31 January 2017
200 YEARS OF BICYCLE: TOP RIDES AROUND THE WORLD!
2017 marks 200 years since the bicycle was invented
Plan the perfect cycling holiday – from the Cotswolds to the Himalaya
With 2017 marking 200 years since the bicycle was invented, could now be the time to start planning
a cycling holiday?
Adventure travel specialist World Expeditions and its two European divisions, UTracks and Sherpa
Expeditions, choose below 10 of the top destinations around the globe for an epic ride…
Backroads of The Cotswolds
Also known as the ‘Heart of England’, the Cotswolds landscape features a patchwork of gentle hills
extending northeast of the city of Bath through Cheltenham to Stratford-on-Avon, Shakespeare’s
birthplace. One of the most quintessentially English parts of the country, visitors will find a mix of
rolling hills, picture postcard villages and rustic old pubs for leisurely lunches, as well as a wealth of
historical interest, from ancient castles and manor houses to old abbeys and Roman villas.
http://tiny.cc/o3jhey
 Cotswolds by Bike with Sherpa Expeditions (8 days) departs March-October, from £600 per
person
Scottish Highlands
World famous for its breathtaking scenery, vibrant culture and centuries-old heritage, there are
always plenty of reasons to visit Scotland. If this year you want to head north and explore the
stunning beauty of the iconic Highlands, this weeklong trip – from Inverness, along the shores of Loch
Ness and on to Fort William – will see you cycling along scenic paths and quiet forest trails where you
can spot native wildlife such as red deer, stag or golden eagle.
http://tiny.cc/aj5xcy
 Scottish Highlands Cycle with Sherpa Expeditions (8 days) departs April-October, from £670
per person
Holland’s canals and Flower Route
Not only is cycling a ubiquitous mode of transport in Holland but the country has its very own Flower
Route! This incredibly scenic byway (perhaps the most amazing uninterrupted garden you will ever
see) takes in the densest concentration of flower fields – not only the tulips for which the country is
world known for but also daffodils, hyacinths and narcissi. The show starts as early as late January,
when the first crocuses come up, and sometimes can last well into the summer months.
http://tiny.cc/08quiy
 Holland by Barge with UTracks (8 days) departs June-September, from £770 per person
Danube Cycle Path
Europe’s second longest river, the Danube crosses the continent from the Black Forest to the Black
Sea. Having long catered to fans of the two wheels, the scenic Danube Cycle Path follows the river’s
course through no less than eight countries – Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia,
Bulgaria and Romania – with the clearly-marked and signposted section between the elegant capitals
of Vienna and Budapest a cyclist’s favourite.
http://tiny.cc/j3quiy
 Hungarian Rhapsody with UTracks (8 days) departs April-October, from £740 per person
Atlas Mountains
Morocco’s blend of culture, natural beauty and infrastructure make it an ideal place to explore by
bike and the opportunities are both physically exhilarating and culturally infused. From Marrakesh
head to North Africa’s highest mountain range to tackle its rugged, flat-topped peaks (still used by
nomadic Berbers), ascend winding roads that twist through palm trees and fresh water ravines
before crossing a narrow gorge to the idyllic Paradise Valley.
http://tiny.cc/zpjdcy
 Morocco - Cycle the High Atlas with World Expeditions (8 days) departs March-May and
September-October, from £890 per person
Niagara Falls’ Waterfront Trail
Niagara Falls is the collective name for three waterfalls that straddle an international border
between Canada and the United States. The largest waterfall by volume in North America (and
probably the most photographed waterfall on earth!), its name derives from the indigenous Iroquois
Indian word for ‘the strait’. Cycling the Waterfront Trail takes you through award winning wineries,
along the historic Welland Canals and following picturesque country roads dotted with fruit
plantations.
http://tiny.cc/fmruiy
 Niagara Wines and Waterfront Trail by Bike with World Expeditions (8 days) departs MayOctober, from £995 per person
Peruvian Andes
The stunning snow-capped peaks of the Andes mountain range provide a dramatic backdrop for this
thrilling cycling adventure. Starting in Cusco, the trip offers plenty of downhill cycling opportunities,
both on-road and off-road, through classical Andean scenery. The journey culminates at the world
famous wonder of Machu Picchu, where you also have the option of revisiting the site the next
morning for a once-in-a-lifetime sunrise!
http://tiny.cc/4sjdcy

Peru - Cycle the Andes with World Expeditions (10 days) departs April-October, from £1,490
per person
New Zealand’s Southern Alps
Travel downhill from the mighty Southern Alps towards the Pacific Ocean and encounter the majesty
of New Zealand’s highest peak, Aoraki Mount Cook, and the amazing turquoise blue lakes at Tekapo.
Soak in hot pools, talk with conservation staff about the Black Stilt Recovery Programme, watch the
nightly parade of the Blue Penguins (the world’s smallest!) – all this as you view ancient Maori rock
art and dramatic limestone landscapes along the way.
http://tiny.cc/dmjdcy
 Alps to Ocean Cycle with World Expeditions (6 days) departs October-April, from £1,195 per
person
Himalaya: The deepest gorge in the world
The Annapurna Circuit for many years has been considered one of the finest and most complete
treks in the world and now the recent development of single lane roads has opened up access to
some of Nepal’s distant communities. New and exciting routes await adventure cyclists and few trails
on earth can compare with the grandeur of the deepest gorge in the world, set between the two
8,000m peaks of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri.
http://tiny.cc/irjdcy
 Annapurna Mountain Bike with World Expeditions (16 days) departs in March and October,
from £2,090 per person
The borders of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
Are you looking for an exhilarating mountain biking adventure with a twist? On this trip you will
enjoy two days of heli-biking as you cycle across the grasslands of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, once
part of the Silk Road, dotted with nomads and yurts. The helicopter will drop you off at altitudes of
3,500m for an unforgettable yet daunting descent (1,300m!) on switchback trails and forest dirt
roads back to your base at the remote Karkara Valley, complete with a traditional sauna and a bar.
http://tiny.cc/j8s6by
 Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan by Bike with World Expeditions (13 days) departs July-August,
from £2,690 per person
For more information please contact:
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World Expeditions: 0800 0744 135, www.worldexpeditions.co.uk
UTracks: 0845 241 7599, www.utracks.com
Sherpa Expeditions: 0800 008 7741, www.sherpaexpeditions.com
All quoted prices do not include international flights, however these can be arranged on request.
- Ends -
Notes for editors:
 One of the very first operators in what is now becoming a very popular area in travel, since
its inception in 1975 World Expeditions has earned itself an outstanding reputation as a
world leader in small group adventure holidays and cultural journeys.
 World Expeditions remains independently owned and a truly global company, with seven
offices around the world, including the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
 The two factors that distinguish World Expeditions from its competitors, the number of
inclusions and the exceptional value of its trips, can be found today in more than 500 standalone itineraries across all continents, escorted by expert leaders and meticulously designed
for those travellers who want to ‘take the paths less travelled’.
 Always innovative, it was, among others, the first operator to offer cycling holidays in India
(1977) and China (1978) and trekking trips in Mongolia (1980), Tibet (1981) and Japan (1999).
As of 2011 World Expeditions is the only commercial company to offer the Full Nepal
Traverse of the newly mapped Great Himalaya Trail.
 Exclusive to World Expeditions, a number of permanent eco-campsites, designed to increase
travellers’ comfort levels, are in operation in the Himalaya (Everest, Annapurna); new designled campsites can also be found on the iconic Larapinta Trail in Australia.
 The European division of World Expeditions, activity holiday specialists UTracks and Sherpa
Expeditions, cover over 20 countries, with more than 400 stand-alone itineraries, from short
four-day breaks to longer two-week trips.
 The World Expeditions Travel Group consists of 10 travel brands in total, also including
Adventure South, Australian Walking Holidays, Great Canadian Trails, Huma Charity
Challenge, Tasmanian Expeditions, World Youth Adventures and Yomads.
For high-res images and PR/media enquiries:
World Expeditions | UTracks | Sherpa Expeditions
020 8875 5060
Tom Panagos [email protected]
Gordon Steer [email protected]