From those who simply love taking a bike ride to true professionals, who risk adventurous routes to say the least: what are the most beautiful cycle routes in the world? There really is something for every need, a perfect opportunity to enjoy an outdoor experience alone or in company. To celebrate the World Bicycle Daywhich occurs on June 3rd every year, there is nothing better than discovering the routes to do at least once in your life.
The most beautiful itineraries in Europe
If you are real cycling enthusiasts, you will probably already know Eurovelo: it is an immense network of cycle routes that winds throughout the European continent, for over 45 thousand km in total. In short, you are truly spoiled for choice. One of the most evocative adventures is certainly the Eurovelo 11, also called the “Eastern European road”, which crosses 11 different countries in a direction that goes from North to South, for almost 6 thousand km. We start from the North Cape, in Norway, then face the incredible panoramas of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia and North Macedonia to arrive in Athens, Greece.
Combining the passion for cycling with a real holiday to discover France: the Loire cycle path it is an unforgettable experience, even for those who are still an amateur. 750 km long, it can be easily divided into numerous stages or covered only for a stretch, following the course of the French river from its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean to the hinterland. Along the road, beautiful lush hills and many ancient castles dot the area. Nothing better for exploring the country and perhaps even its goodness.
The most beautiful itineraries in the world
And if you’re looking for a more exotic adventure, there are plenty of options in the rest of the world. This is the case of Carretera Austral, a beautiful cycle path built by Pinochet during the 70s and 80s: it is 1,240 km long, starting from the heart of Chile until reaching Patagonia, through turquoise rivers, snow-capped mountains and glacial lakes. It is undoubtedly a very challenging route, especially because only a small part of it is asphalted. Most of the cycle path it is in fact dirt road, a feat for the bravest.
It is then in South Africa that a truly exciting cycle path winds its way, which faces some of the most beautiful landscapes on the continent. It’s about the Garden Route, which connects Cape Town with Port Elizabeth: the itinerary is “only” 609 km long, but it is nothing short of exciting. The road, also known as the “elephant route”, runs along the southern part of the country. And once we arrive at our destination, there is still an adventure waiting for us: the safari inside the Addo Elephant National Park or the Tsitsikamma National Park.
Finally, for off-road lovers there is the Munda Biddi Trail, a memorable undertaking in Australia: the cycle route is over 1,000 km long, from the city of Mundaring to that of Albany. Opened in 2013, it has been declared the longest continuous off-road cycle path in the world. The route is generally divided into 9 stages, and at the end of each one it is possible to find free campsites to stay and recover from the day’s efforts. An adventure certainly not within everyone’s reach, but capable of giving unique panoramas in the world.
