Pedal power - the rise of the cycling holiday

This year it seems that more people than ever are thinking ‘green’ about their holidays and opting to travel by bike in their chosen destination.

At responsibletravel.com we’ve seen an incredible 86% increase in the number of people looking for cycling holidays this year. And with over 200 fantastic cycling holidays to choose from it’s easy to see why.

Our cycling holidays range from the really adventurous to the leisurely, and everything in between. How about an experience like no other on our Himalaya mountain bike tour, with stunning scenery and riding where you’ll really get to know the locals? Not for the faint of heart, how about a trip from Lhasa to Khatmandu? Cycle over 1,000km across one of the most romantic regions in the world. From Buddhist monasteries in Lhasa to bustling markets in Kathmandu and including an ascent to Everest base camp, this is the adventure of a lifetime.

There’s also our Tiger Leaping Gorge cycling holiday in Yunnan, China, offering a unique insight into this magical province. Or perhaps you fancy exploring Borneo, Mongolia or Uganda by bike.

A little closer to home, there’s some tough challenges in the high sierras of Southern Spain where you will stay in a beautiful cortijo (farmhouse), dramatically perched just above the picture postcard village of Bérchules, in the wildly scenic Alpujarras region of the Sierra Nevada Natural Park of Andalucía. Or a more relaxed option might be this cycling holiday in the Loire Valley. What better way to enjoy the beautiful scenery, chateaux and vineyards of the French countryside? And all accessible by train from London.

And if you’re after a weekend biking fix how about one of our England mountain biking holidays? Rocketing down singletrack and muddy trails or spinning along country roads can’t be a bad way to spend a weekend. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a shorter and perhaps more leisurely ride in the open air we’ve got a whole range of short breaks in the UK and Europe.

All of these fantastic holidays offer experiences that you won’t forget in a hurry and give you the chance to enjoy the scenery up close and reach the places you couldn’t in a car or coach. All this and good for the environment too!

But being the more environmentally friendly option isn’t the only reason why traveling by bike is a great choice for your holiday. Cycling is a fantastic way to explore a destination. You are more likely to interact with local people and appreciate local scenery. It's also much easier to get off the beaten track by bike, not to mention a great way to work off the holiday excess!

We've got some great charity cycling holidays too like this charity bike ride in Cuba. You can support the charity of your choice on this 10 day cycling expedition beginning in the Cuban capital of Havana and ending by the Carribean Sea in Trinidad some 350kms later. A great way to experience the sights and sounds of a country and raise money for a good cause into the bargain!

We've also picked out some of the best accommodations for cycling so that you can choose when to head out on the bike and explore your surroundings and when you'd rather stay relaxing in the sun or take a day trip to a nearby town. This family run accommodation in the Italian Alps offers a tranquil escape and provides the perfect base for exploring the surrounding pine and chestnut forests by bike offering the most stunning panoramic views.

Our recent survey of 100 responsibletravel.com travellers revealed that an overwhelming 86% of people said that travelling by bike was the best way to explore the local area whilst on holiday. An impressive 39% also revealed that their number one choice for a tandem biking holiday partner would be Michael Palin, with Indiana Jones following a close second! Now there's an idea for an adventurous cycling holiday!

Take a look at our great value cycling holidays and accommodations

Need help finding a great cycling holiday? Contact our helpdesk at amelia@responsibletravel.com