3 Great Bike Tours for Adventurous Travelers

Traveling overland: there's nothing quite like it. All great journeys begin—and end—on the ground. But watching the world whiz by through foggy train and bus windows is only the half of it; sooner or later, you'll crave something more.

Fortunately, spicing up your overland travel is as simple as getting a little closer to the earth, and perhaps, there's no better way to do it than swapping your bus or train tickets for a map and a bike.

Not sure where to begin your next cycling adventure? Consider one of these three exciting bike tours:

North Sea Cycle Route

Completing the entire North Sea Cycle Route isn't exactly a walk in the park; at 3,692 miles (5,942 kilometers), only the most dedicated of cyclists would even attempt it.

But the best part is: You don't have to. Simply, pick any spot along the trail and go as far as you'd like. On the North Sea Cycle Route, accommodation and escape routes are never far away; that's the beauty of it.

Sweeping through eight countries—Scotland, England, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway—the trail snakes through tiny European villages and major cities, alongside windmill-studded canals and rolling sand dunes, and across coastal plains. The North Sea Cycle Route is idyllic Europe as you've always dreamed it, only up close and personal, and is an overland experience that you'll never quite shake.

The West Coast of Ireland

Rolling green hills, ancient castles under stormy skies, seafaring villages, and craggy cliffs plunging into the Atlantic—Ireland's fairytale reputation is, surprisingly, not so far-fetched, and it's right here, along the country's West Coast, where travelers best catch a glimpse of it.

Cycling the West Coast of Ireland is arguably the best way to experience the Emerald Isle. If you've ever searched for Ireland's mystic soul in Dublin only to return home empty-handed, you'll find the country will redeem itself as you cycle through picture-perfect towns along impossibly narrow roads that hug the rugged coastline.

Although there is no set trail, adventurous cyclists with a little time on their hands should consider plying the long route between Cork and Galway, detouring through interesting cities, towns, and natural attractions like Killarney, the Dingle Peninsula, Limerick, the Cliffs of Moher, and Doolin.

The West Coast of Tasmania

Shadowed by its bigger brothers across the Bass Strait, the state of Tasmania rarely gets its due as an Australian destination of choice. But keen cyclists might soon change that, and as more and more of them pop over from the mainland, word is getting out: Tasmania is an excellent place to ride.

Riding along the West Coast route between Launceston to Hobart throws cyclists in front of the Australian island state's most remarkable natural attractions: lush vineyards, rough-hewn coastline, crystal-clear lakes, waterfalls, and ragged peaks.

Not that witnessing Western Tasmania's beauty will be a cakewalk. Sections of the route can be challenging for less experienced cyclists, and in complete defiance to Australia's sunny reputation, weather in these parts can change for the worse almost instantly.

Luckily, Tassielink Transit buses run every couple days between most towns along the route, providing the perfect escape plan should you want to move along quicker or rest your legs.

Whichever destination you settle upon for your first (or next) cycling trip, remember that sharing narrow roads with motorized vehicles always carries an element a risk; even the most well-equipped and careful cyclists could encounter trouble on the road. Before embarking, be sure to purchase an adventure travel insurance policy to cover against unforeseen incidents.

Have you gone on a cycling trip? Where did you go?

Note: Available plans and coverages may have changed since this blog was published.