World's 10 best cycling roads you need to ride

Picking the world's 10 best cycling roads among the many paths and routes on our planet was not easy at all. Every country, on its own, along with its own features, biodiversity and stunning views, offers a very ample variety of tracks on mountains, coastal roads, plains, creating new and incredible adventures in the travellers' minds. To simplify things and try to inspire you, we tried to pick the world's ten best cycling roads you need to ride, choosing among the ones we cycled on...

World's 10 best cycling roads you need to ride

Twenty years of bicycle touring slowly emerge, bringing back the memories of those windy roads, those demanding, those dirty and isolated ones... Picking the world's ten best cycling roads for this article was not an easy job: in order to succeed in our task, we had to ask for help from all the dusty hard-disks we had in our house. Before starting with the list, be aware that this article will be repeatedly updated, year after year, in order to bring you along on our journeys on the road!

Indonesia: Crossing of the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park

The Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park is located in the eastern part of Java, Indonesia, in an area rich in active volcanos and lunar landscapes. From the village of Cemoro Lawang overlooking the caldera of the old volcano Tengger, imploded thousands of years ago, the itinerary starts: you can visit the Bromo by feet and cross the desert on your bicycle.In the big caldera, after the Tengger explosion, five new volcanos appeared, and cycling next to them is an incredible experience. But first, let's jump back a little: from Probolinggo, at sea level, we start the hard and long climb, with demanding gradients, towards Cemoro Lawang, 2000 m circa higher. The road, narrow and pretty broken down, harshly climbs towards the cones. Once in Cemoro Lawang, after a 47 km ride, stay for the night (there's also a market) in order to spectate the dawn from Bromo.

From the village, you ride towards Ranu Pani, below another mountain of this National Park (established in 1982), Mount Semeru. In order to reach Ranu Pani, you'll need to cross the sand, some rocks, and the grass of the caldera, before climbing again the volcano and reaching the village.

From this small village, I suggest taking some time for two-days trekking (you can overnight in a small house halfway on the itinerary) until the top of the active volcano, a real miracle of Nature.

Start and finish

Probolinggo - Ranu Pani (eastern part of Java)

Distance

66 km

Elevation gain

2500 m circa

Not to miss

Dawn on Mount Bromo
Ascending to Mount Bromo
Two days trekking on Mount Semeru

When to go

From May to October

Cambodia: From Mekong to Siem Reap through the jungle

From the border with Laos and more precisely from the city of Stung Treng this long road leads the most adventurous cyclists in the heart of Cambodian jungle, through small villages, unknown Khmer sites, and very biodiverse places.

In the village, you can take a boat to cross the Mekong river. On the opposite side, you find the road 64, but on the south, you can follow a gravel road, a red stripe leading to the heart of the jungle. Along the road you'll cross some remote villages, where one can be hosted in the typical houses and taste brown sugar juice, visit the archaeological site of Koh Kehrand after 4 days of riding, the touristic and colourful Siem Reap.

From this city, you can visit the splendid Angkor Wat... of course by bike! The road is a mixture of paved and gravel and the elevation gain is basically none, in the Cambodian jungle.

Start and finish

Stung Treng - Siem Reap

Distance

300 km circa

Elevation gain

None

Not to miss

Tasting brown sugar juice
Visiting the Khmer site of Koh Kehr
Riding in Angkor Wat
Traditional dishes and relax in Siem Reap

When to go

From November to March

South Africa and Lesotho: Sani Pass

The windy road of the Sani Pass connects South Africa to the small enclave of Lesotho, in the southern part of Africa. The Lesothian side has been paved, while the windy hairpin turns going down to the South-African border are still in a bad way and unpaved, but this makes them so magical. At the pass, 2876 metres high, you'll find a lodge, where you can relax and drink a fresh beer, to celebrate the highest pub in Africa.

Here, you can choose to spend the night under the stars before the long and fun descent among the Mountains of the Dragons towards South Africa and its region of KwaZulu-Natal. In Lesotho, you can start ascending the 53 km road from Mokhotlong, 2200 m. high.

Start and finish

Mokhotlong - South-African border

Distance

63 km circa

Elevation gain

500 m circa

Not to miss

Spending the night at Sani Pass under the stars
9 km of winding road in the middle of nowhere

When to go

From November to March

Morocco: From Dades Gorge to Todra

The road connecting the gorges of Dades and Todra is a beautiful sneaky road among the Moroccan mountains, with river fordings and meetings with Berber shepherd living in these beautiful areas.From these stunning gorges of Dades, you ride until M'semir and then enter this long road crossing the High Atlas.

This gravel road is not in good shape and it is damaged by the rain or the floods.This trail is perfect for adventure lovers and allows reaching Todra Gorges after a 160 km ride. Todra Gorges are a climbing lovers location, overlooking the river.

Start and finish

Msemir - Tamtetoucht

Distance

163 km circa

Elevation gain

1600 - 1700 m circa

Not to miss

Visiting Dades Gorges
Stopping at Todra Gorges
Meeting the Berber shepherd along the road

When to go

From April to June and from September to November

Useful information

Cycling in Morocco: 13 tips and charming bicycle routes

France: Corsica's western coast

Corsica is France's biggest island and is very close to Sardinia, in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea. Cycling in Corsica is an amazing experience, especially in the low season. The road we suggest starts in Calvì, on the western part of the island, crossing Galeria and its natural reserve, Porto, Piana, and the UNESCO heritage of the ravines, reaching Cargese.

The coastal views in Corsica don't need any introduction and during spring or autumn, when the temperature is perfect for us cyclists, are just perfect. My advice is riding North to South in order to have the sea next to you and avoid the strong mistral wind!

Partenza e arrivo

Calvì - Cargese

Distance

110 km circa

Elevation gain

2000 m circa

Not to miss

Visiting to the fortified village of Calvi
Exploring the Scandola Natural Reserve
Riding through the ravines in Piana

When to go

From March to June and from September to November

Useful information

Cycling Corsica... solo bicycle tour

Norway: Route 17

Route 17, or Kystriksveien, is a long coastal road connecting Steinkjer to Bodø, the main port to Lofoten islands. This road, one of our world's 10 best cycling roads, slithers on the coast of the Norwegian Sea. 

The route 17 allows riding along the windy coastal line using the presence of 6 boats. From South to North this trail connects some of the most important naturalistic beauties in Norway, like Torghatten, the mountain with a hole, the island of Lovund where you can spot many sea puffins, the islands of Vega, UNESCO heritage, Svartisen (Norwegian second glacier) and the world's most powerful whirlpool,  Saltstraumen. In order to complete Route 17, you'll need 7 to 9 days.

Start and finish

Steinkjer - Bodø

Distance

630 km

Elevation gain

6000 m circa

Not to miss

Trekking in Lovund to see some sea puffins
Trekking to Svartisen glacier
Saltstraumen
Visit to Torghatten, the mountain with a hole

When to go

From May to September

Romania: The Transalpine road

Romania is a surprise for every bicycle traveller: hospitality, beautiful mountains, fortified cities and medieval villages will welcome you together with many secondary and gravel roads. The highest rideable road of this country crosses the southern Carpathians North to South reaching 2145 m altitude at Urdele Pass and connecting Novaci and Sebeș.

The Transalpine road is for sure one of the world's best cycling roads you need to ride. It crosses untouched landscapes high in the mountains. When you reach 1900 m, if you love some dirt, you can detour from the Transalpine to the Strategica, a military road created by German soldiers. The Transalpine has been planned by King Karol II on top of a Roman old road. This bicycle trip can continue towards the Transfagarasan, the second-highest road of this country, know also as Ceausescu's folly, Romanian communist dictator.

Start and finish

Sebeș - Novaci

Distance

148 km

Elevation gain

2200 m circa

Not to miss

A detour on the Strategica Road
The views of Parang mountains, on the southern Carpathians

When to go

From May to October

Useful information

Transylvania by bicycle: 900km on the Carpathians amid bears and vampires

Greece: Crossing the Tzoumerka National Park

If you don't know Greece too well, the continental part can have in store some nice surprises. From Ioànnina, a city in the Epirus region, you can start a spectacular crossing of the Tzoumerka National Park, leading you in the heart of this naturalistic area, pretty much inhabited and rich in windy and high roads.

From the big city, you start climbing on what we called Greek Stelvio to get close to the belly of the National Park.On the road don't even consider missing Kipina's Monastery, built in the rocks in 1212, for a visit, and the stone village of Kalarites, where Sotorio Bulgari was born (the founder of the namesake company), all in the silence of the woods only interrupted by the sound of water and animals. After some up and downs, you reach Kalambaka, just below Meteora's pinnacles, UNESCO heritage since 1988.

Start and finish

Ioànnina - Kalambaka

Distance

139 km

Elevation gain

2270 m circa

Not to miss

Kipina's Monastery
Kalarites and its stone houses
One camping night
Meteora bicycle tour

When to go

From April to June and from September to November

Useful information

Cycling Greece: stunning bicycle routes and tips
Greece by bike: from the Adriatic Sea to the Aegean Sea

Bolivia: Ruta de la Joya

The road of the lagoons, or Ruta de la Joya, is the world's most incredible road I ever cycled... and it's hard! The difficulties are so many: the terrain is disconnected and sandy, many ascents, you ride always at 3500-4600 m of altitude with low oxygen, you can find few restoration points and nature is very wild! Maybe because all of this you can easily be impressed by this road.

From San Cristobal or Vila Alota, you start climbing right away not without some difficulties reaching the first salty lagoons where you can meet four species of the six of pink flamingos. The most famous one is Colorada Lagoon, but you can spot many other points of interest on this road: from the geyser Sol de Manana to Dalì Desert, from Arbol de Piedra to the Riserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Edoardo Avaroa.At the border between Bolivia and Chile, the dirt road ends, leaving the bicycle traveller to a paved descent until San Pedro de Atacama, where the namesake desert starts.

Chile: Abra Taapaca

From the remote border between Bolivia and Chile, in Visviri you can begin an adventure along a desert road among high active volcanos. This idyllic corner of Chile offers smoking cones, breathtaking ascents, the smallest villages and Lauca National Park.

The trail at first passes next to the Peruvian border, then turns towards South and the fearsome Abra Tapaaca, 4802 m (even if the sign indicates 5200 m). From this peak, from which you can easily sight vicunas and wild guanacos, you ride on the asphalt towards Chungarà Lagoon, in Lauca National Park. The reflection of Parinacota volcano in the water of this lake with flamingos is surreal and in the distance the shape of Sajama, the highest mountain in Bolivia, appears. At the border with Tambo Quemado, you get back to Bolivia, in Sajama National Park.

Which are the world's best cycling roads you rode? Which one do you dream of riding?