Guided vs self-guided mountain bike tours
PREPARATION AND PLANNING
Time is precious to all of us, and planning a mountain bike adventure is no small undertaking. There are many different aspects to consider, not just the mountain biking routes. Even with the introduction of AI, you can lose hours researching accommodation, transport, places to eat, trails, weather, costs… and still not be entirely sure that the advice you’re getting is genuine and the best for you.
We’ve done all this research, and tried and tested the whole package for you, including escape routes and back-up plans, so why not take advantage of our expertise and local knowledge and leave the hard work to us?
But I like researching and planning myself…
Okay, so you like to take control of the planning process yourself, and take pleasure in creating your own mountain bike holidays for you and your friends/family. How do you know that what you’ve planned is the best itinerary, with the best accommodation and restaurants in the area? Can you be sure that your mountain bike adventure will live up to your friends’ expectations and deliver everything that they had hoped – and paid – for?
When you contact H+I Adventures you’ll speak to one of our expert Tour Specialists who is themselves a mountain biker and will understand your questions and concerns on a personal level. They’ll be able to talk you through the details of whichever tours you’re interested in, and relate those to your mountain biking or e-mountain biking experience to find the best fit for you. They can advise you on travel planning, training for your adventure, what to pack, and make recommendations on spending additional time in the country you’re visiting. We’ve been there and done that and we’ll happily share our top tips with you.
DELIVERING THE EXPERIENCE
If you’ve found it on AI, so has everyone else. Working with locals who have an intimate knowledge of their region, and close connections with all the service providers, makes a guided adventure much more likely to be something really special than an itinerary you’ve pulled together with the help of AI.
An incredible mountain bike tour isn’t about any one element of the trip, it’s about the whole package, and we work with local guides and fixers in every destination to ensure that the whole adventure lives up to, if not exceeds, your expectations.
We know what makes a good mountain bike tour absolutely fantastic, and it’s the combination of: excellent trails; delicious local food; beautiful scenery; friendly and welcoming accommodation; local culture and people; and experienced, knowledgeable guides who are prepared for every eventuality.
All of these details have been finalised well in advance of your arrival, and will appear seamless to you when on tour, but a lot of work has gone into producing the finished article.
But navigation is part of the fun for us…
We appreciate that some people really enjoy navigating their own way along the route, and perhaps we’ll never convince those people that having a guide is a better experience, but in some areas a small mistake in map reading can lead to an extremely long detour in the wrong direction. Tension builds and patience is tried, and when you finally end up in the not-as-nice-as-we-thought accommodation, no one is speaking and the mood of the group has deteriorated considerably.
ADDED VALUE
Going guided brings many benefits, including: having your own personal skills advisor, and expert in local geology, flora and fauna; having accommodation and food stops planned when you need them; having the reassurance of a plan B, C or even D, should that be required; menu tips in every restaurant; and someone with local connections who can reunite you with your phone charger when you leave it plugged in to your hotel room!
We will be on hand during each of our tours to offer just this kind of information and tips to help you understand more about the country you are experiencing, and to improve as a mountain biker.
TripAdvisor, AI and other online tools can go some way to helping you choose good accommodation and eating places, but you can spend a lot of time sifting through recommendations and often end up feeling more confused than when you started. You also won’t know if an establishment has changed ownership recently and suddenly gone downhill, or if the location really is what you were looking for.
We have spent a lot of time building up strong relationships with local accommodation and food providers for our trips, and in some cases this rapport allows us to offer you special meals for your group in small restaurants that don’t otherwise open for dinner.
With a local guide you’re more likely to have those special experiences that your average tourist misses out on… like stopping to share mint tea with a farmer in the Atlas mountains of Morocco, or a private cooking class in Finale Ligure.
WHEN THINGS DON’T GO ACCORDING TO PLAN
The real value of a guided mountain bike tour is demonstrated best when things don’t go exactly as planned. When the weather takes a turn for the worst and a ride you thought would take five hours actually takes more like nine. You don’t have enough food or energy left in the tank and you don’t know any shortcuts. An experienced mountain bike guide will be able to gauge the weather, trail conditions, group mood, and will alter the route if necessary to make sure that your day in the saddle is the best it can be.
Here at H+I Adventures we also partner with Global Rescue and, as part of your adventure with us, you are covered by Global Rescue for emergency medical and security evacuation to the nearest hospital or safe zone.
If you have chosen the self-supported option, do you know the risks and are you prepared for them? Do you know where the phone reception cuts out? Where medical attention can be sought? What has the weather been like over the past couple of weeks? Do you have sufficient emergency equipment for the terrain you are traveling in?
We hope to have convinced you that a professionally guided mountain bike tour, booked through a reputable tour operator, is the best option for ensuring a truly outstanding adventure experience.
But if you’re still not sure, feel free to get in touch with us to speak to one of the team who will be delighted to give you more detail. You can also read some of our rider reviews and meet your mountain bike guides before making your decision.
