Imagine cycling through Asia. Hopping on two wheels to cruise along the Mekong River or to historical sites and war museums in Thailand; or pedaling less-visited pathways in Angkor Wat. For clients who yearn to get that up-close and personal experience when exploring a destination, a bike tour might be one of the best options. It allows them to visit out-of-the-way sights and offers a sense of truly connecting with the destination.
Grasshopper Adventures, which has been around for 15 years, offers just this type of experience with multi-day tours in 14 countries, as well as 60 to 160 day tours per week. The company has 150+ staff across Asia and has a 1,000 bike fleet, and group sizes max out at 14, with a second guide on hand when the group goes over seven guests.
The countries on offer? Bhutan, Japan, Vietnam, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan…and the list goes on. In other words, you name it in Asia, and Grasshopper Adventures will probably be pedaling through it. On offer are scheduled group tours, as well as self-guided cycling journeys, the aforementioned day tours—with nine locations across four countries—and family tours. For the latter, Grasshopper Adventures creates itineraries that are specially designed for families, with biking complemented by such activities as kayaking, cooking classes, visits to animal sanctuaries and scavenger hunts.
One of the most unique offerings are the Bike & Boat adventures to Southeast Asia with cruises along the region’s storied rivers—the Mekong between Vietnam and Cambodia; the River Kwai in Thailand; and the Brahmaputra River in India. Take the 8-day Bike & Boat the Brahmaputra itinerary, with the next departure on Dec. 25, followed by Feb. 13, March 13, Nov. 20 and Dec. 21, 2021 departures. Highlights include a river cruise on a private 10-cabin ship; cycling the back roads of Assam, with remnants of centuries-old empires; rambling along by trishaw on a city tour in Guwahati, the capital of Assam; and taking a Pobitora Wildlife Park safari in search of one-horned rhinos. Tour is priced from $3,790 pp dbl. Make note: Non-cyclists are welcomed on Bike and Boat tours with guided excursions with a separate guide. Other itineraries include the 8-day Thailand Bike, Boat & Beach tour, as well as the 9-day Mekong Bike & Boat tour.
Adventurers might be inclined to go for the 13-day Mighty Mustang itinerary in Nepal. Categorized as a Level 4 cycling tour—in other words, specially designed for intrepid cyclists—it explores the lost kingdom of Lo, the dramatic landscapes of the Mustang Valley and ancient Tibetan cultures. Rates from $4,900, with a March 29, 2021 departure.
As adrenaline-inducing as that Nepal tour might be, Grasshopper Adventures has tours for all level of cyclists and has a fleet of e-bikes on hand that will allow even the most hesitant of cyclists to ride along with the fittest of the group.
For more information, visit grasshopperadventures.com. For more Asia coverage, click here; and for more tour options, click here.
