We are pleased to announce that our holiday to Peru in April 2012 is now guaranteed.

So, if you like to plan a little ahead and Peru is on your biking holiday wish list for 2012 then don’t leave it too late.

PER12/01 - 28 April to 12 May - Guaranteed to run - 8 Places remaining

PER12/02 - 23 June to 07 July - Not yet a guaranteed departure, but it’s not going to be long!!

For some great photos - Click Here  : For a detailed Tour Dossier - Click Here

Trip Overview:

This spectacular and diverse mountain biking and hiking holiday that takes us through Peru’s beautiful and verdant Sacred Valley to the incredible Amazon rainforest, and finishes with the Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu. Biking here in the rarefied air of the high Andes around the Inca capital Cusco is a largely downhill affair.

No other country in Latin America offers the same depth of attractions - both physical and cultural, than Peru. This spectacular trip appeals to those looking for great biking, amazing culture, stunning scenery, wildlife and one of the wonders of the world.

Whilst not technically challenging, these exhilarating rides on dirt roads and tracks are through some of the world’s most dramatic landscapes and ensure one of the most exciting biking itineraries in South America. In the Sacred Valley we cycle past ancient Inca ruins and visit the artisan market of Pisac, before climbing high into the Andes, to witness a spectacular sunrise over the Amazon Basin.

Next we embark on a fantastic downhill ride, through pristine cloudforest and continue on deep into the jungle. Here we stay in a picturesque jungle lodge where we can explore surrounding trails in search of rare wildlife. Returning to Cusco, we will have a day to relax before embarking on the four-day Inca Trail. We hike along an incredibly well preserved Inca path, through awesome Andean scenery, camping in
spectacular locations and arriving on foot at the majestic ruins of Machu Picchu.

Having sampled a numerous Skedaddle weekends and mountain biking holidays in Europe, we decided it was time to try something a bit closer to home and setting aside all concerns about the Scottish weather, booked on the Scottish Highlands Coast to Coast mountain biking holiday. After the customary enthusiastic welcome from the Skedaddle guides in the form of Steve, Tony and Charley, we were immediately put to work trying to reassemble our bikes with the added interest of turning it into a bike building time trial - successfully completed from our point of view with only a minor need for adjustments by Steve !!  First place went to our token German but at least we didn’t come last (hey John !!)

The Flying V’s get ready for the action…
 
With the Skedaddle van and landrover being replaced by a comfortable bus we then headed northwards to the Highlands.  After a stop off in Fort William to stock up on Avon Skin So Soft (Tony and Steve preferred to keep their body soufflé to themselves) as a first defence against the midges, we arrived at our first hotel in Glenshiels which set the tone for the holiday – great accommodation, good food and a wonderful setting. Our first days biking: woke up, brushed hair, showered, dressed and went downstairs for bacon and eggs ……During breakfast we were informed the day would comprise a sample of all the riding we would experience over the week.  We weren’t disappointed - thrilling single track, rocky ascents/descents and the customary Skedaddle beer challenge - those impossible hills thrown in to perfect bike carrying techniques. After a great days introductory riding we arrived at Tomdoun.  A beautiful hunting lodge hotel with great views and some nice Spanish bar maids to keep the boys happy.Next up was an easier day with a beautiful ride along the Caledonian Canal ending the day at Fort Augustus, finishing early to prepare for day 3 and the Corrieyairack Pass – the start of the 3 best days of the trip. Despite some apprehension about the prospects of climbing the Pass for hours (can’t remember the time taken or the height gain) it was a great ride – taken in easy chunks with plenty of jelly baby provision from Tony. With great encouragement from the guides, it was a challenging but doable climb leaving enough energy to enjoy the scenery. The descent was without doubt one of the best descents we have ever ridden (or not) and waiting at the bottom was lunch.

       The next two days provided great diversity in the terrain covering technical singletrack, woodland paths and rocky ascents/descents not to mention the odd river crossing and swim in the case of Charley. Supportive as always, Steve proved unplanned exits can happen to anyone with an over the handle bars into a peat bog. The guides had again arranged great accommodation and evening meals in Tomintoul and then in Ballater.Starting to feel overfed (although over generous measures of recovery drink may have had something to do with it), we needed a mountain to climb and conveniently found Mount Keane en route.  There was no way we were going to ride all the way up this one – even with encouragement and jelly babies!!  After a good effort riding ¾ of the route – on and off – we put our practiced bike carrying skills in to play and were rewarded at the top with panoramic views of the Cairngorms National Park, Glen Tanar and the Spittal of Glenmuick (we think according to our reference map).  Again a fantastic descent and quite manageable despite Tony’s lecture on the drainage ditches !!

With only an easy 15 miles left for our last day - a distance for which apparently snacks are just plain greedy (although we know Steve was trying to prevent us from buying extra large shorts next time) we had a leisurely road ride to the sea and the end of our coast to coast tour. It was sadly over too soon and we’d had so much fun that we just wanted to turn around and do it all over again!!  Words and photos from Vicky A. (UK) and Victoria B. (Australia if they win any sporting event and UK if not).       For more photos of the trip click here              For feedback from the trip click here

Our mid-level mountain biking trip in Montenegro is in the March edition of the USA’s best loved and prestigious Outside Magazine

Travel Hot Spots 2011 - You Can Explore a New Frontier