Adventure on 2 wheels
cycle challenges
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Seasoned cyclist or casual two-wheeler – you can join our cycles in destinations such as Kenya, Cuba, Sri Lanka and more. We have experienced cycle leaders on all groups, and have taken thousands of people on adventures across the world!
Packages include flights, transfers, meals and accommodation, plus bikes, mechanical cover, and support vehicles. Get your bag packed and arrive ready for adventure. Lycra optional!
The Group Experience
We’ve been delivering cycle challenges for over 20 years, across UK, Europe and all corners of the globe. It’s the best way of experiencing the variety a country has to offer – with group camaraderie, support & hospitality.
Join on your own, or with friends, and head out with a bunch of up to 30 like-minded adventurers to explore some amazing scenery and culture up close. Our Groups cater for all paces, ages & experience levels – so as long as you’re up for a challenge – join us!
- Fully supported group experience
- UK Cycle Leader & Medic
- Bike hire included
- Flights, transfers & hotels
- All meals included
- Optional e-Bike rental
Find your next adventure...
CYCLE SRI LANKA
- NEW
- Moderate
- 475 km
- 9 Day Itinerary
- Hotels
- e-Bikes available
Cross this tropical island in the saddle, from the beautiful west coast, over the Central Highlands to Kandy, and on to the historic port of Trincomalee. A glorious finish on the shores on the Indian Ocean awaits! A challenging ride & not for the faint hearted!
Itinerary
We will depart London on an overnight flight to Colombo.
Meals: D (On Flight) Accom: Flight
Upon arrival in Colombo, we will be met by our guides and driven by private bus to our hotel on Sri Lanka’s West Coast overlooking the Indian Ocean. Here, we will check in and we have a little time for relaxation after our long flight, before a bike fitting and briefing with our guides on the challenge ahead. This will be followed by a great Sri Lankan welcome dinner before we get some rest.
Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel
For the first day of our Sri Lankan adventure, we start our challenge in the cooler air of the early morning. Following breakfast at the hotel, the first 35 km will be a gentle warm-up as we take the coastal roads south along the old Portuguese waterways. We will then head inland and tackle two short and steep roads which should shake the jetlag out of us! These are the foothills of the mountainous central highlands that we will be cycling through over the next three days. Once out of the hills at Ruwanwella, we will stop for lunch
and enjoy the scenery. Our cycle will re-commence in the afternoon with a final 30km of gentle uphill pedalling to our accommodation on the banks of the Kelani River, where a cold beer is waiting for
us. This was the site for the filming of David Lean’s masterpiece “Bridge on the River Kwai”. For our meal tonight we have a great buffet of local delicacies.
Distance Cycled- 76km
Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel
This is one of our toughest days as we make our way into the heart of the central highlands. After breakfast, we will transfer to Kotagala 30 minutes to avoid the main roads and start our day’s challenge at Kotalgala. We will then start by cycling through the Thalawakelle Tea Estate, where we stop for a cup of the finest Ceylon Tea, overlooking the magnificent Devon waterfall. From here our route heads up through Watagoda on incredible estate roads cut into the escarpment, on 18km of the toughest section of our Sri Lankan challenge. Nothing quite prepares you for this and many of us may end up walking to the top. A challenging day, yet extremely rewarding! Upon reaching the top, we will stop for lunch and a rest before continuing with our adventure into the afternoon. The day finishes with a relaxing downhill to our comfortable hotel in Nuwara Eliya. Here, we will enjoy a group dinner before getting some much-needed rest.
Distance Cycled- 78km
Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel
Today will be an exciting although long day in the saddle. Following breakfast, we will leave Nuwara Eliyaand and embark on a 50+km
downhill that will take us down through more beautiful tea estate countryside. The views will be extremely picturesque. As we get to Delpitiya, we will continue with our ride on quiet roads for the next 50km with the most spectacular landscape. We will stop for lunch near the village of Pupuressa with its wonderful waterfalls, and in the afternoon we make our way through Gallaha and into Kandy, located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. A religious city rich in history and stunning architecture. We will enter alongside its beautiful University and continue through the bustling mayhem of the roads to our lovely hotel. As evening approaches, we will leave our bikes at the central hotel, and venture out to explore the delights of this colourful city. The evening will conclude with a group meal before returning to our hotel.
Distance Cycled- 110km
Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel
After a great breakfast, we will have a long day cycle ride once again, directly from our hotel through the bustling streets of Kandy to Wattegama where we return to quiet roads. A major contrast from the bustling city we just left. We will continue by descending from the hill country to the flat “dry zone”, with great views of the Knuckles mountain range to the east. At a suitable point along the route, we will stop for lunch and enjoy the views. We will continue with our adventure into the afternoon, and from Matale the roads are flanked by giant fig trees, that provide welcome shelter from the sun and we stop for lunch at a local spice garden where we can see the abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables that are produced in this region. The last section of our ride today is to the famous Dambulla Cave Temple, from where we are transferred to the hotel
in Habarana to relax by the pool and recover from our long cycling day. We will then enjoy a group dinner before getting some much-needed rest.
Distance Cycled- 124km
Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel
This is the final day of our cycling challenge! The ride today will be almost completely flat, and the kilometres will pass quickly. This area is recovering from the effects of more than 20 years of civil war where the Tamil Tigers fought with the government forces for recognition and independence. As we continue, we will pass the Kantale Reservoir, one of the oldest and biggest in Sri Lanka. This is going to be a hot day and there is very little in the way of shade. We will take regular stops along the way, including a rest stop for lunch at around midday. Eventually, the air will get fresher as the sea breeze begins to blow from the coast. This will mark the imminent end of our ride, with an immense feeling of euphoria and pride. As we check in to our hotel, we will have the chance to relax before the celebrations commence. We will enjoy a celebratory meal at the hotel and enjoy a drink or two before getting some well-earned rest.
Distance Cycled- 87km
Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel
This morning, after breakfast in the hotel, we will transfer back to Colombo. We should arrive in the afternoon and will be dropped off in the centre of town. The rest of the day will be free to explore at our own pace and visit the main sights of this city. This evening is then left free to decide whether we would prefer to relax or embrace the chance for those who wish to make their way into Colombo to see it by night.
Meals: B,L Accom: Hotel
This morning, we will return to the international airport in Colombo in time for our flight back to the UK.
Meals: B
CYCLE KENYA
- NEW
- Moderate
- 415 km
- 8 Day Itinerary
- Camping & Hotels
- e-Bikes available
Cycle through the world-renowned Maasai Mara, for thrilling rides & once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters. It’s a safari on 2 wheels, with cultural immersion & stunning Kenyan scenery. Finish your adventure with a celebratory meal and exceptional Safari experience.
Itinerary
We depart Heathrow on a day flight to Nairobi. We arrive late in the evening so we transfer directly to our comfortable hotel in Nairobi. The following day we transfer you to Narok in the Maasai Mara to prepare bikes and perform a warm-up loop ride.
After breakfast, cycle day two will commence. Our ride today starts early, as although it is a shorter distance, we are mainly on African dirt roads which will be a much tougher challenge to cycle on. We keep our eyes peeled today as there is a good possibility of seeing a great range of safari animals including giraffes, wildebeests, buffalo, elephants, gazelle, zebra, and other foragers and grazers that roam the savannah plains. We will be making our way around part of the Loita Hills in the Siana Conservancy, which is the predominant home to some herds of wildebeests and zebra. It will be strenuous, but worth every minute for the stunning scenery. We will then stop at an appropriate time of the day for lunch and a rest. Our ride will continue into the afternoon until we reach the village of Oloolamuitia. This is extremely close to where we find our tented camp, to end at the southern tip of the Maasai Mara close to the border with Tanzania. Once settled in, we will have a chance to relax before enjoying an evening meal and getting some well-earned sleep.
The day will start with an early breakfast before we set off for another exciting day of cycling. After a small climb this morning, the rest of our ride is mainly downhill as we cross back through this famous Safari section taking in river crossings and cycling along smooth gravel roads. The route incorporates highlights of a Maasai Village, and if we are lucky, we should be able to see hippos in their natural habitat. We will arrive in Talek in time to enjoy lunch, and the opportunity to relax and recover. This afternoon will be kept free to enjoy at your leisure or you may wish to take an optional afternoon safari to experience the incredible animal life of the area. The evening will conclude with a group dinner before getting some much-needed rest. Hopefully, we can expect to fall asleep to the sounds of African wildlife.
Cycle day 4 will commence after another group breakfast. Today, we have a big ride on dirt roads as we cross over two conservancies – The Olara Olek and the Mara North Conservancy to arrive at Mara Rianta. This will hopefully be one of the best days for animal sightings, with everyone keeping their eyes peeled for a glimpse of an elephant. Please be aware that we will have a support team for full protection. The animal sightings we will experience are jaw-dropping, but we don’t want to disrupt them in their natural habitat. At around midday, we will stop to soak up the scenery and enjoy some lunch. Our ride will resume post-lunch until we eventually reach our accommodation for the evening. The evening will conclude with a group dinner before getting some well-earned rest.
Today is the final cycling day of the challenge. Following breakfast, we will set off directly from the hotel on a ride that will take us on a 60km loop. We will immediately cross the Mara River, whose origin starts in the Kenyan Highlands and flows 395km into Lake Victoria. Our big challenge today is the steep 250m climb onto the great Mara North, with its amazing views back down over this incredible Maasai ecosystem. We will then continue cycling through the stunning Oloisukut Conservancy. Along the route, we will stop for a rest and to enjoy some lunch before continuing into the afternoon. As the sun begins to set, we will arrive at our accommodation and have some time to relax before preparing for our celebratory evening. Tonight, we can enjoy the hospitality of the hosts and with a special meal together, appreciate a drink (or two) as we reflect on our incredible achievements. We will then end our evening with some much-needed sleep in this comfortable accommodation.
This will be our final day in beautiful Kenya. For those who are able or who wish to, there will be a pre-sunrise Safari included to hopefully catch a glimpse of the predators on their morning hunt for food. A truly once-in-a-lifetime experience! The group will have some free time to relax and soak up the surroundings. After we check out of the lodge, we will be transferring 5-6 hrs by road back to Nairobi. Upon arrival at the airport, we will check in for our return flight back to the UK. The next morning, we will land back in the UK.
CYCLE VIETNAM 2 CAMBODIA
- Moderate
- 417 km
- 9 Day Itinerary
- Hotels
- e-Bikes available
Cycle from the city of Ho Chi Minh in Southern Vietnam to historic Angkor Wat in Cambodia, off the beaten tracks. Explore the elaborate warren Cu Chi Tunnels, before saddling up for 5 days cycling through rural Vietnam over the border into Cambodia.
Itinerary
We meet our group and Action Challenge staff at the airport in London, before checking in together and boarding our flight to Ho Chi Minh City.
We land in Ho Chi Minh (formally known as Saigon) on day 2 and are transferred by private bus to our hotel in the heart of the city. We will get a chance to settle in before tucking into a welcome dinner with our local guides, who will give us a full briefing on our adventure ahead.
Meals: B,L,D starting day 2 Accom: Hotel
On day 3 we start the cycling. We transfer north of Ho Chi Minh (approximately 1.5 hours) to the historic Cu Chi Tunnels. Here we have a bike fitting before visiting the elaborate warren of underground tunnels constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the war. After lunch we set off on our bikes – our challenge has begun! The route to Tay Ninh unwinds along quiet rural roads through local villages surrounded by a patchwork of paddy fields. We arrive in the bustling market town of Tay Ninh to spend the night.
Day 4 sees us set off for the Moc Bai border crossing, via the striking Caodai Great Temple. Once formalities have been completed we enter Cambodia and catch our first glimpses of rural life here. We pass traditional wooden houses on stilts, framed by a backdrop of vast rice fields before stopping at a school for an afternoon snack. The day comes to a close in the quiet provincial town of Svay Reing.
Distance cycled: 77km and 80km
Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel
We begin our cycling straight from our hotel in Svay Rieng. We continue our journey north through paddy fields and ponds filled with water lilly flowers. There are many villages and the children like to say hello along the routes. We cycle mostly on dirt gravel countryside road. We make a water stop at one of the primary school and visit and have packed lunch in a Buddhist temple. As we approach Cambodia’s third largest city we are greeted by the sight of a hotel complete with pool to soothe our weary limbs!
After breakfast on day 6, we leave the city behind us and embark on the longest day of the challenge. Heading into the backwaters of Cambodia, we cycle through tropical countryside until we find ourselves right in the heart of the sleepy backwaters! Our day draws to a close as we finish at a local school before transferring the final busy section into our accommodation in Kampong Thom.
Distance cycled: 90km and 98km
Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel
Today is a real highlight of the challenge, cycling into the ancient temple complex of ankor Wat. We avoid some of the poorer roads by transferring two hours to the Ancient Bridge at Kampong Kdei, one of the best examples of the remaining 800 year old bridges in Cambodia. From the bridge we follow the historic highway connecting the provinces of Kampon Thom and Angkor Wat. We begin to cycle off road from Ou village through the remote countryside to Samrong and we stop for lunch at Stung Tracheck restaurant. After lunch we cycle back roads until we arrive in the Angkor archeological park. The road into the World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat is lined with temples and creates a fitting entrance to this unique and spiritual city. After celebrating our arrival in Angkor Wat, we cycle the last few kilometres to Siem Reap where we will spend the night and enjoy a well earned celebratory meal together.
Distance cycled: 82km
Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel
We have free time to explore more of the outlying temples of Angkor by Tuk Tuk or souvenir hunting in the markets of Siem Reap. We depart for the airport early evening for an overnight flight back to the UK.
Meals: B
CYCLE CUBA
- Moderate
- 415 km
- 10 Day Itinerary
- Hotels
- e-Bikes available
The time to come to Cuba is now and the way to see the island is by bicycle. It is an island of great music and art, of passionate peoples and incredible landscapes: beautiful beaches, rolling hills, tropical forests, cities that have wonderful life and energy. Fidel Castro has gone and now Cuba is starting to develop. It is like no other island in the Caribbean.
Itinerary
We meet our group and Action Challenge staff at the airport in London, before checking in together and boarding our flight to Havana.
The next morning we visit the cultural and historical heart of old Havana before we have an early lunch and this afternoon transfer 3hrs to Playa Larga on the the south coast by the Bay of Pigs, with is beautiful beaches and relaxed atmosphere. It was here that the CIA backed invasion of Cuba landed in 1961, but which ultimately failed. We have a bike fitting and briefing on the challenge with the full team, before sitting down to a welcome dinner and beer overlooking the Caribbean.
We wake early to make the most of the cooler morning, as we have a long tough ride on mostly flat roads for our first cycling day. We head northeast through rural areas, arriving for lunch in Rodas. This afternoon we head south past the Damuji Lake, Ariza and El Salata villages and rolling farmland, to end the day at the UNESCO town of Cienfuegos. We have a chance to discover its incredible colonial centre before relaxing back at our hotel.
Today brings no relief to the legs, as we begin with a short stretch of hills. Once over this rollercoaster of a ride, the rest of the day is flat roads in rural settings with nature all around us. We ride into the World Heritage town of Trinidad, famous for its summer carnivals when the city explodes to the sound of salsa and meringue. Our ride ends on the coast at Playa Ancon, where we are once again cooled by the sea breezes and sit with our feet up after a good days ride, watching the sun set with a classic Cuban cocktail.
Today is one of the highlights of the challenge, especially for those that love the hills. As we head north out of Trinidad, we are soon in the cooler climates of the Escambray mountains. This area is covered in good tropical forest and the hills should have us fighting for breath as we tackle the tough climb to the lookout point at 500m. We descend into the centre of the mountain range for lunch at Topes Des Collantes and then continue north to arrive at Jibacoa where we drop down to the port for a stunning ferry trip over Lake Hanabanilla. We land at our hotel on the shores of this magical setting, a great place to relax after a tough cycling day.
Our day today is much easier as we start with a great 280m descent out of the Escambray mountains. The rest of the morning ride is through rolling farmland, but we should reach Santa Clara for lunch, a vibrant metropolis with lots of street life. This is yet another Cuban town that is great for people watching and soaking up the atmosphere. This afternoon we visit the mausoleum of Che Guevara, the iconic rebel leader that fought so bravely against the American invasion, before going to our hotel to relax.
Our final day of cycling is quite special as is the destination: the island of Santa Maria which is off the north coast of Cuba. Our route there starts with 65km of good fast cycling to the town of Caibarien where we have lunch. This afternoon we have 40km of riding on the incredible road that has been built into the sea, that takes us to the island of Santa Maria. Once at our hotel by mid-afternoon we have time to relax and take in the scenery on one of the most beautiful beaches of the island. Tonight we celebrate the end of our challenge in style.
The next day, w have a full free day at our resort hotel and on the beaches of Santa Maria.
This morning we have an early transfer back to Havana and depending on our flight time we have free time to discover more of the city. We meet again later and transfer to the airport in time for our overnight flight back to the UK, landing the next day
CYCLE ALBANIA
- Moderate
- 350 km
- 7 Day Itinerary
- Hotels & Lodges
- e-Bikes available
The Cycle Challenge will bring Albania to life. It’s a rarely visited corner of Europe that was off-limits for all its years under communism. But, it now takes us back to a Europe that remains untouched since before the 1940’s. Albania has diverse landscapes and a rich culture. Rural areas are tranquil and have centuries-old traditions. All this will offer up a unique challenge that will leave an incredible lasting impression.
Itinerary
We meet in our London airport and fly together to Tirana the capitol of Albania. On arrival we transfer 2hrs to our hotel in Lin on the shores of Lake Ohrid and meet the team that will be with us for the next week.
For our first cycling day, we start riding directly from our hotel heading south along the lake shore. As we rise there are some great views over the lake to the surrounding mountains. We continue past small farms on the vast plains and eventually arrive at Korça, known as the Paris of Albania. Here we can relax in our comfortable hotel.
CYCLING APPROX 60KM
Today we climb steadily into the baren border mountains through cols and valleys into the heart of the Grammoz Mountains. We cycle over the Barmash Pass 1159M to Germenj lying in its own tranquil valley and its here that we stay the night. This evening we enjoy a traditional home cooked dinner and a glass or two of the local red wine.
CYCLING APPROX 75KM
From Sotire we continue through forest surrounded by soaring peaks which leads us to the source of the River Vjosa. We descend now into the spectacular Vjosa gorge for a 17km descent to Çarshovë, a beautiful and scenic ride, and one of the great sections of our challenge. The ride continues high above the river to Përmet, famed for its cuisine and strong raki alcohol. Lunch will be in the village of Benje after which we continue cycling for another 4km to the thermal pools of Langarica and its canyon. A 16th century ancient ottoman bridge marks the spot and the end of our road. Plenty of opportunity for canyon swimming this afternoon.
CYCLING APPROX 50KM
This morning we make our way towards the sharp mountain peaks outlined in the distance as we cycle along the valley towards Këlcyrë. We follow the Drinos river valley as it opens out into a wide plain with the town of Gjirokastër above us. We now make our way up to our hotel in Gjirokastër which is known as the city of 1,000 steps, and is perhaps the most beautiful city in Albania.
CYCLING APPROX 70KM
We begin our last cycling day with a brief transfer, starting our cycling at the top of Muzina pass. This is the gate-way to southern Albania and our ride takes us to the Ionian coast, sandwiched between the high mountains and the sea. A short ride on a rustic ferry brings us to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint, one of the country’s most important archaeological treasures, where the influences of various ancient people are clearly visible. After a tour in Butrint, we make our way along the coast heading north with the island of Corfu just out to sea. The day and the challenge ends in the beautiful town of Saranda, where we are finally able to kick off our cycling shoes, feet up and enjoy a well earned beer. Tonight we will have celebrations to mark the end of an incredible challenge.
CYCLING APPROX 70KM
This morning after breakfast we transfer 3.5hrs back to Tirana in time for our return flight to London.
CYCLE KERALA
- Challenging
- 350 km
- 10 Day Itinerary
- Hotels
The cycle challenge is 350km long. It takes place in Kerala, one of India’s hidden jewels. We cycle into the dark blue mountains, where we find hill stations and cooler temperatures. As we move west on our bicycles, we see more of the interior. It has lush rivers. They flow through hills and paddy fields and empty into the backwaters. The sun-bleached seashore, unending blue waves, green coconut groves, and lagoons are all part of Kochi’s essence. It’s our end-point for the challenge. Only when you have been to Kerala can you understand why it is named “Gods Own Country”.
Itinerary
On arrival into Kochi we are transferred to our Hotel. After a chance to relax and freshen up we have lunch, a bike fitting and finish the evening with a welcome meal to sample some Keralan delights.
After breakfast we start off on our cycle challenge making the most of the early morning coolness heading east, to-wards the foothills of the Western Ghats. along the quiet roads that are mostly level throughout the morning. We pass through scenic countryside of temples, spice gardens, paddy fields and rubber plantations to the lowland forests of Thattekkad. Our spectacular eco-lodge on the banks of the Periyar river in the late afternoon is a welcome sight and here we have time to relax in a magnificent jungle setting.
CYCLING APPROX 60 – 70KM
We set off along the Periyar riverbank, through dense low altitude forests of Neriyamanagalam where reed is extract-ed for manufacture of traditional household items like baskets and mats. As the scenery slowly changes we glimpse rubber, pepper and cardamom estates and finally tea plantations. The ride is a shock to the system as the climbing starts early. We stop at Adimali for lunch and this afternoon we end the ride and make the rest of the way in our support vehicle to the hill station of Munnar – a hill town famed for its vast swathes of tea plantations. Munnar, a favourite summer resort town, is set amidst dramatic mountain scenery, craggy peaks, tall redwood trees and some of the world’s highest tea plantations.
CYCLING APPROX 55-70KM
Today is a tough challenge but may be one of the most exciting. After a 40km transfer we start our undulating morning ride that is mostly downhill to the dam at The Kallar Bridge, passing through forests, tea gardens and spice plantations. This afternoon we have hard climbs out of the valley to Puttady. From here its 15km of descent to Periyar which has one of the best wildlife reserves in India with large herds of Asiatic elephants, Indian Bison as well as tigers. For the ornithologists it has over 330 species of birds including the majestic Great Hornbill. We end our day at our Periyar Hotel where we can relax our tired legs by the pool after a good evening meal.
CYCLING APPROX 67KM
After a good breakfast we cycle the winding roads down through perfect mountain cycling country with great scenic views of spice growing hamlets dotting the landscape and undulating roads (ups & downs!) through tea estates and forests. We see the famous arch dam of Idukki on the way and cross the beautiful Kulamavu dam just before reaching our destination on the edge of the Western Ghats: Our resort is set amidst the tea estates and is a perfect quiet re-treat after a hard day of cycling.
CYCLING APPROX 57KM
Today, you will be taking a downhill ride through the mountain passes to the plains and from there through the rubber country of Palai to the backwaters of Kerala. Our cycling takes us through varied terrains giving us an opportunity to have a glimpse of the rural Kerala. The terrain will be mainly plains with small undulations in some sections.
CYCLING APPROX 75KM
A visit to Kerala, ‘God’s Own Country would not be complete without a cruise on board one of Kerala’s most luxurious forms of accommodation, converted rice barge houseboat. After a morning trip we disembark and re-join our bikes for the backwater cycling ride as we ride through a stunning landscape of emerald paddy fields and refreshing rivers. We encounter a succession of fishing villages as we draw ever closer to the finishing line on the white sandy shores of the Arabian Sea. Leaving the villages behind we will hit the beaches and cycle up along the coast to our beach resort.
CYCLING APPROX 25KM
We transfer to Cochin airport and board our flight for the UK, landing the following day.
COMING SOON!
CYCLE COSTA RICA
- Moderate
- 420 km
- 10 Day Itinerary
- Hotels
- e-Bikes available
Embark on an exhilarating Costa Rican adventure from coast to coast! Begin in vibrant San Jose, then journey through lush jungles and bustling plantations, bike alongside the majestic Arenal Volcano, and conquer the Continental Divide. Experience serene beaches, natural hot springs, and unforgettable wildlife encounters as you traverse one of the most bio-diverse regions on the planet!
Itinerary
We depart UK on a day flight and land late in San Jose early evening. Our team will meet you at the Juan Santamaria International airport in San Jose, and drive you to your downtown hotel in the capital.
This morning we start our challenge with a transfer eastwards to the Caribbean
coast, stopping off at the town of Sarapiqui for a visit of the Snake Garden Wildlife Centre. Here we can get a taste of the amphibians, reptiles and birds of Costa Rica that we may see along the way. We then continue on to our hotel in the town of Guapiles, where we have a bike fitting and a full briefing on the challenge
ahead, before we sit down to a welcome dinner.
Today, after an early breakfast, we transfer to Caribbean Coast by bus and then a quick boat ride to the start of our challenge. The ride starts along banana and pineapple plantations on the flat lands on the Caribbean. We then continue along some single tracks and several river crossings before arriving back at our hotel in Guapiles.
CYCLING APPROX 65KM
We begin today’s ride on a paved road heading toward the Sarapiqui River. We
are likely to see several groups of monkeys and exotic birds on this section of the route. Sarapiqui is a region of rich diversity, known for its lush vegetation and production of crops such as corn, coffee, cocoa, cardamom, tropical foliage and
the delicious palm hearts.
CYCLING APPROX 62KM
Back on our bikes, we cycle a challenging hilly section along dirt roads through the San Carlos agricultural area famous for its plantations of citrus fruit, papaya, yucca and pineapples. The rest of the day is along paved roads heading to the stunning
and active Arenal Volcano.
CYCLING APPROX 102KM
Depending on how people are feeling we have a choice of 2 routes – paved or off road. The off road option takes us along the rugged southern shores of Lake Arenal and involves several river crossings, sections of single track, and many ups and downs. The paved option is easier on the body with a smooth surface but equally as hilly and also with great views. Either way, the day is sure to be a highlight of the crossing.
CYCLING APPROX 68KM
The day begins with a steep climb up and over the Continental Divide. As we reach the highest point, we are treated to great vistas of the Guanacaste plains and Pacific coastline of the Nicoya Peninsula. Guanacaste is the major cattle ranching area of the country and we pass through some of these ranches along the foothills of the Tenario and Miravalles Volcanoes. The day see a transition from a tropical to a dry windy climate. Tonight’s hotel has naturally heated pools to sooth away any aching muscles.
CYCLING APPROX 57KM
A hilly morning is rewarded with an incredible limestone downhill to the town of Liberia, the center of Guanacaste. This typical large Costa Rican town is quite different from the smaller communities we have been passing through. Lunch in town and then we finish the crossing on a paved road to Hermosa Beach on the Pacific coast. The evening we celebrate and reflect on the experiences of our ride across Costa Rica.
CYCLING APPROX 66KM
The morning is free to relax on the beach before being transferred back to the airport in San Jose. We catch our flight, landing in the UK the following day.
FIND OUT MORE
Join our information webinar to hear all about our new range of cycling challenges. We’ll cover the service & support you can expect, run through the range of incredible destinations, and open it up for any questions you may have. PLUS- special deals & offers.
LAUNCH DEAL
Sign up for any of our overseas cycle challenges, and receive a free Action Challenge cycle jersey, worth £35!
VALID UNTIL 31st AUGUST 2024
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