Our Frequently Asked questions
About bookings
On our regular bike tours, the pace is determined by the cyclists on regular bikes. This may mean E-Bikers may have time to rest at the top of a hill while waiting for the others to catch up. Similarly if you choose to ride a regular bike on a specified E-Bike tour you will need to be fit enough to keep up.
Helmets are compulsory on all our tours and are a legal requirement for cycling in most countries. For health and safety reasons we recommend you bring your own helmet.
We only supply normal pedals so if you prefer clipless, please bring your own.
You may also wish to bring your own seat or a gel seat cover to make your ride more comfortable.
Yes, we have a regular newsletter covering news from all our tours. To subscribe to our newsletter simply complete the form on the bottom of our web pages throughout the site.
The easiest way is to fill in the enquiry form on the website. One of our team will get back to you within 24 hours with a Travel Proposal detailing the cost of the trip and payment schedules. You can then book directly on the website. You will be sent an invoice for the deposit and once your deposit is received we can confirm your booking.
You have the option to pay by direct credit into our bank account or by credit card (Visa or MasterCard) via our secure online booking page.
Please note a transaction fee of 3% is charged for all credit card payments.
We do not accept American Express.
Alternatively you can email us at info@globalcyclingadventures.com with details of your chosen tour and any questions you may have.
If you would like to speak to someone in person please call +64 3 982 9933.
The costs associated with each tour including hotels, guides and bike rental are in the currency of the relevant supplier. Because the exchange rates fluctuate continuously - this is the most accurate way to cost your trip. The cost will reflect the exchange rate on the day of payment.
Absolutely! Most tours have a support vehicle allowing you to do as much or as little cycling as you want. Our tours are designed so everyone can enjoy their experience.
Absolutely! Non-golfers are welcome to join our tours. There is always something to see and do while the others are on the fairway.
Some purists may scoff but the E-bike has had a significant impact on how people exercise. They have made cycling available to a broader range of people including those who may not have the physical fitness (or desire) for traditional cycling. They have opened the world of cycle touring to those who may not have considered it before. E-bikes can also be great 'equalizers' for riders of differing ability. It is important to note these are not mopeds - you still have to pedal - just not as hard.
Yes children are most welcome on many of our tours. However some tours are unsuitable for children. Please contact us with the you are considering and we will happily advise on suitability.
E-Bikes are heavier than normal bikes and require special care. It is not possible to rent electric bikes to children. If you want to rent an electric bike for a teenager we will need to check if the right size for their height is available. Please contact us for further information.
It's a vacation along rivers, canals or between islands. You cycle during the day and stay overnight in a floating hotel that follows you on your journey. The cabin will be yours for the entire week, so you don't have to worry about luggage or packing. There will be plenty of time to relax on the sundeck or explore the ports or seaside villages you visit.
It depends on the tour and location. Most of our guides are local and therefore fluent in their native language as well as English. Please contact the Global Cycling Adventures’ team if you have specific language speaking requirements.
Each day’s approximate distance will be listed in the itinerary where possible. Most days we will have a support vehicle available (for guided tours) so you can opt to bike less than the stated distance. Alternatively if you wish to bike more, let your guide know so it can be arranged where possible.
Yes. Please contact us with any special requirements and we will try to meet these. Sometimes there may be a small surcharge. Where this is not possible we will notify you in advance so alternative arrangements can be made.
Yes. We can customise tours for small or large groups, families and even large charity tour groups of 80+ participants. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Preparing for your trip
Each tour is carefully graded from 1 to 6. These details can be found on your tour page.
Please see below for more details.
We recommend arriving at least the day before the tour to allow for acclimatisation, sightseeing, and a good night’s sleep to recover from jetlag. For long international flights, two extra days would allow for unexpected flight delays.
Requirements such as clothing and other equipment will vary for each tour. You will receive detailed trip notes prior to departure which will include what you need to bring.
Your luggage will be transported from one point to the next so you will need a small backpack for your phone, snacks and a couple of layers to keep you warm and dry.
On all golf tours you have the option to bring your own golf clubs or pre-book a set of hire clubs.
Not all boats accept Credit Cards. They are not accepted in Greece, France and Croatia. Some cards are accepted in Holland and Italy. Please check your tour notes as this information will be provided.
Comprehensive travel insurance is compulsory. We recommend that you purchase cancellation insurance on payment of your tour deposit in case unforeseen circumstances force you to cancel your tour.
Global Cycling Adventures can book pre and post tour accommodation for you.
Tour Grade info
Cycling is a fantastic way to experience a destination - whether you are looking for a leisurely bike ride through the countryside, the gnarliest trail or the most sweeping descent, we have a ride to suit your needs.
Choosing the right grade of holiday is important. Making sure you are on the right grade of trip will ensure that the routes match your fitness and expectations so you can make the most of the tour. Our tours showcase some of the most exciting and remote destinations on the planet and to get the most enjoyment out of your tour it’s important to make sure you're prepared for the physical and technical challenges involved.
Each tour will be different. Some are flat and easy - others are extreme and require a high level of expertise and fitness. Our tour difficulty ratings are designed to help you find the ride that fits your level of fitness or desired challenge.
If you are on the cusp of two descriptions, you need to decide whether you are looking for a challenge and want to be stretched a bit further than usual or would you rather keep it on the easier side - it is a holiday after all!
We have carefully graded every trip in our range. The grades take into account a variety of factors including daily distances, hill climbs, terrain and fitness required.
Some tours have E-Bike availability. Although this can make the uphill slog a little easier, you will still need a similar level of fitness to the regular bikers on the tour.
Remember a support vehicle is always on hand (unless otherwise stated) so you can hop in for a rest.
1 - Easy
Are you keen to make cycling part of your holiday but want time to explore and take in the sights?
These EASY trips combine seeing the best of a destination with light biking activity - a gentle introduction to cycling holidays without the physical struggle.
Short days and distances mean riders have plenty of time off the bike to experience the culture, landscapes and cuisine of the destination.
The terrain is mainly flat on roads or paths with average daily distances of less than 30km.You will need a basic level of fitness. Try to get a few rides under your belt to gain confidence and get used to the saddle.
Easy trips are ideal for those new to cycling or for families with younger children.
2 - Leisure
Would you prefer slightly longer distances than our EASY tours but no hills or tricky technical sections? Maybe you would like to go on an E-Bike tour and tackle some hills with some extra power at your disposal. Leisure tours are for the rider who wants to take in the surroundings at a comfortable pace.
The terrain will be mainly flat with elevations of less than 200m per day (400-700m on E-Bike tours) Average distances can be up to 50km per day (maybe more on an E-Bike).
You will need good level of fitness, exercising a couple of days a week and be confident on your bike.
3 - Moderate
Moderate trips are for the recreational cyclist looking for a bit more of a challenge. These trips are for those who cycle regularly and feel comfortable with longer climbs of up to 500m per day.
Moderate trips have more variety in day to day riding, and can include a longer or more challenging climbing day or two. Road conditions may be rough or hard-packed dirt, but with no off-road or technical sections.
Riders can expect distances of up to 70km on flat terrain, or maximum daily climbing of up to 500 metres over a shorter distance.
These trips require a good level of cycling experience and fitness. To prepare yourself, aim to ride twice a week, with a longer ride at the weekend so that you’ll be comfortable riding for several hours at one time. Add variety to your cycling experience, like new routes and in new areas, to build confidence.
4 - Active
Are you looking for a more physical experience? Our ACTIVE trips incorporate longer distances of over 75km on undulating terrain, or up to 1000m climbing over shorter distances providing more of a challenge for fit cyclists.
Active trips require cycling experience, but not technical expertise, as most road conditions are tarmac. Riders should be comfortable making sustained climbs, being in the saddle for longer, consecutive cycling days and for tackling one or two especially difficult riding days.
Get out and ride three times a week, with a longer ride, up to 70km, on the weekends. Aim to feel comfortable spending several hours at a time in the saddle, and with cycling on back-to-back days. Try to ride in hillier areas to get used to climbing.
5 - Hard
Off-the-beaten-track destinations don’t come easy and our HARD trips explore mountainous, remote, and high altitude destinations by bike.
Cyclists on these trips need to be able to ride daily distances of over 75km. You need to be confident on steep and hilly terrain with rough surfaces and the potential to go off-road.
Climbing preparation and regular training off-road and in the hills is key. You should be comfortable with long rides and long climbs with a long time in the saddle on consecutive days.
You will need a very good level of fitness - long rides three times a week with a longer, more challenging hill ride on the weekends.
6 - Extreme
EXTREME trips are challenging for the proficient and physically fit cyclist looking for a truly unforgettable experience. You will need a high level of skill, fitness, and a taste for adventure. Destinations are exotic and remote with basic support and comforts. Terrain is challenging and often steep with high possibility for rough surfaces and off-road sections. Riders should have experience with physically and technically challenging trips and be prepared for consecutive long cycling days of more than 75km and 1000m of climbing. Our EXTREME trips push the boundaries of what’s possible on a guided cycling tour.
You should be comfortable with spending most of the day in the saddle, riding long days back-to-back, and tackling big climbs. Training five days a week with some long distances and climbs is highly recommended.
Don't just take our word for it
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
Fantastic service! I was impressed by how quickly they responded to my inquiries and the quality of the final product. Highly recommend!
Great experience overall! The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, making the process smooth and enjoyable. I am very satisfied with the results.
I keep coming back because of the excellent service and results. They truly care about their clients and it shows in their work.
“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!”
Chris and Judy James
It was our first tour and was way above expectations---thank you
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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".
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.
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.
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!
Alistair & Ann
Twice on tour I had the best day of my life!
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
Alistair & Ann Bennett
Overall the tour was excellent!
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.
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.
Fantastic experience and great scenery.
Great fun and a wonderful way to sight-see.
Top notch, as good as it gets. A very special trip spreading the Kiwi love.
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.
The guides and crew were exceptional on our tour. I can’t say enough about how pleasant they all were.
A great blend of adventure, fun and social activity!
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.
