Long-Distance Cycle Touring Planning

Planning a bicycle tour, one of the questions I get asked a lot. So I thought I’d explain and put down in writing what I do. It might not be the best way, but it works for me.

The truth is, I don’t! All I do is look at a map of the country I want to tour. See if there’s a road going where I want to go. Roughly work out the mileage, which in the old days used to entail a piece of string, laid on a map! But these days things are a lot easier, and I tend to use Google Maps.

Once I’ve worked out the mileage, I just divide that by 80, which is the distance I like to cover each day and go. Although that’s not strictly true if it’s a big tour involving several countries, I do put in a bit more time and effort in. But if it’s just the one country or I’m travelling in Europe, it is just a case of looking at a map, seeing how long I’ll be away for and go.

Planning A Longer Trip

Planning a bicycle tour that involves several countries, apart from checking the mileage, I always check on the visa requirements. Whether it’s visa on entry (where you obtain the visa at the border) or if it isn’t, then what city do I need to pick one up from, or do I get it before leaving home.

Getting a visa before leaving home is sometimes the easiest option. But it can be more expensive, involve a lot of time and require a lot of documents. Although obtaining a visa before leaving isn’t a bad idea. It’s sometimes easier to get a visa on the road. Consulates in neighbouring countries tend to be a lot more accommodating and are pleased that you want to travel to their country.

For example, when I travelled to Kazakhstan, on my world tour, I got their visa while in England. But they would only give me a visa for 30 days, which had to be used within a 90-day slot. After reaching Azerbaijan, my last country before Kazakhstan. I realised I wouldn’t be able to cycle across Kazakhstan within my 90-day slot. As a result, I went to the Kazakhstan consulate in Baku to apply for another visa. After an interview with the ambassador, he asked how long I wanted. One month, two months or three!!

Border Crossings

Another point I always check when planning a bicycle tour is the entry and exit towns for a county, as not all borders are open to tourists. I couldn’t think of anything more annoying than to have spent a week or two riding across a country only to find that you couldn’t cross the border.

I also like to check either on route or before leaving home what the local currency is and make a note of the exchange rate. So when exchanging one country’s currency to another with the inevitable touts you find at the border, I know how much I’m being ripped off by. Or better still, try not to have any currency left.

Gear To Take

Usually, my panniers are prepacked, and the only ones I need to pack are the ones containing toiletries, clothes and my sleeping bag. And depending on the time of year, I might need to take some warmer layers. And in recent years, all my medication.

Maps

I also always try and set off from home with all the maps I need, or at least one per country, which covers the entire country, just in case I can’t find any on route. And because I tend to cover long distances. A map that covers the entire country is usually sufficient. The maps I use depend on the length of the tour. For an extended trip covering several countries, I use Michelin national maps. For shorter trips, I use Michelin regional maps.

Another set of maps I’ve used are the German Reise range. I find them clear and easy to follow. None of the maps I use have contours; to me, the world is flat! Which suits me, I prefer not to know if a hill or mountain is coming up. I’ve found from experience that if I know a climb is coming up at some point in the day, I spend all day thinking about how steep or long it might be.

Sometimes you can tell on the maps when it’s going to be hilly, particularly the Michelin regional maps. The roads are shaded with green, signifying a scenic route, which typically equates to it being hilly! The higher passes also get marked, but then I try to ignore them and pretend I didn’t see them.

Maps Are Still King

In recent years, I’ve started to use apps for navigation more and more. Mainly because the eyes aren’t so good these days, and I struggle to see the map on my bar bag. My favourite app is Komoot, which is ideal in big cities, where the paper map is useless. And means I never get lost. But for long-distance planning, you can’t beat a paper map.

Arriving In A New Country

When arriving in a new country, be it by air, sea or land, it’s a good idea to have the address of a hotel. Most countries require you to fill out the address of where you’ll be staying on the landing or entry card. But from my experience, you don’t have to stop there. It seems to be more of a formality, and the only time that I do stay at the address I’ve given is when I fly into a country. (See below)

Accommodation

Accommodation and stops never get planned or pre-booked. I never know where I’ll end up from one night to the next. Why waste time trying to find accommodation in advance? You may not reach that place, you may decide to stop early, or you may find another route that you want to explore. When I do arrive in a town, I tend to stay at the first place I see.

Usually, I prefer to camp, as it keeps costs down and means I can stay away for longer. But if there’s no campsite around, I don’t wild camp anymore, not unless I really have to. I’ll stop at the first available hotel, inn, guest house, hostel or whatever is available.

Why Waste Time

I’ve learnt through experience that you can cycle around a town for ages looking for accommodation and then be undecided as to which one to stay in. Generally, they are all the same, and if it’s only the one night that you’re staying, does it matter what it’s like as long as they have a room and bed? (A bar is also preferable!)

The exception to the rule is when I fly into a country, then I do pre-book a hotel. It saves a lot of aggravation trying to find somewhere after a long flight. It also means I can reassemble my bike in the hotel room or somewhere in the hotel. Assembling the bike at an airport is okay in Europe, but in Asia, you get a lot of attention and a large crowd.

At The End Of A Tour

When coming towards the end of a trip and I’ve got a flight to catch, I usually check out a city’s hotels before getting there. I still don’t pre-book anything. I just like to have a rough idea of a western-style hotel that I can head for. It’s useful if the staff speak good English when trying to source materials for packing things away, ready to fly.

Packing

When packing away for a flight, I always get one big bag to put my panniers in. Usually, one of the chequered type that seems to be available in most countries. They’re cheap, light, and don’t add any extra weight. Chances are, you’re probably close to the weight limit as it is. The bags are not particularly strong, but you only want it to last that flight. If you’re worried about it surviving the trip, you can usually get it wrapped in cellophane at the airport.

For the bike, you can obtain a cardboard box from a local bicycle shop. They’re often quite grateful to give it to you for free, as it saves them having to dispose of it. Although that’s not always the case. When I was trying to find one in Istanbul, they wouldn’t give me one unless I paid for it and as for China. Nobody would give me one for love nor money. And I had to make my own.

Lose Excess Weight

Once I’ve sourced all the packing materials, I dismantle the bike and box it up. I then get rid of any excess weight. I’m always amazed at the end of a tour how much extra weight I’ve accumulated. Catching a flight for me is a good thing; it’s the only time I clear my bags out completely. As I do a lot of touring, in Europe, that doesn’t involve a flight. I tend to leave my panniers packed all the time. On a recent trip, when I cleared out my bags. I found that I’d accumulated six puncture repair kits and three loo rolls.

After losing the excess weight, I then proceed to pack my panniers into the bag. Usually, I manage to pack my tent, two front panniers and one of my rear panniers into the bag. Although sometimes I put the odd item into the bike box if I’m struggling to fit everything in the chequered bag. Or I’m worried about weight. I already have a rough idea of how much my gear weighs, as it’s weighed before leaving home. My last pannier is carried on as hand luggage with some of the heavier items in it. At the airport, the chequered bag gets checked in as hold luggage. The bike as sports equipment or oversize baggage, and my last pannier is carried on as hand luggage.

Follow & Support

If you’re enjoying the ride and want to fuel my next mile, you can always support me by buying me a beer. Or subscribe to my blog and follow me as I travel around on my bike. As a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. I’m also on Flickr, where you’ll find pictures from all my tours, along with regular photo updates that I generally publish each month.

If you want to find out if I’m away touring at the moment and check my location, visit the Where’s Garry page. Read my ultimate guide and plan your own bicycle tour.

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Garry McGivern is a solo, self-supported bicycle tourist and the creator of Travelsonabike2. Having cycled over 70,000 miles worldwide on his trusty bike, Passepartout, Garry documents the reality of long-distance travel. Follow along for updates, gear insights, and the daily highs and lows of bicycle touring, whether he’s camped beside the road or in the luxury of a hotel. Join Garry on the road, and be inspired to start your own adventure. Read more.