In keeping with the spirit of Adventure Cycling’s origins, on self-contained tours you will carry your own gear and there will be no vehicle support. Adventure Cycling’s traditional self-contained tours have a single leader and around 14 participants who share cooking duties and camp for the vast majority of overnights; on longer tours, roughly one indoor night per 10 riding days is budgeted.
Self-contained tour prices include the following:
- All meals*
- Accommodations*
- Maps and cue sheets, swag, and a safety triangle
- Use of group cooking equipment (when applicable), tool kit, and first-aid supplies
Upon signing up for an organized tour, you will receive confirmation and preparatory materials, including a copy of Before You Go: A Handbook for Adventure Cycling’s Self-Contained Tours (PDF/2,082 KB), which contains a packing list and training tips. About 60 days prior to your trip, you will receive a Tour Information Packet with specific details about your starting location, a participant roster, official bike shop, travel tips, and much more.
*Most trips do not include lodging or dinner on the last evening of the ride.
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided for each day of the trip. Your group shares responsibilities for food purchase, preparation, and clean up on a rotating basis. Food and group cooking gear are also distributed among group members and each participant must set aside approximately one-fourth of his or her total carrying capacity for this purpose. Vegetarian and special dietary needs will be accommodated, though food selection may be limited in some locations.
Lodging
Most of the overnights will be at private or public campgrounds with a variety of amenities. Depending on the nature and location of the trip, these facilities could range from RV parks with hot tubs, to wilderness locations without running water. Indoor facilities such as motels/hotels, hostels, and churches are used occasionally, but on our more remote trips, some primitive camping is possible. You will need a good freestanding tent with a ground cloth, a sleeping bag rated appropriately for the season and elevation of your tour, and a sleeping pad.
Mechanical Support
Tours require a degree of mechanical self-sufficiency. You should have the tools and skills necessary to change flats and perform minor mechanical adjustments.
Disclaimers
The number of participants on a tour may be adjusted in response to demand and facility availability. Adventure Cycling reserves the right to make route and accommodation modifications without notification and to make alterations and substitutions to the itinerary as needed to improve the quality of the tour or to accommodate the comfort and well-being of our guests.
Adventure Cycling Association is an equal opportunity recreation provider that is an authorized permittee with the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and departments of transportation. Adventure Cycling Association is working cooperatively with these agencies to secure the appropriate permits.
In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call 202.720.5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Photo by Tom Robertson