Saddle Skedaddle will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2020 and to mark the milestone the company has announced details of its new cycling holidays.
“New for 2020” cycling trips include a 15-day adventure in Ethiopia; an eight-day, guided holiday in Jordan; a nine-day, coast to coast road cycling trip in Italy; and a seven-day, electric mountain bike holiday in Croatia.
See more details on the cycling holidays below or at skedaddle.com
Guided cycling adventure holiday in Ethiopia
This 15-day guided cycling adventure holiday in Ethiopia begins at the Blue Nile Falls near the city of Bahir Dar before heading to the country’s former capital, Gondar.
The riding continues into Simien Mountains National Park – one of Ethiopia’s nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites – for a night spent camping under the stars.
The bikes are put to one side for two days hiking through the National Park and the chance to see the country’s famous Gelada Baboons.
Back in the saddle, the route heads into the Tekeze Mountains before reaching the ancient city of Axum, which dates back to the 1st century A.D. Its many cultural highlights include The Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion, the Tombs of Kings Kaleb & Gebre Meskel, and the Queen of Sheeba’s Palace.
Cycling through the Tigra region of Ethiopia, characterised by its dry flat plains and towering rock outcrops, there’s more stunning scenery to enjoy and local villages and markets to visit along the way.
The trip ends with a visit to one of Ethiopia’s most important cultural landmarks, the town of Lalibela and its 11 medieval monolithic cave churches.
Trip details
- Dates: 12-26 September and 17-31 October 2019
- Price: from £2,985pp. Price includes accommodation (full board), full tour service, airport transfers and entry to historical sites and National Parks
- Flights and bike hire not included. Ethiopian Airlines fly direct from London Heathrow and Manchester Airport. Flight price approx £600pp return. Bike hire £150pp
- How to book: call 0191 2651110 or see skedaddle.com
Guided cycling adventure holiday in Jordan
From Amman to Wadi Rum via the Dead Sea and Petra, this eight-day, guided cycling adventure through Jordan visits some of the country’s most iconic locations.
Leaving Amman City, the cycling begins at Ajloun Forest Reserve, which boasts open woodland, wild flowers, and animals including Striped Hyena, Wild Boar and Roe Deer.
After marveling at the views of the Jordan River Valley and Bethlehem from Mount Nebo, the route crosses the Madaba plateau and down the Mukakir Bends to earth’s lowest point, The Dead Sea, where riders can relax weary legs in the salty waters.
Other highlights of the trip include visiting the famous Crusader Castles, Karak Castle and Shobak Castle; the downhill ride to the King’s Highway – an ancient route linking Madaba with Petra; and a tour of one of the modern Seven Wonders of the World – the Red Rose city of Petra.
The trip ends with ride through the incredible desert landscape of Rajif, a sunset jeep safari around Wadi Rum’s valleys, canyons, dunes and deserts; and a night of stargazing in a Bedouin camp.
Trip details
- Dates: 7-14 March, 4-11 April, 24-31 October, 21-28 November 2020
- Price: from £1,595pp. Price includes accommodation (full board), full tour service, airport transfers and entry to sites
- Flights and bike hire not included. British Airways and Royal Jordanian fly direct to Amman from London Heathrow. Flight price approx £400pp return. Bike hire £125pp
- How to book: call 0191 2651110 or see skedaddle.com
Coast to coast road cycling holiday across Italy
From the Adriatic to the Tyrrhenian Sea, this nine-day, guided, coast to coast road cycling holiday in Italy passes through some of the country’s most beautiful regions, including Umbria, Lazio and Tuscany.
Starting in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, the route follows the coast before heading inland to the foothills of the Apennine Mountains and the Renaissance city of Urbino, which marks the 500th anniversary of painter Raphael’s death in 2020.
Cycling along Umbria’s mountain roads with views into the valleys, the town of Assisi – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – marks the halfway point of the trip.
The longest day in the saddle is the 63-mile journey from Spello to Orvieto, following the banks of the Tevere river to Lago di Corbrara. Briefly dipping into Lazio, the town of Pitigliano marks the trip’s arrival into Tuscany.
After a pre-breakfast visit to the hot spring falls of Saturnia, the final days riding through Tuscan vineyards and olive groves leads to the coast, and the seaport town of Porto Santo Stefano on the Tyrrhenian coast.
Trip details
- Dates: 16-24 May and 19-27 September 2020
- Price: from £1,745pp. Price includes accommodation (bed and breakfast and some lunches), full tour service and airport transfers
- Flights and bike hire not included. Ryanair fly direct from London Luton and Stansted to Bologna (outbound). EasyJet fly from Rome to London Luton (return). Flight price approx £175pp return. Bike hire £220pp
- How to book: call 0191 2651110 or see skedaddle.com
Electric mountain bike holiday in Istria, Croatia
Nicknamed Terra Magica by mountain bikers, Istria in northern Croatia has become a popular spot for cyclists.
This seven-day, guided electric mountain bike holiday gives riders the chance to explore more of this iconic destination with a little help from full suspension pedal assisted mountain bikes.
Highlights include cycling from Istria’s highest peak in the Ucka mountains all the way to sea level; riding the Parenzana, a converted railway linking the idyllic villages of Grožnjan, Motovun and Vižinada; and the tour of the amazing Skitaca peninsula along hidden trails and remote backroads.
This trip gives mountain bikers the chance to see more of Terra Magica and cover longer daily distances on Istria’s world-class singletrack using an electric mountain bike.
Trip details
- Dates: 16-24 May and 19-27 September 2020
- Price: from £1,275pp. Price includes accommodation (full board), full tour service and airport transfers
- Flights and bike hire not included. easyJet fly direct from London Gatwick and Southend to Pula. Flight price approx £200pp return. Electric bike hire £295pp
- How to book: call 0191 2651110 or see skedaddle.com
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