The Friendship Highway, China

The most beautiful ride in the world is said to lie between the Tibetan city of Lhasa and the Nepalese border. It is one the highest riding routes on the planet and passes through three road passes of more than 5,000-meters altitude, reaching a maximum of 5,220 meters over the Gyatso La mountain pass. 

It surely does sound exciting but is no child’s play and of course, isn’t for everyone. But, as an old saying goes, “life’s a climb, but the view is great!”, a big surprise awaits you as you reach Gyatso La mountain. Your reward, on a clear day, will be a distant view of Mount Everest.

The conditions can be challenging and the distance between cities will require careful planning with ample resources. The sensitive political situation in Tibet can also be tricky at times for individual travellers.

True adventure awaits those who are committed to exploring the religious and cultural wonders of Lhasa and Gyantse, the Gampa La mountain pass with turquoise lake and Yamdrok Yumtso in the valley below. If you think this more than enough, the route ends with a 3,500-meter drop of the edge of the Tibetan plateau. Thank us later!

Otago Peninsula, New Zealand

New Zealand never disappoints when it comes to natural beauty and adventure sporting. Otago Peninsula in New Zealand is an ideal place to cycle as it comes with great views of the ocean. Unlike The Friendship Highway, the terrain is comfortable for both beginners and experienced. The Otago biking route offers astonishing natural beauty and you will be able to focus on your biking.

The peninsula, Dunedin is situated on the east of the South Island. It consists of a 20 km long harbour which is home to magnificent world-famous marine wildlife in abundance. If lucky, you can also grab a look at New Zealand’s Sea Lion which is one of the rarest the seal species in the world.

La Ruta De Los Conquistadores, Costa Rica

The route from Pacific to Caribbean coasts, the route is a 270 km long stretch across Costa Rica. The length is surely lesser than the Friendship Highway but is no less arduous. The route goes through mud paths, rainforests, coffee plantations and to your surprise, even dead volcanoes. 

The ride derives its name from the annual mountain bike race that takes place in November and can be completed in three days. For those who are not interested in the race can spend as much time whenever and wherever they want to explore the route of the 16th-century Spanish conqueror Juan de Cavallon. Costa Rica packs a very vast range of natural wonder in an area roughly the size of Switzerland. 

The route which starts from Jaco Beach turns soon into climbing roads with mud and dirt. The climb is 3000 meters La Ruta course on the very first day. After which it passes near an extinct volcano peak of Irazu and comes down to mangrove forests and sandy beaches. The traditional end of the ride is a dip in the Caribbean.

North Sea Cycle Route, Europe

The New Sea Cycle Route has its importance as it goes across eight countries and is said to be the longest signposted cycle route on the planet. The route also goes by the name EuroVelo 12. The route runs from Scotland’s Shetland Islands to Norway along Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Sweden covering a total distance of almost 6,000 km.

It may sound exciting but there is surely no need for anyone to attempt the whole package and those who do, mainly in summer. The route is a big no-no during winters as the wart\mest spot you would find is somewhere near Ostend, on the coast of Belgium. One can also visit the official NSCR website for some useful tips on the ride.

Leh-Manali Highway, India

Situated in North India, the Leh-Manali cycle route is something that every cyclist in the world dreams of. The ride starts from Manali in Himachal Pradesh and passes through five passes with the highest altitude of 5602 meters at Khardung La pass. Each of the five passes is unique in itself. The Bara Lachha La is one of the loopiest passes, Rohtang is the most unpredictable among the five, Naki La & Lachu Lung La are said to be the Twin Brothers that next to each other and last but not the least Tanglag La is the most difficult to cross among all. 

Tere also comes Gata loops that offer around 22 curves and is capable of spending a fine chill down your spine when looked from above. This is not it, many other surprises await you once you decide to go it. Moray plains are one of the highest and coldest deserts in the world along with snow-laden peaks, Chandra-Bagha and Indus rivers. Once you reach the destination city of Leh, the beauty is beyond explanation. Do visit Pangong Tso which is the highest lake in the world at an altitude of 4,350 meters and extends from India to China.

The Great Divide Mountain Bike Road, North America

Great Divide route is a stretch of 4,400 km all the way from Canada’s Alberta to New Mexico. It is a ride on the world’s longest off-pavement route. The remoteness of the route is marked by epic scenery and great continental divide between Canada and the US. 

The entire road is muddy terrain, dirt road and mountain passing every day during the expedition. If you feel really motivated to go for the ride, let us scare you a little bit. The total elevation gain of the route is around 2,00,000 feet. The weather conditions are only favourable from June to September and it is almost impossible to visit in winters. Even a little rainfall will make the place impassably muddy for weeks.