H+I Adventures in Namibia. Photo / Supplied
A new generation of cycling journeys offers a perfect balance of immersion and indulgence to deliver truly unforgettable experiences, writes Tracey Croke.
Luxury travel has shifted gears. Goodbye marble hotels, hello enriching experiences. According to Virtuoso’s 2025 Luxe Report, today’s luxe travellers are an adventurous-spirited bunch, yearning for transformative experiences and a desire to forge deeper connections, but with a touch of crisp linen on the side.
The focus has also switched from “where next?” to “what’s next?” Maybe an active challenge or cultural immersion, culinary delights or wild encounters. The good news is that with the right choice of cycling journey, you can have it all. Turnkey trips that look after every detail from airport pick-up to drop-off are especially in demand. And opting for a pedal-assisted electric bike puts even the dreamiest and wildest multi-day adventure within realistic reach for most.
So, whether you’re an experienced cyclist or new to the saddle, there’s something for everyone in this new generation of high-end cycling experiences. From traversing Chile’s salt flats to chasing the aurora in Norway and tracking rare wildlife in Namibia, each of these eight cycling adventures – with their own special twist – are guaranteed to leave you with a lifetime of dinner party-worthy stories.
Southern Japan
A slow immersion into Japan’s deep south is “a slow-burning stunner”, say Butterfield & Robinson, who blend daily rides with cultural rituals. A Shinto blessing sets the tone on this trip before cyclists roll through the hushed folds of Kyushu, where cedar forests rise above tea terraces and small villages hold centuries of culture. Days follow backroads to mountain shrines and through river valleys, with pauses for handmade soba or a view of lifting mist. Evenings bring ryokan hospitality: tatami floors, onsen steam and a multi-course seasonal kaiseki (multi-course Japanese haute cuisine) served with a sense of occasion.
8 days / 7 nights $20,050 pp
Blue Derby, Tasmania
Child-friendly fun that is future-minded was what inspired the multi-award-winning and Blue Derby Pods Ride. This B Corp-certified premium, fully sustainable, mountain bike adventure is based out of exclusive, stilted, architectural eco “pods” hidden off-grid in Tasmania’s native rainforest. The multi-day experience is nestled in “Blue Derby”, one of the world’s premier mountain biking destinations with over 120km of trails for every level of rider from novice to expert. Expect to ride around monumental boulders, giant tree ferns, and branches dripping with moss. Due to demand from returning guests, the successful team behind the Blue Derby PODs are curating new high-end mountain bike experiences beyond the Antipodes, so keep an eye on their Instagram @bluederbypodsride for announcements.
Choose from two-, three- or four-day experiences.
3 days / 2 nights from $2820 pp
Namib Desert, Namibia
Wildlife spotting doesn’t get more immersive than riding through Namibia’s vast plains viewing elephant, giraffe, oryx and zebra from handlebar level. This 12-day trip offers a rare opportunity to track the last wild-roaming black rhino and desert elephants across one of the world’s wildest and raw environments. The dawn chorus, searing red sunsets, rocky canyons, ancient engravings, Earth’s largest sand dune and local communities also feature on this memorable journey. With stays in lodges and camping in comfort under infinite, starry skies, no survival credentials are necessary.
12 days / 11 nights from $9600 pp
Norway
Pack warm for a fat bike winter ride, which follows snow-packed trails through birch forest and frozen riverbeds, winding through remote Sami settlements north of the Arctic Circle. It crosses the frozen expanse of Lake Lesjavri – the largest lake in Finnmark – where herds of reindeer might make an appearance. The evenings are spent in en-suite “Aurora Canvas Domes” with underfloor heating, a wood-burning stove and a roof panel that opens should the aurora borealis show up. Seasonality is at the heart of chef Simone Ciancoini’s dinner menu, such as, tender roast of moose with savoury lingonberry.
6 days / 5 nights from $4,990 pp
Netherlands & Belgium
Bike and barge journeys are for those who want to combine cruisy canal path rides by day with nights aboard a custom-designed vessel featuring panoramic windows, full balconies and onboard chefs. Starting and ending in Amsterdam, this waterway experience will have you rolling past tulip fields and gingerbread-house architecture, enjoying Bruges chocolate shops and Dutch ales in a village pub brewed by monks. Culture-heavy and gently paced, this itinerary is perfect for those who prefer flatter, cruisier rides from a slow-moving base.
8 days / 7 nights $14,600 pp
Greece
Mediterranean villages, the turquoise waters of the Aegean and unspoiled beaches are the backdrop for a dreamy week of island-hopping in the Dodecanese on a private luxury yacht – with chef and dedicated crew – which docks daily for rides to ancient cities, boutique wineries, then back to swimming spots. By venturing to less-visited islands like Kos, Leros, Kalymnos, and Nisiros, guests skip the crowds and cycle through car-free towns, climbing to island pinnacles for sweeping sea views. This bike-and-boat odyssey is the final word in cycling with a difference decadence.
8 days / 7 nights from $17,700 pp
Atacama Desert, Chile
“Luxury redefined”, Tierra Atacama sets a high bar with an experience guests will never forget. Personalised excursions, high-altitude cuisine, and tranquil pools with open-air views of Licancabur Volcano are only a few droplets of the wholesome experience at the world-class luxury lodge, which has been mindfully designed in harmony with its fertile oasis surrounds high in the Chilean northern desert. Perfect picture windows bring the outside in with framed views of the striking Andes and Death Valley formations. Daily bike excursions explore the salt flats and volcanic plateaus across an ochre landscape with bubbling geysers, hot springs, vast lagoons, wind-sculpted dunes and epic canyons.
Flexible stays from $9700 per room (3 nights all-inclusive)
South Island, New Zealand
Cycle Journeys have upgraded New Zealand’s longest off-road waymarked trail with boutique stays, lake lodges, stargazing, wine tastings, hot springs, seasonal farm-to-fork dining matched with South Island wine, and an (optional) scenic helicopter flight over the stunning Southern Alps. The 320km, seven-day journey is one of the country’s 23 Ngā Haerenga Great Rides. It starts at Aoraki/ Mount Cook, linking alpine peaks, turquoise lakes and limestone fossil-rich valleys through Australasia’s only Unesco Global Geopark – Waitaki Whitestone – to historical Oamaru on the Pacific Coast.
7 days / 6 nights $4480 pp