May 5, 2017Read time - 2 minutesFrom al fresco spas to barge voyages, serene temples to ancient wonders - take a journey by bike. It’s often the time off the saddle that lingers longest in the memory. The best reward after a long day’s ride? Has to be one of our cycle trips with rest and relaxation built in.“Personally I can never get enough of riding my bike. There’s no better antidote to an office-based job than logging some overseas miles,” says Exodus Head of Product, Andy Ross. “That said, a cycling holiday should still be a holiday, so it’s equally important that you make the most of some downtime out of the saddle too.” Cycling Holiday ActivitiesTAKE AN ISLAND CRUISESleep in Vietnam’s bay of dreamsExploring Halong BayIt’s otherworldly and ethereal - and the only way to experience Halong Bay is to park up your bike and take a cruise around its forest-topped, sheer-sided islands. It’s a suitably soporific reward after a week spent cycling from Saigon in the south.And it’s a cruise that will revive and recharge your spirits - as will your kayak expedition into the bay’s hidden nooks and anchorages before spending a night aboard your boat.Take me there: Halong Bay tripsCLIMB ABOARD AND ENJOY WILDLIFE WATCHINGGet out of the saddle and enjoy a 2-hour float down Costa Rica's lulling Tenorio River. This spot is a haven for birds and wildlife. You can also catch a glimpse of monkeys, iguanas, coatis. Let go of the handlebars and enjoy the ride as our experienced guides take the oars and point out crocodiles basking on the banks along the lower stretches of the river. This is definitely a wildlife highlight of the trip.Take me there: Costa Rica tripsEXPERIENCE A HAMMAMMoroccan massage hits the spot! Cycling in the foothills of Morocco’s fabled Atlas Mountains is its own reward - it’s a magnificent experience. But give your tired muscles a treat, and submit them to the tough love of a traditional hammam.Steamy relaxation suites offer the ultimate top-to-toe MOT, perfected over many centuries. Sit, soak, let your masseur soothe your saddle-sore body, and emerge ready to cycle another day!Take me there: Atlas Mountains tripsSINK INTO THERMAL POOLSRecharging in ReykjavikBlue Lagoon Forget your hot tubs and Jacuzzis. For sheer bliss, few things in life come close to a dip in Iceland’s geothermal pools. And after a day’s cycle in this elemental land, it’s the perfect prescription for saddle-weary muscles.The thermal pools at Laugardalur, Reykjavik’s spic-and-span bathing facility, pump water directly from the crust of the Earth, into a series of increasingly hotter tubs. Instant relaxation guaranteed.Take me there: Reykjavik tripsFEAST ON THE FINESTGastronomy in the heart of FranceCheese and wine in FranceIf France is a magnet for food lovers, then surely the Dordogne is the main course. Eating (and drinking) in this rural, farm-studded region is all about terroir - that authentic sense of place you only get from passionate local producers.And you can sample the best of it at day’s end: the rich, earthy flavours of the Dordogne showcased in the region’s bistros, farmer’s markets and vineyards. This self-guided tour takes in gastronomic hot spots such as Les Eyzies - try the ‘canard confits’ – sautéed duck on a warm salad, drizzled with walnut oil. Delicious.Take me there: Dordogne tripsDiscover more things to do on a cycling holiday with our trips below.
Cycling Vietnam 260 reviews Enjoy the best of Vietnam on two wheels Cycling Activity level: Moderate Ages: 16+ 14 Days from £1,749 Guided (Excl. Flights) View More Details
Costa Rica Coast to Coast Ride 25 reviews Cycle stretches of the Costa Rican Pacific coastline. Cycling Activity level: Moderate Ages: 16+ 14 Days from £3,049 Guided (Excl. Flights) View More Details
Atlas Descent 59 reviews Take in the incredibly varied and dramatic scenery of Morocco. Cycling Activity level: Challenging Ages: 16+ 8 Days from £1,299 Guided (Excl. Flights) View More Details
Dordogne Valleys and Villages Cycling 4 reviews Cycle through France's dramatic river valleys, medieval villages and past fairytale chateaux Cycling Activity level: Moderate Ages: 12+ 9 Days from £1,639 Self-Guided (Excl. Flights) View More Details