishing heritage, before you reach Ovar, known for the decorative tiles covering its façades. Pick up a slice of pão-de-ló, the town's famously moist spongecake, then it's a short ride to the beach at Furadouro.

Cycling Distance: 47 km

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Furadouro

Day 3

Lagoon Life & Ferry to Aveiro

A day with water in every direction. Follow the long sandbar that separates the Atlantic from the Ria de Aveiro, one of Portugal's largest lagoons. Ride through sleepy fishing villages and the protected dunes of São Jacinto. A short ferry crossing brings you to Aveiro, a canal city of Art Nouveau buildings, salt pans and painted boats. The old railway station, covered in blue-and-white tiles, is worth a detour.

Cycling Distance: 45 km

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Aveiro

Day 4

Ílhavo Porcelain to Praia de Mira

Today's ride starts with a little history in Ílhavo, a town with deep ties to Portugal's cod-fishing fleets and home to the Vista Alegre porcelain works. Then it's on to Costa Nova, where old fishermen's storehouses have become striped beach houses that look like rows of deckchairs. With the lagoon on one side and dunes on the other, an easy afternoon brings you to Praia de Mira, a relaxed beach town between sea and lagoon.

Cycling Distance: 40 km

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Praia de Mira

Day 5

Mira to Figueira da Foz

Leave Praia de Mira past the tucked-away Barrinha lagoon, popular with windsurfers, and head into the dune forests where the scent of pine mixes with salty air. Near the end of the day comes the tour's one real climb, about 4 km over the Serra da Boa Viagem. Easy with some battery power and you will be rewarded with sweeping views up and down the coast. Then it's downhill into Figueira da Foz, where the Mondego River meets the Atlantic.

Cycling Distance: 50 km

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Figueira da Foz

Day 6

Along the Mondego to Coimbra

Leave the coast behind and follow the Mondego River inland, past rice fields and farmland, to Coimbra. Portugal's capital in medieval times, Coimbra is home to one of the world's oldest universities, now UNESCO World Heritage-listed. Wander up the steep lanes to the Joanina Library, where bats keep the books free of insects, then find a seat for Coimbra fado, traditionally sung by men in long black student capes. Hungry? Try chanfana, goat slow-cooked in red wine.

Cycling Distance: 55 km

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Coimbra

Day 7

Farewell from Coimbra

After breakfast it's time for goodbyes. Coimbra is well connected by train, with easy links to Lisbon and Porto for your onward journey.

Cycling Distance: 0 km

Meals: Breakfast

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Download the Itinerary PDF here

DISCLAIMER

All distances are approximate. Our tours often go off the beaten track and follow routes that are not always predictable. We cannot always guarantee the weather. For these reasons we may occasionally have to update our itineraries. We will only do this to improve your experience or for safety reasons. Our listed accommodation is always accurate at the time of writing but should we need to change you can rest assured that it will be for similar or better. Display price may differ to what is quoted as this tour is invoiced in the currency stated, and can be dynamic with daily exchange rates.

The Details

Included in the Tour:

• 6 nights' accommodation in four-star hotels and rural guesthouses

• Daily breakfast

• Local guide

• Support van (minimum 8 riders)

• Luggage transfers between hotels

• GPS with the route preloaded

• Mechanical assistance

Not Included in the Tour:

• Flights

• Lunches and dinners

• Drinks

• City tax, ferry fares and entry fees to sights

• Onward travel from Coimbra after the tour

• Travel insurance

• Personal expenses

3 - Moderate

For recreational cyclists seeking a challenge with greater variety. Expect up to 75km (flat) or 500m of climbing on rougher roads; no technical off-road. Moderate tours require good cycling experience and fitness. Cycle twice a week with a longer weekend ride.

Explore our range of Moderate tours here.

Find out more about tour grading
Frequently Asked questions

If you're unsure about anything, please see our FAQs page for extra information.

FAQs
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Portugal - Porto to Coimbra - Silver Coast Explorer
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Booking information

Booking forms

Participants will be asked to complete a booking form after confirmation of their booking.

Terms & Conditions

BOOKING CONDITIONS

To ensure the trip's viability with our suppliers, a minimum number of participants is usually required. Upon submitting your booking request, we will provide specifics regarding minimum numbers. Following trip confirmation, you may proceed with flight bookings and other travel arrangements. A ‘Limited’ trip status signifies limited spaces available. For trip status inquiries, kindly email or call our office.

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DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS

A deposit is required to secure your place on your selected tour departure. On receipt of your deposit, Global Cycling Adventures will email you a confirmation to verify your travel arrangements and advise final payment details. The final payment is normally required 60 days before departure date unless otherwise specified.

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CANCELLATIONS & AMENDMENTS  

All tour cancellations will require notification in writing to Global Cycling Adventures by the person participating on the tour. Please be advised that booking cancellations or amendments will incur relevant fees. Cancellation charges are tour-specific and timing-dependent. For a comprehensive outline of our terms and conditions, including the cancellation policy, please refer to the travel proposal provided by our team.

We recommend that you purchase cancellation insurance on payment of your tour deposit in case unforeseen circumstances force you to cancel your tour.

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OVERSEAS JURISDICTION AND TERMS

For all overseas tours, the terms and conditions, laws, and jurisdiction of the destination country will apply. By booking a tour with us, you acknowledge and agree that local regulations, industry practices, and terms specific to the destination country may supersede or modify our standard terms. It is your responsibility to understand and comply with all applicable local laws and regulations while participating in the tour.

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Testimonials

Don't just take our word for it

After completing a recent 10 day trip with Al and Vicky in Sicily, I regret the five star review, because I would make it more like seven. I honestly believe GCA doesn’t play up their advantages as much as they should. There was tremendous value adds all through the trip. Don’t look at the price and say “I can get a bike on my own and do it for less”. Perhaps you could, but you wouldn’t have any idea how much you were missing out on in the process. The organization was top shelf, but there were also opportunities to be independent at times if you choose to do so. Always supportive, but never overbearing, GCA does an amazing job of sincerely caring that you have enjoyed yourself. Highly recommend.

David Routon, June 2026

The coffee/dining experiences and the introduction to the amazing history and sites on the trails were 100% rewarding. Definitely appreciated the very solid and reliable modern mountain e-bikes. Each day's hot and hilly biking was rewarded with superb accommodation, with rest and swim time included in the program. I can thoroughly recommend this tour. Thank you, Al and Vicky Cran, for this great trip, and for providing much laughter and enjoyment.

Adele, June 2026

This ride (Sicily) with Global Cycling Adventures was so easy. All details and the full itinerary were on hand in plenty of time to book corresponding travel. Any changes were notified well in advance, and proved to be an advantage. The local owner/guide, Danielle, and team were totally organised and expected timely attendance at daily start times... which was beneficial for all.

Adele Bissell, June 2026

Every day was a new adventure - biking around the coast, then in the mountains, then around volcanoes... then rafting, then visiting national parks... friggin' amazing. Only problem now is... which of Global Cycling Adventures' trips to look into next year???

Greg, May 2026

I just returned from a cycling trip with Global Cycling Adventures in Sicily. . I have to say that it was the one of the best company and people I have used for this type of trip. From the beginning process , Al and Vicky were responsive to all questions. They were always available. The hotels, bikes, local staff, excursions food were the best. I highly recommend them if you want a first class bike trip with no worries! Can’t wait to go again.

Lisa Matzner, June 2026

Well organised, great communication with an awesome bunch of kiwis!

Trish Morris, May 2026

The tour was extremely well organised and every detail was expertly taken care of. The Tour Guides were top notch and absolute professionals in their roles. The bikes were new or near new which was as you would hope but not always the case on a bike tour. Costa Rica was spectacular and I loved every minute of my time there. I’m looking for my next Global Cycling Adventure…

Suzanne Conley, April 2026

This tour was a comfortably epic, active-relaxer-type holiday. We saw more of Costa Rica than anyone could under their own steam. The guides were incredible. For a few of us who went and were a little concerned it might be too much on the bike... we were soon at ease, knowing it was biking for the experience of being in different parts of Costa Rica and Panama. It wasn't heads-down-and-race - it was explore: take in the countryside, the people, the scenery, grab photos, eat and drink (very) well.

Greg Urquhart, May 2026

After 6 trips with Global Cycling this has to be up with the best! Mike our guide was outstanding. This tour was unforgettable, enough excitement without being dangerous, with very good quality hotels, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

Kristine & Ron

This was my first major overseas trip, and WOW what an experience. The trip was really well organised. I felt safe all the time, and the guides made sure that they took excellent care of us. We always knew what was happening and the non-cycling excursions were fantastic. I can't wait to do my next trip!

Kim Hamill

Excellent tour great to have 2 days at some places! Good mates and loads of fun! Rene was amazing - seems to really enjoy seeing the regular faces, always cheerful and ready to help!

Helene Hudson

The Croatian Islands are truly beautiful, each one with its own unique feel. We were lucky, due to an itinerary change, to also see the island of Brac. We met a great group of people on the tour and shared so much fun & laughter with them.The ceaseless attention and hard work of our guides (Toni & Josh) and their support crew (Captain Pave & his team) ensured that the week was absolutely amazing!

Sue & Geoff Welsh

The trip was, as expected, fantastic. Weather great, food great, company great, and fabulous accommodation. It was nice to be able to get in from a long days ride, and have a nana nap in a really nice hotel. ... on the last day I rode one of the new fangled e-bikes for the last stage into Santiago, and am now a convert. My road bike will probably never go on another tour. What a revelation. ... So in closing, probably one of the best tours I’ve been, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would absolutely recommend it to anyone.

John Hedge

I keep coming back because of the excellent service and results. They truly care about their clients and it shows in their work.

Great experience overall! The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, making the process smooth and enjoyable. I am very satisfied with the results.

Fantastic service! I was impressed by how quickly they responded to my inquiries and the quality of the final product. Highly recommend!

Excellent trip. I can't give Jo (tour leader) enough praise for the job he did and the support he gave us. The conditions for the majority of our trip were really challenging (weather-wise), and he was always there with a positive and friendly attitude. Ten stars!!! Lorna (guide) was incredible plus her salads were divine. The day cycling through Edinburgh was amazing, I so loved it in every way. The history, the miles of cycle paths - we went straight through the city center - just fabulous. I also loved Scone Palace for tea and scones, and cycling into Bettyhill - a relaxed day of beautiful scenery and easy riding. Guide lunches and snacks fantastic - so thoughtful and tasty for hungry riders!!

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Wendy Norwood

Had an epic trip.

Well organised, great food, super accommodation, brilliant  guides.

Bloody amazing Weather.

So pretty happy.

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Maree

Super well organised - guide’s were very attentive to us all.

Super weather 1hr of rain for the whole 22days - John-o Groats was 14 degrees sunny, no wind,  beautiful.

Well fed - morning and afternoon teas and lunches too.

Well worth the effort.

A great way to see the country at a slower pace.

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Andrew

Andrew and I enjoyed our time in Madagascar immensely. The team were very well organised (in the context of the general chaos that is Madagascar!)

Naina, Tina, Fenu and Tulca were all excellent, and went to great lengths to make sure that we were having the best experience possible.

The route was very interesting and traversed evolving landscapes and communities as we headed South.

The rides were interspersed with non-riding days, that had hikes or interesting stopovers and/or gave us exposure to native flora and fauna.

The team provided excellent fresh food each day, with great variety and plenty.

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Peter and Andrew

“We would highly recommend Global Cycling Adventures golf tour to Scotland. Our trip was very well organized playing a range of challenging Links courses on Scotland’s East Coast.

The Hotels, transport and staff were superb. A golf enthusiasts dream come true!”

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Chris and Judy James

It was our first tour and was way above expectations---thank you

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Bill & Christine

The overall experience was wonderful. A mix of fantastic scenery, daily exertion on the bikes, excellent tour guides who blended history ,geography and language with ensuring all participants were treated well.

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Kees and Monica Haverkamp

This is a thank you and a huge recommendation to anyone interested in seeing Croatia the way we did with Global Adventure Guide. Everything about our trip in September was perfect, the boat, the guides, the food, the riding and Croatia itself was awesome. Our global adventure was brilliant!!

Ros

I enjoyed the Croatia bike and sail tour very much - making new friends, learning to e-bike and the beautiful warm clear azure blue sea are great memories of the trip for me.

Gary

The guides and crew were exceptional on our tour. I can’t say enough about how pleasant they all were.

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Courtney Fraser

The tour guides and all crew made the experience exceptional. We chose this tour so that I had the option of either the Ebike or ordinary and ended up deciding each day which I would choose depending on the climbs.

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Kate Williams

Fellow cyclists were a great bunch, we were lucky that we all got on so well, a lot of laughs. The most clearest of water and to be able to swim off the back of the boat, fab.

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Chris Cantwell

Our special experience was the close encounter with the Lemurs at small nature reserve of Anja exceeded expectations.
Mora Mora.

Alistair and Ann

The group was very good, good atmosphere and help from all participants.

Jef Raus

The whole tour was fantastic. Loved the food/culture/people and of course the bike riding. The support from staff during the tour was beyond the call of duty and the local guides were wonderful.

Greg Griffith

It was excellent! Our tour leader was helpful on every front, plus we had 5 others as part of the support team. They all worked really well together, were lovely and made things seamless for us. We ate really well, the lunches they prepared for us on the road were great, I might even say they were the best I had on a cycling tour. The restaurants they picked for the restaurant meals were good choices to give us some variety.
The routes were generally good, giving us a nice variety of landscapes and towns. To my surprise (I’m not much into hiking) I enjoyed the hikes and parks on the non-cycling days, particularly the latter 2. I wanted lemurs and I got many as well as cool other creatures in those parks as well as in our stay at Camp Catta (great location).
Our group got along really well & friendships were made. Anyway, it was a great trip, I am really happy with the experience. So a big thank you for everything!

Linda S

I have done a few bike trips with GCA and Costa Rica/Panama lived up to the usual high standards. We had excellent care and service from the local guide (Mike) and his crew. The biking highlight for me was descending the Irazú volcano, a drop of some 2000 meters on excellent road. Some non riding highlights would be Ziplining through the tropical rainforest.

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Robin Morton

The Costa Rica/Panama cycle tour was a magnificent blend of biking and exploring these two countries hitting all the high points, from sandy beaches on the coast to active volcanoes in the interior as well as numerous other activities, including rafting, exploring wildlife in the immense jungles and of course the canal; couldn't think of a better way to do it, Global Cycling put together a truly memorable itinerary. Amazing to think what was packed in to just two weeks!

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Martin Moore

I want to give a big shout out to Ralph and Global Cycling Adventures (GCA) for the recent bike tour through Costa Rica and into Panama. This was our second tour with GCA (following a tour through Vietnam and into Cambodia back in 2019). My wife and I joined the Costa Rica tour with 15 others and had a blast. Throw some zip-lining and white water rafting in and there was something new and different every day. A highly recommended this tour for those who want to experience Central America through Costa Rica into Panama via MTB.

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Matthew Riordan

Enjoyed the Gobi Desert with visits to Flaming Red Cliffs and Singing Dunes. The friendly locals and the little 'treats' they gave us.

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Greg Griffith

An amazing experience for a keen mountain biker who has been with Global Adventures for several trips throughout the world and for years to come. My wife also loves the way she is catered for as a non-biker. The experience starts with the promotional material, then the detailed notes, the trip itself and the final celebratory dinner.

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John Brannock

This trip was an awesome adventure to a very special unique country. The nomadic people showed us how simple yet rewarding life can be, in what can be a very harsh environment.

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Ann & Alistair Bennett

A very special challenging 3 weeks spent in a gorgeous part of the world with awesome company. To quote the feelers "It's as good as it gets".

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Pete Richards

Fantastic trip. Cycling the HCM trail was superb. We understand many of the cycling trips are only down the southern coastal route but the northern sector from HaNoi down the HCM trail is a must. Highly recommend Global Adventure.

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Ross

The whole thing was special for us, we had a great time. Great group of people.

Eddie and Anita Corrigan

Ajaccio to Calvi was one of the best road rides I've done anywhere, Excellent mountain roads, well graded climbs, coupled with great scenery, through a world heritage area & overlooking the Mediterranean.The Sardinian Island of San Pietro was nice riding and very interesting from a traditional cultural perspective.Robert, our guide was extremely helpful and looked after the riders very well. He was attentive but still allowed us to do our own thing. VERY safety conscious which is crucial.

John

The wonderful scenery & the choice of towns/cities were well researched. We both had a great time.

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Marianne & John

Our special experience: Mingling with the "real" people of Africa and realising how lucky we are in NZ. Our in- house quote was DIA, meaning 'dis is Africa!

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Alistair & Ann

Twice on tour I had the best day of my life!

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Gary

The people were wonderful - so friendly, the children would run from far in the fields to see us on our bikes for lots of high 5's. The game drives were amazing, we saw so much in Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara...I loved Tanzania and this experience got me out of my comfort zone

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Murray Booth

If you could hand pick your group you would never come up with a team like this one. The biking is the catalyst but it was so much fun that some days, the face and the sides hurt more than the legs.
It seemed that most of the time there was a thrilling view or a surprise around every corner.
The inclusion of some iconic cultural and heritage sites into the program is a highlight.

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Carolyn & Warren Mckenzie

So many special experiences with lots of "Firsts" ie. 141kms in one day!!!! Klaus and Sabine's dedication to us, making it such an awesome experience with their ongoing help in explaining and interpreting local customs and language.

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Alistair and Anne

If you want a tour where every day is different, the scenery stunning and the distances long enough that you have earned that extra piece of apple strudel then this is the tour for you!

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Vicki

The trip exceeded my expections and we all loved Hoa. He was perfect for our group! Even the things out of our control (weather, flights being on time, etc) went perfect.

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Kymberly Lehenbauer USA

We had an amazing time on our trip and would like to take this opportunity to say how great the three guides were. They looked after us so well, providing snacks, checking our bikes and ensuring that our experiences were outstanding. I have no hesitation in recommending this tour and the Halong Bay trip to anyone that will listen. Thank you to you for your part in the organization of our trip as well.

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Peter

I thought the Island of Corsica was the highlight. Cycling predominately near the coastline,and the deep blue of the Mediteranean was very picturesque. Looking forward to the next trip.

Graeme Oakley

Everything was done very well. South Africa is a magical destination for cyclists.

Sue Semple-Rowland

The e-bikes certainly enhanced our enjoyment of the spectacular journey this tour offers. Totally would recommend e-bikes on this tour!

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Alistair & Ann Bennett

Overall the tour was excellent!

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David Williams

My special experience of the tour was: My decision to go with the ebike. Great experience using the Stromer. Made my holiday very enjoyable.

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Cheryl Van

The whole tour was fantastic. Loved the food/culture/people and of course the bike riding. The support from staff during the tour was beyond the call of duty and the local guides were wonderful.

Greg Griffith

Destination excellent, fellow passengers like a family outing, very congenial atmosphere.

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Fantastic experience and great scenery.

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Great fun and a wonderful way to sight-see.

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Top notch, as good as it gets. A very special trip spreading the Kiwi love.

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We had an awesome time in both Bhutan & Sikkim. The cycling was hard in both places - either up or down - there is no flat - but the scenery, people, culture etc. made all the effort worthwhile.

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The guides and crew were exceptional on our tour. I can’t say enough about how pleasant they all were.

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A great blend of adventure, fun and social activity!

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What an incredible romp through Bavaria and along the Danube! An amazing journey of changing sights and sounds, whether biking through meadows accompanied to the sound of cow bells, past castle ruins, under historic Abbeys, through vineyards, or alongside the mighty Danube it was never a dull moment.

Why Choose us?

Why Travel with global cycling adventures?

New Zealand Owned
and Operated

Connect with ease. Our dynamic New Zealand based agency specialises in elevating your international cycling and golf getaways.

Tried and trusted

We have over 20 years experience and many of our clients tour with us year after year. Several clients have done over 25 tours with us.

Sustainability

We value the privilege to explore the world by bike. We partner with organisations and people that behave with respect and awareness to minimise any negative impact.

Giving Back

We believe our tours should improve life for the people and places we visit and leave a positive impact. We work in partnership with local people and providers who have local knowledge.