• First 2 days to see and explore Salt Lake City and nearby Little Mountain.
• We visit the Historical Parowan Gap Petroglyphs.
• Next up - we make the most of Utah's magnificent sights - Red Canyon, and Bryce Canyon National Park, plus we make time for a ride out to Rainbow Point.
• Time to take in amazing views combined with the unforgettable challenge of cycling to Bluebell Knoll (part of Boulder Mountain).

• We see and experience the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
• Another must - a ride through Capitol Reef National Park.
• You can't have a cycling holiday without taking advantage of a fondo - we get amongst the action with the two day Moab Century Tour Race.
• It's near the end and on our way back to Salt Lake City - we visit the Utah Olympic Park, home of the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Tour Inclusions

• 3 - 4 star accommodation throughout.
• Your Ride Holiday Tour Guides: Dean Mills, and our regular American guides Ryan Fowler and Jen Slowey.
• 2 day Gran Fondo entry to the Moab Century Tour Race
• Entry into various Utah (USA) National Parks.
• Up to 950km cycling at your pace. Cappuccino, Latte and Espresso.
• All breakfasts, 8 dinners and 5 lunches.
• All your snack bars, cycling food is included.
• Includes all tips (guides and pre-arranged meals).
• 10 week training programme.
• RH Utah kit top, souvenir booklet.
• Maps provided as well as GPS assistance.

This bike tour has already reached the minimum numbers so is now guaranteed to proceed.

The Tour Price Excludes

• International airfares - Karl can advise.
• Bike Rental - NZD800.00 E-bikes will be approx. the same cost.
• Travel Insurance - compulsory! Karl can arrange. (We can also offer insurance for the Fondo).
• Pre-& post tour accommodation or tours

The Tour Cost

Day 1, Friday 11 September

Welcome to Salt Lake City

Arrive in Salt Lake City (ideally in the morning) and be met by your guides. We'll have the hire bikes ready to go. For those bringing your own we'll have guides on hand to help. This afternoon we head out for a short 20km ride to explore the sights of Salt Lake City. A city known for its excellent bike paths. This afternoon's ride is purely to turn the legs and make sure that everything (you and the bike) is behaving. The good news is that we know where the best coffee is. And it isn't Starbucks. Speaking of drink - tonight we eat at a local craft brewery. Up until recently the strongest beer you could buy in the State was 3.5%. That's changed - another good reason to visit Utah. We'll introduce the team over dinner and run through the plan for the next few days. Great to have you here.

/ Accommodation: Salt Lake City
/ Meals: Dinner

Day 2, Saturday 12 September

Not so Little Mountain

It's our first full day on the bike. Like all of our tours we will have options in place to fit everyone. The maximum being 100km and the shortest being 60km. Salt Lake City sits at 1300m above sea level so it's a good day to simply ride at your own pace. Our target today is a little mountain called Little Mountain. It sits at over 2143m. Hmm, that's higher than Mont Ventoux. This part is well known for its birdlife - in particular - American Bald Eagles.

Team Mac… there are plenty of options. One being a walking trail in the same vicinity that we're cycling. Or, you can go all cultural on us as we head for the Natural History Museum. Or a combination of both.

It's very early days however our goal for tonight is to find some American sport to watch. Live. It's baseball season. How cool would that be…

/ Accommodation: Salt Lake City
/ Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 3, Sunday 13 September

The Historical Parowan Gap Petroglyphs

Thanks SLC, see you in a few days. In fact, we leave our bike bags and any unwanted luggage at our hotel.

After breakfast we head south on the interstate 15 which runs all the way to the Mexico border. Fortunately, we're not going as far as that. Our short four and a half hour trip will see us in Parowan with plenty of time to visit the Parowan Gap Petroglyphs. This is the first taste of the rich history this area has to offer.

We will certainly ride this afternoon however it won't be massive. Get a good night's sleep as the next few days will see you ride across the State of Utah.

/ Accommodation: Parowan / Brian Head
/ Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 4, Monday 14 September

Red Canyon then on to Bryce Canyon

Panguitch Lake…fishing anyone? Actually, we won't have time for that as our focus today is on Bryce Canyon. You won't find a brochure in Utah without a photo of Bryce. In fact - we plan to leave early so you can make the most of the early morning light. Bearing in mind that you will be at a constant 2000m altitude, we will be taking it easy for the first day or two. The support van will be nearby in case you don't want to ride the whole way. It's a 110km ride with a stop for lunch in Panguitch township. After lunch we start our journey along the Scenic Byway 12, beginning in aptly named Red Canyon.

Team Mac head out for a hike on Thunder Mountain. You will be as fit as the cyclists by tour end.

Day 5, Tuesday 15 September

Day 6, Wednesday 16 September

Peekaboo!

We ride hotel to hotel. It's only 82km so those who want more mileage will simply need to top up which is easily done. In fact, for those really keen - how about a 40km ride up in to Bryce before breakfast?

Our ride includes seeing the amazing Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Its name doesn't really convey the beauty and size of this area of protected natural land area of southern Utah. We then spend the rest of the day riding in and out of farmland with the odd amazing slot (Google it) canyon thrown in for good measure.

Peekaboo and Spooky are two Canyon names so that's the area Team Mac will target. You guys can head off for some Peekaboo games and we'll catch up at dinner.

Tonight we're staying in Escalante. It's a cowboy town that quite simply hasn't changed since Butch Cassidy was in town. You'll see.

/ Accommodation: Escalante
/ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7, Thursday 17 September

Time to cycle to the clouds

OK, today will be testing. But, that's what it's all about. It's not an Insight Vacations Coach tour.

Boulder Mountain is the highest timbered plateau in North America with Bluebell Knoll sitting at 3,448 meters. We will climb to just over 3000m which is 400m higher than Col du Galibier. Easy peasy. The ride it's self is just under 110km and includes the Scenic Byway 12. Often described as being the greatest road trip offered in America. The other highlight for us cyclists being the smooth marble like surface. Let's just hope the wind is blowing in the right direction!

Team Mac check out a small espresso bar for scones and coffee before visiting Anasazi State Park Museum; which features the ruins of an ancient Native American village. The plan is to then catch up with the cyclists as they may need our support today.

/ Accommodation: Torrey
/ Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 8, Friday 18 September

Capital Reef National Park

An understated and often overlooked National Park in central Utah awaits. The ride through Capitol Reef National Park will only be 50km as tomorrow's number is fairly big. It's a good idea to rest those legs. In fact, we will try and pre-book massage for this afternoon. If the massage doesn't work then the pies and ice cream from the Gifford Homestead will. They're compulsory. We'll also discover more about the Mormon settlers who developed this area.

Our aim is to arrive in Moab fairly early as you will need to collect your registrations etc.

Make sure you visit the local brewery which weirdly doubles as a cycling clothes shop. Drink up, spend up.

/ Accommodation: Moab
/ Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 9, Saturday 19 September

Day 10, Sunday 20 September

Moab Century Tour Race - Day 2 - The Big Nasty

While today's distance has only one option of 100km, as the name suggests it has a hidden gem. The aptly named "The Big Nasty" is 11km in length with an elevation gain of just under 1000 meters. Ouch! The La Sal Mountain Loop route offers an incredible collection of cycling pleasures. Towering red rock canyons flush with the meandering Colorado River, majestic La Sal Mountains, roadways arrowing through vast views of mystical desert.

For Team Mac, today will be a better time to head out to Dead Horse Point. There is also an option to walk with the Giants along the way. Ever wanted to know just how big a T-Rex was?

/ Accommodation: Moab
/ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 11, Monday 21 September

Time to head back - but let's fit in the Olympic Park

This morning we are up nice and early for a short recovery coffee ride. It's then a 4-hour transfer back to where it all began, however we plan to visit the Utah Olympic Park. This was the home of the 2002 Winter Olympics where a well know Aussie legend won their first winter gold medal. The park is open all year round as it serves as a training center for Olympic and development level athletes.

This afternoon we will help pack down the bikes prior to our last dinner together. What an amazing trip we've had. All up, there's almost 950km on offer. You can choose to do as much or as little as you wish. Whatever you achieve we will celebrate in style. Tonight, we eat flash.

Day 12, Tuesday 22 September

Home James - end of our cycling tour and holiday

Thank you for joining us on our very first visit to Utah. Feel free to stay in Salt Lake City for a day or two. We can easily arrange extra accommodation. Your American guides are even keen on getting you out for another ride if you're up for it. Otherwise, travel safe for wherever you are heading to.

We look forward to seeing you again on the next adventure.

Thanks again

The team at RH.

/ Meals: Breakfast