MORAL COMPASS: Great Places to Go Where the Going Does Good

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Active Travel, bike trips, camping trips, National Parks

Escape Adventures Introduces Guided Bikepacking Tour of North Dakota’s Maah Daah Hey Trail

April 18, 2024 MoralCompass

Escape Adventures is offering a 5-day camping and mountain biking tour of the 144-mile-long Maah Daah Hey Trail System (MDH) in North Dakota, showcasing some of America’s most breathtaking terrain.

(Las Vegas, NV) — Escape Adventures is offering a 5-day camping and mountain biking tour of the 144-mile-long Maah Daah Hey Trail System (MDH) in North Dakota, showcasing some of America’s most breathtaking terrain. Majestic plateaus, jagged peaks and valleys, large expanses of rolling prairie, and rivers intertwine to offer the adventurous outdoors enthusiast a taste of pure, unadulterated badlands.

Located adjacent to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the MDH is one of the lengthiest stretches of continuous trail in America. Hailed as an IMBA epic, the MDH unfolds on 95% singletrack. The guided tour starts at $1,499 per person double. For more information, visit https://escapeadventures.com/tour/maah-daah-hey-singletrack-mountain-bike-tour/.

“From the northern unit to the ultra-charming, cowboy-pohttps://escapeadventures.com/tour/maah-daah-hey-singletrack-mountain-bike-tour/et town of Medora, we spend five days riding what’s commonly called the most stunning stretch of The Northern Plains,” said Escape Adventures Director, Jared Fisher.

From rolling prairie to endless red-baked buttes, the MDH crisscrosses the least commercial unit in the National Park Service. Accordingly, no national park outside Alaska is better suited for pure, backcountry trekking and wildlife encounters. A day on the trail might bring riders face-to-face with bison, elk, bighorn sheep, wild horses, pronghorn antelope, coyote, and wild turkey.

The MDH is comprised of nine trail units of varying size and difficulty. From north to south, they are the Wolf (8.8 miles), Long X (5.8 miles), Summit (3.8 miles), Overlook (0.3 miles), Maah Daah Hey (144 miles), Bennett (3.2 miles), Cottonwood (6.9 miles), Ice Cave (1.5 miles) and, Buffalo Gap (18.9 miles).

Full Itinerary:

Day 1-2: Meet in Medora. Shuttle to trail just outside Theodore Roosevelt National Park. An introductory ride takes guests on a great sampling of the Badlands. Ride Bennett Trail through high prairie grasses and wooded draws. Spend the evening under a bright blanket of stars, taking in the coyote calls that punctuate the night sky.
Day 3-4: Ride Devil’s Pass. Spectacular views across the Little Missouri River Valley eventually give way to the river itself. Camp near Teddy’s own Elkhorn Ranch. Continue on to Buffalo Gap and Wannagan Creek where riders enjoy quick descents on buff singletrack mixed with petrified Cypress trees. Camp near Wannagan Creek.
Day 5: Ride Buffalo Gap along the outskirts of the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Finish in Medora.

All internal land expenses and services are covered in the cost of the tour. All transportation, food preparation, meals, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, group supplies and community gear are included. Backcountry permits, licenses, park fees, reservations, and accommodations are also included, along with at least two professionally trained trip leaders, a mobile first aid and mechanic station, spare bikes, and support vehicles.

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 travelers, 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. https://escapeadventures.com/

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Active Travel, Best in Travel, bike trips

7 Top Cycling Tours You Can Do With Electric Bikes

December 28, 2019 MoralCompass

*E-bikes now put bike tours of the Green Mountains of Vermont within reach (c) Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarnandnear.com*

Always popular cycling tours have gotten an extra charge in recent years with the addition of electric bikes, allowing guests to ride hills with ease or get a boost to keep up with others. E-bikes are now available as an option on tours around the globe, from the Green Mountains of Vermont to the Tuscan countryside and Taiwan’s coastline. They’re even making their way off road and onto trails on e-mountain bike tours among the dunes of Namibia and the Alps in Switzerland. E-bikes mean there are no excuses for not taking a tour because you are afraid you can’t do the hills, the knees aren’t what they used to be.

Here are seven bike tours where you can find an electric ride:

E-MTB Safari in Namibia: Pedal across vast plains and seas of sand dunes, along dry streambeds and rocky jeep tracks, and past shipwrecks and surf on the Skeleton Coast on H+I Adventures’ new E-MTB Safari in Namibia. From the saddle of an e-mountain bike, watch for elephants, giraffes, zebras and oryx, and connecting with local communities along the way.

Natchez Trace Path: Biking the Natchez Trace is a cyclist’s dream come true, and why Cycle of Life Adventures offers it four times a year. The ancient path through Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi began as a wildlife and Native American trail, and has a rich history of use by explorers, trappers and traders, post men and Civil War soldiers. An e-bike will ease the few days where the mileage may seem overwhelming.

Tuscan Countryside: On Tourissimo’s cycling tour of Tuscany, Italy, visit some of the region’s most iconic destinations, from Cortona, the delightful hill town made famous by Frances Mayes in her bestselling novel “Under the Tuscan Sun,” to the abbeys, thermal springs and wineries in the countryside outside Pienza. Upgrade to an e-bike capable of covering 70 miles on a charge to go the distance.

Alps by E-MTB: Climb mountain passes and descend to lush valleys on H+I Adventures new E-MTB Tour of Switzerland. Riders will put the country’s seamless transport system to use accessing backcountry singletrack and perfectly built flow trails as they traverse the beautiful Graubünden region by e-mountain bike. Refuel with mid-ride rösti, then unwind with a glass of wine and dinner made with local flavors.

Mediterranean Islands Ride: E-bikes are a great option on Ride & Seek Bicycle Adventures epic cycling tour across Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily. Split into three week-long stages, the tour explores the Mediterranean islands’ history, food, architecture and traditions, as well as their strikingly rugged interiors, white beaches and emerald waters.

Vermont Covered Bridges: Ride through more than a dozen covered bridges on a tour of Vermont with Cycle of Life Adventures. This iconic ride passes through Montpelier, Stowe, Middlebury and Woodstock, climbing from river valleys over the Green Mountains. The optional e-bike rental will help flatten out the roads.

E-Bike Taiwan: On Grasshopper Adventures’ Bike Taiwan tour, guests cycle the length of the country from the northern capital, Taipei, to the southern tip. Along the way, they take in the beauty of east Taiwan’s rugged Pacific coast, exotic hot springs and valleys like the stunning Taroko Gorge. Grasshopper is the first tour operator to offer e-bikes to cyclists in Southeast Asia.

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Active Travel, Adventure Travel, bike trips, Cultural Travel, cycling trips, Historic Places, international travel

Ride & Seek Organizes Marco Polo Cycling Expedition

September 18, 2019 MoralCompass

Ride & Seek adventure cycling company has introduced the first two stages of The Marco Polo Expedition, cycling 1900 km from Venice to Athens.

(Provence, France) — Ride & Seek, an adventure cycling company offering itineraries that follow in the footsteps of historical figures, is thrilled to announce its most ambitious project to date: The Marco Polo Expedition. The goal of this newly created tour is to cycle from Venice, Italy to Beijing, China in seven distinct stages. The first two stages are scheduled to run in September 17 – October 14, 2020, leading riders 1,900 km from Venice to Athens, Greece over 26 days.

Guests will bike down the coast from Italy through Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece, riding from harbor to harbor. Accommodations range from charming Soviet-style hotels to agriturismos and modern boutique hotels. Fine wine and gourmet food will be featured throughout the trip. This epic excursion ranges from $5,260 USD to $11,248 USD per person.

“Our Epic Adventures are all created with a sense of discovery at their core, and this tour fulfills that in abundance,” said Ride & Seek Founder Dylan Reynolds. “Marco Polo is one of the great travelers in history and in many ways, he embodies the spirit of the tours we run.”

Polo was a Venetian merchant who journeyed across Asia at the height of the Mongol Empire. He first set out at age 17 with his father and uncle, travelling overland along what later became known as the Silk Road. Upon reaching China, Marco Polo entered the court of powerful Mongol ruler Kublai Khan, who dispatched him on trips to help administer the realm. Marco Polo remained abroad for 24 years.

STAGE 1 – Venice to Dubrovnik
Leaving Venice by boat, the first stage of The Marco Polo Expedition embraces the essence of island-hopping, which lies at the heart of this tour. We negotiate our way down the stunning Dalmatian coast via Marco Polo’s alleged birthplace of Korcula and take in such jewels as Hvar and Split on our way to the enchanting city of Dubrovnik. 12-days/11-nights, 738 km, September 17-29 2020

STAGE 2 – Dubrovnik to Athens
Leaving Dubrovnik, riders quickly enter the beguiling country of Montenegro before jumping on to the road-less-traveled through fascinating Albania, a true tour highlight and phenomenal cycling destination. The final week take guests first to Corfu, before heading inland towards Athens. 16-days/15-nights, 1,050 km, September 29 – October 14, 2020

For more information, visit https://www.rideandseek.com/tour/marco-polo/.

Ride & Seek is a worldwide adventure cycling company offering unique historical itineraries with quality lodging, fine gastronomy, and cultural immersion. Cyclists can not only 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 visited both historically and gastronomically is central. Historical journeys and cultural adventures are the company’s specialties. https://rideandseek.com

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Adventure Travel, bike trips, Cultural Travel, cycling trips, international travel

New Grasshopper Adventures Cycling Tour Explores Back Roads of Rajasthan, India

May 23, 2019 MoralCompass

*Grasshopper Adventures is introducing a cycling tour exploring the back roads of Rajasthan, India’s quintessential land of maharajas, majestic forts, lavish palaces and tigers.*

(Bangkok, Thailand) — Grasshopper Adventures is introducing a cycling tour exploring the back roads of Rajasthan, India’s quintessential land of maharajas, majestic forts, lavish palaces and tigers. Starting in Delhi and finishing in Udaipur, guests will ride through rural farmlands, deserts, and mountains, while exploring the “Land of Kings”. The eight-day trip starts at $3,300 USD per person double and is scheduled for October 26-November 2, 2019.

The remnants of a rich and romantic past have earned Rajasthan a place on most travelers’ bucket lists. It is a land of deserts, jungle, camel trains, tigers, jewels, art and vibrant culture. The festivals and cuisine are nothing short of spectacular. It is the must-see state of India, brimming with history and unique attractions.

“We will pedal 230 km through fascinating towns, ancient desert hamlets, and an oasis of Rajasthani forts,” said Grasshopper Adventures CEO Adam Platt-Hepworth. “Rajasthan is one of India’s most captivating states, famed for its historic forts and palaces, desert villages, spice markets, and the warmth of its people. This tour definitely discovers the real Rajasthan.”

The cycling follows predominantly flat, country roads and lanes with little traffic. There is some hill riding, but it is broadly achievable at a moderate level of fitness. A support vehicle is always on hand throughout the entire trip to give guests a lift if they need a break from the riding. Distances covered are between 40 km and 60 km a day.

“Rather than the popular tourist sites, guests may well find that the highlight of this bike tour is a chance encounter with a pink-turbaned man in the middle of nowhere, or maybe a shared Rajasthani family meal,” said Platt-Hepworth. “That is the beauty of this trip!”

Highlights:

Touring the 15th century Mehrangarh fortress
Riding through the desert to Rohet
Taking a Jeep tour to visit the Bishnoi tribes
Visiting a traditional haveli for a tasty lunch
Boarding a train for a scenic ride from Khambli Ghat to Phulad
Overnighting in the lush, wooded valley of Ranakpur
Touring Kumbhalgarh and the world’s second largest man-made wall
Exploring Udaipur on a walking tour

For more info, visit https://www.grasshopperadventures.com/en/scheduled-tours/riding-the-real-rajasthan.html

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Active Travel, Adventure Travel, bike trips, Cultural Travel, cycling trips, Historic Places

Ride & Seek Announces 990-Mile Berlin-to-Budapest “Iron Curtain” Cycling Tour

November 28, 2018 MoralCompass

Ride & Seek ‘s nearly 1,000 mile Berlin-to-Budapest “Iron Curtain” epic cycling adventure includes five capitals and five distinct cultures connected through a historic period that changed the world.

(Provence, France) – Ride & Seek is introducing a new Berlin-to-Budapest “Iron Curtain” epic cycling adventure that includes five capitals and five distinct cultures connected through a historic period that changed the world. This nearly 1,000-mile bicycle tour begins in Berlin where the fall of the Berlin Wall signaled the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. The trip travels from north to south along some of the best cycling routes Europe has to offer, weaving its way south through Western Europe and what was once part of the Soviet Union. It is offered in two stages– Berlin to Prague over eight days and Prague to Budapest over 11 days. The “Iron Curtain” tour is slated for August 18 – September 4, 2019, and starts at $8,318 USD. To view the full tour, visit https://rideandseek.com/tour/iron-curtain-berlin-to-budapest/.

“This exciting new Berlin-to-Budapest tour crosses the divide between communism and democratic capitalism,” said Ride & Seek Founder Dylan Reynolds. “The history on the tour is still palpable and it is unlike our other historic cycling adventures in that the collapse of the Iron Curtain was witnessed real-time by the majority of our guests.”

Guests will cycle past palaces and through Sorbian villages to the Polish border. In the Czech Republic, they will ride through the romantic countryside of the Czech Middle Mountains and follow the banks of the Elbe River. Bohemia provides peaceful cycling interspersed with beautiful castles, medieval and renaissance towns surrounded by monumental walls. Biking close to the Austrian border, riders will pass well-preserved fortifications from the beginning of WWII. In Austria, they’ll cycle along wooded hillsides and through green meadows onto the Danube River and into Vienna on beautifully kept cycle paths.

From one capital to the next, guests will follow the blue waters of the Danube River past the luxurious palaces of the Viennese nobility to Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava. The group will continue through Hungary to the baroque city of Györ, and then travel through rolling hills famous for its racehorse studs before returning to the Danube River. The last day will include a ride along one of the most scenic parts of the Danube, where the river enters steep hills, creating stunning meanders into the lively heart of Budapest.

“For those who enjoy beer, this trip will not disappoint,” said Reynolds. “Each of the countries we travel through will tell you their beer is the best in the world, but you will have to make up your own mind.”

Iron Curtain Bike Tour Highlights:

Seeing the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie

Cycling along the rivers and canals that cover much of Eastern Germany

Following the Oder-Neisse River along the Polish border to Görlitz, one of Germany’s most beautiful cities

Rolling through the castle-and-fortress-filled Czech Middle Mountains along the banks of the Elbe River

Exploring Telč, a jewel of the Czech Republic and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List

Drinking the world’s best beers: German wheat beers, Czech pilsner, Austrian lager and Hungarian ales

Touring Budapest, an architectural and historical treasure trove along the Danube

Sampling Austrian schnitzel, Viennese-style coffee, chocolate Sachertorte cake, Hungarian Goulash, and German bratwurst.

Ride & Seek is a worldwide adventure cycling company offering historical itineraries with quality lodging, fine gastronomy, and cultural immersion. Cyclists 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 both historically and gastronomically is central. Historical journeys and cultural adventures are specialties. www.rideandseek.com.

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Active Travel, Adventure Travel, bike trips, cycling trips

Grasshopper Adventures Introduces Tour Exploring Thailand by Bike from Bangkok to Phuket

November 28, 2018 MoralCompass

(Bangkok, Thailand) — Grasshopper Adventures is introducing a 10-day tour cycling the Gulf of Thailand, Khao Sok National Park, and the Andaman Coast. Five days are spent riding along the Gulf of Thailand on deserted blacktop and concrete roads through sleepy villages and coconut groves, followed by three days of riding through Khao Sok National Park to the Andaman Coast and down to Phuket.

“This is a cycling holiday in the true sense of the term,” said Grasshopper Adventures President Adam Platt-Hepworth. “We’ll enjoy the satisfaction of riding the majority of the distance from Hua Hin down to Phuket, whilst taking in places that most visitors to Thailand don’t get to see.”

On the gulf side of Thailand, guests will ride on mostly flat terrain and quiet backroads, with the exception of two short highway sections. In the hinterland, there are some more sustained hills, but these are rarely longer than 2 km and nothing that could be described as steep. Guests will share the road with some traffic through Khao Sok National Park due to the absence of backroads and from Khao Lak to Phuket.

Tour Highlights Include:

Visiting the sleepy beach town of Pranburi
Biking through Sam Roi Yod National Park and hiking to Phraya Nakhon Cave
Overnighting at a family-owned lodge on the beach in Chumphon
Cycling through rubber plantations and past limestone cliffs
Soaking in hot springs and indulging in delicious Thai cuisine
Riding over the bridge to Phuket Island and overnighting on the beach

The trip totals 574 km by bike and starts at $2,350 USD. Multiple departure dates are available throughout the year. For more information, visit here or call 844-874-3720.

Grasshopper Adventures is a cycling and active travel specialist, headquartered in Bangkok. They host more than 25,000 travelers of all ages and abilities, on tours ranging from one day to two weeks in Japan, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, China, Uzbekistan, Taiwan, Bhutan & Myanmar. https://www.grasshopperadventures.com

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bike trips, cycling trips, international travel

Ride & Seek Offers New 1,550 Km Bike Tour Across Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily

October 31, 2017 MoralCompass

SRide & Seek is offering a new cycling tour across Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily.

(Sydney, Australia) — Ride & Seek is offering a new cycling tour across Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily. Split into three weeklong stages, the “3 Islands Tour” is a journey through the history, food, architecture, and traditions of these Mediterranean jewels. Guests ride from north to south, beginning in Corsica, home of Napoleon. Its mountainous north contrasts beautifully with the idyllic beaches and fishing villages. Next, riders head to Sardinia, an island of towering cliffs, beach coves, and history. The final stage is spent biking Sicily where rolling farmland, volcanoes, and a stunning coastline is sprinkled with classical sites in exceptional settings. The 21-day, 1,550 km tour is slated for April 28-May 19, 2018 and starts at $10,440 USD. Weeklong stages start at $3,820 USD.

“The exceptional diversity of these islands is represented through the numerous civilizations and cultures that have left their mark, amazing gastronomic variations, strikingly rugged interior landscapes, stunning coastlines of white beaches and emerald waters, and locals with an incredibly strong sense of place,” said Ride & Seek President Dylan Reynolds.

The average daily riding distance will be around 80km, and extra loop rides will be available for those wanting more hills and ride time. Meals are a centerpiece of the “3 Island Tour,” with an emphasis on local cuisine and wine. Lodging consists of 3 and 4 star boutique hotels.

Other Highlights:
· Ride through UNESCO listed Calanques de Piana.
· Cycle down Corsica’s Costa Verde – one the most stunning coastal roads in the world.
· Visit Tharros – a sacred site for the Phoenicians in Sardinia.
· Explore UNESCO listed Valle di Templi in Agrigento.
· Discover the city of Syracuse – home to Archimedes and a rich Greek heritage.

For more information, visit http://www.rideandseek.com/epic/3islands.

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bike trips

BikeTours Launches ‘Gold Star Tour Collection’: 16 ‘stellar experiences, exceptional values’

April 27, 2016 MoralCompass

*Biking on the Danube Bike Trail, one of 16 “stellar experiences at exceptional value” in BikeTour.com’s Gold Star Tour Collection © 2016 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com*

CHATTANOOGA, TN– BikeTours.com has announced its new “Gold Star Tour Collection” to highlight its top picks for bicycle tours around the world that stand out for their exceptional experiences and value.

The Collection features 16 cycling vacations across the globe, from popular bike tour destinations in Europe like Croatia and Spain to offthebeaten path locales such as Burma/Myanmar. Tours were carefully selected from more than 450 tours the company offers in 70 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania and the Americas.

“These tours are our gold standard the best of the best,” said Jim Johnson, president and founder of BikeTours.com. “These trips have been carefully selected after years of partnership with local operators for their superior quality of service, unique experiences afforded to the traveler, and exceptional value.”

Picks for Every Level of Bike Traveler

The collection is divided into categories for three types of travelers: leisurely, novice, and experienced.

For example, tours for novices include the perennial European favorite, the “Danube Bike Path (Service Plus),” which features easy cycling on a dedicated bike path and lots of client services like a GPS console and cell phone rental. “Cotswolds and Stonehenge” was selected for well-designed, off-the-beaten-path routes, as well as its exceptional client service and iconic itinerary.

For leisure cyclists, “Cycling and Cooking in Tuscany” made the list thanks to its unique focus on Tuscan culinary arts (including multiple cooking classes and tastings and range of dining experiences), high quality rental bikes, and outstanding traveler feedback. “Wine and Bike in Hungary’s Balaton Uplands” was chosen for its wonderful and friendly local guides who offer an inside experience into Hungary.

Picks for more experienced cyclists include “Tastes and Trails of Scotland,” a mountain bike tour that takes riders to some of the most remote corners of the west coast in Scotland and “Chile’s Lake and Volcano District,” which features food, culture, and great service in South America.

See the complete Gold Star Tour Collection https://www.biketours.com/gold-star-collection

BikeTours.com represents more than 100 local tour companies worldwide. A team of tour advisers helps travelers choose, plan, book, and go on the tour of their dreams. Learn more at www.biketours.com, 877.462.2423.

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