On our Highland Odyssey mountain bike tour you’ll experience the glorious tapestry of landscapes, trails, people, and food that make up the Scottish Highlands.
From the rolling hills of the Cairngorm massif to the imposing peaks of the Cuillin and Torridon mountains, you’ll ride singletrack through remote, rugged wilderness, and receive a warm welcome in the small, rural communities in which you’ll be staying.
From mainland to the Isle of Skye, you’ll cross land and water and immerse yourself in Highland life.
To find out if this intermediate+ MTB tour in the Highlands of Scotland is right for you, read more on the skill and fitness levels required.
The flow of your Highland Odyssey mountain bike tour has been designed to become progressively more technical throughout the course of the week. Your guides will talk you through each new challenge so that you make the most of your Highland experience and go home a more technically skilled mountain biker.
£1,950 GBP / $2,633 USD / €2,340 EUR per person (ex. flights, based on two sharing a room)
*Single supplement is only applicable if you are travelling solo and do not wish to share a room with another rider of the same sex. If you’re happy to do that, you need not add the supplement.
We want you to have the best experience in the Highlands, so it’s important to be sure that this is the perfect mountain bike adventure, with the right level of challenge, for you.
You ride your mountain bike on trails around once per week, and would be comfortable riding a variety of trails including: rooty singletrack through forests; rocky double track climbs; muddy singletrack descents; and loose, rocky trails. Read more on our intermediate+ skill level.
Does this sound like you? Your vacation time is precious and we want to be absolutely sure that you’re making the most of it. Be honest with yourself, if this adventure isn’t right for you, we have other MTB tours that may be a better fit for your mountain biking ability.
Please note: The skill level required reflects an overall rating for the trails on the trip but you should expect to find sections and obstacles that push your ability levels.
Skill level: Intermediate+
Fitness level: 5/7
Typical trails you’ll be riding
Training for your Highland Odyssey MTB adventure
To get the most out of your mountain bike tour in Scotland you should plan plenty of training in advance of your tour.
The ideal bike for riding in the Scottish Highlands is a good quality full-suspension mountain bike with 29” or 27.5” wheels, a dropper seat post, and 130mm -150mm of travel front and rear. Enduro style tyres that have robust puncture protection, such as the Maxxis Minion with EXO+ sidewalls are ideal for this adventure.
If you wish to bring your own bike to ride you must ensure that it has been fully serviced before the trip. Here are some handy tips on how best to travel with your own bike.
If you would prefer not to travel with your bike, we can arrange rental of a high quality full suspension mountain bike for the duration of your mountain bike tour in Scotland.
We have a fleet of Yeti SB140 29″ mountain bikes available to rent in Scotland. Please advise of your height if you wish to rent a bike, so that we know we have the right size for you.
We only run small group mountain bike tours to ensure that everyone has the best experience possible, and there will be a maximum of eight people in each group. The minimum number of people we require to run this mountain bike tour in Scotland is four.
Our coast-to-coast Scotland mountain bike tour caters for a wide age range; typically between 30- and 55-years-old. Regardless of age, you must have the appropriate level of physical fitness and mountain biking skills to participate in this adventure. Please refer to clause 14 of our terms and conditions of booking to find more information on rider age.
The Highland Odyssey mountain bike tour is a guided mountain bike vacation, ideal for intermediate+ mountain bikers.
You’ll ride our guides’ favourite trails, which are technically challenging, in some of the most remote and dramatic scenery in Scotland.
The distances we cover each day range from 35km to 60km, in accordance with the technical difficulty of the trails: the easier stages of the route are longer.
The technical difficulty of the trails increases each day, so you can practice your technique and increase your confidence as you progress through the tour.
Each evening your guides will chat with you about the following day’s mountain biking and give you an idea of the sorts of trails you can look forward to. If there’s anything you feel anxious about, your guides will be happy to discuss it with you.
No, you only need to carry a 20 litre back pack with you whilst riding. Your luggage will be transferred in the van.
Your guide will be very happy to give you some bike skills training during your trip to help improve your confidence and your enjoyment of your Highland Odyssey adventure.
If there is a section that you would prefer not to ride, then you can simply hop off your bike and walk. You won’t be the only one to walk certain sections and it’s not a competition in biking ability; it’s a mountain bike holiday!
Your mountain bike guides are local, qualified, experienced professionals who have a real passion for mountain biking and for the fabulous outdoor playground that is the Highlands of Scotland.
Your safety is their number one priority, closely followed by your enjoyment of the tour. They will always be on-hand to answer any questions or requests you may have throughout your trip.
On this Highland Odyssey mountain bike tour you will be staying in 3 and 4-star B&Bs, guest houses and small hotels. We use the best quality accommodation in each area, and favour small, family-run establishments over large chain hotels.
You’ll often be staying in family homes, which gives you the chance to get to know the local people of the Highlands of Scotland.
All breakfasts are included in the price of the tour, and you’ll enjoy fantastic breakfasts at your accommodation which will set you up well for each day in the saddle.
Most days you will be staying fuelled with snacks and sandwiches on trail, rather than having a proper lunch stop.
Whilst lunches and dinners are not included in the tour price, so that you can choose what you wish from the dinner menu, we will eat together as a group every evening.
You should budget around £65 per day for meals.
The ideal bike for riding through the Highlands of Scotland is a good quality full-suspension mountain bike with 29” or 27.5” wheels, a dropper seat post, and 130mm -150mm of travel front and rear. We recommend good quality tyres that have robust sidewall protection and that are set up tubeless.
Read the full kit list to find out what you need to pack for your Highland Odyssey mountain bike tour.
You will have access to laundry facilities the first two nights in the Cairngorms, and after that it will be a case of hand washing and using the drying rooms in the guest houses, so we recommend packing a small amount of laundry detergent.
Unfortunately not. We are working hard to provide each and every customer who rides with us an unparalleled mountain bike experience in every destination we ride. This takes years of experience, riding and planning to get right, and a drone adds a very real danger to the group’s riding experience and health & safety.
Inverness is well connected to the rest of the UK by good rail, air, and coach links.
If you are flying with your own bike we advise flying into Inverness via London Heathrow or Amsterdam Schipol. Travelling by train with a bike in Scotland is complicated.
If you plan to travel by train with your mountain bike, please note that you will need to book your bike onto the train in advance as there is very limited space.
It is also worth noting that if you fly into Edinburgh, you have to take a tram from the airport to the train station, and then the train to Inverness which takes approx 3 hours.
Visas
Visitors from certain countries require a visa to holiday in the UK. Please check the UK Government website before booking to see if you will need a visa for your Scotland mountain bike tour.
Arrival and departure details
Your Highland Odyssey mountain bike tour will start and end in Inverness.
If you are flying to Scotland we advise that you arrive the day before and book an overnight stay in Inverness, in order to allow for any delays in flights and/or luggage.
We have created this handy guide to spending 24 hours in Inverness before the start of your Highland Odyssey mountain bike tour.
Our mountain bike guides in Scotland are of the highest level.
They are qualified in first-aid and they have the knowledge and experience to lead a group safely in these remote, wild and beautiful parts of the Scottish Highlands.
Our guides have years of experience in the saddle on the trails of Scotland and will be able to enhance your holiday with facts and fables on local history, flora and fauna. They’re also genuinely nice people and will do their best to make sure that everyone in the group has a great time.
One of the things that set our tours apart from other mountain bike tours in Scotland is the excellent accommodation we use. We understand that when you’ve had a big day in the Great Outdoors, you want a warm welcome, hot shower and a comfortable place to relax and unwind – because that’s exactly what we’re looking for too. This is why we only work with accommodation providers across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland whose standards of service match our own high expectations.
Food is a major part of our Highland Odyssey mountain bike tour, and we’ve worked hard to find the best local restaurants, cafes and pubs that produce the most delicious home-cooked meals using fresh, locally sourced produce.
Most days you will be staying fuelled with snacks and sandwiches on trail, rather than having a proper lunch stop.
Whilst lunches and dinners are not included in the tour price, so that you can choose what you wish from the dinner menu, we will eat together as a group every evening.
We’ve worked hard to choose the best local restaurants, cafes and pubs that produce the most delicious home-cooked meals using fresh, locally sourced produce.
No vaccinations are required for visiting Scotland.
You should always consult your own doctor or physician before travelling to new countries to seek their advice on matters concerning your health abroad.
You can drink the water from all taps in Scotland, and also from some of the rivers along your tour, following instructions from your guide.
Please let us know if you have any special food requirements, allergies or pre-existing conditions your guides should know about.
You should always consult your own doctor or physician before travelling to new countries to seek their advice on matters concerning your health abroad.
Your health and safety on tour is our top priority and when you travel with us you will be covered by Global Rescue emergency medical and evacuation services.
The official currency of Scotland is the Great British Pound (GBP) and is the only currency that will be accepted. ATM machines are available in Inverness.
Tipping
It is not compulsory to tip your guides or drivers in Scotland, but it is much appreciated. If you feel you’ve had a good service or experience on your mountain bike tour in the Highlands, you can tip at your discretion.
It is not compulsory to tip in restaurants, however should you wish to tip your servers, 10% – 15% of your meal cost would be acceptable.
You are required as a condition of booking to be insured against medical and personal accident risks. In this policy you must include cover for mountain biking and we recommend that you take out a policy which covers cancellation and baggage, including your bike.
We work with Global Rescue whose policies are specially designed for adventure travel and you can arrange your insurance cover directly with them.
Our local guides in Scotland are passionate mountain bikers, but their passion for the outdoors and their home country goes beyond two wheels. They have a deep knowledge of the culture, history, flora and fauna, and they’ll share this with you as you explore the Highlands with them.
Submit your review | |
The Highland Tour was incredible and I can’t recommend it enough. There are already excellent reviews here of a lot of the tour so I won‘t repeat the same. In particular, a couple reviews below, „All Bangers, No Mash“ from June 1, 2023, is from a fellow rider on the same tour as me. I can only second the well written review! Instead, I wanted to share three aspects that made my personal experience different from the rest of group: I was the only rider who had never done a MTB tour before, I was the only solo rider (solo female, in case this matters to anyone), and I was on a rental bike!
The first tour experience: If you haven‘t done a mountain bike tour before, and you‘re reading this, don‘t hesitate! Call the office, be honest about your ability and they will sort you out. I dealt with Matt, and he asked all the right questions. They do an excellent job to try and ensure the group works well together, which in our case was definitely true. Some of us were stronger on the climbs, others on the descents, and across the whole tour, it was a great fit. You will have a great time, just book the tour.
The solo experience: also very easy. Due to logistical challenges (two young kids, living in a different country than our families) it wasn‘t possible for my husband and I to go together. It might feel a bit strange the day before the tour, arriving somewhere alone, but H+I has great recommendations of how to spend 24h in a city (Inverness in this case). I followed the guide, went for a nice walk and saw the city. By the time the tour briefing is done at HQ you will know everyone and you‘re just part of the group. Pro tip: having a room to yourself can be a real bonus when you have to dry wet gear!
The rental experience: If you‘re at all on the fence, you‘re probably worried about riding a new bike on such a tour. I was, and looking back, I shouldn’t have wasted time worrying about it. H+I do an amazing job organizing these tours, and that includes the rental fleet. It’s not your average rental fleet, it’s a bunch of Yeti’s! My rental was a Yeti SB140.
In short, if your bike doesn‘t have 160mm/140mm travel and a stiff enough fork (eg FOX 36), get the rental bike. My own bike was on the limit of the recommendations, and Matt suggested I might be „more comfortable“ on one of their Yeti‘s. These enduro type bikes are perfect for this type of terrain and tour. The slack headtube and steeper seat tube meant the bike was indeed much more comfortable than my own slightly more XC geometry bike. It was easy to handle down all the descents, especially the steep ones. It also climbs incredibly well, whether on single track or fire road. While any one of these rides can probably be accomplished on the bike I left at home, across 8 days of rugged terrain, the extra suspension/shock come in really handy!
There is no bike to assemble / disassemble. You can stand at HQ and drink coffee instead. You also don‘t have to bring all kinds of bike related spares in your luggage. Nor do you have to lug the bike through airports, possibly across continents. You‘re not only saving the cost of the airline bike fee, but also the „hidden costs“ of bike travel, such as having to take an expensive taxi to and from the airport (35-40GBP vs 6 GBP bus, both one way). I travelled from the Netherlands, and would have rented a bike bag (50 EUR) and calculated the bike rental at a break even. If you‘re travelling from further away and are on the fence, consider that it‘s also cheaper and much more convenient to rent the bike.
Depending on what your regular bike is, it might be a bit of a shift to ride this bike. Again, if you‘re worried about riding a totally new bike for such a tour, I wouldn‘t. The bike was indeed quite a change for me, both in geometry and riding a 29er (from a 27.5). The team at H+I set the bike up for me while everyone was building their bikes. The first day warm up ride did feel strange and I briefly considered whether it was a mistake to ride a new bike for this tour. By the second day I forgot all about this. I managed to hop over 300 water bars on this bike between Skye and Torridon, and every climb and descent just felt great. During the Torridon ride I couldn‘t have been happier, while a fellow rider commented at dinner that he really could have used a FOX36 today. As I already said, the H+I rental bikes are made for this tour.
All in all, the rental experience was indeed the thing that brought this tour together for me. I felt like a much better rider, thanks to all of Chris’ helpful coaching, and because I was on the right bike for the terrain. After having ridden it all, I can confidently say that Matt was right, I was „more comfortable“ and had an absolutely fantastic time!
My son Luke and I recently completed the Highland Odyssey tour in late July. We signed up to go to Scotland for the bike riding but ended up getting so much more out of our trip! The riding was real adventure riding - a lot of it point to point, rugged, and challenging! Every day is a new adventure with spectacular scenery and different terrain.
We got to see several different communities and interact with locals in each place. The food was exceptional each night and the lodging was unique and just right for being on the road for a week.
Our guide Chris made a point of informing us about each place we stayed - what the community was like, what the best whisky or gin was, what the best local foods were. We really got a tour of the Highlands in addition to the incredible riding! H+I did a great job of putting this itinerary together and Chris did a fantastic job of leading it. Highly highly recommend it!
The rental Yetis were awesome too! And it pays to come in good shape for the riding conditions - the preparation guide for the tour will make sure you're ready for 7 days of mountain biking here.
Thanks to Chris and Matthew for their efforts to make the tour go off as enjoyable as it did!
We want you to have the best experience, so it’s important to be sure that this is the perfect mountain bike tour, with the right level of challenge, for you.
We want you to have the best experience, so it’s important to be sure that this is the perfect mountain bike tour, with the right level of challenge, for you.
