3 of the world’s best bucket list bike rides: must-ride routes

Banner photo credit: Rat Race, interview with Abbi Naylor,

The best bucket list bike rides should feel like a true adventure, the kind that fuel countless stories you’ll be proudly retelling for years to come.

These are the rides that go way beyond the everyday: think remarkable landscapes, authentic local moments and the unrivalled sense of achievement that only comes with conquering a huge cycling goal.

If this is the kind of experience you’re looking for, you’re in the right place!

In this article, we interview Abbi Naylor, the Head of Expeditions at Rat Race. Since 2004, Rat Race have designed adventure challenges that are tough and inspiring yet doable, with a focus on fun rather than a total “sufferfest”. Here, Abi shares three inspiring cross-continent routes for your wish list:

Trans Africa – Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Eswatini (3,000 kilometres);
Trans Andean – Chile and Argentina (1,700 kilometres); and
Tierra del Fuego – Chilean Patagonia (800 kilometres).

Abi has ridden both the Trans Andean and Africa routes and was instrumental in creating them, so she is really well placed to share her insights on them. While she hasn’t tackled the Tierra del Fuego route yet, it is on her wishlist!

Read on to discover some of the best long-distance bike rides in the world!

Interview with Abbi Naylor

Abbi Naylor is Rat Race’s Head of Expeditions. She has more than 10 years of exploring under her belt, including cycling across Africa, South America and being the first woman to have cycled across 'The Empty Quarter' desert on the Arabian Peninsula, on a fat bike. As part of her role at Rat Race, she leads small group trips around the world. Abbi also recced the Trans Andean in 2022 and has been the trip leader on several Trans Andes events since then!

Why we worked with Rat Race on this article

We have one overriding rule at Epic Road Rides: would we suggest this to our friends? This means we don’t work with every brand that wants to work with us. We may not have personally used or been on a trip with every brand we collaborate with, but after many years in the industry, our team knows a lot of people, and we only say yes to the brands we would be happy to use ourselves or that we’d share with a friend.

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Contents of this article

There’s a lot of information in this article, so we have broken it up into sections. Here’s a brief summary:

Supported

Part 1: Why are these bucket list tours?

Cyclists passing guanacos on open plains in Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego — Cycling past Guancos in Argentina (photo credit: Rat Race)

Cycling through rural Eswatini beside bright blue jacaranda trees — Cycling through rural Eswatini beside the bright blue flowering jacaranda trees (photo credit: Rat Race)

Cyclist lifting their bike in celebration at the Cristo Redentor monument on the Chile–Argentina border in the Andes — Celebrating at Cristo Redentor, high above the Trans Andean mountains (photo credit: Rat Race)

Namibia’s Indian Ocean coastline with waves breaking along the remote desert shore — Finishing the Coast to Coast adventure at the Indian Ocean (photo credit: Rat Race)

Cyclist stopping in the African bush at sunset with warm orange light behind the trees — Taking a moment in the peaceful African bush at sunset along the Trans Africa route (photo credit: Rat Race)

Cyclists taking a break on a mountain highway with dramatic Andean peaks rising in the background — Break with Andean mountain views (photo credit: Rat Race)

Group of cyclists climbing a winding mountain road under bright skies — Cycling up a Trans Andean mountain road (photo credit: Rat Race)

Giraffe standing among trees looking toward a cyclist on safari-style ride — Giraffe on the Trans Africa route (photo credit: Rat Race)

Cyclist riding along a wide sandy beach beside rolling ocean waves with forested dunes ahead — Cycling along the beach during a Trans Africa adventure (photo credit: Rat Race)

What makes them so special?

The adventurous nature of destinations like Chile, Argentina, Namibia and Botswana are clearly big draws.

But there is also something very tangible about drawing a line on a map and making it into an epic journey. When you say “we’re going to cross a continent” then it really starts to make sense as a real bucket list undertaking, backed with a real sense of mission.

I would also say that the way in which Rat Race runs its events is notably different to many other cycling outfits. We are an adventure company and the essence of that lives and breathes through the trips we run, the places we run them and the way we operate them. Find out more below.

How did you pick the destinations?

We look to the fringes of the map, and we go for overtly adventurous places.

There are plenty of great and iconic rides in Europe and North America. However, we aren’t interested in reinventing the wheel (no pun intended).

Instead, we prefer to blaze our own trail with massive trips that others are just not offering. Find out more below.

How did you design the cycling routes?

We go and ride them. It starts with the maps and online research, and we establish relationships with local specialists who know their countries inside out. They may not be cyclists, but they can tell us about security, local permissions and customs and all manner of other key details that are so important when going to far-flung spots.

For Trans Africa, we first drove the route across the four countries to make sure it was ready and safe for it to be test ridden. We then band together a group of what we call our “test pilots” – a group of Ratracers who are keen to trial the route and who know it’s not the finished article. And then we ride off into the unknown.

From there, we hone the route and offer it out to the riding public!

What kind of cyclists are the routes suitable for?

Those with a sense of adventure.

There is a high level of service and practical support within the formats, plus slick logistics and pro staff. But you need to know that these rides are not luxury trips. You will need to be comfortable roughing it in local lodges, hostels or even under canvas. Every trip includes a big mix of accommodation, depending on the destination. More on this below.

We aren’t about celebrating the fastest person; we’re about celebrating every person who turns up ready to take on one of these incredible cycling challenges. The group dynamics are relaxed and non-competitive, allowing cyclists from all backgrounds and all fitness levels to take part and tackle the adventure their way.

Part 2: Please share your three best bucket list bike rides

I’ve ridden the Trans Andean and Africa routes, and they are incredible. I haven’t yet taken on the Tierra del Fuego route myself, but with the Rat Race team behind its design, it delivers every bit of the challenge and spectacle you’d expect. I hope to tick it off someday!

They’re set out below from longest to shortest, so you can find the best option to suit the level of challenge you are looking for.

1. Trans Africa coast to coast, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Eswatini

Best for: cycling through Africa on an epic coast-to-coast odyssey

Desert track beneath rocky mountains in the plains of Namibia — Cycling through the desert plains of Namibia (photo credit: Rat Race)

Giraffe standing among dry bush and thorn trees with distant mountains in bright sunlight — Spotting a giraffe in the Trans Africa savannah (photo credit: Rat Race)

Whales basking and surfacing in the waters off Sodwana Bay, South Africa — Whales basking off the coast of Sodwana Bay (photo credit: Rat Race)

Cyclist riding a dusty gravel road through dry bushland on a warm day in Africa — Riding on dusty gravel on the Trans Africa (photo credit: Rat Race)

Two rhinos walking across the savannah at dusk with a vibrant purple and orange sunset sky — Rhinos under colourful skies on the Trans Africa route (photo credit: Rat Race)

Key statistics

3,000 kilometres
17,200 metres of elevation gain

Start/ finish

Start: Henies Bay, Namibia

Finish: Sodwana Bay

Surfaces/ terrain

Approximately 50% gravel and 50% asphalt roads

The Trans Africa route provides a myriad of terrains and road types. It is moderate to challenging in places and suits cyclists who are experienced at gravel cycling.

Each of the four countries provides different terrain challenges.

Namibia has gravel and sand roads that can be corrugated, which some cyclists can find difficult to navigate.
Botswana is mainly on road and is very flat; the mileage is longer these days, and this creates its own challenges.
In contrast, South Africa and Eswatini are hilly and very rough in places.

When to cycle

June is the best time of year to ride this route.

Duration

26 days/25 nights

Overview

Conquer a continent on this epic coast-to-coast journey across four incredible African countries: Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Eswatini.

Gravel tracks and asphalt roads weave through archetypal African landscapes, where mountains, savanna and desert sit alongside wildlife-abundant national parks and game reserves.

You’ll start with six days and roughly 750 kilometres of Namibian gravel riding through bush country and vast, empty horizons. You then roll into Botswana for a welcome spell of smoother asphalt, with time in the lush, grassy Okavango Delta and then some long, steady days along the Kalahari Highway.

Climbing awaits in South Africa and Eswatini, where you’ll encounter big views, punchy hills and more wildlife-rich game reserves. The route ends back in South Africa and on the Indian Ocean.

What are the highlights?

The sense of achievement at crossing a continent on your bike.
A memorable start on Namibia’s iconic Skeleton Coast, beside surf blasted beaches, shipwrecks and desert dunes. This stark, otherworldly shoreline sets the tone for a truly wild adventure.
A well-earned rest day in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. This is a great opportunity to enjoy wildlife watching on the world-famous inland delta, before the next big push.
Spotting the ‘big 5’ from the saddle offers many ‘pinch me’ moments. You’ll ride through reserves teeming with extraordinary wildlife, including elephants, giraffe and buffalo. Be aware! Our local on-the-ground operator has decades of experience in this area, and your safety is well looked after!
Camping at the Karma Rhino Sanctuary in Botswana offers you the opportunity to enjoy a special sunset game drive and swap stories with riders around a campfire.
Witnessing beautiful sunsets and sunrises will keep you motivated each day and provide plenty of special memories.

Where will you stay?

The accommodation varies from modern hotels in bigger towns to more rustic options deeper in the bush, such as safari lodges, campsites or simple B&B-style stays in friendly villages. Find out more below.

What will you eat?

Each day you will enjoy a breakfast and main meal, as well as several pit stops to keep you well-fuelled and hydrated. Find out more below.

Be aware! Africa’s cuisine can be meat-led. But we work hard to offer vegetarian and vegan options when there’s demand. Some local delicacies you can expect include:

Authentic BBQ dishes served with fresh local vegetables.
Hearty, warming pasta dishes prepared on the go to refuel you after long days in the saddle.
Tailored meals for all dietary requirements, ensuring vegetarian, vegan and other needs are fully catered for.

More information

Head to Rat Race’s website for more details about the Trans Africa adventure, including availability and prices.