Cycle the Globe

The world’s leading adventure travel specialist, Explore, has added six new tours to its exciting 2008/2009 Cycle brochure due to the ongoing popularity of its two-wheel itineraries.
Here’s our pick of the best routes:

Morocco: Anti Atlas Adventure – 8 days

The Anti Atlas is unique among Morocco’s mountain ranges, from the culture of the local berber tribes to the striking physical beauty of its landscapes. From the base at Tafraoute deep in the heart of the mountains, you’ll bike through oases and across plateaux to explore remote communities, palm-fringed valleys and orchards. Your last two days are spent on the southern slopes of the High Atlas, riding through pine forests and a spectacular descent through lush palmeries and small villages to the Atlantic coast.
Predominantly on surfaced roads, this tour provides a range of gradients and some steep descents, suitable for those with some previous biking experience. You will be based in hotels throughout to ensure comfort as well as adventure.

Itinerary:
Day 1: Fly London to Agadir.
Day 2: Drive to Iherm in Anti Atlas; ride to Ait Abdellah; drive to Tafraoute.
Day 3: Drive to Ammein Valley; ride through Anti Atlas to Lakhmis Ida Ougnidif; return to Tafraoute
Day 4: Ride to Tahala through lunar landscapes and oases; return to Tafraoute via painted rocks.
Day 5: Ride through Ait Mansour valley to Talouste; return to Tafraoute.
Day 6: Drive to High Atlas; cycle descent to Immouzzer.
Day 7: Dramatic descent through High Atlas and Paradise valley to Atlantic coast; drive to Agadir.
Day 8: Fly to London.

Accommodation and Meals:
7 nights hotel, 7 breakfasts included
Grade and Terrain
Grade B – 235km / 6 days (average 39km/day)
Ascents of up to 350m but predominantly descents of up to 1000m
75% surfaced, remainder on dirt roads
Dates and Prices
2008: 15th – 22nd Nov - £719 (inc flight), £449 (land only)
2009: 7th – 14th Mar - £769 (inc flight), £479 (land only)

Spain: Cycling in Extremadura

Extremadura is one of Spain’s best-kept secrets. Situated south-west of Madrid, north of Seville and bordering Portugal to the west, it is a vast lowland cut off by wooded sierras to the south, the Sistema Central to the north and by the Montes de Toledo to the east.
Cycling is an integral part of life here, from going to work in the fields or seeking a well-earned glass of wine from the local taverna. The people are warm and friendly and anyone who has a few words of Spanish and the time to chat will be well received.

Itinerary:
Day 1: Fly London to Seville; transfer to Llerena.
Day 2: Ride to Ahillones; option to continue to Reina.
Day 3: Cycle to Zafra via Fuente del Cantos.
Day 4: Free in Zafra; optional ride to Burguillos del Cerro.
Day 5: Along the via de la Plata to Almendralejo.
Day 6: Cycle through vineyards and olive groves  to thermal spa town of Alange then along Guadiana river to Merida.
Day 7: Free in Merida; optional ride to lake Proserpina with swimming option.
Day 8: Transfer Seville; fly to London.

Accommodation and Meals
7 nights hotel and 7 breakfasts included
Bicycle
21 speed hybrid bicycles complete with pannier, water-bottle holder, lock and map holder.
Grade and Terrain
Graded moderate this is the ideal way for the regular cyclist to explore this unspoilt area of south west Spain. The route is mainly level or undulating with some hilly sections enabling you to cover approx 270km over 6 days, averaging around 45km per day.
Price
Prices start from £399 (Land only) and £599 (inc flight).

Backroads of Jordan

On this cycling tour through Jordan, you’ll explore the dramatic beauty of the Great Rift Valley, Wadi Rum, arguably Arabia’s finest desert, the rugged shoreline along the Dead Sea and the spectacular site of Petra itself. An area of exceptional natural splendour and amazing archaeological importance. 

Itinerary:
Day 1: Fly London to Anman; transfer to hotel.
Day 2: AM visit to Umm Qais then cycle to Castle of Aijoun.
Day 3: Cycle to Dead Sea, PM free.
Day 4: Cycle to Fifa village then to Kerak Castle; visit site and transfer to Dana Nature Reserve.
Day 5: Cycle to Petra.
Day 6: Tour of Petra.
Day 7: Cycle to Wadi Araba and camp in the desert.
Day 8: Cycle to Aqaba.
Day 9: Free day in Aqaba with evening flight back to Anman.
Day 10: Fly to London.

Accommodation and Meals
8 nights hotel, 1 night Bedouin camp; 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 5 dinners included.
Bicycle
21 speed hybrid bicycles complete with pannier, water bottle holder, lock and map holder.
Grade and Terrain
Grade B/ C moderate / strenuous – 450km/ 6days (average of 75 km per day). A long but flat cycle through some of Jordan’s most stunning natural scenery (approx 5-7 hours per day), following mainly quiet tarmac backroads with a decent amount of downhill and level sections, although there are some unsurfaced roads and a couple of steep climbs (which can be optional).
Prices
Prices start from £599 (land only) and £899 (inc flights).

Visit www.explore.co.uk for more details