Inn to Inn

We approach our Inn to Inn Tours from a different point of view than our fellow tour companies. We prefer to introduce you to the area in person, not sequester you away in western style resorts. We have thoughtfully selected our lodges, choosing those that reflect the regional lifestyle and architecture, hotels that are owned locally. Many of these inns will be a unique experience for you . . . bamboo bungalows shaded by tall palms, overlooking the blue ocean . . . cabins built of teak surrounded by a lush tropical rainforest . . . colorful wooden colonial hotels, where the stairs creak as you walk to the second floor and a cool, covered veranda invites you to relax and watch life in the village below. But we don't sacrifice the creature comforts. Our lodges are also chosen for their clean rooms, comfortable beds, hot showers and modern western amenities.

Your Inn to Inn trip will feature either our Classic Comfort or Royal level accommodations. Our ever popular Classic Comfort offers first class lodging using 3 & 4 star hotels and guesthouses, with an occasional 2 star thrown in when necessary, but always with private baths. These properties all offer an excellent and memorable stay. Some trips include a night in traditional village accommodations. These nights are true immersions in the culture and will be a wonderful memory of your trip. Amenities will be minimal these nights, shared baths, perhaps several guests per lodge, mosquito nets and more. A taste of local lifestyle and a bit of adventure á la Stanley and Livingston.

For our Royal trips, we drew our inspiration from Thailand's beloved King Bhumibol, elegant, educated and sophisticated yet still down to earth and truly representative of his country. We selected the best hotels, resorts and inns along our route, choosing those that bring the flavor of the country along with pampered elegance and top notch service, avoiding the overpriced and pretentious properties chosen by many of our fellow tour companies. While we strive for elegant accommodation every night, on the odd occasion, we have to settle for a more simple first class hotel, as it is the best the town might have to offer. Any of our Highlights trips, can be organized as a Royal Tour, upon request for groups of 4 or more.

And since cyclists don't ride well on empty bellies, we make sure the cuisine is something to write home about. We prefer to avoid the hotel dining rooms, with their tourist oriented menus. Most evenings we sally forth to a selected restaurant renowned for its regional dishes and authentic flavors. Here you can order á la carte, sampling the fare as you wish . . . or perhaps relinquish the selection to your guide team, who can call upon their experience from past visits to suggest an array of delicious dishes to satisfy . . . how about ocean fresh halibut with a macadamia nut crust . . . maybe something with a bit more zest, some chicken with basil Thai style or tiger prawns marinated with red and green chili peppers . . . perhaps some crisp, lightly stir fried vegetables Sichuan style.

Camping

There is nothing better than the camaraderie of relaxing under the open skies swapping tales as evenings color's envelop the towering mountains surrounding your campsite. We've always enjoyed the simple pleasures of camping and bring this to some of our tours. All of our trips in North America are camping programs, featuring delightful campgrounds and our renowned "almost gourmet" cooking. On layover days and when we are in the bigger towns, we often swap our camps for night in quiet motel or delightful lodge. For folks who prefer the indoor comforts of a lodge, most camping nights have nearby inns or motels that you can enjoy.

While camping conjures up images of roughing it to some folks . . . dirt, pit toilets, bugs . . . that isn't the way we do it. Our campgrounds are chosen for their locations and amenities. We usually enjoy full facilities at our overnight stops, hot showers, running water, flush toilets and more. Our camps along the Alaska Highway offer fresh home made pies and cinnamon rolls from the camp's bakery. And most are situated in scenic regions . . . . surrounded by towering snow capped peaks . . . on the shore of a beautiful lake . . . tucked under a canopy of sweet smelling fir trees.

One consistent comment we get back from our guests is about the "almost gourmet" dining on our camping tours. Our team has perfected a number of great camp menus . . . mesquite grilled chicken with spring greens and a roasted garlic pasta . . . stir fry vegetables and sichuan style chicken with broccoli . . . smoked salmon alfredo fettuccine. Plus your guide team is also skilled at creating dinner delights on the fly, as along the Alaska Highway we never know what fresh items we will find until we reach the local market. As we are cyclists ourselves, we have first hand experience as to quantity of food necessary to fuel a group of serious riders and since we like to think of ourselves as gourmands, we strive for great taste and a good variety of menu items.

For folks without their own camping gear, a rental package is available. Each camping kit includes a roomy 2 person Eureka Timberline tent, 15 degree sleeping bag with liner, a comfort self inflating mattress and a storage duffel bag. For couples and folks traveling together we also have a two person kit which has a larger 4 person tent, plus two sleeping bag set ups. All kits feature a removable flannel liner for extra warmth on cold evenings or for use without the sleeping bag on a warm night. Plus it is easily washable so you can keep your sleeping system as clean as you wish.

Traveling Alone

Many of our guests are individuals traveling by themselves and enjoying the new found camaraderie of a small group tour. Because our prices are based on two people to a room while staying in hotels, we are happy to pair up solo travelers to share a room and enjoy the lower price. You are also welcome to request a private room for just yourself, for which an additional Single Supplement charge applies.

Sharing a Room

If you have a biking buddy who is also traveling on your tour, you can request to room with them when you complete your Rider Questionnaire. Otherwise, we pair up guests based on their age, sex and hometown location. We use the information you provide in your Rider Questionnaire to do this, so the sooner you submit this information, the better we can pair you up.

While we try to pair up all guests who request it, we do not always have sufficient numbers of single travelers to accomplish this. If you are signed up for the trip at least 4 months in advance and we are unable to find you a roommate, we waive the Single Supplement fee. If you sign up less than 4 months before departure and we are unable to find a roommate, then the Single Supplement fee does apply.

Private Rooms

Guests who request a private room for just one person will have to pay the Single Supplement fee. If you desire a private room, we suggest booking early, as the number of single rooms is very limited on our trips.