Original Article Posted Here – https://gearminded.com/two-unimaginable-cycling-adventures-in-australia-and-arizona/
Two wheels, one planet, many adventures; where will you go next? How about opposite sides of the planet. Whether you’re an avid cyclist, or you’re new to the sport, cycling presents opportunities to see the world on two wheels. And travel groups such as Escape Adventures and Ride & Seek curate unimaginable itineraries for adventure-minded riders for all levels. Book now, pedal later should be their tagline.
Let’s explore two new trips in Australia and Arizona:
Escape to the Desert on a 5-day Cycling Tour of Tucson & Saguaro National Park
Escape Adventures is excited to offer a 5-day wintertime cycling retreat to America’s Southwestern prize – Tucson. Rated as America’s second most bike friendly city, this velo dreamscape offers an ideal winter escape, seemingly endless back roads on vast expanses of wide-open desert, and world-class ascents like Mount Lemmon. Starting at $2,895 per person double, including all internal land expenses and services, guests will stay at Hacienda Del Sol, which is on the National Registry of Historic Places in Arizona and a member of Historic Hotels of America. Electric bikes are available upon request.
Here’s more info on your Arizona cycling adventure.
Nestled in the Sonoran Desert near the foot of Mount Lemmon, Tucson enjoys temperate, dry conditions when the rest of the country is buried under snow. The mountains create a variety of ecozones and climates, resulting in exceptionally diverse riding. Tucson offers a vibrant cycling culture, hip cafés, breweries, and restaurants, making it an ideal winter getaway.
“Tucson is one of the best biking destinations in North America,” said Jared Fisher, Director of Escape Adventures. “On this tour, we will cycle Arizona’s wine country, Gates Pass, Pistol Hill, the Old Spanish Trail, Mount Lemmon, and more.”
Day 1-2: After an authentic Mexican meal, we carve into a local favorite: the Tucson Loop. The next day, we ride the high-altitude grasslands around Sonoita, Arizona’s wine country. Drinking in the crisp air at 5,000-ft., we follow the scenic road around “vineyard alley” and continue to Patagonia Lake and the village of Patagonia: a onetime mining/railroad hub turned arts-crafts and superb coffee habitué. We then drop into the Spanish mission of Tumacácori, now a National Historic Monument. At the adjacent village of Tubac, we decompress amidst a former Spanish fort turned vibrant arts colony. Stopping at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, we immerse in an innovative presentation of flora and fauna in region-specific ecological exhibits.
Day 3-4: After a warmup ride on the Old Spanish Trail, we merge onto Pistol Hill, which offers 40-miles of bike-dedicated lane through Saguaro National Park. Expect upwards of 1,600-ft of climbing and an equal amount of descent just beyond the reach of long-armed Saguaro cactus (which grow nowhere else on Earth). The following day we tackle the 30-mile Mount Lemmon route, the very centerpiece of our tour de Tucson.
Day 5: Gates Pass, at 3172-ft, is one of the most scenic rides in the West. On Tucson’s west end, we wind on a narrow road through rich High Desert environs with Saguaros standing watch on the steep hillsides. Closing out at Tucson’s Mountain Park, we then shuttle back to our hotel and airport.
About Escape Adventures
Since 1992, Escape Adventures has been blessed to shape and lead adventure travel vacations through some of the most awe-inspiring natural destinations in the world. Building on over 100 destinations, Escape Adventures caters to the full spectrum of active traveler, respective to fitness level and activity type. From road cyclist to mountain biker to electric biker, hiker, and multi-sport enthusiast, and from first-timer to friends and family groups of all ability levels, Escape Adventures looks forward to many new and exciting adventures with you.
Ride & Seek Unveils NEW Cycling Tour Across Australia
Ride & Seek is thrilled to unveil a NEW cycling adventure from Sydney to Melbourne, following the footsteps of Polish explorer Sir Paul Edmund de Strzelecki, noted for his contributions to the exploration of Australia, particularly the Snowy Mountains and Tasmania. This two-stage expedition covers 1,569 km by bicycle over 18-days, including some of Australia’s most iconic climbs and its highest mountain, Mt Kosciuszko. “The Strzelecki Tour” is slated for November 27th – December 14th, 2020, or November 19th – December 6th, 2021 and starts at AU $10,750. Here’s more info on your Austrailia cycling tour.
“We will follow Strzelecki’s journey into the Great Dividing Range through the Snowy Mountains to Melbourne,” said Ride & Seek Founder Dylan Reynolds. “We’ll spend a day in the skiing township of Thredbo NSW to climb Australia’s highest peak, which Strzelecki climbed and named Mt Kosciuszko in March 1840. Then we’ll head into bushranger county and along the Murray River before turning back into the mountains and summiting Mt. Hotham, Australia’s highest sealed road at 1,840 meters.”
Strzelecki Bike Tour Highlights
- Cycle across the Great Dividing Range from the Pacific Ocean to the Southern Ocean
- Tackle Australia’s most iconic climbs
- Ride through the Capital to Parliament House
- Wind through the alpine wilderness within the Snowy Mountains
- Bike Australia’s highest road
- Climb Mt. Kosciuszko and enjoy the 360-degree views on top of Australia
- Explore country towns and meet local characters
- Sample delicious local produce, coffee, cuisine, beer & wine
“This tour offers a landscape rich in iconic Australian history: 60,000 years of indigenous occupation, convict settlement, early explorers, frontier wars, gold rushes, Ned Kelly and the bushrangers, and stockmen like the Man from Snowy River,” said Reynolds.
About Ride & Seek: They are a worldwide adventure cycling company offering unique historical itineraries with quality lodging, fine gastronomy, and cultural immersion. On our tours, cyclists can not only see and ride some of the greatest roads in Europe but also visit some of the most spectacular sites as well. Providing a cultural insight into the areas we visit both historically and gastronomically is central to what we do. Historical journeys and cultural adventures are our specialties.
