FAQs

All internal land expenses and services are covered in the tour price. This means from the time you get to the meeting point until we bring you back, all transportation, food preparation, meals, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, group kitchen, and group camp gear is included. Backcountry permits, licenses, park fees, reservations, and accommodations are also included, along with at least two tour leaders, a mobile first aid and mechanic station, and a 4WD support vehicle. You may bring your own personal sleep kit or you may rent one from us. You may also bring your own bike with you, ship it in advance, or reserve a rental bike.

We do not include transportation to and from the trip, personal items or gratuities to your guides.

Call us at 1-800-596-2953 or click “Book Now” on any tour.

Our adventure vacations are made up of fun, energetic sports that can be enjoyed by everyone. Since outdoor activity is as strenuous as you make it, it is important to remember that the more prepared you are for a tour, the more fun you will have and the further you will be able to go. You will benefit the most by prior conditioning and experience. Some bike trips and multisport activities need little to no preparation. For example, we don’t expect you to go out and whitewater raft or practice rock climbing without an expert!

If you are joining us on a cycling trip, we always encourage our guests to exercise at least several hours a week up to a month prior to the trip departure. Some time each day goes a very long way.

We have some additional suggestions in our How to Prepare section.

Other than a camera and water, nothing! Our support vehicle carries all gear, including luggage. If we are on a full-day ride where we have only partial vehicle support, you will need to carry a light pack with a couple of snacks and lunch and possibly a rain jacket (when necessary). Our tour leaders always carry emergency supplies and tools.

Please refer to our Packing Lists. We provide a suggested list of clothing, gear, and toiletries to pack based on your tour and destination.

You can purchase most of the gear at your local full-service bicycle shop or a sporting goods store. If you are meeting us in Las Vegas or Moab, stop by our touring center to get any last minute items.

Our guides prepare all the food on our camping trips, starting with lunch on the first day through lunch on the last day. On inn tours, our guides will prepare fresh and delicious lunches each day. Most dinners and breakfasts will be at local restaurants. Please see your specific itinerary for details.

Expect to eat only freshly prepared foods at each meal. We eat three meals a day and always have fresh vegetables and fruit available. Breakfast favorites include blueberry pancakes, huevos rancheros, and crepes. Lunches include delicacies such as Greek salad, veggie-feta wraps, and pasta. Appetizers, like bruschetta, stuffed mushrooms, and crudité compliment elaborate salads and pastries. Dinner entreés, such as polenta lasagna, steak, salmon, and deep dish pizza are delicious when baked in a Dutch oven or grilled over an open fire. Desserts range from pineapple upside down cake to chocolate fondue. If you have special diet requirements, we can accommodate with prior notice. Vegans and vegetarians are no problem.

For more than a decade, we have been designing our custom fleet of 4×4 trucks, vans, and trailers with rack systems made exclusively for backcountry adventure touring. The support vehicle and driver becomes your own personal support system, bringing you food and drink, carrying your gear safely through the mountains, and lending a bench for a soft ride at your convenience. Our exclusive fleet is custom built to go further in the backcountry so you can see places you never knew existed.

INN TOURS: We choose charming inns with local personality, such as friendly bed and breakfasts, and delightful cabins. Lodging amenities may include spas, pools, local restaurants, and more.

CAMPING TRIPS: Expect scenic and serene campgrounds, starry skies or full moons, indoor facilities and hot showers (at most campgrounds), or private solar showers and warm, cozy campfires.

Some of our camping tours have hot showers available at least every other night if not more often. These showers are usually at nearby outdoor country stores or cabins. Solar showers (solar heated portable showers) are also available (but if the sun is not out, they won’t be hot). Please refer to the “Trip Amenities” section of your itinerary for specific details about your destination.

If you’re a flatlander, you may find yourself gasping for air at 8,000 feet or higher – the higher you go, the less oxygen the atmosphere contains. In addition, a decrease in barometric pressure makes it more difficult for your body to absorb the oxygen that is available.  As a result, your body is less able to transport oxygen through the bloodstream and you may develop a condition called altitude or mountain sickness.

Most people only experience mild symptoms – headache, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite and shortness of breath. Rarely, symptoms can be quite serious, such as swelling in the lungs and brain that can be more serious if not properly and quickly treated. Shortness of breath is often a preliminary symptom of altitude sickness, and 8,000 feet is high enough for it to develop. The most common symptom is headache. While you may not notice any symptoms at rest, this can change quickly when you begin even moderate exercise.

Recognizing and treating symptoms early is the key to preventing the more serious aspects of this problem. The faster you ascend, the less chance you give your body to adjust. A mild case of altitude sickness very closely resembles a hangover, a good reason not to drink alcohol the first day or two after your ascent. Alcohol causes dehydration, which worsens altitude sickness. It’s important to drink plenty of nonalcoholic and decaffeinated beverages to stay well hydrated.

A slow ascent is one way to prevent mountain sickness, but this may not be practical if you’re flying in or only have a few days. Because overexertion is a main cause, it’s a good idea to take it easy for a few days until your body can acclimate. A diet high in carbohydrates (70 to 80 percent) helps increase blood oxygen levels and alleviates some of the symptoms. A high-fat diet does the opposite. Make your trip to the mountains enjoyable. Take it easy the first few days, stay well hydrated, get plenty of rest, eat well and don’t go out too hard. If you start to experience headache, fatigue, nausea or shortness of breath, it’s time to stop or rest. Keep your guides well informed of your symptoms, they have experience with altitude sickness and can help you make decisions about your care.

Most of our meeting spots are at hotels that allow guests to leave their vehicle there while on tour. If you do not plan on being a guest at the hotel you should contact them ahead of time to find out regulations and possible fees associated with leaving your vehicle. Please use our gateway guides for more information about specific meeting hotels and contact information.

BICYCLES: If you would like to rent a bicycle for your trip, we will fit you with a high quality, durable and safe ride. Our road bikes are equipped with carbon fiber forks designed for a smooth, comfortable ride. Our mountain bikes are full-suspension, lightweight and adjustable. Both of our tour centers are proud to supply high end bikes: Please contact Moab Cyclery at (800) 559-1978 or Las Vegas Cyclery at (800) 596-2953 for details.

CAMP GEAR We offer high quality camping equipment because we know that a good night’s sleep is the key to a good day’s ride. You may rent all or part of our camp gear package. The full package includes the following:

• A three-man tent with fly and ground tarp.
• A three-season 30 degree sleeping bag.
• A camp pillow (you provide the pillow case).
• A Cot.
• A self-inflating sleeping pad.

While it is not a prerequisite, it is helpful. We have taken many people on our bike tours who have never ridden a mountain bike before. Our en-route professional training is helpful to those just getting started and those who think they know it all. Each day your guides will give helpful pointers on any questions you may have. Probably the most important aspect of mountain biking is not whether or not you have ridden before, but whether you are willing to learn.

Alternatively, we offer quite a few multi-sport vacations that include two or three days of mountain biking. Multi-sport touring is great for people who like to sample a bit of everything an area has to offer.

Road Bike: We generally ride between 30 and 50 miles per day on our road bike tours. If we are in a hilly region, we’ll do less – but not always. So, please refer to specific itineraries.

Mountain Bike: On any multi-day mountain bike tour rated for all levels, we ride approximately 22 to 30 miles per day. This is based on an average for the week. If you are on an advanced only trip, mileage could be as high as 40+ miles per day. Beginner tours usually average 15 miles per day. In any case, taking van shuttles can break down mileage.

Hike: On our hiking tours we generally measure our day based on time out. Where a 12-mile hike may take six hours, a 3-mile hike may take the same amount of time based on elevation changes. Hike tours are generally rated more on the strenuousness as well.