Bicycle, Bicycle, Wine, Bicycle, Dolmade, Wine.

January 17, 2013 9:06 PM

Recommendation for good international LD cycling trip in March/April?

I've done some self-guided cycling trips, some of which I made the route for and some organized. I'd like to do another with my boyfriend in late March. One or two weeks. Somewhere abroad. His first, but he's super game.

I tend to like to travel in developing or middle tier countries, but nothing too volatile per the vulnerability inherent in cycling. Well, I've done a couple cycling trips in France and love it there, it's just a little pricey. Also, we'll need to get the bikes wherever we go. Through an agency or routing it ourselves is fine. I do like the agency aspect when they'll arrange for housing in Timbuktu and sometimes move your bags, but we're a little conservative on the funds at present, so my usual pick of Bike Tours Direct is out of budget.

Recommendations as to a place or itinerary? Or a resource that would enable us to mull over some options? Gorgeous Mediterranean waters are not out of the question. But the weather -- we must have nice weather. I don't want to be piling on the layers to battle icy headwinds. I'm more of a leisure bicycler, having wine with lunch and stopping to poke around funny old buildings and such. You know the 50 mile a day program. We both enjoy the finer things in life -- culture and food and history.

So what do you think? Vietnam? Turkey? Elsewhere?

Thanks for any thoughts!

posted by letahl to travel & transportation (4 answers total)

Couldn't recommend New Zealand enough. It's a pricey ticket out and is def. not developing, but the weather is great until about mid April. You can find places to rent you a bike in cities like Christchurch.
posted by alex_skazat at 9:20 PM on January 17

Apparently Thailand has some good cycling tours. I read about one in a flight magazine- unfortunately cam't remember the name of the tour group but it sounded as you describe.
posted by jojobobo at 5:17 AM on January 18

Hungary! Wine, castles, culture, pretty easy to navigate, cheap!, and probably warmish in the spring, especially later in April. Budapest a delicious bonus.
posted by mdonley at 7:07 AM on January 18

Also thinking: Sardinia, Kyushu.
posted by mdonley at 7:13 AM on January 18