Hi everyone,

First post here to share a quick recap of our west-to-east bike trip along Algeria’s coast in January 2025. It was just the two of us—my partner and I—with French passports and not a word of Arabic. No friends or welcoming hosts in the country.

Under those conditions, we’d strongly advise against going.

Our original plan was to follow the coast from Algiers to Tunis. We ended up cycling from Algiers to Béjaia, then took the train from Béjaia to Annaba (with a stop in Constantine), and finally biked to the border. We were tailed by police the whole way—whether on our bikes, on the train, or even on foot while exploring towns. On top of that, we couldn’t wild camp and were limited to the few state-approved hotels that accept foreigners. Under those circumstances, connecting with locals was especially tough.

With such an omnipresent and intrusive police presence, we’d definitely recommend against this destination for bike touring. A really sad situation that completely cuts you off from the local population...

We’d been warned, we went to check it out, and we weren’t disappointed!

You’ve been warned.

Hi there,

I’m planning to cycle the Vélodyssée from Hendaye to Saint-Brevin in July 2026. My issue: how do I get to Hendaye with my bike? FlixBus doesn’t take bikes, and SNCF is complicated. Any ideas? Has anyone got a solution to suggest? Thanks in advance! Cheers, Patrig

Hi there! I’m really keen to cycle from Bruges to Amsterdam. Has anyone here done it before? We’re a group of three—is it easy to find accommodation on the go, or should we book ahead? If we do a round trip and take our bikes, would it be simpler to plan two different routes?! Thanks so much! Laurence from Bayonne

Assalamu 'alaykum, Hi everyone,

This thread is to echo some posts I’ve read on this forum while researching a potential bike trip from Annecy to Mecca. I came across several discussions where members mentioned being very interested in cycling to the holy city.

So, God willing, I plan to attempt this journey from January to June next year. The idea is to head to Turkey first, then assess the most reasonable routes based on the geopolitical situation around Palestine and as far as Iraq. Since the Turkish-Syrian border is closed, the only remaining (and I mean *only* remaining) overland option would be to go through Iraqi Kurdistan, Iraq, then Jordan, and finally Saudi Arabia.

That’s the first major challenge of this project. The second is timing. Due to the schedule, I’ll be starting in the middle of winter across Europe and finishing in the peak of summer in Saudi Arabia. If I’d had a choice, I’d have waited a good dozen years—but well, twelve years...

I won’t go into too much detail about the planned route in this post, but here are the broad strokes already set: Annecy to Istanbul. The rest is a bit too far ahead to map out properly. Crossing the Italian border via the Montgenèvre Pass. Straight through northern Italy as quickly as possible (not necessarily very pleasant) to reach Ljubljana. The fastest route through Croatia to spend as much time as possible in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Serbia via the Sandžak region. It crosses the Pešter plateau, which intimidates me at this time of year—its nickname, the "Siberia of the Balkans," says it all... Then Kosovo, North Macedonia, Greece, and Turkey.

I’m open to any advice on this itinerary. The choice was made to pass through as many Muslim-majority regions as possible. In the middle of winter in the Balkans, I don’t feel mentally up to bivouacking alone in that climate. So, I’ll try to find accommodations in mosques or even with locals as much as possible.

That’s the project in a nutshell. The big catch—some of you may have already noticed—is that I’m doing this solo. Yet, this is strongly discouraged by our Prophet—peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. So, I invite anyone interested in joining this project, whether closely or from afar, to reach out and contact me. Any contribution is welcome, whether it’s company for the whole journey (one can always hope!) or just part of it. Advice, contact suggestions, places to stay, and information about Hajj or Umrah are also appreciated.

Thanks for reading this far. I’ll try to check my VoyageForum account from time to time to see if anyone has responded to this thread and will happily reply to your messages and questions.

Take care, Assalamu'alaykum.

Sam

Hi there,

I’m currently looking for a bike to do my first bike trip across France, with the ultimate goal of cycling through Latin America. I’ve got a lot of questions and I’d love to hear if you have any answers or advice to share. First off, I’ve been through this before with hiking. I want to get top-quality gear right away. When I started hiking, I ended up buying everything three times—first beginner gear, then intermediate, then expert, etc. For biking, I’d prefer to skip that process and invest right now in a bike that could ideally handle Latin America. I’ve set a total max budget of around 5000 € (roughly 4000–4500 € for the bike and the rest for accessories: panniers, helmet, cycling shorts, etc.).

So, I’ve got quite a few questions:

* I’ve read in several places that some people recommend buying the bike directly in Latin America. Since I need a first bike to train in Europe, would it be better to buy an entry-level bike in France (and sell it before the big departure)? Or is it preferable to start right away with my final bike to get used to it? Is buying it there just to save a bit of money?

* For a long-term trip (around six months) in Latin America, is it better to go for a gravel bike or a mountain bike?

* Should I buy a new bike or a refurbished one? Even more so given that I’m planning a long trip—could a refurbished bike end up causing more breakdowns?

If you have any advice on models, technical features to prioritize, or recommended sellers or resellers, I’d love to hear it. I’m a total beginner—I’ve only just started watching videos and reading up on the subject, and all the technical specs are new to me!

Thanks in advance for your help!

hey everyone,

I’m landing in Madagascar with a buddy before the end of April 2026. We’re planning to bike around for about twenty days or so. We don’t have a specific goal other than exploring the country and meeting the locals.

Ideally, we’d prefer a loop route starting from Antananarivo with a good chunk of it along the coast. On the bike side, we’re used to riding 6 to 8 hours a day, depending on the needs, encounters, and mood 😉 Any feedback or tips from trips around this length?

Thanks in advance, Jérôme

Hi there, I’m traveling to Denmark this July with my three boys, aged 12, 14, and 17. I’d like to plan a little cycling trip and I’m thinking of doing the Copenhagen–Malmö route via Helsingborg. The idea is to take our time and stop along the way based on points of interest or for a swim if the weather allows. I have a few questions: - How many days should we plan for? 2, 3, or 4? - What are the recommended stopover towns? - What are the points of interest along the way? - Do we need to take a ferry for the Helsingør–Helsingborg stretch? Should we book in advance? If anyone has great tips for accommodation along the route, I’d love to hear them! Thanks! !

Hi everyone, could someone give me info on the track that starts from Tafraout toward M’harch Pass and then continues to Mcissi to join the national road heading west to Alnif? I’m planning to go in April 2025 by gravel bike/MTB. Is it doable? Is there a lot of soft sand??? How many km???? Thanks for any tips, and happy end of the year to all! Best, Rv.

I’m planning a journey of about 2500 km starting from San Pedro de Atacama (duration: max. 2 months). This trip, almost entirely on remote trails, promises to be an extraordinary adventure.

Highlights of the trip - Crossing the Florido Desert (during the blooming season: October 15–30) - Hiking ascents of legendary volcanoes: - Ojos del Salado (6879 m) - Llullaillaco (6739 m) - Uturuncu (6008 m, with 5820 m reachable by mountain bike!) - A 300 km stage through the heart of the desert, with no resupply or habitation: the ultimate experience of solitude and self-transcendence.

Practical details - Daily distance: max. 100 km and 1000 m elevation gain per day - Average altitude: 4000 m (between 3500 and 5000 m) - Temperatures: ~15 °C during the day, down to -25 °C at night (in a tent) - Accommodation: ~50% in villages (with locals or small hostels), ~50% camping

Estimated budget - 1400 € for the flight ticket (including bike supplement) - 1000 € for on-the-ground expenses

Required equipment - Fatbike (essential for deep sand) - -25 °C comfort sleeping bag - Single-wheel trailer (indispensable for these tough terrains)

My experience In 2022, I completed a similar 1200 km trip north of San Pedro de Atacama: - Full crossing of the Salar de Uyuni (170 km) - Ascents of the Ollague (5868 m) and Aucanquilcha (6176 m) volcanoes - Two 200 km stages with no resupply or human presence Videos available for a glimpse of the adventure: - Atacama Crossing 2022 - Part 1 - Atacama Crossing 2022 - Part 2

Next steps If this adventure interests you, I suggest: 1. A first phone call to get to know each other 2. A meet-up over a drink or a test ride in the Bardenas Reales (similar terrain, and I live 100 km away)

Don’t hesitate to contact me for more info or to discuss the details!

Hi there!

I’m making an exception and creating a separate post this time, since it’s all about France. In May, we spent a week in Provence, specifically in the Luberon, exploring the cycling routes *Autour du Luberon à Vélo*, the *Véloroute du Calavon* (part of EuroVelo 8), and the shorter *Les Ocres à Vélo* route. Together, they gave us an amazing journey through rolling hills, vineyards, lavender fields still green in spring, and some of the most stunning landscapes in southern France.



It was, of course, the perched villages that impressed us the most. We visited Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Lacoste, Lourmarin, Ménerbes, Oppède-le-Vieux, Cucuron, and Lauris. Many of them are among the most beautiful villages in Provence, and it’s hard not to agree with that reputation.









One interesting point is the route of EuroVelo 8 in this part of the region. The official path mainly follows the old railway line of the *Véloroute du Calavon*, which is very comfortable and safe. But in our opinion, cyclists traveling EuroVelo 8 around the Mediterranean would discover even more treasures if the route passed through villages like Bonnieux, Lacoste, or Oppède-le-Vieux.





We were also pleasantly surprised by how safe cycling felt. Most of the route takes small local roads, but traffic is light, drivers are respectful, and road design really takes cyclists into account. It’s one of those places where you can ride peacefully even without separated bike lanes.







Our full story:

Around Luberon by bicycle - the most beautiful villages of Provence

You can also find all our cycling travel stories on the forum:

Cycling Thread - Europe’s most beautiful bike routes

S.

Hi there, I’m planning to cycle around Taiwan in 2026 and I’d love to know if it’s possible to do the whole island on bike paths, how many kilometers that would be, whether wild camping is easy, and so on…

Hello, I'm looking for a small town where we can eat and stay near the canals of Brittany to do short bike rides of about 50 km round trip. Ideally, it would be a town at a junction of several canals, but I'm not sure if that exists. Otherwise, a town like Redon with the Nantes-Brest canal and, on the other side, the Vilaine River. But I don’t know if there are paths that can be used along these canals.

Thanks for replying if you have any ideas.

Cheers, Néo.

Hi everyone, After a break of a few years, I’m heading back to Madagascar this October. I’d like to travel from Diego to Maroantsetra via Cap Masoala as much as possible by bike—it’s my favorite way to travel. My questions: for the return trip to Diego once I’m in Maroantsetra, is there a possibility to take a flight, since the road option only starts much further south than Tamatave? Or where can I rent or buy a decent bike between Diego and Cap Masoala? For this bike trip, I’m open to any info—I love traveling rough. Someone might even want to join me on this adventure.

After that, I’d also like info on the northeast part (Mozambique Channel side) of Diego, which I’d like to explore by bike as well.

Thanks, and feel free to share any tips—just skip the paternalistic safety advice. Laurent

Hi there,

I’m planning to cycle from Morlaix to Brest (via Roscoff and the V45 coastal route). We’ll start riding on August 16th for 13 days (with stops for island visits, surfing, etc.). Is there a lot of traffic at this time of year? I’ve got two kids, 11 and 13, and we don’t like riding in the middle of cars (we’ve already done the Vélomaritime—Caen to Cherbourg—the Loire route from Orléans to Saumur, the Vélodyssée from Nantes to Royans, and the canals like the Nivernais and Bourgogne, where there were plenty of bike-only lanes, which isn’t the case on this route).

Thanks for your help if you’ve already done this route in late August! Virginie

Hi there! Every year, we go on a cycling trip abroad with panniers, lasting about two weeks. We stay in step lodgings, guesthouses, and the like. We mostly take small roads and really enjoyed northern Montenegro and Albania last year.

We’d love to hear from anyone who’s cycled in these countries before: tips on finding quiet roads, highlights of the regions we’ll pass through, how welcoming the locals are, and so on. Thanks in advance for any replies or exchanges!

Hi there, I’m planning the route to cycle from Lille to Nordkapp with my partner. Duration: 3 months, from May 1st to July 31st, 2026. In the attached details below, I need to add some "non-riding" days (rest days, basically). So I’m looking to "shorten" the trip by taking ferries or trains for some stretches. Which areas could I skip? Thanks in advance for your great tips. Have a good evening. https://www.komoot.com/fr-fr/collection/4023980/-lille-cap-nord-1er-mai-au-31-juillet-2026?ref=collection

Hi there, we’re planning a Munich to Venice bike trip at the end of June 2026. Getting back from Venice to Toulouse by train with 4 bikes isn’t straightforward. What return options have others who’ve done this trip chosen? Any tips or great deals would be much appreciated. Thanks a bunch! !

Hello, I spent a month cycling in Thailand earlier this year with a touring bike equipped with two rear panniers. I loved being able to ride and stop at a hotel every night, and eat just about anywhere. I tried India two months ago but gave up because of the road conditions and chaotic traffic.

I’m looking for countries where I can cycle "without autonomy"—so no tent, no stove, just the bare minimum. Ideally, I’d like to stop at hotels or similar accommodations regularly, without having to cover 200 km a day!

I’d love to hear from your experiences—what countries make it easy to travel this way? Thanks!

Hi there, In 2022, I went to Japan where I planned to buy a bike (you need to know a trusted Japanese resident or similar, otherwise it's impossible, but you get a registration in return). There are many websites selling second-hand bikes, accessories, and parts at all price points that you can find online. I bought a suitable bike, the right size, for around 600 €, which allowed me to cover the 850 km I had planned. For transport, you absolutely need a soft bike bag, because you must dismantle it to board any train or bus! And even to move it around the station! For express trains in certain regions, you need to make a reservation for oversized luggage (check at the station), and in return, there will be a reserved space. Keep in mind that Japanese people travel with little luggage since they rarely go away for more than a week. So, if you don’t end up with a crowd of tourists... (watch out on tourist routes in Tokyo and Hiroshima). Avoid tourist areas during GOLDEN WEEK in April-May—trains and hotels are fully booked. Take the opportunity to escape to the countryside... For hotel bookings, Booking and Agoda are safe options—you can confidently choose the cheapest ones. In small towns, street life shuts down at sunset, so plan ahead for restaurants. Otherwise, there’s always the konbini! For ferries, there’s no problem, but you may have to pay in some cases. Otherwise, it’s all very pleasant: drivers are very respectful. Bear in mind that driving is on the left side of the road. I took a few trips around Tokyo and its suburbs without any issues, except for orientation. A GPS is essential because many people don’t speak much English or know exactly where they are in relation to your destination. But luckily, there’s the KOBAN—a neighborhood police box where an officer has a big book of maps, and their mission is to help you find your way if you know the address, the neighborhood name, the subway station, or even the name of a bar (!) Otherwise, I cycled on very small roads away from main routes, through small villages, and that’s where you really discover "deep" Japan. Japan is a mix of landscapes, often wilder than what we’re used to in Europe, but also signs of an aging population, with rural exodus and many abandoned houses in the mountainous countryside of SHIKOKU or NOTO. I explored or took rides from town to town, sometimes ahead of or behind my partner, who traveled by train or bus on her own. I met few Japanese cyclists (with very basic bikes) or non-Japanese ones, except for cyclists on the SHIMANAMI route with amazing bikes. No need for a heavy lock—you can find them there. There are also shops for second-hand parts. For safety, ideally, you should get a local SIM card. It’s good to know that in an emergency, your phone will work to call for help—dead zones are rare. I brought the bike back to Europe as checked luggage in a properly sized box with no special formalities, for a transport cost of around 150 €. I got the box from an international bike shop in Tokyo after some searching and resizing it (with a knife and packing tape).

Hello fellow cycle-tourers! First post on this site for our first big family cycling adventure with our two teens (12 and 16 years old) over 2 months. We're preparing to leave in June/July from Erdeven by bike, then take the train from Auray to Paris, followed by a FlixBus from Paris to Copenhagen with our 4 bikes. After that, we're looking to refine our route: Should we go to Sweden via Helsingborg and then head up to Stockholm along the west or east coast? Maybe passing through the Gotland islands, then via the Åland Islands, why not Turku? Then off to Estonia to Tallinn, ride a bit along the coast, and return by bus if we can find one that takes 4 bikes. :))

Could you share any tips on routes in Sweden: west coast or east coast to prioritize in the south? We’ve heard it’s a shame not to go up to Norway, but we’re worried about the elevation and don’t see how to make a loop work in our 2 months / 1500 km. Any ideas? And the southern Finnish coast: should we go all the way to Helsinki or not? Maybe at the expense of Estonia?

In short, we know choosing means giving something up, but if we can do it with advice from fellow cyclists, that would be amazing! Thanks in advance for your tips! Anne-Sophie and the whole Breton family: David, Axel, and Maude

Hi there,

I’ve got my flight ticket sorted—departing in mid-November and returning in mid-March. I’ll arrive in Santiago and leave from Buenos Aires. I’ve already been to southern Argentina, specifically Torres del Paine National Park, and I’d love to go back to do the full W trek (I only did the shorter version last time). I also want to do some hiking and maybe even tackle a summit. I climb and occasionally do some mountaineering, so I’ll definitely be going with a guide.

I plan to start around Temuco in Chile, with the idea of heading toward the lakes, then taking the Carretera Austral. I’m not sure if I’ll go all the way to Ushuaia—it’s supposed to not be *that* worth it, except for the bragging rights of saying you’ve been to the end of the world.

I saw there are lakes in Argentina too.

I don’t have a precise itinerary, but what I’d love is, once I reach the southernmost point of my trip, to take a mini-cruise to see some wildlife. Any tips for that?

What kind of sleeping bag did you take? Is a 0°C (32°F) one enough? And one last question: white gas stove or can I get by with my gas stove?

Nath

Hey fellow cyclists, Cyclists on trails, paths, or greenways—why do so few (if any) of you use your bells to warn walkers, runners, and other pedestrians when they’re moving in the same direction as you? I exercise every day (brisk walking) among you in France and abroad, and it’s something I’ve noticed—often with a few scares (and I’m guessing some accidents between cyclists or with pedestrians). Personally, I always stick to the rules, walking on the left (facing traffic) so I can see you coming, but not everyone does that—neither pedestrians nor cyclists, and let’s be honest, it’s a bit of a free-for-all. 🤪 Your bikes make little to no noise, so why take risks and put others at risk too? A quick, light *ding-ding* would be enough to warn people—what do you think? 😅

hi there After covering thousands of kilometers over the years with front and rear panniers, I’m now facing a problem: broken spokes on the rear wheel. Once, twice—imagine the hassle of fixing it when you're in the middle of nowhere in the Cévennes! So, drastic times call for drastic measures! I switched to a reinforced wheel and, following my bike mechanic’s advice, fitted a tire that’s a "tad" wider than the front one.

We set off on our summer adventure feeling confident, and guess what—"BAM"—a broken spoke after just 200 km. Seriously?! Not even that heavily loaded—just around 30 kg, plus my 80 kg. Even with the sturdier wheel, I still ended up with a broken spoke after 300 km! Back to the bike mechanic, and the only explanation: "It’s your pedaling style..." Not convinced at all! So here’s the idea: a Bob trailer! I’m done with this sword of Damocles hanging over my head—it’s a real buzzkill. Has anyone here tried a Bob trailer? Could you share your experiences—pros, cons, etc.? Thanks!!!

Hi there, I’m planning to cycle the EuroVelo 8 route from Nice to Izmir in Turkey (about 2,500 km), but I’m not finding much info or tips for this itinerary.

I’d like to leave at the end of September and complete the route in a max of 2 months, as self-sufficiently as possible (I have a tent, sleeping bag, and camping cookware).

Is this a good idea (will it be too cold starting in October)?

Are there any precautions I should take? Any areas to avoid? Since multiple countries are involved.

And are there any places worth visiting that aren’t on the main route?

I’m used to cycle touring in France but not abroad, so I’d appreciate any tips!

Thanks in advance.

Hi there,

We’re a family of bike-travelers. Our long journey came to a halt in March 2020 in Ho Chi Minh City due to Covid. We’d been on the road for 8 months—2 in Thailand, 1 in Cambodia, and 1 in Vietnam (from the Mekong Delta up to Ho Chi Minh, where we got stopped). We’re heading back to Vietnam in July-August for 5 weeks to finish what we couldn’t in 2020 (introducing my kids to the country of my roots). We’d originally planned to backpack, figuring it’d be tough to cover the country by bike in such a short time... But the urge to pedal is strong for both parents and kids alike.

We’re thinking of keeping 10 days to explore the North by backpack (since the elevation changes are steep) and saving 3 solid weeks for biking—but we’re not sure where (ideally with minimal elevation gain). We’d love to return to Tam Coc (we visited in 2009 without the kids, thanks to Larsay’s great tips—still so grateful for all the valuable advice!). Logistically, we shipped our bikes 5 years ago, but that seems less doable now. We’re considering either renting (though 5 bikes for 3 weeks would get pricey fast) or buying locally to resell or donate afterward.

Is biking in August unrealistic? Thanks in advance for your insights! !

Hi there, Last spring, I set off from Villeréal (47) on a road bike and reached the North Cape after 6 weeks of cycling. I had a particular concept: I’d cycle each stage (averaging 140 km) and then return to the starting point either by carpooling, hitchhiking (not often), bus, or train. I’d meet up with my van (a Trafic) and then drive the same stage to eat and sleep there. This approach let me choose where I stayed for the night and, most importantly, ride the distance I wanted—my longest stage was 217 km—without carrying any weight, since I can’t imagine doing a fully self-supported bike trip. I did a first 3-week stretch that took me to the top of Denmark using this method. Then I drove back to Hamburg in my van, left it there, and flew back to Bordeaux. I spent two weeks at home because my autistic son was staying with me, then my wife and I flew to Hamburg. We picked up the van and drove back to the top of Denmark to catch a ferry to Oslo. For this second leg, my wife drove the Trafic, and we met up along the stages, which allowed me to focus solely on my ride. I chose to go through Sweden—it would’ve been much more complicated going up through Norway because of all the tunnels, frequent small ferries to cross the fjords, and a lot more elevation gain. I had favorable winds most of the time, a few hiccups, but overall everything went smoothly, and I stuck to my route and schedule. I kept a travel journal on My Atlas—here’s the link: https://www.myatlas.com/danielcramay/du-47-au-cap-nord

Hi fellow travelers! I’m planning a trip to Japan from March 22 to April 12 and really want to bike the Shimanami Kaido starting from Onomichi, but I don’t cycle regularly. Has anyone here done it and could share their experience or tips? Is the weather in March-April favorable? Should I plan for 2 or 3 days? Electric or regular bike? What’s better—having my luggage forwarded along the route or leaving it in a locker? Any recommendations for accommodations or bike rentals? Thanks in advance for your replies!

Hi fellow bike-packers, so I’m heading out solo by bike this spring, like I do every year—around 1,500 to 2,000 km in total. This time I want to explore the south of France. I’ll start by meeting up with a buddy in Ariège, and after that the road’s wide open toward the east, aiming for Drôme. If anyone has route ideas—especially quiet backroads, places I can wild-camp pretty much anywhere, and climbs that aren’t too steep—I’m all ears! Thanks, and see you around here or on the road. Take care.

I’ve gotten used to crossing Europe by bus to return by bike. It was really convenient to take the bike without having to disassemble it. But FlixBus no longer accepts bikes... What alternatives do you know about? Thanks.

Hi, We’re planning to start the Camino del Cid from Vivar del Cid (Burgos) to Atienza in April. How can we get back and pick up our car, which we left in Burgos? I haven’t found any info on this. Thanks for your tips!