Art of Bicycle Trips

What It Is and Where It Operates

Art of Bicycle Trips is an active travel company that designs guided and self-guided biking, hiking and walking tours, bike-and-boat trips and "Active Culture" journeys around the world. The footer names the business as Active Travels Pte Ltd, 32 Pekin Street, Singapore. The about page says it was "Founded in 2010 during a 100km bumpy ride in India" by Pankaj Mangal, and describes how it works on the ground: it collaborates "with some of the finest local specialists based in each tour region," whom it calls "co-creators," and says that "From the initial planning stages to daily on-ground operations, our local teams ensure" each trip runs as designed. In other words, Art of Bicycle Trips designs and sells the trips, and local partner companies deliver them.

The destination menu is very wide. For biking it lists much of Europe (from Albania, Austria and the Balkans to Scotland, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey, plus EuroVelo routes and the Camino), a long run of Asian countries including Japan, Bhutan, Nepal, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, Botswana, Morocco, Rwanda and South Africa in Africa, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador in South America, Canada and the USA, and New Zealand.

Tour Types and Offerings

The homepage cards show each tour's length and a per-person starting price in dollars. Examples from the cycling list:

• Self-Guided Shimanami Kaido Bike Tour in Japan, 5 days, from $1,495 per person.
• Self-Guided Amsterdam to Bruges Canal & Delta Bike Tour, 8 days, from $1,695.
• Self-Guided Salzburg to Trieste Alpe Adria Bike Tour, 9 days, from $1,995.
• Self-Guided Classic Split to Dubrovnik Bike Tour, 8 days, from $2,895.
• Guided Albania UNESCO Bike Tour, 10 days, from $2,395, and a Guided Albania, Croatia and Montenegro Three Country Bike Tour, 8 days, from $3,195.
• Guided Seoul to Busan Bike Tour, 8 days, from $3,395.
• Guided Costa Brava and Emporda Food, Wine and Bike Tour, 8 days, from $4,595.
• Guided Shimanami and Kyushu Bike Tour, 9 days, from $6,695.

Iberia and the Adriatic get several self-guided options, including the Porto to Santiago coastal ride with Parador hotels (8 days, from $2,395) and Trieste to Pula (8 days, from $2,095). Japan features heavily, with the Guided Essence of Shikoku (8 days, from $4,695), the Guided Kyushu Hot Springs Bike Tour (8 days, from $4,795), the Guided Off-Beat Eastern Hokkaido Bike Tour (8 days, from $4,995) and an Okinawa island ride alongside the self-guided Shimanami Kaido. Walking and hiking tours follow the same format, for example the Guided Nakasendo Trail from Tokyo to Kyoto (8 days, from $4,295), the Guided Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage with temple stays (11 days, from $6,995), a self-guided full Tour du Mont Blanc with hotels every night, a self-guided Camino Portuguese Way a guided Trans-Bhutan Trail, a guided Eastern Hokkaido hike past volcanoes and caldera lakes with an introduction to Ainu culture, and a self-guided Dalmatian island-hopping walk through Korcula, Hvar and Mljet to Dubrovnik. Other rides on the list include a self-guided Camino del Norte from San Sebastian to Santander and a guided ride from Kyoto to the Sea of Japan. A Guided Cappadocia to the Coast Bike and Hike Tour (8 days, from $4,195) mixes both.

The Bike & Boat menu covers Austria, the Balkans, Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands and other European countries, and the Active Culture line pairs light activity with food, craft and local visits in places such as Bhutan, Japan, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan and Rwanda. The menu also has a "Guaranteed Departures" section, though the pages here do not explain what the guarantee covers.

How Tours Work

The site's own summary of what sets it apart is "Thoughtfully Crafted" itineraries, "Handpicked Hotels," described as "Boutique and luxury stays chosen for comfort, character, and a strong sense of place," and "Trusted Local Specialists." It also promises "reliable, top-notch equipment." On self-guided trips riders travel on their own on a set route; guided trips are led by the local partner teams. The about page adds that tours are built around each traveler, from "an avid cyclist seeking challenging terrains" to "leisurely explorers." The company describes its philosophy through the French idea of joie de vivre and the Japanese concept of ikigai, and says it aims "to raise each trip to the level of an art form," hence the name. The founding story is told in some detail: Pankaj Mangal set out one morning for a 100km ride to a remote fishing camp and came back, in the site's words, "moved by the simplicity of countryside living." The company says it prioritizes "authentic local experiences" that also contribute "to the well-being of local communities," and that working with regional partners gives guests access to local communities, traditions and food that a visiting guide could not offer.

Booking, Payment, and Support

Prices are shown per person on each card, and travelers can book a listed tour, use "Design Trip" to have the travel specialists build a private or custom trip, or "Ask Advisor" through the contact form or WhatsApp chat. The site notes that anyone who "Didn't find the perfect tour" can have one designed for them. A reviews page collects guest feedback and press pieces, among them articles on India's top cycling routes and on the world's most beautiful bike trails.

What the Site Leaves Unsettled

The home, about and reviews pages do not state deposits, payment timing, or cancellation and refund terms. Group sizes for guided departures are not given, and neither are guide languages or qualifications, beyond the description of trusted local specialists. The cards show a "from" price but not what it includes, so meals, bike hire, e-bike upgrades and single supplements need checking on each tour page. The site also does not explain how responsibility is split between the Singapore company and the local partner running a trip if something goes wrong on the road.

Art of Bicycle Trips suits travelers who want a designed, well-hotelled cycling or walking holiday in an unusual spot, from the Shimanami Kaido to the Albanian coast, with the choice of riding alone on a set route or with a local guide. Travelers who want to book with the operator that actually runs the trip on the ground should note that the day-to-day delivery is by regional partners.