Packing for your bicycle tour

Keep in mind that you will be toting your luggage at different times during your vacation. Remember, you may have to go from the airport to the train or bus station, and will need to bring your bags down to the hotel lobby in the morning for our staff to load the van. Some hotels may not have elevators.

Place your tags on all of your luggage pieces including carry-on bags. If you don’t have any yet, you will receive them on Day 1 of your tour.

See TSA.gov for the current restrictions, but be aware that different countries may have different requirements.

Do you really need the toiletry “kit,” cosmetics “case,” passport “case,” camera “case,” etc. or do you need the contents? Combine items in a plastic bag or use packing cubes.

Visit the “trial-size” section of your drugstore or supermarket for small size toiletries. If your favorite brands are not available then transfer contents to small plastic bottles that can be purchased in the size you need. Or use toiletries provided by hotels, or purchase some at your destination.

Feeling Lucky? It is not much fun to find out that your checked luggage with your cycling gear has not arrived at your destination. You may wish to pack one change of cycling attire, shoes, and helmet in your carry-on, or travel 100% carry-on. DO NOT pack prescription medicines in luggage that will be checked.

Please refer to Handling Money on Tour. Are you traveling to Argentina, Cuba or Scandinavia?

Even though we’ve designed our tours around the best cycling weather to avoid heat and inclement weather, weather is unpredictable. Rain is always a possibility and days and evenings can be cool. As such, lightweight, fast drying clothes are best, as are clothes you can layer. Bring cool weather gear for any spring or fall tour. Heat can also be a concern and should we encounter unseasonably hot weather periods on tour, we will try our best to provide flexibility to avoid the hottest parts of the day. To counter sun and hot temperatures, we recommend bringing cycling clothes and sun sleeves with UPF protection and  a head covering that you can douse with water.

While our tours do not have a dress code and we encourage you to be comfortable, some restaurants frown upon shorts and t-shirts at dinner. Therefore, we suggest you bring casual pants and/or a skirt. No sport coats or ties are needed. Note that shorts and sleeveless tops are frowned upon in some churches, so come prepared.

Check it now for expiration.

We recommend you carry one copy with you packed in a Ziploc-type bag and separate from your real passport, and that you leave a copy at home with friends or family.

We recommend you carry one copy in a safe place with you, and leave a copy with friends or family at home.

Bring your insurance’s policy numbers and phone numbers. Remember a toll free number will not work from overseas, so bring the “regular” phone numbers.

They can still come in handy on public transportation or in the event sickness occurs.

It’s advisable to bring some that you can carry with you and use whenever needed. We will have some on the van while on tour.

• 1-2 pair casual pants and/or skirts
• 3-4 wash and wear shirts (merino is a staff-favorite and travels well)
• 1-2 pair shorts or capris (depending upon season of travel)
• 1 light to medium weight long-sleeve top for layering
• 3 pair socks
• undergarments
• swimsuit for swimming or sunning or saunas
• hat (scrunchable)

• Do not bring new shoes, break them in now.
• Comfortable sandals or casual shoes, as your tour may involve walking on cobbles. Check your itinerary for potential non-cycling activities (non-cycling activities not available on Explorer tours): Sandals or shoes that can get wet are often useful, especially on tours with cave visits or canoe/rafting events.
• If you use only one all-purpose shoe for bicycling and walking, then bring a second pair of sandals or shoes to give your feet a rest, or in case one pair of shoes gets wet.

• Helmet – Helmets are required on tour. Please bring yours. You can stuff it full of small items and fit it into your checked luggage, or attach it to your hand luggage.
• Sunglasses – Bring some good-quality eye protection.
• Cycling gloves

• Mirror – on helmet or on handlebars. All of our bikes, including e-bikes, in Latin America and Europe accommodate bar-end mirrors.
• Your own bike seat. While we have a variety of saddles for you to choose from, saddle preference can be a very individualized choice. Because the bike saddle plays such a prominent role in your comfort we encourage you to bring your own saddle if you feel it would be best for you. If you do bring your own saddle do not bring the seat post and make sure that the saddle has rails for mounting in order to fit our bikes. Some carbon saddles may not fit standard posts. Our tour leaders will mount and adjust the saddle at the bike fitting and remove it at the tour end for you.
• Your favorite back-up cycling water bottle (we provide one on tour).
• Small tool kit (optional, but useful), small rag for chain grease (ever wonder why cyclists wear black shorts?)
• Your own pedals. If you bring your clipless cycling shoes with cleats then also bring your pedals that are specific to your type of cleat. Our staff will put your pedals on and take them off for you at the end of the tour.

We recommend wearing bright colors that make you visible to traffic

• 2-3 pair padded cycling shorts or knickers, or other bottoms comfortable while cycling
• 3 brightly colored (for visibility) cycling jerseys, athletic tops, or shirts comfortable for cycling
• 1 long-sleeved, performance-type fabric shirt jersey for layering
• 3-4 pairs cycling socks
• Water-resistant wind breaker
• You should also plan to bring some cooler weather gear for chilly mornings and rainy days: Cycling tights or leg-warmers, long-sleeved jersey or arm-warmers, water proof (Gore-Tex or similar) rain jacket and pants, head warmer (hat and/or headband), long-fingered gloves, and cycling booties and/or part-wool socks.
• For sun protection, bring a head covering and sun protection, e.g. UV-protectant sleeves, or clothing with UPF.

You may bring cycling specific shoes or allround athletic shoes, for example:

• Stiff-soled athletic shoes with closed toes suitable for riding and walking around, such as cross training shoes.
• Clipless cycling shoes with your own pedals. If you are using cycling shoes with cleats we strongly recommend mountain or touring style shoes that have a recessed cleat so you can comfortably explore during the day. If you stick with stiff-soled road riding shoes, bring a light pair that you can change into for sightseeing and that fits in your rear pack.

• Back-up pair of contact lenses or glasses (you never know!)
• Sunblock or sunscreen
• Lip balm
• Cycling anti-chafing cream for those prone to chafing
• Classic, Bike & Boat and Explorer tours: Laundry soap and line to dry your laundry (any nylon rope will do); consider bringing a mesh-bag for your laundry. More about laundry while on tour. Expedition tour travelers need not bring laundry soap as we will have some on the van.
• Deodorant, toothpaste, brush, comb, etc.
• Shaving materials
• Insect repellent (bugs are generally not a problem but mosquitoes are sneaky)
• Allergy medicine for pollen or bee stings
• Kaopectate tablets or equivalent
• Aspirin, Tylenol, or equivalent
• Seasickness medication if you’re on a Bike & Boat trip at sea, and are prone to nausea
• Small travel first aid kit
• Wash cloth (if you use one; hotels often provide only towels)

• Small pocket guidebook, or your preferred travel app on your smartphone or tablet
• Phrasebook/dictionary, or your preferred translation app on your smartphone or tablet
• Small notebook/diary/logbook/sketchbook and pen or pencil
• Any electronic device you use for reading, listening to music, etc. Note: devices that use headphones are dangerous and illegal to ride with in some countries. Please don’t use them while on your bike.
• Any adapters or converters you may need for your electronics. Adapter, converter, which is which? Read more about electronics on tour.

• Ear Plugs
• Photography
  • if you don’t use your smartphone, remember you may need extra storage cards and batteries
  • smartphone – remember your charger and any additional accessories, depending on your planned use (e.g. phone mount)
• Utensils and small container for picnicking
• Small travel binoculars
• Pack towel – If your tour takes you along the coast and you’d like to stop and swim along the ride we suggest you bring a pack towel. They come in a variety of sizes, are very packable, super absorbent, and quick to dry.

On Explorer tours, we provide you with one water bottle but the van won’t always be close-by throughout the day.

Be sure to pack the necessary travel documents for Cuba.

Cuba requires all travelers to Cuba to have travel medical insurance.

See our article about handling money in Cuba.

Make sure to bring medicine that you require and make sure to pack it in your hand-luggage.

Electrical outlet adapter(s) specific to Cuba or universal plug adapter, if needed.

Food and snacks will be different in Cuba. While we provide snacks on tour, you might
have a certain type of cereal bar might work better for you than local snacks. In that case, you
might want to bring along your own.

• Any devices that you plan on going online with (unless you really must). Expect to unplug and enjoy in Cuba.
• GPS-device – they are illegal in Cuba. You may use your smartphone with an app.

• Anything valuable that cannot be replaced.
• Formal attire
• Extra outfits, pack light!

• Bringing new shoes that are not broken in or cycling shoes not suited for walking.
• Grabbing the wrong passport on your way out the door (make sure it’s yours).