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Top 10 unusual cycling trips

Cycle to the foot of Bosnia’s Mount Igman or pedal towards the Dead Sea in Jordan... Here are ten less-expected cycling holidays that will take you well beyond the beaten track.

Updated by: Aimee White - Copywriter at Explore Worldwide
Updated: February 2026

 

From rose‑red deserts to emerald river valleys, the world’s most memorable cycling routes often lie far from the usual touring map. In this blog we'll explore unusual or lesser-known cycling destinations that reward curious riders with culture, history, and raw landscapes.

 

Pedal past Nabataean ruins in Jordan, along forgotten Balkan roads, and through Bosnia’s rugged mountains. These journeys aren’t about ticking off famous climbs, but about discovery: quiet roads, unexpected hospitality, and the thrill of seeing a place at cycling speed, where every mile tells a story.

Cycle Jordan

Cycle from mosaic-clad Madaba towards Mount Nebo and pedal around Petra on this nine-day Jordan cycling tour. Venturing through lunar-like landscapes and ancient spice trails, you'll also cycle to Wadi Rum and camp in the desert. You'll have enough time to take a dip in the sensational Dead Sea, explore an excavated Stone Age village and go sailing on the Red Sea before arriving in the capital city of Amman.
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Calm water reflects rugged, golden-brown mountains under a clear blue sky, with white salt formations around the water's edge, creating a serene, natural landscape contrasting with barren terrain.

Cycle Turkey

Pedal through sweet-smelling orange groves and along the shores of Lake Koycegiz before stopping for a picnic lunch with panoramic views of inviting azure waters and forested hillsides. Get under the skin of Turkey’s local culture with an overnight stay in the mountain village of Sutlegen and reward your hard work in the saddle with a rejuvenating hammam massage in Kas.
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A tranquil lake reflects surrounding lush green forests and rolling mountains, under a partially cloudy sky, creating a serene natural landscape.

Empowering Tanzania, one bike at a time

Our registered charity, the Explore Foundation, supports One Bike in Tanzania. Transport is a crucial issue for most rural people in Tanzania, and this social enterprise uses bicycles to empower and improve the local community.

 

So far, your donations have provided over 50 bikes, a fully-equipped repair centre and basic mechanics training, with further plans to construct a local bumper track to promote sports cycling. We'd love you to get involved – can you help us empower more women through the simple bicycle?

Donate here

Cycling the Baltic States

Explore the Baltic States by bicycle on this guided route through Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Discover the fascinating island castle in Trakai and cycle around the shores of the surrounding lake, cycle and watch for birds at the Curonian Lagoon and ride alongside giant sand dunes and white sand beaches the Curonian Spit National Park. 
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Cyclist rides on a wooden bridge towards a medieval-style castle with red-tiled turrets, surrounded by a partially frozen lake and bare trees under a clear, blue sky.

Cycle South India - Tamil Nadu to Kerala

Explore another side of India as you ride from Chennai (Tamil Nadu), facing the Bay of Bengal, to Kochi, facing the Arabian Sea. This Moderate-graded ride averages 48km/30 miles per day, where during the route you'll follow quiet backroads, scenic rides through the Cardamom Hills and past spice plantations. You can choose between standard bike and e-bike for this tour, and a support vehicle accompanies the rides throughout the tour.
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Cycling in Georgia

Discover Georgia's beautiful mountain landscapes from the saddle of your bike picking the way along the Mtkvari Valley.Step back in time to discover the ancient Silk Road cave town of Uplistsikhe with its complex of simple dwellings, churches and halls cut into the cliff-face and try to imagine how life was here in the first millennium BC. 
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Rock-cut caves with pathways and railings ascend a steep cliffside. In the background, a lush valley and rugged mountains stretch into the distance, under a clear blue sky.

Cycle Albania

A largely undiscovered gem at the heart of the Balkans, a tour of Albania by bike offers an extraordinary way to take in the sights. Starting in the Gramos Mountains we traverse the dramatic landscape on stunning rides that lead us eventually to the Albanian Riviera with golden sands and turquoise seas.
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Three cyclists ride down a road toward a blue sea, with hilly islands in the background under a clear sky, creating a scenic coastal journey.

Cycle Puglia

Escape to Italy on this popular European cycling tour through the heel of the country. Over the course of eight days you'll wind through picturesque hill towns and past stunning coastline of sun-soaked Puglia. On Day 5 you'll follow a loop ride to Locorotondo and Cisternino, where you'll visit an olive oil mill and winery en route, so you benefit from scenic rides and authentic produce. 
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Cycle Morocco - Atlas to the Sahara

Take the road less-travelled and discover towering sand-dunes, lush oases and vast mountain ranges in between fortified cities, markets towns and desert camps. Cycling in Morocco gives you new riding experiences every day, whether you're freewheeling down Atlas  mountain passes towards your lunchtime refreshments or peddling through shady oases.
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Ancient fortress sits atop a sunlit hill, surrounded by desert landscape and lush greenery. A clear sky and distant mountains frame the scene, enhancing the historical, serene atmosphere.

Cycle Romania

Romania might not be an obvious choice for a cycling holiday, but with fairytale Gothic castles and colourful medieval towns to discover as well as quiet back roads winding up through the lush pine forests of Piatra Craiului National Park, a ride through the southern Carpathian Mountains will not disappoint.
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A large, intricately carved wooden gate frames a pathway lined with manicured shrubs, leading to a distant church with a red-roofed tower, set against a backdrop of lush, forested hills.

Cycle Kerala

Take in southern India by bike, along Kerala's backroads and through a landscape of tropical forests and spice, tea and rubber plantations. Visit temples, forts and a wildlife sanctuary along the way, and when the cycling is done for the day unwind with a sunset canoe trip, a swim next to a waterfall and a boat cruise on one evening. 
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Lush green tea bushes grow in neat rows on terraced hillsides, interspersed with tall trees. A winding road cuts through this tranquil, verdant landscape under a partly cloudy sky.

Don't just travel, Explore!

Whet your appetite for your next cycling adventure? We have a range of small group cycling trips that will take you all over the world. They're graded by difficulty level, and most trips offer an e-bike alternative (at an additional cost) to make things more manageable. Check out the rest of our trips!
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A cyclist rides along a winding rural road, surrounded by golden fields and tall grass, carrying a large green backpack under a sunny sky.

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