A bike tour is a great way to explore the countryside.

Whether you’re riding on paved roads or bumping up and down singletrack, a bike is a great way to escape the bugs and log miles. The trails around Anchorage are a great way to warm up for two-wheeled adventures around the world.

My first bike tour of Europe was a DIY project. We rented bikes outside of Paris and stuffed them in the trunk of our rental car. We rode through the Loire Valley, parked the car at our hotel and rode through the French countryside past famous castles like Chambord and Chenonceau. Finding the best routes was a matter of luck, but we had a great time.

These days, you can still rent a bike and go out on your own. Last week, I borrowed my brother-in-law’s bike in Eugene, Oregon, and explored many of the bike paths along the Willamette River.

However, there are some incredible opportunities to work with companies that will plan your itinerary, provide top-notch bikes, and secure campsites or accommodations along a pre-determined route.

In 1992, Jared Fisher founded Escape Adventures in Las Vegas. I met him as he was changing a flat tire on his gravel bike outside Bentonville, Arkansas. “I’ve cycled across the United States five or six times,” Fisher said. “I even cycled from Sheep Mountain Lodge in Alaska all the way to Valdez.”

Today, Jared and his wife Heather Fisher organize all kinds of active trips from their offices in Las Vegas and Moab, Utah. However, they are still particularly committed to several multi-day bike tours in the region.

“The Maze route is our best trip from Moab,” said Jared Fisher. “From Moab, it’s a three-and-a-half hour drive to the trailhead.”

The five-day trip takes you through some of the most remote parts of Canyonlands National Park. There are no hotels or lodges in the park, so everything along the route is first-class camping.

“You really don’t need to bring anything except a duffel bag and your clothes,” Fisher said. The guides set up the tents and cook the meals.

A special feature of the Maze itinerary is camping near the Standing Rock site.

“We are the only company that offers overnight accommodations near Standing Rock,” Fisher said. “Once camp is set up, you can sit under the stars and even see the Milky Way. There is no noise. You are really out there.”

Tours are limited to seven participants and cost $1,660 per person.

The other popular guided trip from Moab is the White Rim Trail, a four-day trip. The trail travels 100 miles through Canyonlands National Park. Again, there are no cabins, so the guides set up camp each night and cook all meals. Costs range from $990 to $1,099 per person.

“The White Rim Trail is the most popular mountain bike ride in the world,” Fisher said.

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There are many variations of these routes. New this year is the combination of RV rentals and guided bike tours. So instead of camping, cyclists can stay overnight in an RV. Escape Adventures and Blacksford RV Rentals offer tours for both road cyclists and mountain bikers.

Fisher’s favorite bike ride is along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. “The North Rim gets a lot less visitors because it’s only open about six months a year,” he said. “There are mountains, trees, the Grand Canyon and a beautiful night sky.”

The ride is not particularly strenuous, but the altitude ranges from 1,800 to 2,700 meters. Most of the time, cyclists camp, although there are a few nights in simple inns as nothing else is available. The five-day tour costs between $1,349 and $2,499 per person. Camping equipment rental costs $100 and includes a tent, sleeping pad, high chair and other items. Mountain bike rentals range from $70 to $85 per day.

Bike tours are popular in Europe. A friend is planning her third “bike and boat tour” with a small Dutch company called Bike Planet. They only have one boat called Iris. With aunts, uncles and cousins ​​riding along, not everyone is a natural cyclist. The folks at Bike Planet make it a point to have e-bike options and also options for non-cyclists.

Bike Planet’s popular nine-day itinerary starts in Amsterdam and heads along the Rhine, with stops in Arnhem, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Bonn and a few other smaller cities.

The cycling is easy – about 45 kilometers per day. Breakfast is included every day, as are six dinners on board. On some days, guests can explore the local offerings. The cost of this trip starts at 2,035 euros per person. There is an additional cost for renting a bike: 150 euros for a regular bike or 250 euros for an e-bike.

Another group of friends flew to Vietnam for an adventure along the central coast. The 10-day tour, operated by Spice Roads, started in the city of Hue and included a visit to the beach community of Hoi An. Much of the route follows the coast, but there are some climbs.

Group size is limited to a maximum of 16 riders. The average distance is 59 kilometers per day. Bike rental costs extra: $200 for a mountain bike or $425 for an e-bike. One participant noted that not everyone got an e-bike, “but there were some who wanted one!”

Spice Roads also offers various tours in Thailand and Sri Lanka.

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If you want to see where world-class cyclists live, visit the city of Girona in northeastern Spain. The city is about 65 kilometers from Barcelona Airport and offers easy access to the Mediterranean coast, the Spanish wine regions and the Pyrenees.

The Cycling House offers various cycling tours in Montana, Arizona, Italy and Spain. On many of the tours, the group is accommodated in a large private house. In Girona, the Cycling House offers week-long tours for both road cyclists and gravel bikers.

Looking at the day’s route from Girona, the route is designed for serious cyclists. The Costa Brava ride on day two is 66 kilometers long and has an elevation gain of 970 meters. On day five, expect a 103-kilometer ride and an elevation gain of 1,570 meters.

If you like cycling, you’ll love Girona. You might even meet Alaska’s Olympic cycling champion, Kristen Faulkner, on one of your rides!

You won’t have to look far to find a cycling option wherever you go. Just don’t forget your helmet!