Gravel Biking Tours

Gravel biking has grown rapidly as a travel category in recent years, with dedicated gravel routes opening across Europe in particular. Slovenia has emerged as one of the world’s leading gravel biking destinations, with new waymarked gravel trails and improved infrastructure making multi-day gravel adventures increasingly accessible. Majorca, long established as a road cycling destination, now offers dedicated gravel biking routes through the island’s interior away from the more trafficked coastal roads. Gravel-specific bikes are increasingly available to rent on organized tours, removing the need to travel with your own equipment. Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) are the best seasons for most gravel biking destinations; summer heat makes long gravel days in southern Europe challenging.

Gravel biking tours are part of 10Adventures’ broader cycling collection. Browse all guided and self-guided bike tours for the full range of road, trail and adventure cycling holidays, guided and self-guided mountain bike tours for off-road trail riding, and guided and self-guided e-bike tours for electric bike adventures on routes of all difficulty levels.

Gravel biking (also called gravel cycling or adventure cycling) uses drop-handlebar bikes with wider, more durable tires than conventional road bikes, designed to handle a mix of paved roads, unpaved gravel tracks, forest roads and light off-road terrain. The format has grown rapidly in popularity because it opens up a much wider range of routes than road cycling alone, allowing riders to explore rural landscapes, mountain passes and coastal paths that are inaccessible on narrow road tires. Gravel bikes are typically fitted with bikepacking bags or luggage racks, making them well-suited to multi-day adventures with overnight stops. Tours range from relatively accessible multi-day routes at moderate difficulty to challenging bikepacking expeditions covering 80 to 100km per day with significant elevation.

10Adventures’ gravel biking tours span Europe and South America, covering some of the world’s most celebrated gravel cycling destinations. Slovenia offers over 650km of gravel trails through the Julian Alps, Triglav National Park, the Soča Valley and the Karst region, combining dramatic alpine scenery with quieter rural roads and a well-developed gravel trail network. It is one of Europe’s premier destinations for serious gravel riders. The guided Cycling Around Majorca Tour takes riders through the island’s mountain interior and quieter backroads, with the Serra de Tramuntana passes offering a very different experience from the island’s busier road cycling routes. Browse self-guided and guided Spain bike tours for more cycling options across the Iberian Peninsula. In South America, the guided Best of Carretera Austral Bike Tour follows Chile’s legendary gravel highway through Patagonia, passing glaciers, fjords and Andean peaks on one of the most remote and dramatic cycling routes in the world. Browse all South America bike tours on 10Adventures.

For riders interested in serious gravel cycling in Patagonia, our Chile biking tours guide covers routes, terrain, seasons, and guided trip options.

Gravel biking tours access terrain and scenery that road cycling and hiking cannot reach. Riding through remote valleys, forest tracks and mountain passes with no vehicles creates a genuinely exploratory experience; routes frequently pass through places that rarely see other tourists. The physical challenge of gravel riding, with its varied surfaces and often significant elevation, makes arrivals in destination towns particularly satisfying. Multi-day gravel tours are also highly social experiences: riders share routes, accommodation and meals over several days, and the shared effort of challenging terrain creates a strong sense of community. For cyclists moving from road biking, gravel tours offer a natural step up in adventure without requiring technical mountain biking skills.

The best seasons for gravel biking vary by destination. For Slovenia, spring (May to June) and early autumn (September to October) offer the most reliable conditions: mountain passes are snow-free, temperatures are comfortable and trail surfaces are in good condition. Summer in Slovenia can be hot in the valleys but high-altitude gravel routes remain manageable. For Majorca, the island’s mild Mediterranean climate extends the gravel biking season from February through to November; the island is particularly popular with cyclists in March and April. Summer heat on Majorca’s exposed inland routes makes July and August less suitable for long gravel days.

Guided gravel biking tours include an experienced guide who leads the group, provides mechanical support and offers route expertise. Guided tours typically include accommodation, most meals and vehicle support, allowing riders to focus on the cycling without navigation or logistical concerns. They are a strong choice for riders new to multi-day gravel touring or unfamiliar with the destination. 10Adventures offers guided gravel biking tours through its network of specialist local operators.

Self-guided gravel biking tours provide detailed route notes, GPX tracks, pre-booked accommodation and luggage transfers, allowing experienced riders to follow the route independently at their own pace. Slovenia’s gravel trails are particularly well-suited to self-guided riding, with clear waymarking and a well-established network of hotels and guesthouses. Self-guided gravel tours are available for intermediate and advanced riders with multi-day cycling experience.