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![Road bike the epic coastline road of California](https://content.roaradventures.com/system/tours/tour_images/9403/detail_slide/California-Big_Sur-cameron-venti.jpg?1599791699)
![Feel the wind in your hair as you road cycle this fabulous route](https://content.roaradventures.com/system/tours/tour_images/9404/detail_slide/California-Monterey-cristofer-jeschke.jpg?1599802725)
![Enjoy a small-group guided tour and travel with new friends](https://content.roaradventures.com/system/tours/tour_images/9405/detail_slide/Big_Sur3.jpg?1599803104)
![Go on tour and explore this magnificent part of the world](https://content.roaradventures.com/system/tours/tour_images/9407/detail_slide/Big_Sur1.jpg?1599803373)
![Discover the magic of the Big Sur coast](https://content.roaradventures.com/system/tours/tour_images/9408/detail_slide/Big_Sur4.jpg?1599803596)
Big Sur Road Bike Tour
Ride the Californian Coast from Santa Barbara to Big Sur over 6 days on a glorious road biking adventure. A highly influential, early 20th-century watercolorist and muralist, Francis McComas, defined California’s Central Coast, Big Sur, as “the greatest meeting of land-sea.” With that visionary exactness as a guide, the tour operator has shaped a virtuoso velo interpretation of the Golden State’s Central Coast: animated as much by sea cliffs and rolling wine country, iconic Highway One to Redwoods, breaching grey whales to far more furtive sea otters.
- CategoryRoad Cycling
- TypeFully Guided
- Duration6 days
- Culture LevelFamiliar
- Skill Level3 - Intermediate
- Activity Level3 - Active
- Elevation3 - Intermediate
- TerrainCoastal
Where does the tour start and end?
The tour starts and ends in Santa Barbara, California. Meet at 9am on day 1 at the Hotel Californian, Santa Barbara. The tour ends in Santa Barbara around 4pm on the last day.
Fly in/out of Santa Barbara Airport (SBA).
How long is the tour? How many days cycling?
The tour is 6 days long with 6 days of cycling.
Are there any limits on what I should bring?
Luggage is limited to one small soft-shelled suitcase or medium/large sized duffel bag (no heavier than 40 pounds). Please ensure your luggage container is water repellant. The tour operator also suggests bringing a hydration daypack or small backpack for valuables.
How should I prepare for the trip?
As an adventurous person, feel free to do whatever you can before the trip. Except for biking, no experience is necessary, just enthusiasm and an open mind ready to try some new adventures. Your level of fitness also affects how much you enjoy your tour. Check your specific itinerary for an idea of your average daily mileage and level of strenuousness, then train appropriately.
For optimal physical preparation, the tour operator recommends that you ride at least several hours per week during the month preceding the tour. During the tour, you will be on your bike every day, and we can assure you that an unprepared bottom is a sore one! If you can’t ride your bike or don’t own one, take a spin class at your local gym a few times a week.
What is the operator's environmental stance?
They don’t just preach environmental awareness, they live it. The tour operator recycles 90% of our waste and run their LEED Platinum facilities with solar and wind power. Additionally, their facilities are net-zero energy (they produce more energy than is consumed) which makes them the only commercial outfitter in the world who is net positive energy.
What's the tour like?
The tour is classified as active with a Fitness Level: 2-4. The tour is suitable for solo riders, couples & friends.
Are bikes included?
Yes. Make your trip as comfortable as possible on the body, as simple as possible for traveling, and hassle-free on tour. The tour operator will fit you with the newest, highest quality gear in the industry.
The tour operator provides only high-end bicycles from Specialized. They replace their rental fleet each season to ensure all rentals meet their high standards. E-bikes are available.
What can be expected while traveling in the pandemic?
Confident and Comfortable Traveling
Choosing when you’re ready to travel is different for everyone. The Tour Operator wants you to feel confident and in safe hands traveling with them on a worry-free, fun adventure in the great outdoors. Below you’ll find the additional precautions that have been put in place.Food Preparation
Trip Leaders have always been trained in food handling safety and will be receiving additional training on CDC and WHO safety guidelines. In addition, they will be wearing face coverings and gloves while preparing your meals.Inns Tours
Over the past 25+ years gourmet 5-star meals have been cooked for guests on tours. The Tour Operator is taking it back to their roots, where it all started, and will be cooking culinary delights for the inns tours, for the foreseeable future.Vans and Gear
From bike grips to tents — every piece of gear and equipment that needs it will get a daily cleaning. All common surface areas will be wiped down multiple times a day and vehicles will be fogged between tours.
Preparedness & SupportStaying Educated and Keeping You Informed
The Tour Operator is always monitoring what’s happening and how it impacts the trips and this pandemic is no exception. They are using the latest recommendations from the CDC and WHO, along with consulting local authorities where they travel, to guide the decisions for your tours. You’ll be contacted with any important information related to your departure.Certified and Trained Trip Leaders
Trip leaders have always been required to go through training to receive their Food Handler Safety Training card. They learn about foodborne illness, risk factors, food hazards and sanitization protocols. Additionally, the Tour Operator are one of the few tour companies to require trip leaders to be WFR (Wilderness First Responder) certified. WFR certification is an intensive 72-80 hour course taught over 8-10 days. Trip Leaders learn how to properly identify and manage life-threatening injuries and illnesses that could appear in a wilderness setting (more than 60 minutes away from definitive care), and also includes a lot of hands-on skill practice, case studies, practical scenarios, evacuation planning and procedures, and other aspects of long-term patient care involving wilderness context and situational awareness.Arriving Feeling Your Best
Please make sure you are feeling well when you come on your adventure. If you are sick and running a fever, please stay home for your own health and safety of others.Face Coverings
Guests are recommended to bring their preferred face covering and will be asked to wear them at a minimum, while traveling in the vans. While being outdoors is your choice. The Tour Operator will do their best to have hand sanitizer available, but it’s always good to bring your own.
Safe in the OutdoorsSmall Groups
The Tour Operator has always focused on small groups, so this is nothing new for them. They will continue to keep groups small with parties of 7 or less and will be following each state’s guidelines for group capacity, if any.Outdoor Social Distancing
Itineraries will be adjusted to avoid all visitor’s centers, tourist attractions or other crowded places to avoid crowds. Route options will be modified also to bypass the most “at risk” areas the tours travel through, if necessary.Private Tours
The idea of taking your friends or family somewhere cool and amazing is actually pretty easy. Tell us what you’re thinking and we’ll make it happen. Any trip on the website can run as a private tour. Private tours allow the ultimate and safe bonding experience.Culinary Delights Prepared by your Trip Leaders
Preparing all meals for the guests, including those on inns tours, will allow guests to be in an environment away from crowds and will have less concern. The Tour Operator is working with hotel partners to come up with a solution to set up an outdoor kitchen and bring you all their favorite meals.Trip Transportation
The Tour Operator will make certain you have enough space when taking a lift in the van and the choice to do what you want every day. If necessary, they’ll use even more vans to provide more room between travelers. We know what’s right for one person may not be right for another. On select itineraries, you will have the option to drive your own vehicle on the tour rather than ride in the van.Please read here for a message from the tour operator regarding COVID-19
Traveling Safe and Secure during COVID-19
Updated November 19, 2020Effective for all trips booked between now and March 31, 2021
Outdoor backcountry travel has never looked better. The Tour Operator has been working hard to bring you the safest possible way to travel. People are moving more from indoor gyms and malls of recycled air to outdoor fresh air freedom. If COVID-19 has a silver lining, it’s seeing all the families, dog-walkers, strollers and kids on bikes enjoying time together outside.
MODIFIED FLEXIBLE CANCELLATION POLICY FOR TRIP DEPARTURES IN 2021
The Tour Operator is aware that what’s right for one person may not be right for another. Therefore, they’ve adjusted their booking and cancellation policies to allow you more flexibility to make the decision that’s right for you.
If Escape Adventures cancels your trip, you have two options:
1. Receive a full refund
2. Keep your balance on file for a trip in the future with no expiration and receive an additional credit per guest*The cancellation policy has been modified to provide guests with essential flexibility. The goal is to provide flexibility so that you can have the time and information you need to make the best decision that works for you. The Tour Operator realizes how rapidly the situation is changing, so they’re reviewing all of this in real-time.
Less than 60 days prior to your departure date you have two options:
1. Choose another date or destination for your trip with no fees
2. Keep your balance on file for a trip in the future with no expiration and receive an additional credit per guest*60 days or more prior to your departure you have three options:
1. Cancel your trip and receive a full refund
2. Choose another date or destination for your trip with no fees
3. Keep your balance on file for a trip in the future with no expiration and receive an additional credit per guest*The Tour Operator has an experienced and devoted team ready to book your next adventure. They want to make sure you still feel confident booking with a tour. The modified cancellation policy outlined above applies to new bookings as well to allow you essential flexibility.
Please understand that the Tour Operator reserves the right to make adjustments to their policies to maintain an adaptable response to unpredictable situations.
*Credit of $150 per person for camping tours and $350 per person for inns tours – valid only on trips with 2021 departure dates