Ride past old wooden townhouses on a Kyoto street
Walk Danjō Garan to the Konpon Daitō pagoda in autumn
Watch monks gather by a Kōyasan pagoda in autumn colour
Taste shōjin ryōri, the temple food of Kōyasan
Try kakinoha-zushi, sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves
Inabuchi's scarecrow season in the Asuka rice fields
See the Uji tea fields on the hills of Wazuka
Visit Tōdai-ji's Great Buddha Hall in Nara in spring
Wander past mossy stone lanterns at Kasuga Taisha
See Kōfuku-ji's pagoda over Sarusawa Pond at sunrise
Koinobori carp streamers over the Yoshino at Gojō
Meet the Asuka Great Buddha inside Asuka-dera
Ride past green terraced fields in Asuka village
Watch the sun set over the Kinokawa at Wakayama
Follow the Uji River on a quiet autumn morning
Cross Wakanoura's old stone Furō-bashi bridge
Meet yamabushi pilgrims in the streets of Yoshinoyama
See Nara's deer grazing under autumn maples in the park
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Kyoto, Nara & Kōyasan Bike Tour

7 days / 6 nights

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Japan

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A self-guided bike tour from Kyoto to the sea at Wakayama, by Nara and Yoshino to a night in a Kōyasan temple, with the one big climb given a day of its own.

Starting Point

Kyoto

Finish Point

Wakayama

Activity Level

3/5

Season

From March to November

Bike Type

Trekking Bike / E-Bike

Accommodation Level

Comfort

Daily Distance

18 – 35 mi

Daily Elevation

558 – 2789 ft

Highlights

  • Ride out of Kyoto past Fushimi Inari, whose hill counts about 10,000 torii
  • Ishibutai: a 7th-century tomb stripped to bare stone, World Heritage since 2026
  • Matcha in Uji, the shoguns' tea town
  • 21 km of steady climbing to Kōyasan, given a day of its own
  • One river, two names: the Yoshino in Nara, the Kinokawa in Wakayama
  • Sleep in a Kōyasan temple and join the monks' 6 a.m. service

What’s included in the price?

Self-guided

Those who like good adventure and limitless flexibility should go on a self-guided cycling holiday. It offers complete freedom, multiple detour opportunities, and exploration at your own pace without having to adapt to a group.

INCLUDED

6 nights in town hotels, a ryokan and a temple lodging, all with a private bathroom
Breakfast every morning
Dinner at the ryokan in Yoshino and at the temple on Kōyasan
Hybrid bike from Kyoto to Wakayama, with a helmet
Luggage transfer
Route app with GPS navigation
Digital guidebook
Tour design and organisation

NOT INCLUDED

Travel to Kyoto and home from Wakayama
Lunches, and dinners other than in Yoshino and on Kōyasan
Entry to temples, shrines and museums, such as Byōdō-in, Tōdai-ji, Kinpusen-ji and Kongōbu-ji
Travel insurance

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

E-bike
on request
Single supplement
+1.790 €/person
Accommodation levelComfort

Carefully selected town hotels, a ryokan and a temple lodging, all with private en-suite rooms and breakfast included. Expect comfortable, well-appointed rooms with attentive hospitality, typically in convenient and scenic locations — some properties also offer on-site dining.

UNESCO's listing for the sacred mountains of the Kii Peninsula says they are "linked by pilgrimage routes to the ancient capital cities of Nara and Kyoto". This tour rides that link, out of Kyoto, through Nara and Asuka, over the hills to Yoshino and up to Kōyasan. Then the Kinokawa carries you down to the sea at Wakayama.

Much of the way follows the Kyonawa cycle route, about 180 km of signed path from Kyoto to Wakayama Port. It is closed to cars beside the Kizu River and runs along the levees of the Kinokawa. The riding days are 29 to 57 km.

Kōyasan is the one big climb, about 800 m in 21 km. Other tours ride it at the end of a 60 km day. We stop the night before at Hashimoto, so you start the climb fresh and reach the temples by early afternoon. An e-bike, which you can add when you book, turns it into steady riding.

You sleep in town hotels in Kyoto, Nara, Hashimoto and Wakayama, in a ryokan on Yoshino's mountain and in a Kōyasan temple. There, dinner is shōjin ryōri, Buddhist vegetarian food, and the monks' morning service is open to guests. Your bag goes ahead each day, so you ride with a day bag.

Kūkai founded Kōyasan in 816. Women were barred from the mountain until the 1870s, so his mother lived at Jison-in at its foot, and he is said to have walked down to see her nine times a month. Kudoyama, "nine-times mountain", is named after those visits.

Frequently Asked Questions

The best time for cycling in Europe depends on where you're headed. Here's a quick breakdown by season:

  • Spring (April–May) is ideal for Southern Europe — moderate temperatures, quiet roads, and the countryside in full bloom. Great for Portugal or Italy

  • Early summer (June) is the sweet spot across most of Central Europe — Austria and Slovenia are all at their best, with long daylight hours and alpine passes fully open.

  • Late summer to early autumn (August–September) suits places like Norway and Denmark — cooler temperatures, plenty of daylight, and far fewer tourists than peak season.

  • Winter is generally off-season for most European cycling destinations. The exception is warmer regions like the Canary Islands and southern Spain — all rideable year-round.

Still a hard choice? See our tour choosing guide that will answer any questions or doubts you still might have.

Our tours can be adapted to any bike type — whether road, gravel, or mountain bike. We are in constant communication with you to find the optimal conditions for your cycling holidays in Europe.

The most versatile option is a gravel bike, even if you are coming on a road cycling holiday. It does not really affect your road performance while allowing you to take some scenic backroads that can be in a slightly worse state than the main ones. A gravel bike is usually more comfortable as well.

Europe is a very diverse continent and there is something for every cyclist. Whichever bike you choose, we will find the perfect route for you.

We offer four types of cycling holidays, each suited to a different kind of rider — and it's worth noting that most of our tours are compatible with more than one bike type, so you're rarely locked into a single option.

  • Road cycling — best for avid cyclists with the endurance to handle multiple long days in a row. Expect high daily distances, paved roads, and a pace that rewards fitness.

  • Gravel cycling — suitable for anyone comfortable spending multiple days in the saddle with some moderate climbing. Terrain is mostly tarmac and gravel, stages are manageable, and the pace is flexible. Our most popular format.

  • E-bike holidays — ideal for those who want to cover the same scenic routes with less physical strain. Electric assistance makes longer distances and hillier terrain accessible to a much wider range of riders.

  • Mountain biking — suited to riders comfortable on technical terrain. Our MTB holidays tackle rougher trails, steeper descents, and more demanding surfaces. Adjustable to your skill level, but not recommended for complete beginners.

Absolutely — and in fact, most of our tours are designed with solo travellers in mind.

Our self-guided tours mean you cycle at your own pace, on your own schedule, without being tied to a group. You're independent on the road, but fully supported behind the scenes — we handle your accommodation, luggage transfers, and route planning, and our team is reachable throughout your trip.

If you're travelling alone, just let us know when booking. We'll advise you on the single supplement and flag which tours are most popular with solo travellers.

If you want to, sure! We are well aware that some people love to stay in groups while others prefer some more alone time on their trip. We wanted to give you the opportunity to do things your way — it is your holiday, after all!

As long as you respect the group timings and locations designated by your guide, please feel free to customise your itinerary by scheduling a free meeting with our specialists and we will see what we can do at the chosen destination!

On a self-guided cycling tour, you're in charge of your own pace and schedule — no group to keep up with, no fixed departure times, no guide leading the way.

Before your trip, we take care of everything behind the scenes. We plan your route, book all your accommodation, arrange daily luggage transfers, and load your GPS with turn-by-turn navigation. You receive a detailed digital guidebook covering each stage, what to expect on the road, and recommendations along the way.

On the day, you simply check out, drop your bags at reception, and ride. Your luggage arrives at the next hotel before you do.

Throughout the trip, our team is reachable if anything comes up — a question, a change of plan, or something unexpected. You're independent, but never on your own.

If you'd like to know more about how it all fits together, visit our self-guided tours manual.

On our guided tours, you will have professional local guides. Our guides will make sure that you will have expert guidance combined with great fun and a memorable experience.

Some of our Slovenian tours are also also available as group guided tours.

Every day starts with breakfast at your hotel. From there, the day is yours.

Your luggage is collected from reception and transported to your next hotel — so you set off with just a daypack. Your GPS route and daily notes are ready in the app.

Most stages take between 4–7 hours of cycling depending on the tour, with plenty of stops along the way.

You decide the pace, when to take breaks, and whether to linger somewhere that catches your eye.

By the time you arrive at your next hotel, your bags are already waiting. The evening is entirely free.

Hassle-Free

We take care of route planning, accommodations, luggage transfers, and all logistics, so you can focus purely on enjoying your ride.

Tried & Tested Adventures

Our cycling routes are hand-picked & tested, to ensure breathtaking landscapes, smooth roads, and maximum safety - giving you the perfect ride every day.

Unbeatable Support

Our 24/7 customer support is where we show our passion, ensuring your cycling holiday runs smoothly and your well-being is always our top priority.

Book with Confidence

We are a financially protected company, fully bonded and insured, keeping your money safe and allowing you to travel with confidence.

Local Experts

Our professional cycling guides in select locations know the local terrain and are trained to make this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity both safe and enjoyable.

from 2.600 € /person