Thrilling downhills, spectacular views, and the all-important endorphin rush – an inclusive mountain biking holiday at one of our Beach Clubs is an epic experience. A mountain biking holiday in Europe means you'll be riding along stunning coastlines and through national parks and rolling countryside. The mountain biking possibilities are endless.
With guided mountain bike rides every day, there’s no need to map your trail – just turn up and ride. Or if you fancy hitting the road and eating up some miles, check out our road cycling holidays to mix things up. On a Neilson Beach Club holiday, there are routes to cater for all abilities and fitness levels, from mountain biking holidays for beginners to experienced cyclists.
Book one of our mountain biking holidays in Europe by contacting our team today.
Mountain biking is a sport involving off-road cycling across rough terrain, on dedicated trails through woodland and on other off-road or cross-country routes. There are several differences between mountain biking and road cycling. With the former, riders benefit from shifting their weight and keeping their bodies loose to manoeuvre the bike, whereas road cyclists will focus on generating speed and power using the bike's pedals.
Mountain bikes are capable of riding off-road, as they have suspension to absorb the bumps created by uneven trails. They also have lower ratio gears to help you tackle steep hill climbs. A mountain biking holiday is a great way to stay active and boost your fitness!
Find out more about what mountain biking involves.
There are many benefits to off-road cycling – and a mountain biking holiday allows you to enjoy them while riding through idyllic settings. You can zip along gravelly fire roads in Croatia, take on hill climbs to soak up views of the Tyrrhenian Sea in Sardinia and tackle valleys and mountainous terrain in Greece.
A mountain biking holiday is perfect for anyone with a taste for adventure. But that’s not to say you can't take it easy. At Buca and Messini Beach Clubs, choose electric bikes for extra power on hill climbs. You can also mix up mountain biking with other activities such as tennis, yoga, paddle boarding and dinghy sailing - or mountain bike all day if you'd prefer.
Our fleet of Trek X-Caliber 9 mountain bikes is perfect for your mountain biking holiday. Equipped with motion control dampers and high-tech frames, these bikes offer fast, agile and efficient riding. Plus, our expert teams ensure that they stay in top condition. We have a range of frame sizes to accommodate all riders, and our bikes are suited to local trails. Here's where you can find them:
If you plan on bringing your cycling shoes with cleats, we recommend bringing your own pedals to ensure a perfect fit.
Lok out for our first-ever fleet of electric mountain bikes at our Beach Clubs. Perfect for both on and off-road riding, you'll find E-bikes at Messini and Buca Beach Clubs.
The Powerfly 4 625 Gen 4 will make cycling as easy as it’s ever been, with riders of all abilities able to join the group. Boasting a tough yet refined aluminium frame alongside a Bosch Performance CX motor, the bike is more than capable of conquering the bumpier rides, and the long-range 625-watt-hour battery means no journey will ever end too soon.
Available at all Beach Clubs, our 'green' rides are leisurely and achievable for everybody on a mountain biking holiday. Ride to nearby beaches, villages, and tavernas, with distances varying from 5km up to 10km. You can get riding tips from the bike team or join an introduction session.
A small step up, our ‘blue’ rides take you further afield and may include slightly harder terrain. Blue rides vary from 10km to 25km and will take you inland to villages or along the coast.
We're proud to offer mountain biking holidays that everyone can enjoy. Check our activity levels for mountain biking and other activities.
For more adventurous and technical mountain biking holidays, speak to our bike team about 'red' level rides at our Beach Clubs. You’ll venture far and wide – and it's a fantastic way to explore more of your holiday destination with technical ascents and descents.
If you're up for something longer, steeper, and even more challenging, give our 'black' rides a go, they're guaranteed to make you work hard.
Red and black mountain bike routes are available in Levante Beach, Vounaki, Cosmos, Messini, Buca and Baia dei Mori Beach Clubs. Look at our activity levels for mountain biking and other activities.
if navigation isn't your strong point, then our guided mountain biking holidays are the answer. Our bike team does most of the hard work for you. All our rides are fully guided so you can just turn up and ride. You can focus on your fitness or take it easy while enjoying the view.
Every Beach Club has a variety of rides mapped out and the team will take the time to make sure you're happy and comfortable on the bikes. You'll receive guidance on all parts of the ride if you need it.
To get riding straight away, sign up for a ride with the bike team at the welcome meeting. After completing your first ride, more can be booked with the bike team.
Prefer the idea of a self-guided mountain biking holiday? Doing your own thing has never been easier, safer or more accessible. Bikes are available to use at any point during the day, and one of our team will always be on hand at the cycling centre to advise and assist with routes and bike mechanics.
Our use of the popular cycling and running smartphone app Strava has made free riding easier than ever. All our routes are now available through destination-specific Strava pages.
We provide secure phone mounts to ensure the safety of your phone, giving you the flexibility to explore your mountain biking holiday destination at your own pace. If you need advice on how to use the tech, speak to one of the bike team at your Beach Club.
Families will be well-catered for during your holiday. Our bike team have scouted out the perfect routes for a family ride or you can join a guided family bike ride (suitable for 9+ years). We have junior bikes suitable for 9 to 12-year-olds and XS mountain bikes, which are ideal for 13+ years.
If you’ve got a budding teenage mountain biker who wants to go a bit further we will also offer teen rides during the school holidays. All teens need to fit our standard mountain bikes. Those aged 14+ can join guided bike rides with an adult if their ability matches the route on offer.
For the little ones (2-8), we have kids' bikes for use in the Beach Club. Remember, with our kids' clubs, you can head out on the mountain biking trails knowing they'll be enjoying themselves while you enjoy some time to yourself.
If you plan to take on more physically demanding, technical routes you may want to do some prep beforehand. It may be sensible to ride frequently in the weeks leading up to your mountain bike trip so you can build your stamina. Cross-training, such as squatting with weights at the gym, will also help to build muscle endurance. Spinning classes will boost your fitness and yoga will help your posture and reduce the likelihood of injury. Check out our handy guide to help you get ready for your mountain biking holiday on the Neilson hub:
Ready to book your next mountain biking holiday with us? Rest assured that we have over 40 years of experience in arranging holidays for happy customers. We have over 1,000 5-star reviews to prove this. We've also won British Travel Awards across a range of categories and our flight-inclusive trips are ATOL protected.
Check out the Neilson Hub to find out about group mountain biking or how to get in shape to get the most out of your mountain biking trip. Then, when you're happy to book, get in touch with our team.
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