Top 10 unusual cycling trips

Cycle from ancient Kyoto to the bustling city of Tokyo on this 13-day Japan cycling tour. Venturing off the beaten track and into the highlands, you’ll cycle along beaches, coastal roads and remote countryside, stopping to enjoy mouthwatering seafood and traditional Japanese farmhouses. You’ll even hop on the Shinkansen bullet train to experience Japan at a different pace before arriving in the heart of the capital.

Explore the Baltic States by bicycle on this guided route through Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Discover the fascinating island castle in Trakai and cycle around the shores of the surrounding lake, cycle and watch for birds at the Curonian Lagoon and ride alongside giant sand dunes and white sand beaches the Curonian Spit National Park. 

Discover Georgia's beautiful mountain landscapes from the saddle of your bike picking the way along the Mtkvari Valley.Step back in time to discover the ancient Silk Road cave town of Uplistsikhe with its complex of simple dwellings, churches and halls cut into the cliff-face and try to imagine how life was here in the first millennium BC. 

Escape to the unspoiled coastline of Italy’s Cilento National Park to enjoy secluded beaches lapped by crystal-clear turquoise water, pine-forested hillsides, soaring limestone cliffs and picturesque fishing villages. Climb to the grassy plateau of Ciolandrea for panoramic views across the rugged coastline, sample Cilento wines made in a nearby vineyard, and discover the mighty Greek temples of Ancient Paestum.

Romania might not be an obvious choice for a cycling holiday, but with fairytale Gothic castles and colourful medieval towns to discover as well as quiet back roads winding up through the lush pine forests of Piatra Craiului National Park, a ride through the southern Carpathian Mountains will not disappoint.