Catherine Gray

Cycling holidays are definitely the best way to see and experience a country - you see so much more! I love the fresh air, the sense of adventure and the fact the day ahead is mapped out for me to enjoy. It’s wonderful I can enjoy the same holidays with my 10 year old son who also loves being on two wheels - he has enjoyed twelve cycling holidays with Freedom Treks already!

Best of Slovenia - Lakes to the Coast. My first tour with Freedom Treks back in 2013 and my first time with the luxury of luggage transfers! This tour holds a very special place in my heart; the perfect way to get to know this little country. Swooping down from Bled to Bohinj on day two is beyond magical and there are constant impressive sights; high mountains and limestone hills, impressive castles and deep caves, medieval towns and Renaissance and Baroque cities.

I loved the quiet country roads, the sun-drenched olive groves, gorgeous coastal routes and stunning towns on the Puglia tour. Oh and the fabulous cheap coffee was good too! I loved having an extra day in Lecce. In practically every direction you look, there is a beautiful Baroque building or Roman ruin to admire.

The South Dalmatia tour was one of my best holidays ever!The perfect combination of some really good cycling (ok, so there are some big climbs but the distances aren’t too long), reading, chatting or snoozing as the boat motored to the next island and exploring each beautiful town along with a sundowner overlooking the sea.

Cycling along the river listening to the birds tweeting on the Danube River was wonderful. Stopping off to taste local pear and apple cider or local wine the Wachau valley along the route was also very welcome. The crew on the boat could not have been more friendly and helpful. The on-board guide gave endless top tips.

Lakes of Southern Bavaria -  absolutely stunning! We were always so close to the Bavarian Alps but without any big climbs as the routes were through the valleys with just a few hills. The cycle network was excellent and easy to follow with the route notes and so varied; we circled lakes, followed rivers and cycled through marshland and forests avoiding big roads. Oh and the beer was really refreshing too!

The Archipelago Island Cycle was a wonderful way to get away from it all. Cycling through heavily scented pine forests, island hopping on the local ferries and having picnics by the sea was magical and so were cinnamon buns! It was great to get a city fix with Stockholm too.

Family Lake Constance saw my 7-year-old complete his first cycle tour using only his own pedal power. 100 miles in 5 cycle days meant both he and us as parents felt incredibly proud! Plus, we ALL had a total blast along the way. We all enjoyed the fantastic network of well-established cycle paths, swimming every day in either the outdoor lidos or the lake and crossing borders is always fun for all ages.

Ok, so I have only done one tour in Asia - Thailand's Coasts - Bangkok to Khao Lak Bike Tour - but it was spectacular! 10 days of cycling on incredibly good quality roads through Thailand from Bangkok to the Andaman Sea and across to the south coast was stunning. We cycled through palm tree plantations spotting monkeys collecting coconuts, alongside sandy beaches passing fishing villages and even had a night on a private island all whilst being looked after by a fantastic and knowledgeable local guide. The private air-conditioned transfers were incredibly comfortable and the daily provision of cold drinks and amazing local snacks were very welcome!

Don't pack too much! I made that mistake on my first Freedom Treks tour to Slovenia. Plus packing cubes have been a game changer on hotel and bike tours. Each family member has a different colour and it is really easy to pull out exactly what you need each evening without having to unpack or repack.