Explore Arizona Sonora Bike Tour for 6 days with Bicycle Adventures and discover unforgettable experiences - Photo 2

Arizona Sonora Bike Tour

Country:

USA

Flight:

Not included

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Tour id:

118045

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  • Operator:

    Bicycle Adventures

  • Length:

    6 days

  • Group size:

    13 pax

  • Age:

    21 to 99

  • Difficulty:

    Difficulty levels:
    • Relaxing
    • Easy
    • Moderate
    • Serious
    • Heart-pumping
  • 11.10-16.10.26 scheduled icon
  • 18.10-23.10.26 scheduled icon
  • 25.10-30.10.26 scheduled icon
  • 01.11-06.11.26 scheduled icon
  • 08.11-13.11.26 scheduled icon

Itinerary

Southern Arizona: Azure skies, endless vistas hemmed with 10,000-foot peaks. Names out of a medieval fantasy: the Chiricahuas, the Dragoons, Catalinas, Rincons. This is the land of Geronimo, Cochise and 250-year-old saguaro cactus, where the sweet scent of desert creosote flower fills the air. Wildlife is prolific, from coyote to javelina, desert tortoise and rare birds. Bike sun-drenched roads. Hike through heart-stealing landscapes. Visit boutique wineries. Explore the fascinating Arizona-Sonora Desert, Saguaro National Park, the Pima Air & Space Museum, Tombstone, Kartchner Caverns and plenty more.

Tour program

Day 1

Meet in Tucson, ride through West Saguaro National Park and Tucson Mountain Park then back into the city to ride "The Loop" to your hotel for the next 3 nights.

Shuttle to the marvelous Arizona Sonora Desert Museum in time to see the Raptor Free Flight show while your guides prepare your bikes. Cycle quiet roads through West Saguaro National Park and Tucson Mountain Park from McCann Loop Rd to Gates Pass. Shake hands (metaphorically speaking!) with towering, some claim mystical, saguaro cacti – undisputed icons of the Sonoran Desert and a universal symbol of the American Southwest. Once in the city proper, we avoid the hectic streets by pedaling part of “The Loop” – Tucson’s delightful network of over 100 miles of urban shared-use paths. Cycle on The Loop all the way to Hacienda del Sol, or Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, where we will spend the next three nights.

48.6 miles · +2,336 ft / -2,207 ft


Day 2

Explore East Saguaro National Park, where colossal cacti soar nearly fifty feet in height.

Today, we begin our ride at Le Buzz Café, a popular staging location and hangout for local cyclists. Follow rural roads on the outskirts of Tucson, stopping here and there to take in views of the Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains to the north and east. Explore Saguaro National Park East on the 8-mile Cactus Forest Loop takes you on a cruise through the rare saguaro forests of this area. Some folks say they could do this loop all day long – and indeed, many take the time to ride it in both directions! Following a gloriously gourmet picnic lunch, ride back to the hotel, or hop in the van to shuttle if you wish. You may want to save time for a visit to the pool! Dinner is on your own tonight.    

43.3 miles · +2,025 ft / -1,603 ft

Day 3

Ride Mt Lemmon - Rising almost 7000 feet from the valley floor it has an average 4-6% grade

Tackle all or part of the climb up Mt Lemmon today. There are plenty of van support options if you don’t want to do the whole thing, and the mountain is worth a visit for a hike on your own even if you don’t plan to ride. Rising almost 7000 feet from the valley floor, Mt Lemmon is one of the premier bicycle climbs in the United States. Tremendous views begin almost immediately as you ascend from cactus country on the valley floor up into the land of wildflowers, pines – and eventually – subalpine forests. In terms of biological diversity, cycling up Mt Lemmon is the equivalent of riding from Arizona to southern Canada. Keep an eye out for transitory waterfalls and hidden canyons with goblin-like hoodoo rock formations as you ascend. Spring visits may feature wildflowers in bloom and fall visits may feature colorful aspens and maples. We are confident you won’t see a more fascinating range of habitat and ecology on any other 30-mile bicycle ride. Mt Lemmon is truly a one-of-a-kind gem! 

Mt. Lemmon climb (one way):

26 miles · +5,717 ft / -251 ft (lots of support options)


Day 4

Explore Kartchner Caverns, a stunning limestone cavern system. Relax & enjoy Casa de San Pedro, your home for the next two nights, or go for a ride.

After breakfast we shuttle to Kartchner Caverns for a tour (admission included) of what lies beneath the desert. The world-class cave formations here are considered to be some of the best of their kind in the entire world. First discovered in the early 1970s, the cave was kept a secret for over a decade (to protect it) until, in 1985, Governor Bruce Babbitt secretly left the state capitol with two bodyguards and spent three hours crawling through tight passages to reach the cave's showcase chambers, including the Big Room, Echo Passage and Cul-de-sac Passage. Kartchner Caverns finally gained official Arizona State Park status in 1999. Have lunch after the tour and then shuttle south to Hereford for a two-night stay at Casa de San Pedro, home to over 355 species of birds and hundreds of butterflies. Settle in at the hotel, enjoy the pool, chase birds and butterflies, or go for an easy ride in the area before enjoying a family-style Mexican dinner with us tonight.

Day 5

Lots of surprises and and a total change of scenery today! Explore vineyards reminscent of France and hillsides covered in manzanita, Gambel oaks, sycamore & yucca.

Today holds plenty of surprises, as well as a total change of scenery! The first surprises are the vineyards of the Sonoita and Elgin areas of Arizona, south of Tucson. The rich soils of this region are almost a mirror image of those in Burgundy, France. The second surprise is the scenery of the “Sky Islands” high country. We say farewell to saguaros and hello to hillsides covered in manzanita, Gambel oaks, sycamore and yucca. Our route – a locals’ favorite – follows a twisting, traffic-free road to a refreshing mountain reservoir in Coronado National Forest. There is plenty of great riding here for you to enjoy as much or as little as you wish. Spend another night at Casa de San Pedro.

52.2 mi +3968 ft / -4123 ft (or less)


Day 6

Visit "The Wall", pedal to bohemian Bisbee, home to the Copper Queen Mine.

Shuttle to Naco – a tiny town cut in two by the USA/Mexico border for a look at “The Wall” – before we begin pedaling to artsy, bohemian Bisbee, home to the Copper Queen Mine, source of some of the world’s highest-grade copper ore. If copper isn’t your thing but vintage bikes are, you won’t want to miss going for a metaphorical spin down a memory lane of hand-made lugged frames and the simplistic elegance of friction shifting that is the “Bicycle Brothel” bicycle museum in Bisbee – otherwise known as “retro-grouch” heaven. And yes, we use the term affectionately. After all, some of us owned, rode, and loved these beauties when they were state-of-the-art! Spend more time in Bisbee (lunch is on your own) or make the 6-mile round trip to Mule Pass before we load up and shuttle back to Tucson.

18.3 miles · +1,721 ft / -996 ft 

…or 12.3 miles · +1,021 ft / -296 ft


UPDATED Terms & Conditions January 2026


Reservation & Deposit

A $600 per person deposit is required to secure your reservation. Full payment of the balance is due 90 days before tour departure. Reservations made within 90 days of the tour departure require full payment at the time of booking. Reservations not paid in full by the due date are subject to cancellation.


The deposit is fully refundable within 7 days of booking if the reservation is made 7 days or more before final payment is due. After 7 days, choose to receive a partial refund or keep the full deposit as a Credit on File to be used on any future Bicycle Adventures tour.


Tour Price

Prices are per person based on double occupancy (two people per room) and quoted in US dollars. Prices are valid at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time. Once your reservation has been confirmed with payment of a deposit, your tour price is guaranteed for your original reservation. The tour price includes accommodations, most meals, bikes, baggage transfers, and all ground transportation during your tour. Airfare and other forms of travel to/from the tour start/end are your responsibility. Optional private rooms for solo travelers are subject to a supplemental fee. Please see the online tour pages for details on all items included in the tour price.


Traveling Solo

Solo travelers can guarantee a private room with payment of the Single Supplement fee. If you are traveling solo and open to sharing a room with two beds with another solo traveler of the same gender, we will make every effort to assign you a roommate. A fee of 50% of the listed Single Supplement fee will be added to your reservation upon registration. If we are able to pair you with a roommate, this fee will be refunded to you.


Minimum Participation

All Bicycle Adventures tours require a minimum number of guests to operate: four (4) guests for domestic departures and six (6) guests for international departures. Bicycle Adventures Inc. reserves the right to cancel any trip that does not meet minimum operational levels. Bicycle Adventures, Inc. will provide a full refund for any tour completely cancelled by Bicycle Adventures Inc. Bicycle Adventures Inc. is not responsible for any personal expenses incurred due to changes or cancelation of a tour.


Trip Insurance

We understand that “life happens”, for that reason we recommend purchasing   trip insurance for all Bicycle Adventures tours.


Paying Your Balance

Full payment of the balance of your trip fee is due in US dollars 90 days before tour departure.

“Trip fee” = tour price + additions including but not limited to single supplement and e-bike upgrade fees, pre- and post-tour hotel reservations (when applicable), and any discounts or promotions agreed upon at the time of reservation confirmation. Balances will automatically be charged to the original credit or debit card used for the initial deposit on the balance due date, or the following business day if the due date falls on a weekend or observed holiday. If you wish to use a different form of payment, please call our office during business hours at least three (3) business days before your balance due date to update the card on file.


You may also pay your balance via check addressed to Bicycle Adventures Inc. 425 Pine Street, Wallace, ID 83873. Please note the trip number as outlined in your Confirmation Email on the memo line of all checks. Please let a Bicycle Adventures representative know at least three (3) business days before your balance due date if you will be mailing a check to avoid your credit card on file being charged for the balance.


If final payment is not received when due, Bicycle Adventures reserves the right to cancel your reservation and retain your deposit in full.


Guest Transfer and Cancellation Policy

Choose between receiving a future/partial tour credit or paying a cancellation fee based on the chart below for standard group tours* (fees are per guest):




Days Before Tour Future Tour Credit                            Cancellation Fee

90+                        100% of deposit amount                    $200 administrative fee

61-90                 90% of trip fee**                            25% of trip fee

31-60                75% of trip fee**                            50% of trip fee

0-30                        No credit (no exceptions)            No refund (no exceptions)


*Deposits are non-refundable for Custom or Private tours. All other Transfer & Cancellation policies apply as outlined above.


**Applies to balances paid in full only. Nonpayment of balance past the due date will result in forfeiture of the full amount of your balance paid upon cancellation.


Exceptions to our cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including but not limited to weather, terrorism, civil unrest, pandemics, personal, family or medical emergencies. There is no refund for arriving late or leaving a tour early. Private rooms are considered part of the total tour price and are subject to cancellation fees. Percentage cancellation fees are calculated on your total trip fee.


Cancellation of a reservation must be made in writing or by speaking directly with a Bicycle Adventures representative. Please email [email protected] or call 1-800-443-6060.


We reserve the right to cancel departures in cases of force majeure or the failure of third parties—such as hotels or barges—to honor their reservations. In these cases, you’ll be refunded your trip fee. Bicycle Adventures is not responsible for expenses incurred in preparation for any canceled or postponed trips, such as airline tickets, or for costs that are incurred due to travel delays, flight cancellations or illness.


Trip Forms & Release of Liability

Payment of deposit implies agreement with Bicycle Adventures Tour Terms & Conditions as described here and in pre-trip information. All participants, including non-riding guests, must sign our Participant Agreement, Release and Assumption of Risk and Customer and Additional Information Form prior to the start of each tour. In addition, select tours may also require signing a Visitors Acknowledgement of Risk (VAR) (as outlined by the State and/or National Park visited. Forms linked here are for reference only.


All policies are subject to change without prior notice.


Terms & Conditions Jan. 2019

OUR RESPONSIBILITY
  The responsibility of Bicycle Adventures and/or its agents is limited. Bicycle Adventures hereby gives notice that it acts only in the capacity as an agent for the tour participant in all matters, including payment, connected with lodging and meal services, sightseeing tours, and other suppliers of service and transportation, and Bicycle Adventures has no personal liability for payment therefore, either primarily or secondarily, other than as the agent for the tour participant.

In the event that it becomes necessary or advisable for any reason whatsoever to alter the itinerary or arrangements, such alterations shall be made. Bicycle Adventures reserves the right to cancel any tour prior to departure for any reason. In case of such a cancellation, Bicycle Adventures will place recoverable funds into credit on file in the guest's name, to be used toward any future trip of the guest's choice for which space is available. This shall release Bicycle Adventures from any further liability. Bicycle Adventures is specifically not liable for non-refundable airplane tickets and other personal expenses incurred in preparation for a trip that is canceled.

Bicycle Adventures reserves the unilateral right not to accept or retain as a tour participant any person whose condition or general deportment, in Bicycle Adventures' sole judgment, impedes the operation of the tour or affects the rights, welfare, or enjoyment of other participants. Should such a person be required to leave a tour, it will be treated as leaving a tour early per our cancellation policy. Should a traveler be removed from a trip, they will not be refunded any portion of their trip fee even if that portion is unused. They will also be responsible for arranging and paying for all expenses related to returning home and/or changing their travel arrangements. Bicycle Adventures' obligations with respect to any funds received shall be those of a debtor and not a trustee.

There are certain risks and dangers inherent in any form of adventure travel. Bicycle Adventures assumes no responsibility or liability for any claims or damages, for any reason, arising from these risks. Guests are responsible for choosing a trip that suits their abilities, fitness level, and state of health.

A Release, Indemnity Agreement and Assumption of Risk form must be signed by each guest and returned to our office prior to the start of their tour. If the unaltered and signed Release, Indemnity Agreement and Assumption of Risk form is not received in the Bicycle Adventures office when due, Bicycle Adventures has the right to consider that reservation cancelled and resell your space.

Bicycle Adventures reserves the right to cancel your trip and resell your space if your final payment has not been received by the due date. Terms and conditions of any tour may be amended only by an officer of Bicycle Adventures.

Tour prices are per person, in United States dollars, fixed regardless of the number of people on a trip (no tier pricing), fixed regardless of foreign exchange fluctuations, and are the same if you are arriving alone or with others (no single surcharge). Prices include lodging; all meals as indicated in the trip descriptions; drinks and snacks from the van; maps and written route directions; all support vans and trailers as required; taxes; all gratuities to waiters (except for items that you pay for) and baggage handlers; leadership; all maintenance on rental bicycles; all park entrance fees; sea kayaking, rafting, canoe rentals, wildlife cruises, boat rides, snorkeling, horseback riding, and tourist attractions where noted in the trip descriptions; and ferry boat tickets where the ferry ride is part of a day's standard itinerary.

Excluded from the Trip Price are items of a personal nature such as alcoholic beverages, any discretionary gratuities for your trip leaders, excursion boat rides you charter, museum and tourist attractions entrance fees you purchase, food and beverages you purchase, room service charges, some meals where indicated in the trip descriptions, telephone calls you make, laundry, parts to repair your personal bicycle, and repairs to your personal bicycle done in a bicycle shop..

Tour Details

Accommodation

Our regional expertise, a constant re-evaluation of last year's inns, and a continuing search for the best experience ensure that our lodging is always among the finest the area has to offer. By limiting the number of guests on each trip, we expand our choices and are able to fit into some smaller, award-winning bed and breakfasts and country inns that wouldn't be able to accommodate a larger group.

Lodging is based upon two people sharing a room with a private bath. If you're traveling solo on any of our trips and you're open to sharing a room with another solo traveler of the same gender, you pay 50% of the single supplement fee up front. If we are able to assign you a roommate, that fee is refunded to you. You can guarantee a private room and bath if you pay the full Single Supplement Fee. Occasionally, a room with two beds consists of one bed plus a rollaway bed or sofa bed. Call our office to see if this is applicable to the trip and date you select.


Transport

You are welcome to ride in the van at any time - no explanation required. Some want a lift for just a few miles; others have ridden in the van for the entire trip. It's your vacation - you decide.

We use a fleet of specially ordered and customized 15-passenger vans. Most have a seven-liter V-10 engine, high rear axle ratio, and heavy-duty trailer towing package for efficiently moving a van full of people pulling a large trailer full of luggage and food. Each van also has heavy-duty professional bicycle racks on top of a custom-made, steelwork platform on the roof. 

Insurance

Insurance is not included. Travel insurance is required for this tour. Please make sure you are adequately covered.

Additional Services

  • Biking (bikes included)
  • Hiking
  • Wine tasting
  • Kartchner Caverns tour

Additional Services

  • 1 Lunch
  • 1 Dinner

Meals

All meals except for one lunch and one dinner are included in the cost of your tour. On the days that you're on your own for a meal, there will be ample options within walking distance of our location. 

At Bicycle Adventures we like to eat well. Dinner is eaten together at the best restaurant in the area each night. If we have to shuttle everyone a short distance to get to that special place, we do it. At most restaurants, you order what you want from the menu. Except for alcohol, everything is included, even appetizers, salad, soup, and dessert. Breakfast is typically provided by the hotels and inns that we stay at, but if there's a local spot known for great breakfast, we'll find it and you'll be treated to a nutritious meal to start off your day. Lunch is provided at a state park or similar scenic setting midway during the day’s ride. Guests are always surprised at the variety and quality of lunches we prepare. Besides sandwich fixings and cold drinks, we offer fresh fruits and vegetables and hot lunches such as tortellini with pesto or veggie burritos. If you prefer a certain item of food or drink, just let your tour guide know and we will be sure to prepare just the right lunch to keep your energy up for the rest of the day.

During the day water, fruit juices, soft drinks, energy bars, fruit, and snacks are available from the van. A cold beer from our cooler waits at the end of the day, and you can relive the day’s highlights at our wine and cheese party before dinner.

Guide

Our guides are selected and trained for unparalleled personal service. Their backgrounds vary, but all share a love for the outdoors and, most importantly, a desire to help people make the most of their vacation. There are several ski instructors, a political analyst, an Emmy-winning journalist, and a college professor, among others. Almost all are college graduates. All are mature adults with expertise in leading our tours and extensive knowledge of the region we travel through. Almost all of last year's guides will be returning to lead our trips again, so you can count on having experienced leaders who love what they do.

Good to know

Currency

$

US Dollar

USA

Faq Tour

How can I book a tour?
You can order a tour on our website by selecting the desired dates and clicking the “Confirm dates” button. You can also contact our sales department by phone or email.
Which payment options are available?
We accept credit cards, bank transfers and other popular payment methods.
Can I change or cancel my reservation?
Yes, changes or cancellations are possible, however penalties may apply depending on the time before the tour starts.
What documents are required to participate in the tour?
You will need a passport with a valid visa (if required) to visit countries along the tour route.
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