Pierce Martin

A Cycling Bucket List For EPIC Freewheeling

We are adventure travellers and we’ll grab any excuse to throw on our all weather gear and get outdoors.

However we’re used to four wheeled adventures, not those which require powerful leg muscles and just two wheels.

Our guest author series has offered us an insight into travel from the perspective of some fascinating fellow explorers and our recent piece by Kathleen, entitled My Two Wheeled Trip sparked a conversation which finished with some additional adventures finding their way onto our bucket list!

Her article entitled 5 Reasons to go on a Bike Tour also sent us into a state of wanderlust dreaming, so …

We’ve decided that two wheeled travel is something we’re keen to try, so we’ve compiled our own two wheeled trip cycling bucket list!

#1 CUBA 

cycling-bucket-list-title-cuba

Immerse Yourself in the Colours of Cuba.

Cuba has remained a pulsating hub of culture despite its turbulent past and famed exile community.

The Guaniguanico and El Rosario mountain ranges offer a unique destination for a two wheeled adventure.The colourful scenic vistas will leave you breathless as you peddle past tobacco plantations and animated villages.

Join G Adventures on this 8 day tour and explore the palm tree lined beaches, azure waters and lush landscapes on a side of the island visitors rarely discover.

Tour OperatorG Adventures

Departure – Year Round

Difficulty – Medium

Duration – 8 days

#2 TASMANIA

cycling-bucket-list-title-tasmania

Traverse a Temperate Natural Paradise.

Hop onto your bike and head Down Under to the island state of Tasmania where sweeping peninsulas, pristine beaches and lush wilderness tracks offer adventures to suit every cyclist.

Cliffs peppered with fossilized dinosaurs and pink granite peaks watch on as your tyres travel across the ash fault, relict rainforests and rugged coastlines mesmerise you as you pass.

Famed for its temperate climate and sedate weather patterns the east coast trail from Launceston to the state capital Hobart offers a truly remarkable cycling retreat.

Tour OperatorCycling Tours

Departure – October – April

Difficulty – Medium

Duration – 5 days

#3 SOUTH AFRICA

cycling-bucket-list-title-south-africa

Cycle South Africa.

Home to some of the world’s best cycling routes South Africa is bursting with vibrant landscapes.

Explore Drakensberg mountains’ ‘Barrier of Spears’, the highest peaks in the country littered with mountain passes, waterfalls and panoramic vistas. The roads are lined with canyons and lush rainforests and the country has a wealth of landscapes to satisfy every explorer.

Take some time to witness the majesty of the animals of the Kruger National Park, one of the world’s most notable big game reserves and soak up the superb countryside over the course of this 12 day itinerary.

Tour OperatorExodus

Departure – Year Round

Difficulty – Medium / Hard

Duration – 12 days

#4 PAKISTAN, CHINA & KYRGYZSTAN

cycling-bucket-list-karakoram-highway

Navigate the Karakoram Highway.

The highest paved road through Pakistan, China & Kyrgyzstan the Karakoram Highway offers cyclists a spectacular but challenging ride.

Sample the contrasting cultures of these neighbouring Asian nations and witness the natural splendour of this challenging route. Spend your days cycling in the shadows of snow capped mountains and your evenings camped in traditional yurts.

Marvel at the world’s largest non-polar glaciers and meet semi nomadic horseman tending their herds on the distinctive wide open plains and grass clad hills of Kyrgyzstan.

Tour OperatorRed Spokes

Departure – Mid September to mid October

Difficulty – Challenging

Duration – 21 days

#5 NEW ZEALAND

ketetahi-descent-tongariro

Sample South Island Scenic Beauty.

Known world wide for its spectacular scenery New Zealand’s south island has featured in many Hollywood blockbusters over the years and offers cyclists a remarkable landscape to explore.

Peddle through the Alps to Otira Gorge and Punakaiki where the famed Pancake Rocks and coastal blow holes offer a taste of the natural wonders on show. Follow the rain forest clad western coast south through fiords and cavernous valley.

Take time out from cycling to hike across glaciers and swim in glacial lakes before riding out to Wanaka and Queenstown to soak in the scenic mountain views.

Tour OperatorPedal Tours

Departure – Check

Difficulty –Medium

Duration – 10 days

While organised tours are not really our style, we prefer the DIY road trip approach, we’re very keen to sample life in the saddle and get to grips with the logistics of long distance cycling.

Our top 5 picks have our hearts all a flutter and we’re excited to break into the two wheeled world!

Watch this space, two wheeled travel hits Wanderlusters soon!

Have you cycled any of our top 5 routes? Have we inspired you to try two wheeled travel?

Share your comments with us below!

Travel Blogger & Photographer
  1. All of these sound like so much fun–I would love to do them all! I’ve been wanting to do a bike trip like this. We always feel the same about organized tours though–would rather do DIY, but in some instances tours can be great and you have a chance to meet some fun people too, which is always nice!

    1. I think taking part in an organised cycling tour would be on a slightly different level to that of a coach tour or package holiday esq experience. I’m sure that having a guide with local knowledge would only enhance the experience!

  2. Bike or not, I just want to visit all of those places! Haven’t been to either or them, yet. I need more bike experience before I decide if I want to tour that way or not. Drew and I have been debating on if we should take our bikes with us on our US road trip. We think it’d be nice to have them along and there are times when having a bike is a huge benefit. Of course, there are cons, too. We are still trying to figure out which will be best for us.

    1. We invested in some bikes during our 12 month Aussie road trip and I have to say it was such a benefit to have the freedom to peddle off for a few hours. We also found it a great incentive to fit in some additional excercise as when you’re out exploring new places you perhaps peddle further than you would if you simply had to get from A to B.

      We also came across some locations we wouldn’t have spotted in the car! You’ll have to let us know what you decide!

  3. Interesting destinations, though I would hesitate vising Kruger National park on two wheels – i’m afraid of being attacked by some dangerous animal.

  4. Aside from the fact that I am pretty horrendous on a bike, which annoys me so much that I would like to get over it – I am desperate to do some two-wheeled travel one day! All of these suggestions are great guys, would especially love NZ, for sure 🙂

  5. Hi guys! Love the blog!
    I am a travel blogger who also happens to race mountain bikes seriously. If you want to continue the two-wheel theme, I’d love to write a guest post about great bike destinations that take you, quite literally, off the beaten path. Shoot me an email if you’re interested!

  6. Well, adventure sports is not my thing but each of these sound awesome..the scenery is just jaw dropping! Look forward to read more about this :).

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.