Long overdue catch-up post!
Competition time!
Image credit: The Contour Collective
We’re often asked about the kit we advise for those joining our big mountain riding trips, so we’ve put together a new website page where you can see all our recommendations in one place. See here!
To help you get kitted out for adventures on the trails we’ve teamed up with the good people at deuter UK to giveaway one of our go-to gear recommendations in an Instagram competition;
deuter Flyt 20
A Flyt 20 (or Flyt 18 SL) backpack
This awesome pack has all the features you need for a big day in the hills;
Removable Back protector, Two side outer pockets, Side smartphone pocket, Rain Cover, Compatible with 3.0 litre drinking system/bag, Front pocket with large organisational section for tools, Helmet clips, Compression straps, Goggle holder on shoulder strap.
How to Enter:
Head to our instagram profile @endlesstrailsmtb
Like the competition post
Follow @deuterUK and @endlesstrailsmtb
Tag a riding buddy in the post comments who loves adventures by bike as much as you!
Share the post to your stories for a bonus entry
Good Luck!
Rules:
Entries must be submitted by 11.59PM GMT on 24/11/2022.
The winners will be chosen by random and announced on our instagram page and stories
Giveaway only open to UK residents.
This contest is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram.
Please be aware of fake accounts targeting competition entrants - we will only contact you from @deuteruk or @endlesstrailsmtb and will never ask for personal or payment details.
Summer 2022 round up and 2023 news…
Queyras Trail Delights
Pretty much wherever you were in the World, 2022 will go down as a long, hot dry summer….too hot and dry really, but it will also be remembered as the summer when life returned to normal from a travel and tourism point of view, and we finally got to run a full summer of trips for guests in the Alps!
Mont Blanc Enduro
We ran several weeks of our Mont Blanc Enduro, Trans Alp Epic, and Hautes-Alpes Enduro Safari tours, plus a couple of custom weeks for private groups, and it was fantastic to be back sharing good times with so many awesome folks from all over the World. We’re home in the UK now and putting together the plans for a bumper 2023 season, plenty of people have already been in touch to provisionally reserve their spots so don’t delay in contacting us so you don’t miss out if you think you’d like to join us on an adventure next year!
Cairngorms Classic Enduro. Photo: Tom Hill
We’ll be kicking off the 2023 riding season with a Cairngorms Classic Enduro tour in May. We ran a couple of these trips in May 2022 and our new five day format worked super well. With 2 different hotels for 2 nights each, we are able to spend time exploring a bigger area while minimising time in the van to get to places. From the fun and varied enduro trails on the 4 hills of Dunkeld, to Aviemore and Speyside woodland classics, big mountain days in the Cairngorms crossing munros, to the granite slabs of Ballater and the ever -growing number of epic trails in Deeside, there really is a huge variety of riding on this trip. To top it off we stay in wonderfully cosy Highland guesthouses that understand the need for a big Scottish mountain biker’s breakfast and a comfy place to relax after a big day out on bikes!
Hautes-Alpes Enduro Safari women’s week 2019
Back in 2019 we ran a women's week on our Hautes-Alpes Enduro Safari...it was great fun and so we are going to organise another similar trip next year! This time we're planning on a Mont Blanc Enduro, and if you, or anyone you know might be interested then contact us to register your interest and let us know! Provisional dates are 15-22nd July 2023
Mont Blanc Enduro
In addition, we're going to be running our first ever E-Bike Mont Blanc Enduro trip! We are getting increasing numbers of enquiries from E-Bikers about joining a trip, so it feels like the time is right to introduce this to our lineup. This trip won't be easier than our usual trips from a technical point of view, so it's still aimed at experienced riders, but we'll be able to cover ground more quickly so we'll have some additional trails thrown in too! Provisional date is the 26th August 2023.
Lake Garda to Lake Como
For those asking, we are still running the Lake to Lake in Italy, and hope to fill a date for this in September 2023. It’s a step up from our other trips in terms of the fitness needed (long days with some big climbs), and the technical nature of the trails. In addition, feedback from past guests suggests you’ll probably want to train to cope with the quantity of food the hotels feed us each night!
Queyras Trail Delights
Our Queyras trail delights week for a private group went down a treat this September. These guys had previously done the Hautes-Alpes Enduro Safari, and wanted to spend more time on the endless trails found in the Queyras. Based in one place, and with a group who weren’t afraid to put some effort in to reach the best spots, we were able to explore some more of what makes this part of the Alps one of the best spots for riding just about anywhere. We’ve had a few enquiries about joining this trip so we are looking to run this as a group trip next September, drop us a message if you are interested...potential dates include the 9-16th September, and 24th September to 1st October (Sunday to Sunday).
Helvellyn. Photo: Pete Scullion
And finally, we haven’t forgotten about UK based guiding and trips in the excitement of getting back to the Alps! We plan on organising a couple of bikepacking trips and a few day trips in the Spring and are working on dates for these at the moment. Earlier this year these included a Snowdon trip, Nan Bield pass, Helvellyn, and a Peak District classic ride, as well as an e-bike version of our Helvellyn day trip. As ever if you have a group who are looking for a private guided trip then do get in touch and we can put together a plan for you!
Summer is coming!
Is it just us or has Summer snuck up on everyone this year?! Not that we’re complaining of course, the longer days and drier trails we’ve been enjoying in Scotland have been fantastic, and we’ve even come home with the start of the classic biker’s tan - glove marks, t-shirt lines, and the odd brown calf patch between where your socks end and your knee pads start!
We can’t wait to head back up to Scotland in the Autumn, between now and then is midgie-season and the main reason we only run trips in the Highlands in May (pre-midges), and October (post-midges)!
In under a month we’ll be heading out the to Alps ready for the start of our trips there. We are beyond excited to be back for a full season after the frustrations and stresses of the last couple of Covid years!
We have some places still available in August and September and are still taking bookings for these. We’ve also opened up dates for 2023 as we were getting lots of early enquiries.
If you’d like to reserve a trip place please get in touch and we’ll provisionally hold your place. We won’t be taking deposits until the Autumn!
Spring is here!
We don’t know about you, but the start of lighter evenings and drier trails always gets us excited for the spring and summer months ahead of riding bikes!
After work rides, either solo or with friends, riding until the sun sets, it’s the reward for getting through a long, wet, muddy winter. Trousers are being swapped for shorts again, and sunglasses and t-shirts dug out as we look forward to what’s coming up over the next few months.
Our UK day trips are underway, with rides in the Peak District, Snowdonia and the Lakes all happening over the next few weeks, and then in a month’s time we’ll be up in Scotland for our 5 day Cairngorm Classic Explorer holidays. We’re super excited for these and can’t wait to get back to the beautiful Highlands!
We are still taking bookings for this summer’s trips to the Alps and it’s looking like it will be a busy one! It’s great to see travel opening up and more people venturing abroad on holidays. We hope to see plenty of old and new faces during the season!
If you are thinking about a trip for this year (or 2023!) then don’t hesitate to get in touch. As well as the group trips we are always happy to put together a custom week if you have a pre-formed group, give us a shout and we can arrange your ideal adventure!
2022...time to get back to bike adventures!
Happy New Year!
Hopefully the year has started well for you all and already involved some time on bikes?! I think it’s safe to say we are all hoping that 2022 is the year we can get back to enjoying pre-pandemic pastimes a little more…especially travel, group trips, and celebrating good days on the bike with post-ride cafe or pub stops with friends!
We have planned a full schedule of trips again, and fingers crossed, we’re looking forward to sharing adventures in the UK and abroad with lots of guests.
The year kicks off with our UK guided group day trips, including rides in the Lake District, Peak District, and new for 2022, Snowdonia. We still have spaces available on many of these dates so get in touch if you’d like to book a spot! Details here.
Following these, we are heading up to the beautiful Cairngorms and Royal Deeside area of the Scottish Highlands for our multi-day guided trips on the Cairngorm Classic Explorer. We are really excited about these, it’s our favourite part of Scotland to ride in and the trails and scenery we’ll be sharing are simply awesome. The hotels we stay in are friendly, cosy, and the perfect place to chill out after some great days on the bike too. There are just a few spots left now, so don’t waste time in getting in touch if you are interested in coming along. You can find more info here.
And then….it’s Alpine trip time!
From July to September we’ll be running all of our week-long trips, several of which have some new modifications after recce-ing a few new trails late last year…those joining us are in for a treat!
Most of our July trips are now sold out, but there are places available in August and September. You’ll need to be fully vaccinated to join us on these trips, most European countries require proof of this for entry to the country, as well as to stay in any hotels, visit cafes and restaurants, and use the mountain lift network.
You can find available dates and details for trips here, and here!
Hopefully we’ll see many of you on a trip this year…Happy Trails!
2022 trips now live! Early bird discount available!
It may have been a short but sweet 2021 Summer Alpine season, but it was fantastic to actually be out and running any trips at all after the craziness of 2020!
We’re excited and optimistic with the world opening up again that 2022 will be a great year, one where we hopefully get to run a full season of trips!
The dates for our 2022 trips are live now, and we’re offering a special Early Bird discount rate for anyone paying their deposit by the 25th October 2021. Anyone doing so will only pay the 2021 trip price of €1599!
With rising costs on all fronts, including fuel, food, vehicle rental, and all hotels increasing their prices in 2022, our prices, like many other holiday providers, are going up next year. While we have to pass on these increases from our suppliers, we still feel the trips represent excellent value when you consider everything included. Take advantage of locking in the 2021 rate by booking early though!
Hope to see many of you on the trails next summer!
2020...the less said the better!
Normally at this time of year we’d be looking back on a busy summer of trail shredding and shared adventures with lovely folks in the Alps, UK bikepacking weekends, and looking forward to our upcoming Scottish singletrack trips. But it’s fair to say, 2020 has been quite the opposite of what we imagined!
We’ve had little say in the matter as government restrictions around travel and group activity have put a stop to pretty much everything we’ve tried to plan, even when we felt we could safely operate within the ever-changing Covid-19 guidelines.
At times we’ve wanted to scream in frustration and tear our hair out, but thankfully we’ve had bikes at hand to head outside, turn the pedals, fly down some local trails, and come back slightly calmer and more resigned to the fact that whatever will be, will be…
The trails and mountains will still be there, and as soon as we can we’ll be back sharing them with like-minded guests, putting together awesome trips for you to enjoy. There’s no doubt we’ll all have a new-found appreciation for enjoying the luxury of travel and shared experiences again once we can!
We can’t know what the Summer of 2021 will look like yet, but we are making plans, with optimism that greater knowledge and understanding of the virus and pandemic will allow us to operate trips again safely.
It’s clear from the number of bookings and enquiries that we are receiving that as soon as we are able to, people are keen to join us on an adventure!
Our 2020 prices for 2021 Alpine trips are being held for all bookings made before the 31st October, so take a look at the dates available and get in touch if you fancy joining us!
2020….a bit of an uphill struggle!!!
Endless Trails MTB partners with the World Land Trust as a corporate supporter
The World Land Trust
We are delighted to announce that Endless Trails MTB has become a supporter of the World Land Trust. The World Land Trust (WLT) works with local NGO partners around the world to save and protect critically threatened habitat for wildlife. Since 1989, through the generosity of WLT supporters, WLT has funded the purchase and protection of more than 774,000 acres of tropical forest and other threatened habitats, and along with WLT partners ensures that more than 4 million acres of land is managed under active protection worldwide.
We will be making a £5 donation to the Action Fund for each booking on one of our week-long holidays. The Action Fund allows the WLT to allocate donations to whichever conservation project across the world most urgently needs it.
Supporting a conservation charity that shares our belief that we need to work together to protect the natural world around us, felt like a natural choice for a company where we are passionate about beautiful outdoor places and the benefits they bring us on so many levels. Wild natural landscapes support biodiversity, contribute to a stable climate, and clean the air we breathe, and so we are thrilled to be donating to the WLT, a charity focused on conserving these places in the most vulnerable parts of the world, protecting endangered habitats and their wildlife, and planting trees to restore forests lost to deforestation.
For any of our guests who would like to learn more about the work the WLT does and how donations are used, please follow the link to the website below:
https://www.worldlandtrust.org/
For anyone interested in looking at ways to donate individually, for example as a way to offset their carbon emissions from travel to a trip, the WLT have a handy Carbon Calculator which can be found here:
COVID-19 Statement [1/?]
Tuesday 17th March 2020
We are living in an extraordinary and unprecedented time. Even a month ago we couldn’t have imagined the world and life would be at the point it is now.
It’s a difficult time for all of us, and we understand that many of you booked on trips in the coming season will have lots of questions and concerns about what is happening with regards your holiday plans in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
With a rapidly evolving situation, we are constantly monitoring advice from the UK government, as well as global and local health authorities, to make decisions on upcoming trips. At this point, with no trips scheduled in the next 50 days, and none of us knowing how long this situation will last, or what things will look like in a few days, never mind a week’s or month’s time, we are not currently making the decision to cancel any of our trips.
Clearly this is something we will revise if necessary as and when advice changes, and we will keep you updated as quickly as we can. Our decisions will be focused on ensuring we maintain the wellbeing, safety and security of all of you, our guests, as well as our guides, accommodation suppliers, and the communities we stay in and travel through.
At the moment our standard booking terms and conditions apply. However, if there is continued advice against travel or severe restrictions on movement within a country, we will postpone or cancel trips as required and offer alternatives including a transfer of monies already paid to an alternative date this season or next, a holding of your deposit or payment as credit for a future trip, or a full refund. We will always aim to be as flexible as possible, and we hope our guests will still want to join us on their trips in the future if they end up having to be temporarily postponed or cancelled.
We are a small, relatively new business, facing big decisions and a very turbulent time ahead, and are grateful for your patience, understanding and support as we look to navigate the company through this difficult time, and sustain it both in the immediate and long term future. There are tough times ahead for all of us. Stay safe, look after each other, follow local and national advice, and we hope we will see you before too long to ride bikes together again.
If you would like to speak to us about your trip or have any other questions please get in touch.
You can find information and advice for travellers from ABTA here.
The World Health Organisation latest news and health information here.
And up to date foreign travel advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth office here.
Remember, the mountains and trails will still be there when this is over. In the wise words of an old Persian poet, “This too shall pass”.
