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| Top Mountain Biking Trails from HostelBookers |
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Mountain biking is a great way to keep fit, and can be a fantastic way to see the countryside. Often going off the beaten track, the mountain bike itself is sturdier than the ordinary bicycle, with a larger tyre allowing for more shock absorption.
Mountain biking can be broken down into 5 main kinds; cross country, downhill, freeride, dirt jump and trials/street riding. Unless undertaken as part of an organised tour, the sport does require a certain amount self reliance, as you can be far from parts of civilisation, and may need to be adept in fixing your bike if needs be. Other than needing the right kind of bike, it also relies on a sense of adventure to find the right trail to ride. Although there are many great places to ride around the world, and the list below is not exhaustive by any means, here are some of the best trails from around the globe.
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| Whakarewarewa Trail Network, Rotorua, New Zealand |
Set amongst the Whakekarekare Forest and the natural hotsprings of the Rotorua region, the extensive trails wind their way through the 30 hectares of lush forest. With the forest harbouring many different kinds of trees, mountain biking in New Zealand is a unique opportunity and is not only for the young or experienced, as the 70 granny who cycled it as her first ever ride shows!
Book your accommodation for the Whakarewarewa trail network, in Rotorua, New Zealand | Guide to New Zealand
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| Monarch Crest Trail, Poncha Springs, Colorado, United States |
Seen by many as one of the premium rides in the United States, the Monarch Crest Trail, in the small town of Poncha Springs, will keep you on your toes. With one of its nearest airports being Denver, it is easy to reach the area, although the ride itself requires a bike shuttle to get to, as it is elevated very high above the tree line.
Although a challenging ride at times, and one requiring a lot of focus, breathtaking views and a great stretch of downhill riding will reward your hard work. The 3 trails are separated by difficulty, but this should be undertaken by more experienced riders.
Book your accommodation for the Monarch Crest Trail in Denver, Colorado | Guide to the Rockies
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| Lhasa to Kathmandu, Kathmandu, Nepal |
The foothills of Nepal and Tibet are the perfect terrain for the mountain biker, as spectacular scenery is surrounded by great trails. It is possible to take both guided mountain bike tours, led by experienced Nepalese guides, or go it alone.
The epic Lhasa to Kathmandu journey will cross the Tibetan plateau and includes the longest downhill descent in the world, at 4,600m down into the foothills of the beautiful Kathmandu valley. Taking up to 3 weeks to complete the entire journey, this ride will test your stamina, and although not the most technically challenging, it is difficult due to the very high altitudes.
Book your accommodation for the Lhasa to Kathmandu trail in Kathmandu, Nepal | Guide to Kathmandu |
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| Sea to Sea trail, Lake District, England |
This beautiful area of England receives many visitors every year due to its beautiful lakes, and mountain biking is the newest adventure sport to be introduced here. With various tracks immersed throughout the countryside, the Sea to Sea (C2C) is 130 miles of well signposted track, and is mainly ridden on disused railways and minor roads, although there are tougher, off road options for the more experienced.
The perfect track for beginners to the sport, as well as many experienced riders taking to the trail, tradition dictates that the track begins by dipping your wheel in the Irish Sea, and only ends when the same treatment is given in the North Sea
Book your accommodation for the Sea to Sea trail in Lake District, England | Guide to Cumbria and The Lakes
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| The Kasbah Trail, Morocco |
Riding through the lush Draa valley, and following the ancient trade route from Timbuktu, this ride will take you back to a time where camels are the major transportation of the native Berber people that still live there. Cycling through the High Atlas mountain range, you will not only pass canyons and ride through some of Morocco’s stunning scenery, but you will also pass remote villages. This is a ride full of contrasting and vivid scenery, and will end up in the Valley of the Roses. Easily reached from Marrakech, this will be a ride that you will never forget.
Book your accommodation for the Kasbah Trail in Marrakech, Morocco | Guide to Marrakech |
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| Sintra Trails, Sintra, Portugal |
Hailed as the one of the up and coming countries for mountain biking, the small town of Sintra, near Lisbon, not only has beautiful scenery but great terrain for mountain biking. These trails are surrounded by the history that Sintra is famous for, being associated with royalty, with a palace still visible to visitors today. The Natural Park surrounding the various trails, mean that the trails are all beautiful, and can be undertaken by various skill levels.
Book your accommodation for the Sintra Trails in Sintra, Portugal | Guide to Sintra |
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| Verbier Trails, Verbier, Switzerland |
Verbier is a town that has a huge range of different activities for any kind of adventure that you can think of. It is very well regarded for mountain biking, with over 200km of downhill trails, beautifully situated in the very picturesque Swiss Alps. Complete with its own mountain bike park, Verbier is a place set up for this sport, and holds many competitions every year.
Although there will be trails that will be suitable for the absolute beginner, Verbier has a trail that drops 700 m in altitude, which is only suitable for serious downhill speed thrill seekers. Verbier is definitely not your sleepy mountain town and is not for the faint hearted!
Book your accommodation for the Verbier Trails, in Verbier, Switzerland | Guide to the Swiss Alps |
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| Mountain Biking in Ecuador |
Ecuador is an amazing playground for the mountain biking enthusiast, with endless back roads to explore, spectacular scenery of the Andes which also make it perfect for the downhill mountain biking enthusiast. The very technical descent of the Cotopaxi Volcano and the Pichincha Volcano riding right down into the basin of the Amazon, make these rides a must to add to your mountain biking itinerary.
Book your accommodation for mountain biking in Cotopaxi, Ecuador | Guide for Ecuador |
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| Mountain Biking Loire Valley, France |
For a mountain biking experience that offers a little comfort and luxury, you might wish to choose biking through the Loire Valley in France. Not only can you view and stay in beautiful chateaux and chalets, you can also decide to detour to any of the plentiful vineyards for a spot of wine tasting.
The ride itself is not that challenging, but all that this region has to offer, as well being able to ride alongside the Loire River itself, makes this a worthwhile trip. As the region extends quite a long distance, there are many places to choose from for accommodation. Orlean is one of the major places, and a charming stop in its own right.
Book your accommodation for mountain biking in Loire Valley in Orléans, France | Guide to Loire |
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