Cycling can be a rewarding experience. It lets you enjoy the great outdoors, save on gas, and gain health benefits. It’s also beneficial for the environment since all it needs to work is manual labor.
However, cycling in the same place over and over again can get tiring. This predicament can especially be troubling if you enjoy exploring new things. Cycling on other sites immerses you in new cultures and lets you discover hidden destinations and even meet interesting people.
Here are the top 10 cycling places worldwide for fitness and leisure.
The Shimanami Kaido (Japan)
Spanning 60 kilometers, the Shimanami Kaido or Nishiseto Expressway passes over six small islands in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea. It’s mainly known for its marked and well-maintained bicycle route. It also has leg-friendly inclines, making it an easy course for beginners and even children.
If you can’t bring your bike to Japan, you can rent one at either end of the whole route or particular train stations on the islands.
Aside from the beautiful sea view, you can explore other tourist destinations in the surrounding areas of the expressway. You can visit the Hirayama Museum, the Kosanji temple, and family-friendly accommodations and camping grounds.
EuroVelo 12 (Europe)
The EuroVelo 12, or the North Sea Cycle Route, is a 7,050-kilometer-long bicycle route in Europe. It goes around the coastlines of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. It’s considered the longest signposted cycle path in the world.
Since it spans several countries, you can explore many tourist destinations, including 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
High Atlas (Morocco)
High Atlas is a mountain range in central Morocco. You can visit this natural wonder by cycling from Agdz through the Drâa Valley. Remember that traversing through this area sometimes takes days.
While some cyclists found the area’s roads, slopes, and inclines challenging, they also found the experience rewarding upon finishing their route. If you want to bike along a remote but adventurous destination, you should head to Morocco.
La Farola (Cuba)
La Farola is the lighthouse road in Cuba that spans 60 kilometers between Guantanamo and Baracoa. It’s considered one of Cuba’s seven modern engineering marvels and the most scenic drive in the country.
The road snakes through cliffs and forests of the Sierra Del Puril mountains. Parts of it are also in poor condition, making it a challenging but exciting route for cyclists.
The Friendship Highway (China)
Also known as the China-Nepal Highway, the Friendship Highway is an 800-kilometer road connecting Lhasa, Tibet, and the Nepalese border. It’s considered the single most traveled road in Tibet and one of the highest roads in the world. It crosses over three passes above 5,000 meters of the Gyatso La mountain pass.
While it offers stunning scenery, it also challenges cyclists along the way due to weather conditions and distances between towns. It ends with a 3,500-meter drop-off at the Tibetan plateau’s edge, possibly the world’s longest downhill.
Salar De Uyuni (Bolivia)
Bolivia is known for Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat. Not only can you walk on it and admire its mirror effect during the rainy season, but you can also cycle atop it. You can cycle at a high altitude, pitch a tent, and stay overnight.
You can also stop by Llica, the main settlement between Salar de Uyuni and Salar de Coipasa, to replenish your water and food supplies. Since Bolivia is at a high altitude, remember to layer up when cycling to and through Salar De Uyuni.
La Ruta de los Conquistadores (Costa Rica)
With a length of 270 kilometers, La Ruta de los Conquistadores—or The Conquistadors’ Trail— could be one of your most adventurous routes ever. It passes through mud dirt roads, rainforests, and other natural attractions, making for a challenging but exciting route.
You can also join Costa Rica’s annual mountain bike race, which holds the same name as the trail and takes three days to finish.
Blue Ridge Parkway (USA)
The U.S. is abundant in big natural parks like Blue Ridge Parkway, which runs from Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park to North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park. While not exactly made for cycling alone, the parkway offers 469 miles of road for cyclists.
The National Park Service recommends physically preparing yourself before cycling on the parkway since some parts will make you climb 1,100 feet in 3.4 miles. You should also stay on the right side of paved road surfaces, wear high-visibility clothing, and use white light or reflectors visible from at least 500 feet.
The Parenzana (Italy, Slovenia and Croatia)
This is a short yet gorgeous journey that takes you through Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia. The walk, which follows a former narrow-gauge railway, is pleasant with no sharp inclines. Travelers will enjoy views of the sea on one side and distant mountain vistas on the other, notably in Slovenia.
The excursion includes historical relics from the Austro-Hungarian Empire as well as wonderful local seafood. Overnight breaks can also be made in lovely destinations such as Koper, a medieval port city, or Umag, a tranquil bayside village.
Cyclists, Be Careful Out There
Cycling in different countries can be an exciting activity. You can enjoy scenic views, try different food, learn about new cultures, test your cycling endurance, and befriend fellow cyclists.
However, as fun as this whole venture sounds, it’s important to stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings, or else you might get into a cycling accident.
Getting a cycling accident or a car accident lawyer in Orange county can help protect your health and claim if you get into one. A lawyer can assist you when negotiating maximum health coverage should you end up in the hospital for injuries. They can also help you investigate and determine who’s at fault in the accident. Lastly, they can defend you should the at-fault party deny liability for the accident.
Learn how to protect yourself, especially when traveling in other countries. Knowing your rights and the places you will visitcan make all the difference when cycling in foreign countries.
