Cycling In Bali

A trip to Bali is a right of passage for Australian families.  Once you have done the obligatory trip to the Gold Coast theme parks the next progression is a family holiday to Bali.

Although not a regular destination on the Itchy Feet Family destination list, we have done a few trips and always like to try something different outside of the Kuta markets, Ubud day trip and visit to Waterbom Park.

On our most recent trip we decided to see the countryside on two-wheels on a cycling tour.

We chose Bali Hai Tours who collected us from our hotel in Kuta, the Hard Rock Hotel. Although we knew we were doing a tour, the one thing we forgot to prepare for was the almost two-hour car journey to Ubud to actually start the cycling tour!  

Whilst the kids were excited at the prospect of cycling, when our driver gave us an estimate drive time to our tour we nearly had a riot on our hands from the kids!  So be prepared. 

Cycling tours are best when all family members are able to cycle, however even if your youngest is not quite at a stage to handle their own wheels, bikes with child seats are available.  Our 5 year old could ride but not confidently enough so we opted for the child seat for her.  Master 8 on the other hand was rearing to go. 

The clever part of this tour is that the transportation takes you to the highest part of the journey and the route takes you downhill and along flats.  So even for someone with only modest levels of fitness, there are no mountains to scale!

The challenge is not so much in activating your quads to cycle through terrain, but rather keeping cramp in your hand at bay as the steep descents require excessive usage of your hand break.  

The route took us through rural villages, bamboo forests, rice fields and to the doorsteps of temples.  Children waved and laughed at us as we cycled by and we saw a lovely side to this beautiful country away from the hustle and bustle of Kuta.

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Not for the faint hearted, there were a number of stretches that took us along main roads and I must admit that as a mother with an 8 yo on a cycle I did have a few nervous moments when trucks and cars were passing. 

We had a number of stops along the way where our guide would share with us stories and facts of the area and we were able to stretch our legs, rehydrate and take in the surrounds. 

Master 8 was fascinated by the Durian and at a local village stop he was shown how to cut the fruit open. He was also offered a taste - however the smell was not one he (nor I) could quite handle.  An acquired taste for sure!

So if you have done the obligatory tours in Bali and are after something a little different, a cycling tour is a fun family day out if you can drag yourself away from the pool, cocktails and massages!

Other blogs you may be interested in:
Christmas Cruising: The Pros and Cons
Y’All Come Back Soon: Visit to a Texas Ranch
Getting Dirty in Vietnam: Nha Trang Mud Baths

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