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The world may not be growing, but our range of cycling destinations certainly is.

Exodus is the UK’s longest established adventure travel company. For more than 38 years we’ve been on the look-out for fresh itineraries, unique destinations and great cycling routes. All of our groups are small with a maximum number of clients, which is never more than 20. We believe that small groups are safer, more fun and essential to minimise our environmental impact and to preserve the cultural integrity of the areas that we ride through. So whether you’re an occasional cyclist wishing to amble through the vineyards of France, or a hardened biker looking to be challenged by the awesome mountain passes of the Himalaya, Exodus has the perfect trip for you.

They say that ‘first love never dies’. For me, discovering cycling was life changing and years later it’s still how I choose to spend much of my spare time. Clearly there are more and more of you who share this philosophy, so this year’s challenge has been to keep up with the ever increasing demand. Our team have enjoyed a busy summer creating new trips and it’s exciting to now be in a position to share the fruits of our labour. I hope you are inspired by one of many new cycling itineraries.

Andy Ross, Exodus' Cycling Programme Manager 

What the experts say about our Cycling Holidays

Why two wheels?

We are living in incredible times. The utilitarian bicycle has become an international symbol for health, independence, athleticism and travel. What is more, Britain has had a pedal powered revolution, bucking economic trends.

Cycling is both a sport and a lifestyle. It is a freedom that’s easy for all to choose and inspiration on two wheels hasn’t been hard to find. In my world of adventure touring, I have noticed a significant increase in the number of people hopping on their bikes to cycle the world since I completed my 18,296 mile circumnavigation five years ago. I can think of no better way to explore the world - fast enough to see a lot, but slow enough to experience it all. Having pedalled my way across about 50 countries so far, I can’t imagine tiring of discovering the world at the speed of a bicycle.

Mark Beaumont – Round the world cycle adventurer

Choosing your Cycling Holiday

Since 1994, we’ve developed the widest range of cycling holidays available across the globe. Whether you’re an occasional cyclist wishing to amble through the vineyards of the Loire Valley, or a hardened biker looking to be challenged by the awesome mountain passes of the Himalaya, Exodus has a trip to suit you.

Trip Style
To help you choose your ideal holiday, we have divided our trips into three simple categories. Trips are ordered through the brochure according to style and grade. The idea being that first you identify your preferred riding style and grade, then choose from the range of holidays that suit your specific requirements.

Self Guided Cycling
The perfect choice for those who like to cycle independently, we have added support to minimise the hard work and planning. We arrange your accommodation and provide you with maps and route notes, so you can cycle at your own pace from one hotel to the next. Your bags are transported for you, so all you carry is what you need for the day’s ride.

Road Cycling Tours
Itineraries are based at least 70% on tarmac, which may be in good condition or potholed. Some routes also include occasional sections on unsurfaced tracks, but these will not require any specific technical riding skills. We design our routes to avoid overly busy roads, but you should be comfortable occasionally riding in traffic. The terrain varies from flat to hilly.

Off-Road - Mountain Biking
These trips follow a mixture of dirt roads, paths and trails. These may be smooth and hardpacked, or loose, rutted, steep and rocky, and are often in hilly or mountainous terrain. On some trips, the tracks are mostly vehicle-width, but on others we aim for a higher proportion of singletrack riding. For trips of grade C and over, some off-road experience is recommended.

Grading
These are active holidays and it is very important to choose an itinerary that is right for you. We give each of our holidays a difficulty grade, and supply a ride profile with information on the number of cycling days, average daily distance and the level of vehicle support. When choosing your trip, please consider both the level of physical fitness and the technical riding skill required. If you have specific questions about either of these, please contact one of our sales team on 0845 863 9626, or e-mail: Sales@exodus.co.uk.

Leisurely (Grade A)

If you can ride a bike and enjoy gentle exercise then these are an ideal introduction to a cycling holiday. Unfortunately no routes are entirely flat, so expect some short climbs and descents. Maximum daily height gain is approximately 250 metres and daily distances rarely exceed 50 kms (32 miles), often any longer days are optional.

Click here to see all the Grade A and A/B trips.

Moderate (Grade B)

Most people who enjoy a weekend riding on either trails or roads at home will enjoy a B-grade trip. You need to be in good health and reasonably fit. Ideal for occasional cyclists, or as a more relaxed trip for fitter riders. B-grade off-road trips require no previous experience. Distances on road trips rarely exceed 70 kms (43 miles) per day.

Click here to see all the Grade B and B/C trips.

Challenging (Grade C)

For any ride at this level, fitness is important. C-grade trips require confidence in your own ability and physical condition. They are equivalent to an extended period of cycling at home. Previous mountain biking experience is preferable, but not essential, for C-grade off-road trips as they will involve some technical riding.

Click here to see all the Grade C and C/D trips.

Tough (Grade D)

At this level previous experience of the cycling style or surface is a must. These routes have long cycling days and tougher terrain on both road and off-road trips. You need complete confidence in your fitness and technical ability to cope with difficult or steep terrain, rough surfaces and longer distances. Ideal for those seeking a challenge!

Click here to see all the Grade D trips.

Split and Optional Grades

In order to provide a more accurate cycle holiday grading system, where a cycling trip falls between two grades we use an intermediate or split grade, for example A/B. Clearly, conditions may differ from region-to-region or month-to-month and as such the information given on these pages is designed to act as a guide to your cycling holiday only. In all cases you should refer to the Trip Notes for further details.

See our Top Ten Cycling Trips: 10 trips that embody the range of pedal-powered experiences we have to offer.