Gravel holiday destinations

So I’ve mountain biked all over the World over the years – unsupported DIY wilderness trips rather than organised holidays.

I now find myself more into the gravel bike and fast approaching a significant birthday (starts with a 6…) and it would be nice to do something special. For my 50th I rode the Annapurna circuit but maybe this time something a little less strenuous.

Any suggestions? Are there areas noted for being gravel bike meccas?

I can highly recommend the off road version of the Via de la Plata in Spain. Easily doable with a robust gravel bike. Super cheap albergues all the way if you don’t want to camp.

Girona- started with Roadies but plenty of gravel (and MTB) in them there hills

Sweeden- thousands of miles of gravel. Not many people. Camp anywhere you like.

Second vote for Girona.

The riding is great. Nice cafe culture and the bars/restaurants are good. Makes for a really nice holiday.

Tuscany – strade bianche the original white roads and scenery so aching beautiful that you’ll be close to tears (well it did for me anyway)

It is hard work, but i loved the Torino-Nice rally, you can take variations on the route to include more/less off road, but the high gravel passes of French/Italian Alps and bivvying in the old Napoleonic forts on route.

I have had some great bikepacking trips in Belgium – this was great – https://bikepacking.com/routes/ardennes-arbalete/

I hit 50 next year and am looking at a variation of this route, liking the idea of gravel roads, linking up small micro-breweries – https://bikepacking.com/routes/appalachian-gravel-growler/

Also, having watched TdF this year, been looking at a long weekend hitting the gravel roads of Champagne region of France

Kinda tongue in cheek…but you did mention Mecca.

I was away camping with family and the day after a morning at some great mtb tracks went for a couple of hours gravel ride and had one of the best rides ever.

I happened to notice some gravel bike route signage and discovered there was a website too:

https://www.mountainbikemecca.com.au/

Just don’t come in rainy season, you could be drowned.

A third vote for Girona – it’s really gone big on the whole gravel scene. Loads of trails all within east striking distance of the city. The whole place is really set up for cycling.

Following with interest.

The Ruta Vía de la Plata sounds fabulous.

@daverhp please tell more about the annapurna ride

for my 50th 10 years ago I rode the Hot Springs Mountain bike route in Idaho

Idaho Hot Springs Mountain Bike Route

Another suggestion for a memorable ride the Trans Germany Bikepacking route https://www.komoot.com/tour/972049395 I did this about 5 years ago at touring pace.

Albania. Just choose any rd that’s not a main rd and it’s all gravel. This is one route we’ve done
https://cycle.travel/map/journey/328589 was c50:50 gravel. Plenty of gnarlier options but I was towing a kiddy trailer. See also the accursed bike thingummy.

Done a trip in the south and northern Greece too.

Hopefully I will be able to recommend Romania too as that’s where we’re going next week.

Tuscany – strade bianche the original white roads and scenery so aching beautiful that you’ll be close to tears (well it did for me anyway)

Was in Tuscany last month. Rode around Pienza and Montepulciano…..

I was close to tears… Man, those hills are steep in places!

Very pretty, mind.

Thanks folks – some food for thought there…

Have a look at Morocco – some fantastic scenery. Lots and lots of gravel roads.