You can certainly photograph on your own in the mornings. I don’t plan organized shoots in the mornings but we do often venture out for sunrise photos within walking distance of our lodging.

You should have at least basic insurance covering yourself during the dates of the trip. You can add coverage for yourself, your bike, and your camera equipment as well. I recommend www.tripassure.com or 1.800.423.3632 or www.worldnomads.com

We don't require coverage but do strongly recommend the following:

• Accident & Sickness Medical Expense Coverage (minimum $100,000 USD)
• Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation of Remains (Minimum $200,000 USD)
• Accidental Death / Dismemberment
• Trip Cancellation Coverage

See the Travel Planning page for detailed packing lists.

Short answer…

• Camera, lenses, tripod and bag to carry them.
• Your own cycling shoes and pedals, any bike bags you like to ride with, your bike helmet. Helmet is included in bike hire if you don’t want to travel with your own helmet.
• Ride snacks and ride prep: bars, gels, chamois cream, sunscreen. Sometimes you can get these at our location but don’t count on it.

If you are a seasoned photographer and want to explore on your own then go for it. We will brief everyone on planned activities, and you always have the option to do them with the group or explore on your own.

The short answer is 2-3 hours. Mornings are mostly yours to explore and photograph on your own. In the evening, we don’t always have an organized shoot planned since sometimes we want to just relax. We aim to finish the ride and get everyone to our accommodations (hotel, inn, casa, riad, flat, etc) between 3-4pm so you have time to shower before any organized evening photography sessions.

You should be comfortable riding 25-50 miles / 40-80 km per day over flat or hilly terrain. You will need to be in condition to ride these distances on back to back days. Don't rely on "riding into trip fitness". Please arrive to the event ready to ride. Check out the training plan for a multi-day bike tour.

Download a tour training cheat sheet.

Summary - ride 3 to 4 days a week for three months prior to your trip. Three weeks before the tour try to ride average daily distances expected on your tour (avg 40 miles / 65 km). Taper off slightly for the next two weeks prior to your tour dates.

We will always have newer models that are designed for performance and comfort over longer distances. Most commonly these are Giant Defy Advanced and/or Cannondale Super6 Evo models. The bikes will be a little different for each trip depending on the bike hire partner we have in that country. I have ridden enough crappy rented bikes that I won’t subject myself or guests to something that’s not a joy to ride.

Ability of riders can vary widely so on most tours we are not doing group rides. The average pace is 14-17 mph / 22-28 kmph but everyone is encouraged to ride at their own pace.

Ride routes are marked,  we provide you with a map of the route, and support vehicles and a mechanic are always available to you. The SAG vehicle will collect anyone who is off the back at the right time to make it to our evening accommodations and photo locations.