UPDATED May 10, 2026 BY Olha Kurochkina IN Plum Ride no comments Unexpected Europe On The Plum Ride: The Road Less TravelledWhen people say theyve seen Europe, they usually mean theyve visited a handful of cities: Paris, Prague, Budapest of course. And fair enough theyre beautiful. But theres another version of Europe that exists in between those places. You dont really notice it from a train window and you definitely dont experience it from 30,000 feet. But on a bike? Oh, you cant avoid it, you actually ride straight through it.Claude Monet, Stacks of Wheat (End of Summer), 1891. The Art Institute of Chicago (public domain)For me, its like the Haystacks series by Claude Monet. At first glance, they could look the same, but stay with them a little longer, and light shifts, colours soften or deepen, and the mood changes completely. Riding the Plum Ride feels a bit like that. Even if youve travelled widely the kind of person who doesnt get easily impressed this route still has a couple of aces up in its sleeve for you. But not with big names, rather with the moments you didnt see coming.KokorinskoThe opening days along the Baltic but not the version youd book a hotel for. The roads shift in texture, the coastline appears and disappears, and the rhythm of the ride settles in before youve really thought about it. A quiet ride into Kokonsko, a protected landscape north of Prague, where sandstone formations some shaped like natural mushrooms appear between thick forests, and the road slips through valleys known as Mchas country, named after a romantic poet who found inspiration in these forests.Bansk tiavnicaA town like Bansk tiavnica, a UNESCO-listed former silver mining town built into the hills, where uneven streets wind through a well-preserved centre, and the surrounding slopes marked by terraces and a hillside Calvary quietly reflect its past. Theres a stretch where, in just two days, you ride through three countries Hungary, a brief crossing of Croatia, and into Serbia along the flat river plains shaped by the Danube and Drava, where farmland, wetlands, and open horizon dominate the view. The road runs straight for miles, the sky feels bigger than expected, and the borders themselves register only as a sign at the side of the road.Cycling from Ni to Vranje, the route follows quieter roads along the South Morava valley for over 120 km, gradually shifting from open farmland into a more rugged landscape, where the road tightens and the terrain begins to take over. Its a stretch often linked to the EuroVelo 11 corridor, but it doesnt feel marked or curated more like moving through a part of Serbia where history sits close to the surface.NiNi, once a crossroads of empires and the birthplace of Constantine the Great, carries that weight quietly, while further south, the atmosphere begins to change Ottoman influence showing through in architecture, in pace, in small details you notice without trying. By the time you reach Vranje, the shift feels complete a place shaped by a different rhythm, where stories linger a little longer than expected.Lake OhridCycling from Mavrovo to Debar, the route runs for about 50 km through the largest national park in North Macedonia, where forested slopes give way to the Radika River gorge, and the road follows emerald water between steep canyon walls. Ohrid a pearl of the route, where an ancient lake meets a UNESCO-listed old town, recently named the prettiest place in Europe in 2026 the kind of place that might remind you of somewhere like Lake Como, just without the same sense of being already fully claimed.ThessalonikiAnd finally, Thessaloniki where Greece looks a little different than expected, less polished, more layered, and where the arrival feels less like a moment, and more like the natural conclusion of everything that came before. Europe isnt just the places you recognize. Its everything in between the parts you dont plan for, and only really see when you move through them on a bike.RELATEDTOURPlum Ride Plum brandy has a long and illustrious history in Central and Eastern Europe, beginning as far back as the 14th century. Distilled from local plums... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "Unexpected Europe On The Plum Ride: The Road Less Travelled" Cancel reply

UPDATED May 6, 2026 BY Guest Author IN Tour d'Afrique no comments Carried By The Iron Horse Across AfricaMasoud Riyazati was the Content Creator on the 2026 Tour dAfrique Cycling Expedition.In Nostalghia, a movie by Tarkovsky, a man walks across an empty pool holding a candle, and his task is to walk across the pool without the flame going out. He tries once. The flame goes out. He returns to the beginning and tries again, and this repeats over and over. The task is simple. But it demands everything. This scene is a cinematic version of life on a long-distance cycling tour.You start riding. Then something goes wrong. You get a flat tire. You fix it and you continue. Your bike breaks. You fix it and continue. You run out of water. You fill the bottles and continue. You wake up the next day and everything repeats.Over and over. Again and again. Nothing changes. And yet, everything does._________________________________________About three months ago, a group of strangers met for the first time with one goal: to cross Africa on their iron horse. In Khoekhoegowab, a click language spoken in Namibia, the bicycle is called iron horse. A simple name. But it felt like the right name for what carried us all the way from Egypt to South Africa.The 7,170-kilometre journey started in Egypt, then moved through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. Each country had its own character.Egypt with its pyramids and endless yellow deserts.Kenya and the Maasai lands.Tanzania and Malawi, with their busy roads and children who run beside you, asking questions.The rusty bicycles that carry a family.Zambia and Zimbabwe, with their lush, green landscapes, climbs, and challenging roads.Botswana, with elephants casually walking on the road or standing by the roadside.Namibia Oh Namibia! An otherworldly, timeless place that feels like a different planet.And South Africa, a vibrant country with a complex and controversial history.Just like the countries, each person had their own character. We had people in their 30s and their 70s. Twenty-seven-year-old Ana and seventy-four-year-old Clyde. Fiona, with no experience in long-distance cycling. Adam, on a personal quest to take a new direction in life. Ralf, a retired engineer who was sometimes even faster than our trucks to reach the next campsite. His pace, from start to finish, was steady. And Fred, an enthusiastic doctor who joined us in Victoria Falls, was soon loved by everyone.They all had the same map, the same route, but different reasons to be here.And Africa, in its own way, gives something different to each of them._________________________________________We had storms that followed us wherever we went. Rain that stayed. Days when our tents filled with water and sand, poles bending under the wind.In Botswana, the night before the 217 km ride, my tent flooded, and there was nothing I could do. I lay in my tent, soaked, listening to the constant rhythm of water, hoping it would stop. It didnt. It carried on through the night. By morning, it was a shared experience. The campsite had turned into mud and scattered gear. You look around and see sleepless faces that still have to ride 217 kilometres.And then Namibia. The biggest surprise for all of us. You expect the desert to be dry. It wasnt. We were wrong. The storms kept coming. Some days, they never really left. Not to mention, we saw a river running beside the desert dunes._________________________________________Riding through shifting sand, corrugation, gravel, tarmac, rocks, and even riverbeds, across rugged plains, teaches you that survival is not just physical. It is about mental strength and finding joy in small, sometimes uncomfortable moments. Trusting that, in its own way, the road will provide.Like the day we were heading to Canyon Farmyard. The dam overflowed, and the road turned into a river. No way back, no way forward, but the road led us to a gin distillery, where the owner let us stay for the night. That unexpected change became one of the best experiences for all of us. Warm shelter, gins made with local flavours, and a quiet happiness on everyones faces._________________________________________These moments along the journey make the ride less about distance and more about the stories each person carries with them. You begin to hear them. Not all at once, not in big moments, but slowly, over days.People talk about their lives. About things they left behind. About things they are still trying to understand. And sometimes, they speak about people who are not here. Someone they wish they could share a moment with. A memory that returns unexpectedly in the middle of nowhere.One day, Fred and I sat together and talked. As we shared parts of our personal stories, he told me he misses someone. Someone very special to him. He wished she were here, to see what he sees every day.At some point, he showed me a message he had written to her. With his permission, I share it:_________________________________________Quote: Many years ago, I gave you a book called On the Loose at a coffee shop across the street from the Childrens Hospital. This old Sierra Club book is about sharing wilderness experiences together. I believe you too would have loved the torrential rain, lightning, and streams of water that overcame the campsite. All of my gear was soaked. I managed to find a chair in a tool shed, where I was fully committed to sleeping, before the crew found me and brought a tarp, mattress, and sleeping blanket into the shed. The sheds roof was leaky, but that didnt matter, because the raindrops were caught in a bucket. Oh, how I wish you and I had experienced the storm together. I believe you too would have loved the evening and sharing the experience.I believe some of us have similar messages written to someone special, but never sent._________________________________________Finally, there it is. The last day. One last early alarm.Packing up your wet tent.Checking the tires.Filling your water bottles.Getting on the bike with a tired body.Looking at the sky.Looking for Coke stops.For the lunch truck.For the hot soup waiting at the end of the day.Bucket showers.The small rituals that quietly held everything together.A long journey where each day opened a new, unfamiliar world._________________________________________As we approached the final city, Cape Town, a mix of emotions took hold. Relief, a quiet sense of happiness, sadness, accomplishment, and a question about how tomorrow will look when this is all over.Our stories continue, but we carry something from each other.And maybe that is what remains.In the words of Nelson Mandela: What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.RELATEDTOURTour d'Afrique The trans-African crossing from Cairo to Cape Town has long been one of the worlds epic journeys and an iconic goal for global adventurers. Over... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "Carried By The Iron Horse Across Africa" Cancel reply

UPDATED April 29, 2026 BY The TDA Team IN Africa: Ocean to Ocean no comments Africa: Ocean To Ocean An Incredible Cycling Journey Across Southern AfricaAfrica holds such a special place in our hearts. It was there, after all, that Founder Henry Golds crazy idea of cycling from Cairo to Cape Town came to life. Over the years, we have returned to the continent with tours like Magical Madagascar, Morocco: Kingdom of the West & West Africa en Vlo but we always dreamed of doing another epic cross-continental adventure, not from north to south but instead, from west to east. Well, the time has finally arrived!We are more than just a little excited to announce the Africa: Ocean to Ocean Cycling Expedition, a 2 month, 5040 km journey across 7 African countries Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Eswatini & Mozambique. In June 2027, riders will dip their tires in the chilly waters of the Atlantic Ocean before heading out across the African continent. Two months later they will pull into Maputo, Mozambique and repeat the process in the warm, blue waters of the Indian Ocean marking the end of their incredible adventure.TDAs African Project Manager, Sharita van der Merwe, describes the route and highlights in this video.The route will allow riders to visit a number of famous National Parks like Namibias, Etosha, and South Africas, Kruger, while also allowing them to discover lesser known gems including Angolas stunning Serra da Leba Pass and Eswatinis Sibebe Rock. They will pedal the challenging roads of the ancient Namib Desert, spin alongside Botswanas shimmering salt pans, past the stunning rock formations of Zimbabwes Matobo National Park and into South Africas unique Blyde River Canyon. Along the way, the riders will experience the warm hospitality and rich cultures of the African people.Dont miss out on the opportunity to join us on this amazing inaugural Ocean to Ocean tour!RELATEDTOURAfrica: Ocean to Ocean The original way to cross Africa from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean was the maritime Cape Route past the continents southern tip, a perilous... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "Africa: Ocean To Ocean An Incredible Cycling Journey Across Southern Africa" Cancel reply

UPDATED April 29, 2026 BY Guest Author IN Morocco: Kingdom of the West no comments Rider Impressions Of Morocco: Now & ThenRihab Gouaied is the Content Creator on the 2026 Morocco: Kingdom of the West Cycling Adventure.We rolled into Merzouga with the sand whispering through our chains and a dry heat on our shoulders, as a small camel caravan crossed soft pads near-silent, heads nodding, shadows sliding over our wheels.It feels a world away from the sea air that pushed us out of Casablanca. Fourteen riders, one route yet cycling in Morocco keeps remaking itself under our wheels. The country changes at the table and in the street, on the horizon and in the weather. Heres how we see it now, halfway in.Along the AtlanticThe beginning was windy Atlantic gusts lifting flags and moods as we left Casablanca. Near Tangier, we stood where the ocean hands off to the Mediterranean, watching the water turn from wavy and rough to steady and blue. Camels moved along the shore beside the blue water the desert meeting the sea in one frame, a first glimpse of Moroccos diversity.Then Tangier turned us inland and the road pitched up. The pace and traffic of the cities thinned into Rif villages where offers of water arrived before wed even unclip. We watched bread slide into clay ovens, a single round big enough to feed ten people. Women sold it on the street and worked tending sheep, farming and carrying goods on donkeys. Their strength is visible in the daily load they carry and the way whole communities lean on them.ChefchaouenChefchaouens blues felt like a cool breath between climbs. Terraces sewn with olives pulled us skyward; pine and oak gave short spells of shade. The days are long sunset near eight p.m. and the heat builds early.Paul: I was walking in the medina of Chefchaouen and I met a gentleman called Mohamed. We spent two hours walking up the hill together. Hes from Chefchaouen and shared stories about the area. It was a nice, spontaneous way to see the town with a local.Dag on the roadChefchaouen to Wahda Dam was a very tough day, Dag said, 96 km, 2036m of climbing in 34 degrees during a heat wave. We wild camped by the dam the fourth biggest in Africa and watched the sky fade.From Wahda to Fes, the beauty didnt let up. After the blessed rains, spring burst open: terraces quilted with wildflowers poppies, daisies and tiny blues fields laid out like a bright carpet. Bees worked every verge; I got stung, sad for a moment but happy that I got to see such a green spring.Birgit meets a camelDonkeys still do a lot of the work here and the road rolls without much rest. This place is all but flat, Dag laughed, but the views make it worth it. In Fes we took it easy some to hammams and massages because tomorrow promised another 1900m of climbing. Inside the medina: tanners in honeycomb pits, copper ringing through alleyways, calls to prayer stitching morning to night. Birgit said the first days were tough some excited kids threw stones and tried to stop her bike but the further inland we rode, the quieter it became. Big climbs, yes, but rides to savour. She was here twentyfive years ago and noticed how modern the big cities feel now.South again, and the worlds kept changing. Azrou to At Oufella brought holm oak with cedar; above 2000m we touched the High Atlas, snow still visible, a nomadic summer camp on a high meadow. Cold settled at dawn, steam rose from coffee. On plateaus the wind pressed our shoulders; we tucked in and rode as a peloton. Some riders are camping for the first time first tents, first bush camps, trying new things and finding out how much you can carry and leave behind. Rest days in hotels feel rich after two or three nights under canvas.Riffian woman in her traditional outfitThen the Ziz valley opened like a green ribbon. From the Gorges du Ziz to Merzouga, a tailwind finally helped. 160km through the Sahara, Dag said, shaking his head, mindblowing to experience the desert on two wheels with only leg power. In Amazigh and Tuareg areas, the clothing changed: men in indigodyed robes and headscarves, women in black with colourful embroidery.With time, our group is understanding each other. Some ride in a peloton and find that sharing makes the ride mean more; others prefer a solo rhythm. Around the soup pot at camp we trade stories the days climbs, the best coffee shop and laugh until we are called to the rider meeting. Camping connects us; hotels reset us. Every three days its different, Dag shrugged. You never get bored. Now its three days in desertI think its enough. Birgit looked at the dunes: Morocco is beautiful, but this is my favourite landscape. It reminds me of my road trip in the southern desert of the USA.Cyclist with a Touareg manBy the time the sand rose, our idea of Morocco had shifted. The coast felt outwardlooking; the Rif felt vertical green and in bloom; Fes layered craft and time; the Sahara pared it down. Tastes changed with the map tagines and salads changed from place to place. Preferences split too: some live for green climbs, some for tailwinds across a flat road with only the horizon for company. We didnt come for a single Morocco, and we havent found one. Weve found many stitched by tea glasses, roadside smiles and the thin line of tar that keeps disappearing under our tyres.On the next stretch we aim for At Ben Haddou, Marrakech and Essaouira. Were curious about more surprising discoveries in Morocco, and about what we can do. For now, the dunes are a pause a chance to rinse sand from the cassettes, to enjoy a glass of tea, to watch camels pass, and to note the lesson so far: distance is only one measure. Elevation, wind and welcome redraw a day, and how you see a place depends on how you move through it.RELATEDTOURMorocco: Kingdom of the West Join us on this mystical cycling odyssey through Morocco The Kingdom of the West. It is a country of mountains and beaches, souks and mosques... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "Rider Impressions Of Morocco: Now & Then" Cancel reply

UPDATED April 28, 2026 BY The TDA Team IN Plum Ride no comments Carolina & Gergos Excellent Adventure: Scouting The Plum RideA few weeks ago, we sent our veteran Tour Leaders Carolina and Gergo to scout the route of our new Plum Ride Cycling Tour through Central Europe, scheduled for August, 2027. When they returned from their trip, we sat down with them to ask a few questions about the route.Tell me the basics of the scout.. when did you start, what was the strategy, where did you go and how long did it take?At the startCarolina: I met Gergo in Budapest on March 15th. We drove to Gdask, Poland, scouting a few new stages stages of the Amber Route along the way. Gdask is a fascinating port city at the Baltic Sea, the colourful facades of the Long Market are a real highlight with old buildings hosting trendy cafes, stores and restaurants full of tourists riders that arrive earlier will find lots of places to visit. From there, we began a three-week drive toward Thessaloniki, Greece. Using the route designed by the office in RWGPS, our job was to verify the plan. Gergo drove and took RWGPS notes while I assisted with navigation and compiled the overall notes for the Tour Manual. We covered two to three stages per day, depending on whether the route was already perfect or required more exploration to find the best options.Gergo: This type of scouting mission is not new to me. In 2010, we completed the scouting for the original Amber Route with Henry. Then the Venice-Lisbon stretch with Cristiano, and so on. This time our team with Carolina started on the 16th March and I returned Hungary on the 7th April. The strategy was that we create a route between the suggested stopover locations, trying to include as many interesting places, quiet roads, and popular bicycling routes as we can.What were some of the highlights for you that you think the cyclists will also enjoy?Carolina: Plum spirits: the route moves south through territories where plum distillates change identity and style Slivovitz, then Plinka, then Rakia. Riders can try local brands and in Serbia it is possible to visit local distilleries. Historical depth: Riders pass through places marked by royal wealth, mining history, fortresses, castles and major turning points in European history such as Cold War memory sites, and old imperial centres. It rides through places where European history is physically visible: Bansk tiavnica is described by UNESCO as Slovakias oldest mining town and later a major centre of mining education and engineering; Vukovar in Croatia, where war ruins of the battles of the 1991 are still visible on the buildings; and the White Tower in Thessaloniki that represents the citys history from its foundation in 316/15 BC to the present.North MacedoniaLandscape variety: The route changes constantly, starting in the north with the Baltic Sea, passes through the Spreewald a UNESCO biosphere reserve then moves into the Czech and Slovak river plains, the Danube cities such as Budapest and Belgrade, with its incredible architecture, the gorgeous Balkan mountain landscapes, Lake Ohrid the oldest lake in Europe, and finally the descent toward Thessaloniki on the coast of the Aegean Sea, crossing cherry fields.Gergo: Starting with Gdansk, which is a gem, an unexpectedly beautiful Hanseatic city. If the schedule allows me to do so I will definitely try to add a few days to spend there before the tour. Then Berlin, Prague, or the little known Kutna Hora or Litomysl. Budapest is a highlight of course, then Belgrade and Skopje bring a different vibe to the picture.What is something about our route that might surprise people?Carolina: The route challenges the old idea of a singular, Eastern Europe. The route moves through a region where old agrarian landscapes, socialist-era legacies, industrial strength, and fast-changing cities all exist side by side. So what riders see on the ground is not a static post-socialist landscape, but a region where villages, old industry, new factories, logistics corridors, and rapidly changing cities coexist. What also surprises people is how many different Europes fit into one ride: Baltic coast, German lowlands, Bohemian towns, Danube capitals, Balkan plains, mountain regions, and finally Thessaloniki. So the route feels big and exotic, but also surprisingly structured and rideable.Gergo: The magnificent nature between the big cities, especially the forests between Czechia and Slovakia. The mountains in North Macedonia are definite highlights too.What are the roads like? All paved? Smooth or bumpy?On the road in the BalkansCarolina: Simple 2 lane roads, mostly well paved but with some bumpy or broken secondary-road sections and short unpaved stretches from Czechia down south.Gergo: Mostly paved, but occasionally broken and bumpy here or there, even a few stretches on gravel. Mostly smooth pavement.What is the traffic like and is there many places with separated bike paths or city bike lanes? Carolina: This varies a lot by region. In the north and in parts of the Danube corridor, riders should encounter more developed cycling infrastructure. Poland is part of EuroVelo 10/13, and has an extensive cycle-path network. In the Hungary/Slovakia section of EuroVelo 6, the route was on segregated or traffic-free infrastructure. Further south, riders should expect more normal road riding and less separation from traffic. Serbia and North Macedonia are mostly on local and regional roads. Some bike paths and city lanes, yes, but most of the trip is still classic road touring. Traffic is mostly low, but in some stages riders will be sharing the road with trucks and local traffic, but never for too long in any one day.Gergo: This varies country by country, or by region. Good infrastructure around cities, and somewhat more challenging as we go south.What type of people might enjoy this cycling tour?Carolina: It suits people who enjoy history, changing cultures, food and drink traditions, and the feeling of crossing whole regions rather than just doing a scenic loop.Gergo: People who like to ride their bicycles for multiple days in nice places. All riders? Yes, probably all.What type of bike would be best for this tour?Carolina: The safest recommendation is an all-road or light gravel bike with fast tires in the 3540 mm range. I would avoid a very aggressive race bike with narrow tires, because the route is too long and too mixed for that to be the smartest choice.Gergo: I would bring a light touring bike or a gravel bike for this tour. 40 mm touring tires are the sweet spot between good rolling properties and reliability. I suggest SPD/flat pedals and shoes with walkable rubber soles.Did you try some plum brandy or slivovitz along the way?Carolina: I sipped Rakia in North Macedonia. Im not really into brandy hahah sorry, I cant be helpful here Gergo: Haha, no we havent, we were too busy scouting! Oh, wait! Once in North Macedonia on a cold evening the waiter brought us Rakia without asking. (FYI: In Macedonia they make rakija from yellow and white grapes, then to get their own distinctive flavour they add a blend of honey, anise and other fruits).RELATEDTOURPlum Ride Plum brandy has a long and illustrious history in Central and Eastern Europe, beginning as far back as the 14th century. Distilled from local plums... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "Carolina & Gergos Excellent Adventure: Scouting The Plum Ride" Cancel reply

UPDATED April 27, 2026 BY Guest Author IN Tour d'Afrique no comments Under African SkiesVeteran Field Staffer Doug Percival reflects on his time with TDA Global Cycling & his love for Africas wild spaces.My journey with TDA began in the January of 2012.I was hired as the bike mechanic, and flown out to Cairo to join a group of 11 other staff, and about 40 riders.Before the 2012 Tour dAfriqueThat year was lucky, the Countries between Egypt and South Africa were all behaving nicely at that time, and we had a clear run to do the Full 12000km tour.Having been born in South Africa, and already a very avid backpacker, the Reality andDream of being able to cross My Continent, came true.Those 120 days on tour, without a doubt, changed my life.At the time, and the months and years afterwards, i did not fully grasp the enormity of it.For me it felt like normality, travelling and riding my bike, mixed with some long hours ofwork and an incredibly social atmosphere, life on the road could have carried on waylonger than it did.That trip set me up, for many more tours, and from it, it became my career.Being on bicycle tours is all i have done now for 14 years.Now that might seem odd for some, and a crazy thought for others, but for me itbecame the normal.In the latter part of the TDA tour, we crossed Botswana and Namibia, two vastlydifferent countries, which share a huge border, but still remain largely fence free.Those two countries stood out for me, more than others, because of the open spaces.Hundreds, if not thousands of kilometres of Open Space, filled with wild animals, veryfew humans, and time had not changed them much.I remember hearing lions roaring at night, seeing the herds of elephants pass rightbefore my eyes on the roads, crossing savannah land and desert, and finishing my daysduties with nothing but a headlamp and the billions of stars in the night sky each night. Itlived in my mind for years, it still lives in my mind.2 years later after that experience, i met Frida ( and then somehow convinced her tomarry me!)I of course mentioned this experience to her hundreds of times over and over again.She wanted to go, and i told her that One Day i will take her.Fast forward a decade, and in March this year, we were able to make a trip to wherethose memories began.We hired a small 44, packed a small bag each, and drove out of the Johannesburg carrental with not a single day planned.The deal was, no phone service, no satellite phone, just paper maps and some pre-loaded apps with some basic information on potential campsites in the north.We left South Africa on day one, and straight into Botswana we drove.From there, the deep wilderness began.Wild camping, evening camp fires, no music, no podcasts, no social media.It was a huge shift from our Normal day to day Life.We went deep into Botswana, straight to the Kalahari Central Reserve.The reserve is 53000 square kilometres, to put that into perspective, thats is bigger thanall of Switzerland or Costa Rica.It is mind bending Big.And there is Nothing.Roads are jeep tracks, campsites are just flattened grass patches, no loos, no showers,no nothing. Except wild animals that WILL eat you.In the 3 days it took to traverse across the Park, we saw 4 other vehicles.Open space, and being alone, makes you feel Alive!The magical sun sets on the savannah, and night fall descends.Real Africa comes out at night.Once again, i got to relive the sounds of lion roaring at night, elephants walking past ourtent, owls hooting, hyena cackling, it puts your senses into Hyper alert.There is no just being casual and lazy around camp, because out there is the real deal.We drove further north, dipped in to Victoria Falls that sits comfy between Zambia andZimbabwe.The Falls in full flood, record rainfall really brought its nicknameThe Smoke that Thunders to reality for us.Heading Westward, we followed the thin land piece known as the Caprivi strip, a uniqueand very interesting section of Namibia, that lies to the south of Angola. ( A fascinatinghistory of deception the British pulled on the Germans!)Some of the wildest bit of land you can find.Wild animals roam freely.Humans exist in small rural villages, still living in straw and mud huts, like they have forthousands of years.Its like time has stood still up there.We were alone, we hardly saw another vehicle most days.Namibia was green, the heavy season rainfall had made a mess of the land.Flooded roads, flooded savannaha green desert.We pushed forward, taking decisions together, relying on each other to make the bestchoices in some very serious situations..getting stuck was not an option, help was daysaway..if we were lucky.That made us feel Alive.We reached the real desert in central Namibia, only to find the flooding had touchedthere too.The famous Sossusvlei dunes were unreachable, a flowing river in the Worlds oldestdesert!A dash to the mining Ghost town of Kolmanskop on the west coast, and back towardsSouth Africa, via the Kalahari to our East.We covered 8350km in 28 days.It was Huge.At the end of each days drive, we set up camp, made a simple dinner on the gascooker, sipped a cup of tea, and watched one of The Greatest Gifts us humans havebeen givenThe Night Sky.A clear night sky in a land of no people, and no interruptions from ground light, is anexperience that We all should have regularly.The perfect night sky in the Southern Hemisphere is a marvel to the eyes.The Milky Way as bright as street lamps.For the two of us, to have that all to ourselves, is something We will Live with in Ourminds for the rest of our lives.Africa is like nowhere else.Time has stood still there.It requires patience, it requires a thick skin somedays, it requires tolerance, but it alsogives back an experience that is not found anywhere else on this planet.I have travelled this Globe, to many different corners, and my involvement with TDA for14 years now, has allowed me to revisit many places, many times.The World has changed in most places, the West and East influences have blendedmany places into being similaryou can argue for the better or for the worse, but thereality is that change has occurred.but not in parts of Africa.Africa works, in African ways.If you Navigate yourself past a few power hungry immigration officials, and attemptdodging several highly corrupted roadside police, and dont let the local coffee barristerdisappoint your day, then you find yourself in a place of simpler times.Just you and open space.What a privilege it was to return to some of the places i had last seen in 2012.I cant think there is a single person, who would say that doing Tour d Afrique didntchange their life to some degree, i bet even Henry our Founder, shares the samefeeling. It certainly changed mine.During this trip, One evening in Botswana, we collided with the TDA crew of 2026..andenjoyed a tasty cold beer together at a brewery in Maun.A young lady on the staff asked me:you have done so many tours, what is your favourite?. its always the same answer..Africa.For a thousand different reasons, but mostly because it changed my life.Doing the TDA in 2012 was the starter meal, being able to return over a decade later, ata different age, in a different headspace..was the main meal.Both unique, both so fulfilling.Frida got to experience what has been living in my thoughts and memories for as longas we have known each other, and that was beautiful to share.I guess the point of this blog, is not just to tell you about my holiday, but more to conveythe experiences i have had from that special part of the World, that so few actually getto see.For all its chaos, unpredictability, and moments of discomfort, what it does give you isTime and Space to think, reflect, dream, declutter, and plan.-and finding that nowadays is a rarity.Africa will test you, that is a given.Every one of you who have done that tour, or a section, will know what i mean!For any reader who has not been there, i cannot urge you more to dip your toes intosome African Dust. It will make you feel Alive! Paul Simon wrote the Song under african skiesA beautiful song, written for a personal, musical and spiritual connection during a darktime in South African politics.My Version of Under African Skies, is for the Dreamer, who imagines vast lands ofnatural beauty, unpredictable days, star riddled night skies, glowing campfires, anduntouched Wilderness.One of the very last bits of Land, that has not changed.See you on the road somewhere!RELATEDTOURTour d'Afrique The trans-African crossing from Cairo to Cape Town has long been one of the worlds epic journeys and an iconic goal for global adventurers. Over... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "Under African Skies" Cancel reply

UPDATED April 24, 2026 BY Michael Coo IN Bamboo Road no comments The Bamboo Road: Cambodia UpdateMay you live in interesting times.This English expression (or curse) certainly applies to our current global situation and makes planning long distance cycling tours even more challenging than usual, throwing up obstacles seemingly endlessly. One thing we have learned over 20 years, however, is that obstacles also provide opportunities.In late June last year, the Thailand/Cambodia border closed due to an ongoing conflict between the 2 nations. Our popular Bamboo Road Cycling Tour had been happily pedalling across that border ever since 2013 so for the 2026 ride, we obviously needed a Plan B. We could have simply paused the tour in Siem Reap, Cambodia for a few days to make up for the missing part of the route that crossed the border and continued to Bangkok and then flown directly to the Thai capital.but, hey, wheres the fun in that!Instead, we researched a new plan to take the riders south from Phnom Penh into the southern region of Cambodia, somewhere our tours had not reached previously. They will get to cycle through some of Cambodias most beautiful countryside and experience many new highlights before arriving in Siem Reap for their flight to Bangkok. Here is some of what they can look forward to.Cardamom MountainsThe vast forested region is one of the last remaining true wilderness areas in South East Asia. It features numerous sites of historical interest like jar burials and cave art and is home to some of the countrys indigenous peoples including the Chong who predate Khmer civilization. The mountains also contain a variety of fauna such as the Asian elephant, Indochinese tiger, clouded leopard, wild dog, gaur, Malayan sun bear, pileated gibbon, Sunda pangolin, Tenasserim white-bellied rat, Irrawaddy and humpback dolphins and the very rare Siamese crocodiles.Wildlife SanctuariesPangolinThe riders will pass through the Peam Krasaop & Phnum Samkos Wildlife Sanctuaries. The Peam Krasaop Sanctuary is just outside the riverside town of Koh Kong where the riders will spend a night. Its spectacular mangroves protect the coastline and provide a safe spot for marine life to flourish. The Phnum Samkos Sanctuary is a vital area for birds and riders can also keep their eyes out for the rare pangolin.Bonus tip: In Koh Kong, riders should be sure to visit the Crab Shack on Koh Yor Beach for delicious food and amazing sunset views.Tatai WaterfallsOn their ride to Koh Kong, the cyclists should be sure to make the short 2km detour off the main road to see these falls. Set along the picturesque Tatai River, these beautiful rapids feature a number of refreshing pools where the riders can cool off after a long, hot day on their bikes.Sangkae River Boat RideLeaving the atmospheric French colonial architecture of Battambang, the riders will enjoy a relaxing cruise along the Sangkae River on a traditional Cambodian riverboat, taking in the riverside sights as they make their way to Siem Reap and the stunning temples of Angkor Wat.RELATEDTOURBamboo Road Many of us have criss-crossed the countries of South-East Asia on a shoestring over the years, returning home with fond memories. Now we invite... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "The Bamboo Road: Cambodia Update" Cancel reply

UPDATED April 23, 2026 BY Guest Author IN Tour d'Afrique no comments The Day I CrashedAnd Kept RidingBirgit Hermann was a rider on the 2014 Tour dAfrique Cycling Expedition.I was about to turn 33, a Schnappszahl, as we call it in German. Thats one of those numbers that comes with a bit of mischief. The kind that makes slightly questionable decisions feel like a good idea.On paper, my life was already good. Stable job, strong community, a place that felt like home in Aotearoa New Zealand. Nothing was missing. And still, something felt unfinished. Not in a dramatic way, just a quiet sense that I had settled into something that worked but wasnt stretching me anymore.Then one evening, I came across a story about a group of cyclists riding the length of Africa. Twelve thousand kilometres. Heat, dust, long days, basic roadside camps. And something clicked. Instantly, I knew: thats it. It didnt feel sensible, but my gut said I want to try this.Credit: Birgit HermannSo I signed up for the Tour dAfrique, despite never having ridden 100 kilometres in one go. Somewhere in that decision was a simple thought: this is slightly ridiculous but Im doing it anyway. At the time, I had no idea how few people had actually done this. Looking back, its a surprisingly small group, fewer than those who have summited Everest. In hindsight, that might have been useful information. Then again maybe not.The plan was to start in Cairo and ride south but thats not how it played out. Due to political unrest in Egypt, the route changed. We started in Khartoum in Sudan instead and headed north first, straight into the wind. These were the winds that usually push riders south, helping them settle into the rhythm of the ride. That year, we met them head-on. It was a rough way to begin without any easing in. No gentle start, just heat, resistance, and the immediate realization that this was going to be harder than expected.Credit: Birgit HermannWe rode in a loose peloton, rotating through the front, trying to shield each other. It required precision, timing, and experienceall of which we didnt have. A small miscalculation was enough. Our handlebars touched. My balance shifted. And I hit the ground. A crash in week one! The pain came immediately.I got back up quickly, more out of instinct than anything else, but as the day went on, it became clear this wasnt just a bruise. By evening, even the smallest movements were difficult. I needed help taking off my tight sports bra. The pain was excruciating, unlike anything I had felt before, and left no doubt: something was wrong.Credit: Birgit HermannThere were no proper medical facilities nearby. Just a field assessment by the tour medic and a likely diagnosis: broken collarbone.. Which left me with a choice: Stop and get treatment. Or keep riding.The conditions didnt make the decision any easier. The heat in Sudan was relentless. At lunch stops, tyres would literally pop from the pressure of sitting in the sun. Youd hear it across campanother one gone. So instead of us resting in the shade, we dragged our bikes there first. Protect the tyres, protect the rims, protect whatever we could. I had never seen tyres blister before. Out there, in over 40 degrees on long, exposed roads through the Sahara, they did.Credit: Birgit HermannEverything was under pressure. Equipment. Bodies. Focus. And now, my shoulder. That night, lying in my tent, I wasnt thinking about the distance ahead. I was thinking about whether I was done. There was no drama in it. No big internal speech. Just a quiet question: Is this where it ends? No one expected me to continue. No one would have questioned it if I stopped. But I knew I wasnt ready to leave. So the next morning, I got back on the bike.From that point on, the ride changed. Every movement required attention. Every adjustment mattered. I rode differently: more carefully, more consciously, constantly adapting. And mentally, I had to simplify things. Because thinking about the full distance wasnt useful anymore. Whenever we were down to 42 kilometres, Id say, sometimes to myself, sometimes to the riders around me: Hey thats a marathon distance. Thats what other people run. Come on, we can easily cycle that. It became a bit of a ritual. Even when we were completely exhausted, with no shade in sight, and when easy was the last word any of us felt.I also started creating small rewards along the way. One of them was those infamous sports bars we were given. Some South African brand that, in the heat, turned into something closer to a concrete block than anything youd normally call food. Chewing them mid-ride felt like a challenge in itself, but Id save them for certain milestones, telling myself Id earned it once I got there. It didnt make the kilometres shorter, but it made them feel more manageable.Somewhere along the way, the focus shifted. I stopped thinking about finishing and started paying attention to what was right in front of me. The next kilometre. The next decision. When to push. When to ease off. When forcing it made things worse instead of better. It wasnt about riding harder. It was about staying in it.Crossing the finish line in Cape Town months later was emotional, but it didnt feel like the dramatic breakthrough I had imagined at the start line in Khartoum. It felt quieter than that. More like something had settled. The biggest shift wasnt physical. It was in how I approached uncertainty and trusted myself to move forward, even without having everything figured out. What stayed with me was a deep sense that if I set my heart and mind on something, I could achieve far more than I had once believed.The hesitation that used to hold me back didnt disappear, but it lost its authority. I had seen what happens when you keep going anyway, and that changes how you show up long after the ride is over. You dont wait until everything feels aligned or until you feel fully ready. You decide. You take the first step. And then you take the next.Looking back, I thought I had signed up for a bike ride. What I didnt realize was that I was stepping into something that would change how I make decisions, how I deal with discomfort, and how I move through moments where things dont go to plan. Only later did I start to see how much of that carried into other parts of life, and into my work.Credit: Birgit HermannExperiences like this quietly became the foundation for what I would later capture in my leadership framework and book BOLDER. Because the pattern is the same. You dont wait until everything feels aligned or until you feel fully ready. You decide. You take the first step. And then you take the next. Sometimes, thats all it is: One decision. Then another. And eventually, without quite noticing when it happened, youve gone much further than you thought possible.RELATEDTOURTour d'Afrique The trans-African crossing from Cairo to Cape Town has long been one of the worlds epic journeys and an iconic goal for global adventurers. Over... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "The Day I CrashedAnd Kept Riding" Cancel reply

UPDATED April 20, 2026 BY The TDA Team IN Road of Empires no comments Cycling the Mediterranean In Europe and North Africa Andaluca, Algeria, Tunisia & SicilyFor many years TDA Global Cycling had been considering a cycling tour that would link Europe and North Africa. With our Operations Manager, Miles, coming up with the inspiration for the route and the name, we decided to forge ahead, and in 2025 we ran the first edition of The Road of Empires. This brilliant trans-Mediterranean route allows cyclists to visit southern Spain and Sicily, as well as Algeria and Tunisia, while crossing the Mediterranean by ferry, twice. It was, and remains today, a daunting logistical challenge for our operations team. It is, however, well worth the extra effort, creating a one of a kind cycling adventure that explores places few get to visit by bike.The first edition of the tour gave our cycling participants a chance to better understand the intertwined history of the region, including the empires that moved across those lands, and to see just how many similarities and contrasts exist culturally on both continents along the Mediterranean to this very day.We sat down with our Operations Manager to discuss how he came up with the concept and what the riders can expect to experience along the way during the next Road of Empires adventure scheduled to start in Seville in March, 2027.Exploring More of Spain and ItalyIn Spain and Sicily, where TDA has already run tours, it was not difficult to research additional options. For Spain, we wanted to include the southern Spanish cities of Seville, Granada and Cordoba with their Roman and Moorish history and grand architecture. In terms of cycling in Spain, we knew how incredible the roads are in Andalusia and how beautiful the Sierra Nevadas would be.For Sicily, it was similar, in that we wanted to cycle new regions of the island, areas that we do not currently cover on our Viva Italia tour. So we included a visit to the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento and the chance to visit the ancient mosaics nearby in Piazza Armerina. Finishing in Syracuse, once the capital of the Byzantine Empire, was a fitting way to conclude the trip. Algeria and Tunisia & North AfricaAlgeria and Tunisia were much more difficult to research. In Tunisia, there have been some local cycling tours, as well as more independent cyclists crossing the country, but in Algeria there had been no commercial cycling tours in recent decades and very little information from independent cyclists. This was a big part of the draw for us. We love to open new countries to cycle tourism and experience new lands and cultures ourselves.We spent months researching roads with satellite viewing, searching out local contacts in both countries to communicate with, reading up on the historical and cultural highlights to visit, and planning a scouting trip to go and check all the details. This is where we were able to confirm the areas suitability for cycling, in terms of safety, logistics, accommodations, government approvals, ancient ruins to visit and, most importantly, the potential for fun! In North Africa, what will be remembered by the riders, without a doubt, is the hospitality and curiosity of the local people along the way. They will also be amazed by the lush, green environment of the North African coast, the abundance of Roman ruins, the cultural influence of previous French colonialism, and the incredible cycling. Many of our participants on the first Road of Empires noted that some of the days were the nicest routes theyd ever ridden.Anyone who loves exploring new lands, cycling along coastlines and through mountains, experiencing and learning about different cultures, who has dreamed of being an archeologist (or at least are ready to be amazed by the ancient ruins along the route), and anyone who is up for an adventure, is going to love this cycling adventure!RELATEDTOURRoad of Empires Pedal through history on the Road of Empires Cycling Adventure. Spin through Spain, Algeria, Tunisia & Sicily and learn about the Moors, Romans... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "Cycling the Mediterranean In Europe and North Africa Andaluca, Algeria, Tunisia & Sicily" Cancel reply

UPDATED April 17, 2026 BY Olha Kurochkina IN Cycle Touring Advice no comments Can I Ride At My Own Pace On A TDA Global Cycling Tour?I guess when people think of a bicycle tour, the first image that comes to mind is a tight pack of cyclists, all riding at the same speed. And at times, that image is what holds people back from signing up for their first tour with us.If youre picturing that kind of group You can relax. Thats not what TDA is about. In fact, something quite different happens on any given day, the group spreads out.Ready to rollRiders roll out for the day after breakfast, some immediately ticking off the kilometres, others taking their time, enjoying a second coffee and extra pastry perhaps! Some riders stop at every interesting viewpoint, bakery, or roadside caf along the way. Others ride steadily, finding their rhythm and sticking to it for most of the day. You might be surprised, but I once met a rider who managed to take a short nap right next to our TDA lunch van.Riders gather at lunchBy midday, riders are spread out along the route riding their own pace. Of course, riding at your own pace doesnt mean youre on your own. Youll find that many of your new tour friends will cycle a similar pace and want to join you for the day. As well, the TDA crew is out on the road, making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. There is the TDA lunch stop, and a sweep rider that follows behind the last rider in our group. So, whether youre having a strong day, taking it easy, or somewhere in between, theres support nearby.And if a day doesnt go as planned, thats okay too. You can ride a day by hopping in the support vehicle till lunch, or from lunch, or take a full day off the bike to rest and recharge.What often surprises people is how natural it all feels once youre there. Theres no pressure to keep up, no sense of falling behind. Just the quiet rhythm of moving forward at your own pace.So, can you ride at your own pace? Yes. Thats exactly how its meant to be. If that was the one thing holding you back, maybe its time to take a closer look. You might find its more within reach than it seemed.Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "Can I Ride At My Own Pace On A TDA Global Cycling Tour?" Cancel reply